God’s patience had run out, and His final
judgment–death to the firstborn–was about to fall.
Note that death was to come to all, unless they were
protected by the blood of the lamb. From a human point
of view, there was no difference between the firstborn
of Egypt and the firstborn of Israel; the difference was
in the application of the blood. All men are sinners;
but those who have trusted Christ are “under the blood”
and saved. This is the most important difference in the
world.

The Passover is instituted in chapter 12. The
birth of the nation of Israel, its deliverance from
bondage, and a change in the calendar is announced.

The Jews have two calendars–a religious and a
civil–and the Passover marks the beginning of their
religious year. The Passover illustrates the Christian’s
salvation through the blood of the Lamb. Just as the
Israelites were shielded from the death angel, so the
believer today is shielded from the wrath of God through
faith in the Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 5:7). The
unleavened bread showed the clean-cut separation of the
Israelites from Egypt.

The lamb had died for the firstborn; now the
firstborn belonged to God. The Jews were a “purchased
people,” just as born-again believers are purchased
people (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). The nation would forever
honor the Lamb by giving their firstborn–their best–to
the Lord.

God led His people, not necessarily the nearest
way, but the way that was best for them, just as He does
today. He always makes His will clear to those who are
willing to follow. He saves us, feeds us, guides us, and
protects us.