God wants your heart and not your labor. Anything profitable comes from a pure heart motivated by the Holy Spirit. It’s tempting to rely on our efforts instead of being empowered by God as the He leads you through His word. Israel leaving Egypt during the Passover tested their heart and belief in the blood of the lamb prefiguring Christ’s death for you. The following paragraphs are tests whether God is working in your heart.
The Lord said to Moses to take a one-year-old unblemished male lamb in the first month from the tenth to fourteenth day and kill it at twilight. Put its blood on two doorposts and the lintel of the houses. Eat the flesh roasted with fire, unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Eat the Lord’s Passover with loins girded, sandals on feet, staff in hand and in haste. The Lord would strike down every first-born in Egypt and execute judgment against all Egypt’s gods. When God saw the blood (sign), He would pass over so no plague came to destroy them. It would be celebrated as a permanent ordinance (Ex. 12:1-14). Applying Christ’s blood to your heart in prayer protects you from destruction.
Eat unleavened bread for seven days, but on first day remove leaven from houses. On first and seventh day, have holy assembly where no work is done except to prepare food. Observe Feast of Unleavened Bread to signify very day God brought them out of Egypt in first month, on 14th day until 21st day by eating only unleavened bread (Ex. 12:15-20). Walking with a pure heart protects you from sin’s destruction.
Moses called for elders of Israel to slay the Passover lamb and apply its blood to lintel and two doorposts. The Lord would pass through to smite the Egyptians. When He saw blood on doorposts and lintel, He would not allow destroyer to smite them. Children would say it is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of sons of Israel when He smote Egyptians and spared their houses (Ex. 12:21-28).
Church and community leaders apply the blood of Christ in their prayer for others.
Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron to get out, bless him and worship the Lord after the first-born of Egypt died. The Egyptians urged to people leave the land in haste for they said, “We shall all be dead.” The people took their dough before it was leavened and requested articles of silver and gold along with clothing from the Egyptians as Moses had commanded. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians and they plundered them (Ex. 12:29-36). Ceasing from labor and trusting God’s word shows that God is your provider.
About 600,000 men journeyed on foot from Rameses to Succoth. A mixed multitude went up with them and baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. It had not become leavened since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay. They prepared no provisions for themselves (Ex. 12:37-39). God loves to put you situations outside your comfort zone where you are not in control.
At the end of 430 years to the very day all the hosts of the Lord left Egypt. It was a night to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations (Ex. 12:40-42). Remember key events in your life when God delivered from slavery to sin.
No foreigner is to eat the Passover but only circumcised males. This law applied to the native and stranger who sojourned among them (Ex. 12:43-51). Men lead spiritually as God works mightily in their hearts.
Answer the following questions as a test whether God is working mightily in your heart:
1. Have you applied Christ’s blood to your heart?
2. Do you walk with a pure heart?
3. Are you applying Christ’ blood in your prayer for others?
4. Have you stopped laboring and trusting God’s word for provision?
5. Are you in a situation beyond your control and outside your comfort zone?
6. Do you remember situations when God delivered you from slavery to sin?
