SDA Sabbath School Lesson 5- 3rd Quarter 2025-Passover

[Richard Myers]

3rd Quarter        Lesson 5                                                                                                                                             July 26=Aug 1       
                                                                                                                               

 
Passover

 

Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Exod. 11:1-10; Mic. 6:8; Exod. 12:1-30; 1 Cor. 5:7; Exod. 13:14-16; Heb. 11:28

Memory Text: "And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped." Exodus 12:26-27

The tenth and last plague is about to fall. The last warning is given; the final decision must be made. It’s truly a matter of life or death. Not only the life of an individual, but the prosperity of families and the entire nation is at stake. Pharaoh and his officials will be responsible for the fate of many people, either for life or for death. His attitude toward the living God of Israel will determine not just his future but that of his nation.

Actually, the last decision to be made by the Pharaoh did not result in the death of the first born, nor in letting Israel go. His last decision was to gather his army and attempt to bring Israel back. That decision was his last and resulted in the death of Pharaoh and his army.

How do we feel, and what do we do, when the gravity of circumstances lies heavy upon us, and we have to choose the next step and direction, a choice that can greatly impact the lives of many others besides ourselves?

Daily we make decisions that impact our own happiness and the life and death of others who when watching us who call ourselves Christians, either reflect the character or our  God or misrepresent the God we profess to serve. When we sin, we support Satan's charge that we cannot keep the commandments of God. If we choose to sin, how do we feel? Do we sorrow over crucifying Christ afresh? Or not?

God is more than willing to grant us wisdom, understanding, and power to do what is right (1 Cor. 1:30, Phil. 2:13).

Amen! What is required of us in order to have power to not sin? We must love the Lord our God with the whole heart, that is the only thing that will enable us to reflect His character of obedience by keeping His commandments. "Here are they who keep the commandments of God."

The problem, however, is that, in our own stubborn hearts, we don’t always want to do what is right. We know what it is, but we refuse to do it. In the account of the Exodus, one man’s refusal to submit to God, even in face of overwhelming evidence, brought tragedy upon many others besides himself, which is often how it works, anyway.

This comes very close to our own experience. Our children are greatly influenced by the decisions we daily make. We read about the  loss of life when Pharaoh refused to follow the command of God, but do we understand the loss of life, both spiritual and physical when we misrepresent God by refusing to learn of Him. Our only hope is to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. Thereby we can claim the Bible promise that by beholding His glory which is His character, we shall be transformed into His image (character). Read 2 Cor. 3:18. It is a promise indeed. It is not a command. God leaves it up to us if we will walk in the light He has given to us. Few will take time every day to spend  contemplating the life of Jesus. They are too busy to do that which would have a great influence on their children, on relatives, friends, and all who they come in contact with.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 2.

[Richard Myers]

Sunday         July 27
One More Plague

The prophet Amos declares that "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" Amos 3:7, and through the prophet Moses He revealed to Pharaoh what was coming next. The most solemn warning was given to Pharaoh. This will be a just judgment upon pride, exploitation, violence, and idolatry, all of which have triggered these calamities upon Egypt.

Read Exodus 11:1-10.

1 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.
4 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.
8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.


What warning did God give before executing judgment upon Egypt?

God gave Egypt time—three days of darkness (Exod. 10:22-23)—to think about recent events and what they meant. He also provided their last explicit warning, the last chance to do the right thing.

But Exodus 11:8 says that Moses "went out from Pharaoh in great anger" (NKJV). Why would Moses leave in anger? Most likely because he knows the tragedy, the tenth plague, is going to hit a lot of innocent people—all because of Pharaoh’s hardness of heart.

Amen!  Moses knew Pharaoh was not going to let Israel go and all the first born would die.

Also, the number ten is significant in biblical symbolism. Ten represents fullness or completeness. (Think of the Ten Commandments as a complete revelation of the divine moral law.) The ten Egyptian plagues point to God’s full expression of His justice and retribution.

What does the number seven represent often in the Bible?

God is the Judge, and He is against pride, injustice, discrimination, arrogance, exploitation, cruelty, and selfishness. He is on the side of the sufferers, the abused, the mistreated, and the persecuted. God will execute justice, which truly is another expression of His love. (See Ps. 2:12, Ps. 33:5, Ps. 85:11, Ps. 89:14, Ps. 101:1, Isa. 16:5, Jer. 9:24.)

