In today's reading the Lord tells Moses, "I'm going to bring ONE MORE plague on Pharaoh, and then HE WILL LET YOU GO."
God had warned Pharaoh of this dreaded curse back in Ex 4 if he would not allow Israel to go. He told Pharaoh: “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My first-born: and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.” Exodus 4:22, 23
However, Pharaoh's heart had been hardened again and again. Now his son was to die. The only way the children of Israel could escape this plague was by killing a LAMB, and putting the blood on their doorposts. If there was blood on their doorposts, all in the house would be safe and the angel would pass over.
The blood obviously represents the righteousness of Christ -- it is our covering today just as it was for the children of Israel.
In the second portion of today's reading, in Matthew 22, we see a wedding feast. Many are invited, but few accept the invitation. Finally the chairs are filled and the banquet is ready to be served. But the master of the house comes in and finds someone without the wedding garment on. He's come in presumptuously, refusing to put on the "righteousness of Christ." He's not covered by the blood, and as a result, he has to be taken out. Unfortunately there are many today trying to attend the wedding feast but still seeking to come in their own works and merit rather than accepting the Righteousness of Christ.
This passage from 1st Selected Messages pg. 344 makes things so clear for me! We must have the blood covering! We must have on that wedding garment!
“Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world. The Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit’s striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart. The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but [notice the key difference here] passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God’s right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ’s propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned. Oh, that all may see that everything in obedience, in penitence, in praise and thanksgiving, must be placed upon the glowing fire of the righteousness of Christ. The fragrance of this righteousness ascends like a cloud around the mercy seat.”
Let's put on our wedding garment! Let's accept the covering of His blood. Without it we are lost!
*Note: A friend of mine did a beautiful comparison of the different aspects of that first Passover Service based on Patriarchs and Prophets. To read more of the symbolism behind Exodus 11 and 12, click here to download this short document.
Tomorrow's Reading: Exodus 13-14 and Matthew 23
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