Bible Memory Verse – Exodus 12:2 Context (1/20/2019)
Exodus 12:2
“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”
What’s going on?
Do you remember the story of the burning bush? That’s where the angel of the Lord came down to talk with Moses in the form of a burning bush. The angel of the Lord spoke to Moses as if He were God Himself. He told Moses that he was going to use him to save his people from the slavery and oppression that they were under from the Egyptian Pharaoh. God did this through a series of 10 plagues. These plagues were an all-out assault on the known little “g” gods of the time. In fact, the 10th plague was even directed at Pharaoh himself – the Bible calls this event the Passover because anyone who had given their faith and allegiance to God was passed over and spared the death of their firstborn child. Sounds harsh, I know, but God was taking out His justified vengeance on the people that oppressed His people for 400 years. These Egyptian people were directly opposed to Yahweh God and were choosing to serve other little “g” gods – click here for more information on that.
So, after the 10th plague, which we call the Passover, God does something interesting. Instead of Pharaoh giving in like we would expect, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart again so that he still wouldn’t let the Israelite people go! And this is where our memory verse picks up in the story. These are the words that God said to Moses and Aaron, leaders of the Israelite people, after the completion of the Passover:
“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”
Interestingly, at this point, even though the Israelites are still under Pharaoh’s thumb, God decided to give instructions to His people on how to celebrate and remember that God delivered them from Egyptian slavery. It strikes me that God was so confident that He could free His people, that He’s already sending out the party invitations!
Well, the writer of Exodus tells us that Pharaoh finally gives in and lets the Israelites free. This was a new beginning for them. It was a new chapter in their history, and God wanted to make sure they wouldn’t forget it. To this day Jewish people celebrate the Passover, but it’s not in January.
So why are we talking about it?
Well, for us the month of January is the beginning of a new year. It can symbolize a new beginning. So when you read this verse, read it as if God were speaking to you, wanting you to remember what He has done in your life, and reminding you of the crazy amazing future that He has planned for those of us who believe and are loyal to Him.