It is true that God destroyed the world by flood our of love for those who He saved on the ark. But, when the wicked come forth from the graves after the thousand years, it is not out of love that the wicked will suffer pain for every sin they ever did when they are thrown  into the lake of fire. Justice is not always in favor of love. Those who were the first born did not suffer  out of love for them. The Bible reveals the plagues will fall upon all who reject God's love. None ought to consider it an act of love. It is an act of justice. All who will decide which way to go ought to fear God because He is just and all who reject His love and thus serve Satan will suffer pain not only when the  plagues are poured, but also when they are raised from the grave to suffer for every sin.

We, too, should try the best we can to be both loving and just. However, we can easily fall into extremes, one way or another. Out of "love" we turn a blind eye to wrongs, to things that need to be corrected. Or we can coldly execute justice as if it were something made of steel. Neither extreme is correct. Instead, this is the ideal: "And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, NKJV).

If we can’t get the perfect balance (which we can’t), why is it better to err on the side of mercy instead of justice? Or is it?

We have not the wisdom to know what to do and when to do it. But, God has promised it we will follow Him and seek wisdom, He  will give it to us. There is no excuse to take matters into our own hands and render justice. God will lead us if we love Him  supremely. Otherwise we we will not be able to do any good  thing. We must be born again of the  Spirit in order to do any good thing. We have truth set before us in the work Moses did, and that God commanded Israel to kill every man, woman, child, and animal. We are to follow God's leading, not our own wisdom which is foolishness. It is not  a matter of balance, but one of obedience  to God.

[Richard Myers]

Monday        July 28
The Passover

Read Exodus 12:1-20.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 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:
6 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.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
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.
12 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.
15 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.
17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
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.
20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

What specific instructions does God give to Moses and Aaron before Israel leaves Egypt?

One would expect God to instruct Moses and Aaron about how to organize the departure from Egypt: that is, how to make provisions for the escape, especially for the elderly, mothers with small children, animals, and so forth. Instead, God’s instruction is surprising: He tells them how to celebrate the Passover. In other words, the focus is on worshiping the Lord, who was going to redeem them. Everything else would follow in due time.

Each family was to prepare a lamb, with nothing wasted. Everyone had to eat his or her portion, and if the family could not consume the entire lamb, they were to eat the meal together with another family.

Read Exodus 12:13-14. What was the Lord going to do for them when the final plague came? What does all this symbolize?

The Exodus was to be celebrated regularly each year, not merely as a commemoration of a past event of what God had done for their forefathers, but also as the actualization of God’s liberating act for the present generation. This was to be a fresh experience for each group.

Verses 12 and 13 explain the meaning of the Passover: the divine judgment of destruction will "pass over" the Israelites; thus, they were to commemorate "Passover." This word is a combination of two words, "pass" and "over," because the destruction "passed over" the Israelite homes on which the doorposts had been marked by the blood of the lamb, the sign of life and salvation. In Hebrew, the name of Passover is Pesach, from a verb that means "to pass over."

The celebration of the Passover was to remind every Israelite of the mighty and gracious acts of God on behalf of His people. This celebration helped to secure their national identity and seal their religious convictions.

Why is it so important always to remember the good that God has done to you in the past and to trust that He will do good for you in the future, as well?

To forget what God has done for us, means to forget how much God loves us. We are a forgetful people and need to behold Jesus daily that we will not crucify Jesus again.

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday         July 29
Pesach

Read Exodus 12:17-23.

17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
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.
20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
21 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.

What role does blood play in the celebration of this new festival?

It represents the blood of Jesus as it has from the beginning when Adam killed the first lamb. What does this mean? It means that the only hope we have for love, joy, and peace in this world and in the world to come is to understand that God loves us so much He allowed His innocent Son to suffer for the sins of the whole world. By taking our sins He had to suffer and die. He shed His blood that we might have a second chance to obtain eternal life. When the warm blood ran over the hands of the sinner, it was impress upon the sinner that his sin would cause the suffering and sin of Christ. We have the cross to understand this love, but those before the cross learned this from the slaying of the lamb. The blood on the door posts would deliver Israel from the plague, it also was a shadow of the power of the  blood of Christ to deliver all who accept Christ as their Savior and who would cease crucifying Christ afresh.

The blood of the sacrificed animal is a key element in this celebration. Those who participated in this feast had put the blood of the slain lamb on the doorframes of their houses. In this way, they demonstrated their faith in God, believing that He would deliver them from what those not covered by the blood would face.
What a powerful expression of the gospel!

