05A.08. The Passover

08 -- THE PASSOVER When it looked as though escape from the hand of Pharaoh for Israel was impossible, God said to Moses, "Tell the children of Israel to take a lamb without blemish, put it up on the 10th day of the month and on the 14th day kill it and take of the blood and sprinkle it upon the door post and on the lintel, and in that night I will pass through the land and destroy all the first born, and the blood shall be to you for a token and when I see the blood I will pass over you." They did as the Lord commanded and when the night arrived the only token they had of safety was the blood. But that was enough, for had not God said, "When I see the blood I will pass over you." And the angel who executed the judgment of God did not look for the name plate on the door, he noticed not whether it was a palace or hut, a mansion or hovel. He looked for the blood and when he saw that he passed over. Friend, when he passes your way he will not look for your church letter, your social, your political or your financial standing; he will look for the blood.

Every true Israelite had the blood of the Lamb upon his door on that memorable night long ago, and every true Christian has the blood of Christ upon his heart in the life that now is. Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr., has beautifully told this story of the ancient passover and of Christ, our paschal Lamb, in his poem, "The Blood Upon the Door."

"When the Lord pass’d over Egypt, There was weeping everywhere, For the angel smote the first-born Of each family dwelling there; But some houses he passed over, As his word had said before, And death entered not the portals, Where the blood was on the door.

"Not the blood of lambs or cattle, Sprinkled over any part, But the blood of Christ, the Savior, Can redeem a human heart, Then when death these ties shall sever, And we walk on earth no more, We may live with Christ forever, If His blood is on the door.

"Precious blood upon the door, Saving blood upon the door, O my soul, there is no danger, When the blood is on the door."

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