Our reminder…

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:11–16)

This seems a terrible way to remind God's people of their deliverance from slavery, but knowing how quickly I forget even the important things, I understand why the shedding of blood was an important thing to remember and to pass along to the next generation.

The OT tells of many rituals of remembrance, not only for the Exodus delivery but for many things that God had done for them. Again, my own forgetfulness tells me the need for reminders. 

As for a corresponding reminder to Exodus, we do it monthly in our church — with a communion service, a way to remember our deliverance from the penalty and power of sin and how that happened.

And when the hour came, (Jesus) reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:14–20)

There is something powerful in this practice. As I go up to receive the elements, and as I watch several hundred others do the same, the sense of communion and of family is so powerful, as is the wonder that Jesus would die for me. Sometimes my thoughts turn to Exodus and the blood of many lambs, but rarely. Almost always I’m thinking of Jesus and why He shed His blood that day.

Today, I’m not at the church service. I’m still coughing and that could make my forever family nervous. I could wear a mask, but singing becomes difficult. Instead, I’m on YouTube and glad to sing along with familiar faces and music, and hear the message, and worship.

Jesus, I’m forever grateful that You are the Lamb, the one that all those lambs could only point to but not do for sinners what You have done. As we now sing: “This is our God. . . . who bore the cross and beat the grave. . . .  this is our Jesus” I can praise You for Your strong hand who brought me out of sin and set me free to love you.