The Passover lamb had to be without blemish, because it pointed to Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, NKJV). The animal’s blood played a crucial role: it symbolized protection and was the sign of life at a time of death.

"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." Exod. 12:13.

The whole gospel was associated with the celebration of the Passover because it pointed not only to freedom from slavery and going to the Promised Land, but to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and His merits applied to all who are covered by His blood.

Amen! And it pointed to our delivery from sin. In 1 Cor. 5 we see that leavened bread represents sin. When we accept the righteousness of Christ He not only imputes His righteousness to us, which covers all past sin, He also imparts His righteousness to us. He cleanses us from sin and empowers us to keep His commandments. When this is left  out, the gospel has been perverted and leaves sinners believing they are saved in sin. All who love the Lord our God with the whole heart, have been  set free from the law of sin and death.

 8:1   [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 8:2   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
 8:3   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
 8:4   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 8:5   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
 8:6   For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 
 8:7   Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
 8:8   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
 8:9   But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Centuries later as Paul looked back on this celebration, he wrote: "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" 1 Cor. 5:7.

Yeast, or leaven, was used to prepare dough of various kinds. When it is first mentioned in the Bible, it is in connection with the preparation of the unleavened bread on the eve of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt. Yeast also had to be removed from their homes (Exod. 12:8-15-20; Exod. 13:3-7). In this particular context, yeast was a symbol of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8); therefore, it was not to be used during the Passover festival for a week.

The unleavened bread is a symbol of the sinless Messiah, who overcame all temptations and gave His life for us (John 1:29, 1 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 4:15). A "bunch of hyssop," in which the blood was dipped, symbolized God’s purifying grace (Ps. 51:7). In short, all through Pesach, the redeeming work of Jesus is revealed.

Yes, unleavened bread can represent Jesus, but that is not correct when understanding the message in 1 Cor. chapter 5. Paul is telling us that we need to come to Christ that sin might be purged from us. We are not to be gathered together bearing sin in our body, but we are to come as a new lump free from the leaven of sin. And Paul in the context of his message is going further in how we are to keep those who are leavened with sin from our company. Never take one verse which can often be used to twist the truth. Read in context.

 5:6   Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 
 5:7   Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 
 5:8   Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. 
 5:9   I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 
 5:10   Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 
 5:11   But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 
 5:12   For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 
 5:13   But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 

What does the fact that it took the blood of Jesus, God Himself, to atone for sin teach us about how bad sin really is?

It reveals that we are captive to the law of sin and only grace can transform sinners into saints. The blood of Jesus reveals how much God loves us and how powerful is His grace. Many have no idea what grace is and that is will transform sinners into  saints if allowed into the heart. We are healed by beholding the blood running down the face and back of our Savior. It reveals a love that we do not deserve because we are evil by nature and have hurt many. The blood of Jesus tells us we can be a new "lump" unleavened with sin. We can be set free from leaven of sin if we would behold His character. "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18.

It would truly be good to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. It is not a command, but a plea. Why not take time to be with Jesus? Because we are distracted by the things of this world. By so doing we fail to escape the captivity of sin by which we are bound. Why not ask God to give you power to try out spending time with Jesus every morning, so that you can die daily to self and  sin? Again, not a command, but a plea.

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday         July 30
Passing the Torch

The psalmist states how our children can know God and His loving care: "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts" (Ps. 145:4, ESV). One family should speak to another family about God, about His marvelous deeds, and about His teachings, all in order to pass biblical knowledge on to another generation.

Read Exodus 12:24-28.

24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

What important point was being made here?

Parents were the first teachers in Israel and were to recount the story of the Exodus to their children. It was not to be told as a past historical event only, but to be presented as their own experience, even though it happened a long time ago. By celebrating this festival, they were to identify with their forefathers, and the history was to be relived and actualized. The father would say: "I was in Egypt, I saw the defeat of the Egyptian gods and the plagues on Egypt, and I was set free." In the book of Exodus, it is twice underlined how parents should answer their children’s questions regarding the Passover (see Deut. 6:6-8 and Exodus 13:14-16).

It is worthwhile to notice that the Israelites were still in Egypt when told to celebrate their liberation from Egypt. The whole celebration, then, was an act of faith. After receiving their directions, "the people bowed down and worshiped" (Exod. 12:27, NIV) their Redeemer, and then they followed the Passover instructions.

