WHEN WE BECOME "PASSOVERS"

January 8, 2006 pm
Mike Blume

  Scripture Text:

 
Exo 12:12-14 KJV  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  (13)  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.  (14)  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.


Exo 12:26-27 KJV  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?  (27)  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Jos 4:1-7 KJV  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,  (2)  Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,  (3)  And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.  (4)  Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:  (5)  And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:  (6)  That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  (7)  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

Jos 4:10-5:1 KJV  For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.  (11)  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.  (12)  And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:  (13)  About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.  (14)  On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.  (15)  And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,  (16)  Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.  (17)  Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.  (18)  And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.  (19)  And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  (20)  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.  (21)  And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?  (22)  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  (23)  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:  (24)  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.  (5:1)  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

  Message:



This familiar series of events occurred in Israel's history 40 years after God took them out of Egypt when PASSOVER occurred.
  • And an interesting fact that presents itself is that Joshua 4:19 states they came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month.
  • This was the precise same day, exactly 40 years ago, when something else was taken out.

Exo 12:1-3 KJV  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,  (2)  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  (3)  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

Joshua 4:(19)  And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  (20)  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. 

The PASSOVER lamb was "taken" on the tenth day of the first month.
  • The lamb was kept until the fourteenth day of the month to be slain and have its blood stricken onto the doorways of the Israelites;es homes in Egypt.

Exo 12:6 KJV  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Exo 12:7 KJV  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.


Notice how many times the term PASSED OVER is used in the texts.
  • Now we know the term PASSOVER referred to the Lord PASSING OVER the lamb's blood on the doorways to protect Israel from the death angel.
  • However, the PASSOVER lamb was taken from the flocks of Israel on the same day Israel passed over Jordan.
  • There is definitely an association of the people and the passover lambs.

It was the lamb and its blood that gave the victory to Israel.
  • Their obedience in slaying the lamb and using it's blood is what caused God to be magnified.

But their obedience would rise to new level altogether 40 years later when they would believe God enough to see God dry up the Jordan River, and ENTER THE PROMISED LAND.
  • The generation who came out of Egypt doubted God once they came to the borders of Canaan.
  • They feared the inhabitants of the land.
  • God became enraged and banished them into the wilderness for 40 years until they should die.
  • This day in Joshua saw them dead, and time arrived for their second chance to go into Canaan.
  • And this time, their obedience and faith caused them to become PASSOVERS.
  • It was so great a day and so remarkable was their obedience that LANDMARKS were established that day.

Since there were twelve tribes of Israel who crossed, twelve stones were to be put into the Jordan riverbed to replace twelve others tones taken from the riverbed and set up in Canaan.
  • In other words, this memorial would prove that God dried up the Jordan River and the people actually walked on DRY GROUND.
  • It was commemorate a miracle for generations to come!
  • And since the stones represented the people.. a stone for each tribe... we see a message that this people's faith and obedience SERVED AS A LANDMARK FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

We know that JESUS is our Passover.

1Co 5:7 KJV  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:


WE IDENTIFY WITH THE PASSOVER LAMB, just as Israel came up out of Jordan the same day the lamb was taken from the flocks, AND BECOME PASSOVERS OURSELVES -- in union with Jesus -- when we finally come to a place of faith wherein we can let God's power loose and let all the world know GOD IS MIGHTY!

Josh 4:(24)  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever. 

People need to know God is mighty.
  • He is mighty whether they know it or not.
  • But they cannot know unless YOU AND I  -- or someone in the Kingdom of God -- comes to a place of such obedience and faith, and has put away unbelief and doubt, that THEY LOOSE GOD'S POWER for people to see.

Frank Small had a powerful Jesus Name revival in the early 1900's for two solid years in this very city of Winnipeg, just a few blocks away from where we sit tonight.
  • Those people believed God and let their faith loose, and thereby let God's power loose.
  • And it is a landmark until this day!

Israel was such a reproach to God;'s name before this.

Not only did they doubt they could enter Canaan, but look what else happened.

