The LORD’s Passover

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King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]

Date: Monday, February 02, 2026
Chapters: Exodus 10-12
Message: Exodus: The LORD’s Passover

Hello My Friend,

We have been studying the plagues that God sent upon Egypt, not only as judgment for enslaving His people, but also for the cruelty of murdering Israelite baby boys at birth. Each plague exposes the true nature of sin—how destructive, stubborn, and willful it becomes when a heart refuses to yield, even when the judgments of God are unmistakably clear. As we continue in the reading of Exodus, we learn of an eighth plague.

[Exodus 10:1-4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:  2  And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.  3  And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.  4  Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:]

Why would God continue to warn Pharaoh, even after declaring that He had hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Because God was making a statement that reached far beyond one king. He was proving a point not only to the Egyptians, but to the Israelites as well. Through these judgments, God revealed that from the greatest ruler to the lowliest shepherd boy, every human being is expected to humble himself before the Almighty. God, will surely humble those who are full of so much pride that they will not humble themselves, [Proverbs 29:23  A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.]

God, knew each of their hearts, He just played off of them in order to show the Egyptians and Israelites that there is only one Almighty, living God, the great I AM, Jehovah, and He is always among His believers. Well, Pharaoh and his faithful may have been too stubborn to see that they were destroying their land by refusing to let Israel go worship God, but the rest of Egypt was not, they begged him to let them go. Unfortunately, he again wanted them to go on his terms, this time in leaving their children behind, he even threatens them this time.

[Exodus 10:7-11  And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?  8  And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?  9  And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD. 10  And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.  11  Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.]

Now Pharaoh turns to intimidation, warning that if the Israelites leave, it would mean death for their children. This threat carries the unmistakable fingerprints of Satan himself. It has always been the enemy’s desire to keep the lost in bondage to the world, and he will use fear, lies, and cruelty to keep God’s people from reaching the next generation. We must never allow anything—fear, pride, or distraction—to keep the children from coming to Jesus, [Luke 18:15-16  And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.]

Children are the future of Christ’s Church, and if they are not being taught the truth, Satan will gladly step in to teach them his lies. For a time it may appear that he succeeds, and for a season he may seem to get away with his schemes, but his judgment is certain. God will not allow evil to reign forever. Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses, and so God sent the locusts, [Exodus 10:12-14  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.  13  And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.  14  And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.]

In the midst of this devastation, something happens that we have never heard from Pharaoh before. He calls for Moses, and for the first time Pharaoh begins to speak words that sound almost like repentance. Yet even here, his heart is not truly surrendered. His desperation is born of suffering, not humility.

[Exodus 10:16-18,20-22  Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.  17  Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.  18  And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. 20  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.  21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.  22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:]

If Pharaoh had been sincere and truly humbled himself, then God would have done far more than remove the locusts. He would have healed the entire land. Our nations today are not in the condition they are in because of the sins of fellow believers; they are in turmoil because God has had enough of the way the world mistreats His people. God may discipline His own on His terms, but He will always defend them. His judgments remind us that He is both merciful and just, and that He will always stand with His people, [John 5:24,30  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.]

At this point, nearly everything in Egypt—except for the land of Goshen—lay in ruins. Their cattle were nearly gone, their crops and trees destroyed, and their pride shattered. Yet God was still not done. Because He knew the stubbornness of Pharaoh’s heart, He did not even give a warning for the next plague. Without warning, the entire nation was suddenly swallowed in a darkness so thick it could be felt.

[Exodus 10:24-25,27-29  And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.  25  And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 27  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.  28  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.  29  And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.]

Can you imagine a darkness so heavy that you can feel it pressing against your skin? For three days Egypt sat in a darkness so thick that no one could even see their own hand in front of their face. This was more than the absence of light; it was a glimpse of divine judgment. And it foreshadowed another moment in history when darkness covered the earth. For three days after Jesus was crucified and died a sinless death, the world sat under a different kind of darkness. All hope seemed lost. The disciples mourned, believing that everything they had trusted in had come to an end. But on the third day, the Light of the world shattered the darkness. When the tomb was opened, they discovered that Jesus was not there, [Matthew 28:5-6  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.]

There was a reason God allowed Pharaoh’s heart to remain hard for so long. The final plague would not have carried the same weight had Pharaoh surrendered earlier. This time, the plague would sweep across all of Egypt, and even the Israelites had to prepare themselves if they wanted to escape it.

[Exodus 11:1-3  And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.  2  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.  3  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.]

Everyone—Egyptian or Israelite—needed to come under the protection of the blood if they wanted to be spared. The distinction between the two nations would no longer be based on geography, as it had been with the earlier plagues, but on obedience and faith.

[Exodus 11:4-7  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:  5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.  6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  7  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.]

It is remarkable what God shows us in this moment. While all of Egypt would awaken to screams as death swept through both man and beast, not even a whisper would be heard in Goshen—not even the pant of a dog’s tongue. God commanded Moses to ready the people for what would become known as the Passover, the night when judgment would fall on every household not covered by the blood of the lamb.

[Exodus 12:2-5  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:  4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.  5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:]

Jesus gave His life for all mankind, and His grace has room enough for every soul. Yet salvation is not granted automatically. Each person must come to Christ for himself. We can tell others about Him, we can point them to the door, but they must choose to walk through it—or rather, they must open their hearts and invite Him in. He never forces Himself upon anyone. Just as the Israelites had to apply the blood to their own doorposts, each individual today must personally receive the sacrifice of Christ if they want to be saved, [Revelation 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.]

