Exalt, Examine, Exert and Expend
| The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. (Exodus12:1-3) |
We've had nine plagues and the tenth is coming. The Israelites are called to celebrate the Passover and the first thing we must note about the Passover is that it inaugurates a new calendar for the Israelites.
The nation of Israel observed two calendars, a religious one and a civic one. The civic one was announced by Rosh Hoshannah ("Head of the year") and was accompanied by the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement round about our Sep/Oct. The religious calendar started in March/April with Passover and the Feasts of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits.
It's really appropriate for Passover to be a "new beginning". It was the festival that defined Israel's identity. They were helpless slaves who were rescued by God and given a new beginning. They would celebrate the Festival year after year as a reminder of their identity as loved, redeemed and chosen by God.
As we will see over the next few days, the Passover Feast is a powerful blueprint or dress rehearsal for Easter.
But here's the thought for today...
What if we do what the Israelites did?
January to December can be our civil calendar and appropriately it ends with Advent and Christmas - God gave us His Son.
But Easter can mark the start of our religious calendar. It is the reminder that we are loved, redeemed and chosen by God.
As we journey through Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, may we exalt our rescuing God, examine ourselves and re-commit to exerting and expending ourselves in God's service.
