The passover powerfully symbolized God's claim on Israel. Because Pharaoh would not free God's firstborn son, Israel, God in judgment claimed the firstborn son in the house of Pharaoh, and in evert other family of Egypt. We might think that Israel did not face such threat, but the angel of death was sent to bring judgment on every Israelite home as well. In the ceremonial law given to Israel later, the first fruit of the harvest and firstborn of the stock was viewed as representative of all the rest. God put His claim upon it to signify that all belonged to him. God could claim every creature as His own.
Secondly, we see that all sinful creatures stand under the judgment of God. The infliction of the judgment on the firstborn would present the penalty due to all. If God in His righteousness were to exact this penalty from the sinful Egyptians, Israel could not be spared as well for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Israel as well as Egypt.
God's justice upon the sin of man must be met. A lamb without blemish was to be killed and its blood put on the lintel and doorposts of a house; the angel of death seeing the blood would passover that household. The blood showed that death had taken place. The lamb had died in place of the oldest son and therefore also in the place of others represented by the oldest son. Israel was not freed just from the burden of bondage but also from the guilt of sin. Their eating of the lamb marked the restored fellowship with God that comes from the atonement God provides. They were to eat the passover in their traveling clothes because God's promise is sure.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate passover lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Through Him, God claimed us sinners as His precious possession. He is our passover, sacrificed for us. Our meal of fellowship with God is His communion feast. The whole story points to Christ.
Several thousand years later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about the 'exodus' He had to accomplish at Jerusalem. He who was offered as the sacrificial lamb was also the Savior and Liberator. He came to proclaim liberty to the captive, and He broke the ultimate yoke of bondage to liberate all the people of God.
Refences:
Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery
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