Beginning with vs.14 of Exodus 12, and continuing to the end of chapter 13, we find there is so much emphasis on remembering, recollecting the event of the Passover. The Israelites were to constantly, not just once a year, but every day of their lives, keep it in their minds. For instance, in chapter 13:9 they were told that they shall keep it as a sign on their hand and as a reminder on their forehead. So, in vs.16 we read, So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”
This is another reason for the putting on of the phylacteries which observant Jews do every morning (except Shabbat) when they pray. In the book of Deuteronomy, the reason for putting these on was to remember the Word of God and right here we read that it was specifically to remember the Passover, every single day. This is how central the Passover and the Messiah are in the Bible.
The phylacteries, or in Hebrew, tefillin are composed of two main items. First, we have two small, cubelike leather boxes that are called in Hebrew battim, meaning houses. One of those boxes is to be worn on the arm facing the heart. The other one was placed on the forehead. These boxes contain passages from the Shema prayer found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 along with 3 other Torah portions (from Ex. 13:1-10, 13:11-16, and Deuteronomy 11:13-21).
Here the LORD reminds them each day to remember the Passover and how the lamb of God saved them. How wonderful is it that every religious Jew is reminded every morning of the works of the Lamb of God? They should be reminded of this so that the story of Yeshua should not come as such a shock to them.
Along with this commandment to remember, there are so many other reminders within this section of Exodus 12 & 13. Reading it, we are surprised by its persistence. Beginning with vs.14 for the first time in the Bible, we encounter the word memorial, zikaron from the word zakar, to think, to meditate, to remember. We are told at the end of the verse that it is permanent, that is olam, that it is an eternal ordinance, and this is repeated two more times; in vss. 17 & 24.
Furthermore, throughout this account, the Israelites were told three times to tell, to remind their children of this great story (12:26, 13:8, 13:14). And to their daily reminder was added a yearly seven-day celebration of Unleavened Bread. Three times, they were reminded to celebrate this yearly feast for seven days. We see this in vss.15, 19 and in 13:6, 7. But why seven days? One rabbinical commentator said that the seven days represent the seven decades of life (Abarbanel / Carasik) as Moses said that it is given to man to live 70 years, and if strong, 80 and longer. This commentator saw these 7 days as a constant reminder of the passing of time in our lives.
But there is something very unusual here. The focus of the memorial is not on the lamb, but on something else. It is on leaven as we see this mentioned throughout the rest of the chapter and on into the next one. As if to remind us that while we have salvation through the Lamb, sin is still so present around us.
Let us look at the word leaven. There are two words in Hebrew used to describe this ingredient.
The first Hebrew word for leaven is seor and it is from the root sahar or sehet which means to boil up, to swell, as sin is never at rest and always seeks to grow, to ferment and seeks to take over. There is another word for leavened; the word is hametz and this one speaks of what is sour, or bitter. It is the same word used for vinegar. It is used to describe the ruthless man in Psalm 71:4. It is related to the word hamas, that is, to act violently (Genesius).
From the meaning of these words, the rabbis understood the negative evil symbolism of leaven and also correlated it to sin. In one prayer in the Talmud, one said, “The impulse to evil in humankind acts (like leaven) as a fermenting and corrupting agent. B. Berakhoth 17a.
In contrast, the word unleavened, matzah, what they were supposed to eat, describes that which is sweet and delightful. It is used in Isaiah 66:11 in picturing an infant feeding and being fully satisfied and delighted in God. And so, reading this maze, we are faced with such contrasting images; one of chaos and one of peace and harmony.
And while there are so many things in these chapters of Exodus 12 & 13, there is one great passage to examine. The passage is found in Exodus 13: 21-22. It is about this miraculous cloud which followed Israel throughout their 40-year journey.
See this great promise. The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. After Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the Lord not only saved them, but He stayed with them, all the time, 24 hours a day. We are told that during the day, there was a cloud right above them to guide and during the night, there was a pillar of fire, right above them to guide and protect. It was as if the Passover had never ended during those 40 years when we remember that the word Pesah also means to protect.
But this is a beautiful picture of the protection we have in God once one believes and confesses that Yeshua is his or her Savior. Notice that the cloud was given to them right after they applied the blood of the lamb and until they reached the promised land. Just like a believer who, once he accepts Yeshua is sealed with the Spirit of God until we reach our eternal abode when we will be with Him forever. And so, as the cloud led the Israelites, so we are told that, As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom. 8:14
Notice as well that the pillar of fire by night was there to give them light. But it is the Spirit of God who gives us light as Yeshua prayed when He promised His Rouah Ha Kodesh and says that He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). And later will see that the Lord spoke through the cloud as the Spirit of God also speaks to us; to each one of us in a most tailored way.
But now who was there in the cloud protecting and guiding Israel? This is when we go right to Exodus 14:19 where we read The Angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. The Angel of God is another name for the Angel of Jehovah which is a theophany, that is, a physical manifestation of God. He is the One who was in the Burning Bush. What is clear is that the Angel of Jehovah is not a common, ordinary angel, but is a unique being, who is a visible manifestation of God Himself and any bodily manifestation of God is Yeshua Himself for it is written: No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18
Click Here for the Teaching The Book of Exodus, Sermon 11: Life without Leaven