In the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites is reminded to tell their story in such a way that they can internalize it as their own journey. Notice the collective tone of this account as well as the stress on the present experience: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Deut. 26:5-9, NIV).

Also, by recounting and retelling the story of Passover (or any events in sacred history) to their children, parents would be greatly helped in remembering what God had done for them and for the people. Telling it was as much for the speaker as for the hearers.

And what is the lesson for us?  Remembering what God has done for me is more important that all of the stories of what God has done for others. Why is this so important? Because we are a forgetful people who do forget what God has done for us. When we remember what great things He did for us, we are so very thankful. It causes us to love Him even more.

[Richard Myers]

Thursday       July 31
The Divine Judgment

Read Exodus 12:29-30 on how God struck down the firstborn in Egypt.

29 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.

Why did God focus on the firstborn? (See also Heb. 11:28.)

God gave the Egyptians a taste of why they had done in the past in killing the new born male babies.  It also would cause some to repent of their sins and serve the God of Israel. Some left with Israel when Pharaoh let them go. Of all the plagues, this one hurt the most. It was also a warning to the nations of the world that the God of Israel is powerful. Often, the first born is a great  blessing having never had a child before. And God looks at the first born as special.

The last Egyptian plague fell on the firstborn. It was a divine judgment on all the gods of Egypt and upon all the families who worshiped these false gods, which were worthless idols that reflected the people’s own passions, desires, and fears.

As the earlier plagues had shown, these idols were unable to save the people. Their worthlessness was even more apparent now, during the tenth plague, which brought, by far, the greatest consequences on the Egyptians.

"Throughout the vast realm of Egypt the pride of every household had been laid low. The shrieks and wails of the mourners filled the air. King and courtiers, with blanched faces and trembling limbs, stood aghast at the overmastering horror."—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 280.

Yes, this plague was much more painful than the previous. It was so much more than Pharaoh would stop playing with God and let the people go. Was it enough to keep Pharaoh from changing his mind again? Why not?

Pharaoh represented the ultimate power and god of Egypt, and his firstborn son was considered a son of a god. Isis was a goddess protecting children; Heqet was a goddess attending women at childbirth; and Min was a god of reproduction. Besides these, there were several Egyptian gods of fertility. All these gods were powerless in comparison to the living Lord. Moses says: "Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" Exod. 15:11. Jethro later testified: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." Exod. 18:11.

According to Exodus 1, the Egyptians had killed newborn sons of Israel on the command of Pharaoh to weaken the Israelites, and to subdue and humiliate them. Now God’s punishment strikes the firstborn sons of Egypt. What people sow, they reap.

Our decisions and actual behavior bring consequences. And the painful truth, which we all have experienced, is that we alone don’t suffer from the consequences of our wrong actions. Others, sometimes many others, even innocent others, suffer, as well. Such is the nature of sin.

We ought to consider this truth that when we sin we do indeed bring about some very serious consequences. Most important to those who truly love the Lord our God with all of the heart, we crucify Christ fresh, and misrepresent His character. Our witness can cause some to turn away from God forever. It was the last straw in seeing hypocrisy in the church. Also of great importance to understand is the effect our sin has on our children. What does them seeing mom or day sin? Is this  why so many of our children turn away from the church?

In what ways have you suffered from others’ sins? Or, what are ways others have suffered from your sins? What is our only hope?

Whether or not we are converted, sin causes pain to sinner. When we do not sin because we love the Lord our God with all of the heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are powerful witnesses of the power of God's grace to keep us from sin. Yes, I know many disagree. That is the result of false teachers teaching false gospels. Here are two precious promise from a multitude that will help you turn from the false teachings spread throughout churches: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them]." Eze. 36:26, 27. And 1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Yes, we can love, joy, and peace in this world along with all of the fruits of the Spirit, not one will be missing if we love the Lord our God with all of the heart. How can this be? Spend time with Jesus every day. You cannot love and trust one unless you know them intimately. Thus it would be very good to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. By beholding His glory which is His character we are transformed into His image (character).  Read 2 Cor. 3:18.

[Richard Myers]

Friday         August 1

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, "The Passover," pp. 273-280, in Patriarchs and Prophets.

"The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of sin. The sacrificial lamb represents ‘the Lamb of God,’ in whom is our only hope of salvation. Says the apostle, ‘Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.’ 1 Corinthians 5:7. It was not enough that the paschal lamb be slain; its blood must be sprinkled upon the doorposts; so the merits of Christ's blood must be applied to the soul. We must believe, not only that He died for the world, but that He died for us individually. We must appropriate to ourselves the virtue of the atoning sacrifice."—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 277.

