Passover 5785 Part 1: It’s About Worship

Audio Teaching

Passover Playlist (YouTube)

Notes

Passover: Deliverance from bondage, the blood of the lamb, plagues against the false gods of Egypt – one thing is central to the Passover story, even the entire story of the Bible: Worship.

When Abraham was tested, it was a test of worship – Gen 22:2 “…and offer him there…” (to ascend).

Abraham and Jacob gave tithes, an act of worship (Gen. 14:20; 28:22).

Adam and Eve being told not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil was an act of obedience. Obedience and worship go hand in hand.

Worship (Strong’s H#7812): prostrate in homage, to fall down, and make reverence.

Ex. 3:1-12 KJV

Summary Statements:

• Serve God/Serve me (3:12; 4:23; 7:16; 8:20; 9:1, 13; 10:3, 26) – H#5647: be a bondman, worshipper.
• Sacrifice to the LORD our God (3:18; 5:3; 8:29; 10:25).
• Hold a feast unto me (5:1; 10:9) – H#2287: Observe a festival: by implication, to be giddy: – celebrate, dance, to keep a feast (holiday).
• They bowed their heads and worshipped (4:31; 12:27)
• Why the plagues? (9:14-16, 29)
• Pharaoh tries to stipulate the worship of God (8:28; 10:11, 24)

Plagues as Judgments on False gods and Idol Worship:

Ex. 9:19-21

• God wanted the Egyptians to realize He was the one and only true God. He extended mercy to them.

Ex. 10:7

Opportunity to leave Egypt:

Ex. 12:35-38

• Some Egyptians survived the plagues, were plundered, and stayed – others realized they needed to leave the false gods of Egypt and be joined to Israel.
• Later, we reach the incident of the golden calf and realize many left Egypt physically but not spiritually.

The Opening Message of Passover 5785:

• Who Will You Worship? (Isa. 2:1-4 (Mic. 4:1-3); Isa. 55-56; 60; Amos 9:11-15).
• Where Will You Worship Toward? (Dan. 6:10; Lk. 13:22; Psa. 9:11; Isa. 8:18(ch. 7-9); Joel 3:19-21; Amos 1:2).
• PEY (numerical value of 80) PE-sach (Passover).
• From Passover, we press toward Pentecost, Shavuot, when we read the book of Ruth:
  • Ruth 1:16-17 KJV “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
• As Christians, at this time of year, our minds can be on fasting for Lent and waiting for our Easter ham, but what about the Passover Lamb? Ask yourself, is our disconnect from God’s feast a sign of our bondage?
• Turn with me to the following prophetic passages:
  • Zech. 8:1-23
  • Isa. 2:1-4
• Just as Egypt was judged for how they treated Israel, so all nations will be judged in the last days (Joel 3:1-2).
• Zech 8:23 KJV “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
  • Ten men in Judaism is a minyan (prayer group).
  • Isa. 56:1-8