When God Passes Over
Exodus 11:4-7; 12:7, 13
This is an Old Testament picture of salvation. The blood of a spotless lamb protects and delivers God’s people. They were freed from Egypt and sent to the Promised Land.
Centuries later, Jesus, the Lamb of God, did the same for all mankind. His blood, spilled at Calvary, purchased our salvation.
If you are not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, you are yet in your sins and you are bound for hell.
When judgment cam to Egypt, God passed over the Israelites. When judgment comes on this world – humanity – God will see the blood of Christ and pass over us.
This seems to be a pattern with God. He loves to pass over.
In the account of the plagues on Egypt, when we get to the 4th plague, we notice something new. God sent flies to infest the homes of the Egyptians. But look at verse 22!
Exodus 8
22 And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth.
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: by to-morrow shall this sign be.
The plague did not come near them.
Then again, the 5th plague was disease upon the livestock. And again –
Exodus 9
4 And the Lord shall make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belongeth to the children of Israel.
He makes a distinction with His people.
Again, the 7th plague – large hailstones destroying everything they hit. But in the Land of Goshen where the Jews lived –
Exodus 9
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
And finally, the 10th and last plague – the death of the firstborn – God again protected His people and passed over them.
But, there are other instances.
God rescued Noah from the flood.
He rescued Lot form the destruction of Sodom.
And He has promised to rescue us from the Great Tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 5
9 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hell was not made for you. Do not visit there.
When God poured out His judgment, His people were exempt. When He had to discipline His people, He generally sent them into bondage.
That is typical – when we disobey and dishonor God, we always find ourselves in bondage to something. God has promised always to redeem us.
The wicked will suffer eternity in hell, but we will be cleansed by fire and preserved for everlasting life.
AS we progress toward the end of time, we see the enemy’s activity increasing. His lashing out against the church is getting more blatant. There may be some tough times ahead. But always remember, God will pass over His people in this judgment. He has a special judgment for the church, but it is not anything like the one that the world is in store for.
Mark 5
36 But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.
Luke 12
7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.