Well, we're in Exodus 12:43–51. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we will finish this chapter! I've entitled this “Waiting for Jesus.”
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
This passage records and reminds us of the regulations God attached to the ongoing celebration of the Passover. The previous passage told us that there would be a mixed multitude of people who would go out of Egypt, not just the people of Israel. Perhaps there were slaves in Egypt from other nations than Israel, but the command to remember and to commemorate the Passover was solely for the children of Israel, or people who united themselves with God's covenant by circumcision. This portrays God's special relationship to and special love for his people; his love and care, his promises and power, his grace and provision, are not something these former slaves could ever earn or deserve. God chose Israel; Israel did not choose him!
But here's the primary thing I want to focus on in this passage; just eight words that, again, make a connection for us that should not be missed; these eight words that are the directions of how the Passover is to be handled. God says of the lamb, “You shall not break any of its bones.” Now, does that phrase sound familiar to you? Does it bring anything to mind? Well, when John records the crucifixion of Jesus, he says this (John 19:31-37):
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”
The directive to the Israelites about how to handle the Passover lamb is a finger pointing to Jesus. The normal end to a crucifixion would be the soldiers would go and break the bones of the person hanging on the cross. That meant they could not hold themselves up; their bodies would slump, and then they would die because of their inability to breathe. When John saw that they did not break the bones of Jesus, as was the custom, he immediately thought of this passage. The children of Israel probably did not understand that the Passover was not just about remembering what God had done for them in Egypt, it was about also waiting for a better Lamb of sacrifice, the Lord Jesus–Jesus would be the final fulfillment of God's Covenant promises. Jesus would be the final Passover Lamb. Like the lambs in Egypt, his bones would not be broken. Although they did not understand it, the children of Israel were waiting for Jesus!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Even though at the time the Israelites didn’t understand the command from God not to break the lamb’s bones, the Apostle John was able to comprehend it, and we can now understand it because we have the New Testament. What in your life are you currently unable to understand that may seem incomprehensible, but is completely clear to God? How might God be calling you to trust him in your confusion about your circumstances?
2. Can you think of an example from your life when you had no idea what God was doing, but after a certain amount of time, it became clear to you about what God was up to and how he was working? In what ways can that memory from your past be a guide and discipleship element for you today?
3. In what ways can you be intentional about using your past experiences of going through confusing and hard times to help someone else as they might be currently experiencing uncertain times too? Who can you be a blessing to, acting as the hands and feet of Christ?
For Younger Children:
1. What makes you wonder about what God is up to when things seem really confusing?
2. Have you ever been confused about something that I have done, but then later understood the reasons why things happened? How can we know that God is working in our lives when nothing seems to make any sense?
For Older Children:
1. What’s currently happening in your life that’s confusing or frustrating? If you could ask God why he’s allowing things to happen in your life, what do you think you’d ask him about?
2. How might God be calling you to trust him in your confusion when there don’t seem to be any clear answers to your questions? How does trusting God when things don’t make sense a way for us to worship him?
3. What do you think is the ultimate proof that God is always up to something good, even when we can’t see anything that could be good to come out of bad situations? How does that ultimate proof help you to trust God more in the midst of your confusion?
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