Amen!  How do we do this? We allow grace to enter the heart. How do we do that? We must see or remember what He has done for us. We do have to have blood run over our fingers as the Jews. It is by beholding Jesus hanging on the cross where by we can then be healed by His stripes. They belong to me and to you. When we recognize this then we understand the power of seeing His goodness. "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom. 2:4. It would be really good to spend time every day with Jesus that we might remember what great things He has done for us, even while we were yet sinners.

To this day, observant Jewish families around the world celebrate Passover, Pesach. They have what they call a "Passover Seder" ("Seder" means "order/arrangement") during which they recount the Exodus and then enjoy a special meal as a family. Amazing that this has been kept since, literally, the time of the Exodus! Only the seventh-day Sabbath, which observant Jews keep as well, goes back even farther into antiquity.

Sadly they most often receive no benefit from keeping this feast day. They do not accept the truth that their Messiah came and went. Many yet will repent and be born again of the Spirit. Like Nicodemus, they believe they are rich and increased with goods, but know not they are not entering heaven unless they love God with the whole heart. We need to encourage Jews to read Isaiah 53. If they want the truth as it is in Jesus, they need to explain these verses. If they ignore them, then they are willingly ignorant of truth God wants them to know.

Discussion Questions:

    How can we understand the "fairness" of the Lord in striking dead the firstborn, many of whom were surely "innocent"? How can we harmonize this with the powerful reality of God’s love? Think, too, of the Flood. How do we understand this?

We say they are surely innocent. How do we know this?  How many were innocent when God told Israel to slay, men, women, children, and animals? How many were innocent when God destroyed the world by flood? When God does something we know it is fair. We may not understand why, but we do know it is fair.  Was it fair for God to tell Abraham to sacrifice his son?  We have been given the answer, and it is up to us to explain that if there were innocents killed then why does God allow such things to happen to "good" people.

    What is the meaning of the symbolic saying that believers are covered by the blood of Jesus and that His blood cleanses them from all their iniquities?

It is the grace of God that saves us. When we accept Christ as our Savior and love Him with ALL of the heart, then the Holy Spirit takes possession of the heart and brings with Him the fruits of the Spirit and the ability to keep His commandments. We are only able to have this second chance of eternal life because Christ paid the price for our redemption. It was by His suffering that the price was paid. He had to suffer for every sin of every person in order for us to be transformed and saved. Thus when His blood ran down His face, His back, and His whole body, we are "healed by His stripes." This was Jesus taking our sins upon Himself and then taking the penalty that belonged to us to Himself. It is this unmerited favor that God took our sins that is able to forgive all who truly repent of their sins. More than this, He changes our character to reflect His character, His righteousness as long as we remain fully surrendered to Him.

    Read the following words: "The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must receive and assimilate the word of God so that it shall become the motive power of life and action. By the power of Christ they must be changed into His likeness, and reflect the divine attributes. … The spirit and work of Christ must become the spirit and work of His disciples."—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 278. How do we allow Christ to do in us what is written here?

Amen!! This is a most precious revelation made by the author of our lessons. How often to hear this: we "must be changed into His likeness, and reflect the divine attributes."  How do we allow Christ to do this? First we realize that if we are not changed into His likeness and reflect His divine attributes, we are none of His. If we are changed into His image, then we are filled with His Spirit. If we are not filled with His Spirit, we are none of His. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Rom 8:9. Over and over we answer the question as to how we are changed, how we are converted, how we allow God to run our lives instead of we ourselves following our own wisdom? 2 Cor. 3:18 tells us exactly what we must do. "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord."

By beholding His glory which is His character, by spending a thoughtful hour a day beholding the life of Jesus we will be changed into His image. His image is His character. The righteousness of Christ not only is imputed to all who are repentant, but His righteousness will also be imparted to us. As long as we abide in Jesus and the Spirit is in our heart, then we reflect His righteousness. Our filthy clothes have been removed and we are seen with His righteousness. This applies to the baby Christian as well as those who have been in the church longer. There is growth, but it all in the abundance of the fruit, not new fruits. All of the fruits are in the newly converted Christian because he has become a partaker of the divine nature of God. Yes, the third person of the godhead lives in the the heart that loves God supremely.