Protected at Midnight

“For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” (Exodus 12:23, ESV)

For several generations the children of Israel lived in Egypt, although their status had shifted through the years. Joseph, who had once guided Egypt through a great famine, was long forgotten. The Israelites were now slaves and life was hard.

Centuries earlier, God had given Abraham the promise of a permanent homeland. In Genesis 13:15 God told him, “For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever” (ESV).

Egypt was not their promised land, and the Lord sent Moses to lead them out of Egyptian bondage. It was now time for Abraham’s descendants to leave.

Opposition by Pharaoh 

Although God brought a series of plagues upon the land of Egypt, Pharaoh refused to allow the Israelites to leave (Exodus 7-11). With each judgment upon the land, Pharaoh’s heart only grew harder. Nine times he refused to let them go, even as the plagues became progressively severe. Each plague was a judgment against one of the false gods of Egypt.

By the ninth plague, Pharaoh was done with Moses and his pleas to allow the Israelites to go worship their God. Pharaoh lashed out, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die” (Exodus 10:28, ESV). Moses responded, “As you say! I will not see your face again.” Pharaoh got his wish but at a great price.

Protected by the Blood

The tenth and final plague was the most severe of all. At midnight, God’s judgment swept across the land and the firstborns of both men and beasts died. But there was one exception: the children of Israel were spared.

God had instructed Moses that each household was to kill a spotless lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts of the house. Then they were to roast the lamb and eat their final meal in Egypt —  hastily and dressed for travel (Exodus 12:11).

It was essential that they remain safely inside their house where the blood was visible on the doorpost. The blood would protect them from death.

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13, ESV)

the spotless lamb

Today, we are also protected by the blood. It is through the blood of the spotless Lamb of God that we are saved. We cannot purchase salvation with silver or gold. It was His sacrifice on the cross that paid the price for our sins. Each drop of His precious blood paid for our salvation.

• “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19, ESV)
• “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:9, ESV)

Today we sense it is close to midnight. Like the Israelites, we must stay alert and ready for God’s call to leave.

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28, ESV)

Devotion by Mary Loudermilk