Exo 32:25 KJV  And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

Num 16:1-3 KJV  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:  (2)  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:  (3)  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Num 16:28-33 KJV  And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.  (29)  If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.  (30)  But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.  (31)  And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:  (32)  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.  (33)  They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.


Similarly today people do not even recognize pastors over their lives in the church, as though they need no man over them.
  • But the bible plainly teaches:
Heb 13:24 KJV  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Heb 13:7 KJV  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

People who become passovers are not rebellious or doubters or idolators.
  • They come into true order in God and know how to believe and loose God;s power.

Joshua 4:(24)  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.  (5:1)  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

These kings feared God BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
  • Because of a people who became PASSOVERS.

God fought for them at the start:

Exo 14:14 KJV  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

But now we read:

The people passed over, the ark passover, tribes passed over and 40,000 men of war passed over.

Jos 4:13 KJV  About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

We now fight WITH THE LORD.

They let God appear as mighty to the world!

If we never get over our unbelief, and fear and rebellion in not allowing men of God to rule and guide our Christian lives, we will never become passovers.
  • Just as that generation had to die... there is something in our lives that still is with us form the time before we left Egypt.
  • UNTIL THAT DIES, we are not PASSOVERS.
  • Until that element is gone we do not truly unite to the Great Passover Jesus, and roll away the reproach of Egypt.

And monuments were set up representing the PEOPLE who became PASSOVERS.
  • We have passovers we can look back to.
  • People who allowed God to use them.
  • If He did it for them He can do it for us!
  • People who proved there is a wonder working God.

Jesus is a landmark passover!
  • No one will be greater than Him!
  • But we can IDENTIFY WITH HIM and experience a UNION WITH HIM in our lives when we let go of the fleshliness and doubt that hinders God from showing the world His power through us.
  • Let that die.
  • Roll away the reproach from Egypt.


The day they came out of Jordan was the day they encamped in Gilgal.
  • Gilgal means ROLLED AWAY.
  • The Hebrew language reads it as rolling rolling.
  • GALGAL.
  • But they spelled it GilGal, and the double idea of rolling means IT WAS COMPLETELY ROLLED AWAY.
  • ROLLING ROLLING.
  • It spoke of the reproach rolled away.
  • The young men born since Exodus were never circumcised.
  • They were unlike Egyptian men!
  • This had to be dealt with.
  • And it finally was when the older generation was gone and people believed God like they should have way back at the start.

People let go of things and then take them back.
  • They need to be rolled away totally and for good, and we need to truly be PASSOVERS.

Now, you do not passover Jordan unless you first believed Him enough to cast away fear and unbelief.
  • "Passovers" do not see giants as something they cannot defeat.

Joshua 5:1  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

UNTIL WE WERE PASSED OVER.
  • If I could use a play on words here, let me say God needs to work in our lives and we need to let go of unbelief UNTIL WE ARE PASSED OVER, and become PASSOVERS like the lambs whom God took and accomplished the first passover in Egypt, smashing the throne of Egypt itself!

It was then that Joshua saw an angel with a sword, and acted so different form the doubters 40 years before in challenging this stranger.

Get involved at the altar.
  • Get involved in worship.
  • Let go of fear, and let God be praised.
  • When people first come they WATCH worship instead of DO IT.
  • Time comes to get in on it, and worship like every man, woman and child should worship anyway.
  • And get involved in the work of God.

Let's become PASSOVERS and memorials.

The first passover was a memorial forever.
  • This time another memorial forever occurred that is strongly linked to the passover lamb... it was the day PEOPLE came out of Jordan as PASSOVERS just as the passover lambs were taken from the flocks to be used by God.

Exo 12:26-27 KJV  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?  (27)  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

When Israel passed over it also became a memorial for ever.

Joshua 4:21  And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?  (22)  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  (23)  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

Those lamb's lost their blood - the life of their flesh -- to be passovers.
  • Similarly these people LOST THEIR FEAR and UNBELIEF and all the other FLESHLY elements.
  • Blood is life of the flesh.
  • You are living sacrifices, passovers, when you let go of your self-life, spiritually speaking.