Now, in addition to having a lamb in the house to eat on the fourteenth day they needed the blood from the lamb, and had to use it in a very specific way, [Exodus 12:6-8,10-11  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.  8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.  11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.]

This certainly gives new meaning to what Jesus said, [John 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.] They did not drink the blood of the lamb, but they did have it applied to their doorposts. And that is the point. The blood had to be applied. It was not enough for the lamb to be slain. It was not enough for the blood to be available. It had to be placed upon the house in obedience and faith. The word Passover literally means “an exemption.” Anyone who had the blood of the lamb on their door was exempt from death. In the same way, anyone who has the blood of Christ applied to their soul is exempt from the judgment of eternal death, []

This is exactly what God told Israel that night: when He saw the blood, He would pass over them, [Exodus 12:12-14  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.  14  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.]

The lamb died so they could live, And Christ, the true Lamb of God, died so that all who receive Him might have eternal life. From that night forward, God established a yearly feast so His people would never forget this moment of deliverance. He even marked it as the beginning of their calendar year, a brand‑new start for a nation redeemed by His power. After the Passover came another appointed feast—the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God commanded Israel to observe it as a continual reminder that once they were delivered, they were to walk in purity, leaving behind the old leaven of Egypt and embracing a new life under His covenant.

[Exodus 12:15-16,18-19  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.  16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.  19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.]

You will understand this even more clearly as we read further. God appointed both the first and the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread as holy days—days set apart for worship, reflection, and complete rest from ordinary labor. The first day marked their departure from Egypt, the moment God broke the chains of their bondage. The seventh day commemorated the final blow to their oppressors, the day Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the Red Sea. These two days framed the entire feast, reminding Israel that their deliverance began and ended with the mighty hand of God. And now that God’s plan had been fully revealed, it was time to act. Moses called for the elders of Israel and instructed them carefully on everything the Lord had commanded. The moment had come to take the Passover lamb, to kill it, and to apply its blood to the doorposts.

[Exodus 12:21-23  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.  22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.  23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.]

This was not a symbolic gesture. It was an act of faith, an act of obedience, and the only means by which their households would be spared from the judgment about to sweep through Egypt. Imagine the silence that settled over the Israelites as they waited, listening for the cries that would soon rise from the Egyptians when they discovered their firstborn dead. Yet they were not to sit idle. God commanded them to eat the lamb quickly, with their belts fastened, their shoes on their feet, and their staffs in their hands. They were to be ready to move the moment those cries pierced the night. And that is exactly what happened.

[Exodus 12:29-32  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.  31  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.  32  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.]

From the moment the destroyer passed through the land, all was silent. But as the morning light broke and the Egyptians discovered their firstborn dead, the cries rose like a wave that could be heard for miles. Think about it—every firstborn in every household, whether son or daughter, infant or adult, fell under judgment. Many homes lost more than one person that night. This always hits home for me being a first born child in my family and reminds me of where I would be had I not learned the truth about Christ. First born or not, death is no respecter or persons, if we are without the blood of Christ upon our soul before we take our last breath then we will not be saved, [Romans 3:22-24  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]

And notice Pharaoh’s sudden change of heart. The man who had resisted God at every turn now practically threw the Israelites out of Egypt. Yet even in his desperation, he asked Moses to bless him. This is why God commanded the people to be dressed, fed, and ready. The moment the cries began, the moment Pharaoh summoned them, they were to move. Deliverance had come, and there was no time to waste.

[Exodus 12:33-34,37-39  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.  34  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 37  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.  38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.  39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.]

I would hope that I would be among those who gathered everything they owned and followed the Israelites out of Egypt. And because such a mixed multitude left with them—Hebrews, Egyptians, and others who believed the God of Israel—God saw fit to establish clear instructions regarding the Passover that would be observed every year. This was not a feast to be taken lightly or reshaped according to personal preference. It was a holy memorial, and God set boundaries to ensure that only those who were truly part of His covenant people could partake of it. The Passover was a sacred reminder of deliverance, and God wanted it to remain pure, undefiled, and understood for generations to come.

[Exodus 12:41,43-45,48  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.   43  And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:  44  But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.  45  A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.]

Notice that the stranger had to get circumcised if they wanted to partake of the Passover. However a foreigner or hired servant would not be allowed. Why was this and what was the difference? A stranger, meaning a believer who was not an Israelite. Because circumcision was the sign of entering God’s covenant, it meant he was no longer an outsider. He had chosen to identify himself with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was now part of the covenant community, and therefore he could share in the covenant meal. However, a foreigner or a hired servant was different. These were individuals who lived among Israel but were not believers. They might have been present physically, but they were not spiritually joined to the people. The Passover was not a casual meal. It was a sacred act of worship reserved for those who were under the covering of the covenant. In fact, we too observe what is called the Lord’s supper or communion in the same manner.

[1 Corinthians 11:23-27  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.  27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Every soul is in Your hands, You know exactly what will come of each of us, and yet You give each of us a choice to believe in You. Thank You, Jesus, for becoming our Passover, for giving Your life and shedding Your blood to save our souls from death and hell. I know that there is not one soul in hell that does not beg for You to reach someone who is alive right now. You are truly the God of the living and we are only made alive through our faith and acceptance of Your sinless death, burial, and resurrection. Lord, Lead us and guide us, let us be a reflection of the Light that is within us so that those who do have one iota of faith in You can come out of the darkness and into Your Light. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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