Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Verse 2 Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for His Name.
While it was important for the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, it was also important how they celebrated. The verses we read today were given so the people had no questions about what God was requiring. As God was giving His people rules and regulations for the rest of their lives, He wanted them to remember the reason why these steps were necessary for remembering the truth of the Passover.
Passover started with a sacrifice. It wasn’t a normal sacrifice as the animal was roasted whole, making sure none of the bones were broken. This sacrifice was to remind them of God making a way for them to be rescued. They would remember the blood around the doorframe marking them as God’s obedient people. It wasn’t a frivolous holiday to be celebrated but a night and week of remembrance.
This passage also tells us some deeper meanings behind the bread made without yeast. There was a need to hurry and be ready on that first Passover and so it was important not to add the yeast and have to wait for it to rise. Bread without yeast may have taken some getting used to, unlike having cake to celebrate a birthday, they were celebrating with something which wasn’t as tasty as they were used to. Our key verse today goes as far as calling it the bread of affliction. They weren’t eating this bread because it is what they wanted, but because of what was required. Not only could they have no yeast in their bread, they couldn’t have it in the home for those 7 days.
The other piece of the menu isn’t given much thought but was important for them to remember. Bitter herbs don’t sound good to most people but were a great way for the people of God to remember their bitter times of slavery. God wanted them to remember what He had brought them out of.
Another element which would be different when they reached the Promised Land was the place they were to roast and eat the meal. During the first Passover the sacrificed animal had to be eaten in the home and they weren’t to leave until morning, in the new land God was giving them He was also going to give them a place to celebrate. They were to observe it together where God decided and then they were to go home in the morning. God had called them out as more than individual families, He called them out to be His nation, united in and through Him.
Making It Personal
What events in your life help you celebrate God? What about those events make you think of Him? How often do you celebrate God’s work in your life?
Making It Personal Kids
What types of things make you want to celebrate Jesus? Why do they make you want to celebrate Him? Do you celebrate Him often?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for commanding us to celebrate Your faithfulness. Give us eyes to see all the ways You work in our lives, designing details which will bring You great glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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