Living and Loving Being Passed Over

Are you rejoicing and happy to know that you have been passed over by God? For those who might not know what we're referring to from this passage of Scripture, being passed over by God might seem like a bad thing. But recognizing what it is that you've been passed over from is a glorious reality. We have been passed over by God in the execution of his wrath, his ultimate just judgment that we earned and deserved—the wages of sin being death. God is diligent to exact that upon those who do not believe. Yet in our case, with the blood of the ultimate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, God has passed over our sins. Technically, what we celebrate today is not Passover, but passed over—a thorough, accomplished, complete reality.

Charles Simeon said, "Whether we be Israelites feeding on the Paschal lamb, or Egyptians lying in our beds in thoughtless security, let us remember that the hour is fast approaching when God will put a difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Let the one rejoice in the safety which they enjoy under the blood sprinkled on their hearts, and let the other tremble at their impending danger from the sword of the destroying angel, and let all endeavor to realize the unavailing cries of God's enemies, and the joyful exaltations of his redeemed people. Oh terrible judgment, oh glorious deliverance, may God keep us from all, keep us all from hardening our own hearts, and stir us up to immediate compliance with the directions given us in the gospel."

The goal of this morning's message is to live in that reality of having been passed over. The purpose of this passage of Scripture is to live and love being passed over.

God's Sovereignty in the Context of Exodus

To establish context in the book of Exodus, we're familiar with this story—not from Hollywood, but from Scripture. Extending back into Genesis, God sovereignly placed the Israelites in Egypt to preserve and save them. Through Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, God showed grace and favor. Joseph ascended to second only to Pharaoh, and his wisdom preserved the Egyptians and ultimately the Israelites. What his brothers meant for evil, God meant for good—even using evil as an instrument of good.

Yet it seems strange: if God put them in Egypt to save them, why allow enslavement? Was that contrary to his intention? God's sovereignty didn't stop; it continued through enslavement. A Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph—the end of the Hyksos dynasty, a Semitic one, explaining initial harmony. But God raised up this Pharaoh who would enslave his people.

Romans 9:17-18: "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills."

God hardened Pharaoh's heart amid the plagues, which corresponded to Egypt's gods. God providentially ordained slavery to show his power and judge those gods. He is more concerned with his name and power being proclaimed than our comfort and security. God sovereignly displays power over his people and the superpower Egypt—like a chess player moving pieces for his glory. Scripture calls us to rejoice in that control: Do you rejoice in a God who sovereignly does with you as he pleases to proclaim his name and show his power?

After nine plagues, we see our first point: God's providence led to slavery.

God's Providence Led to Slavery

The Israelites' enslavement is difficult, especially with the tenth plague: judgment on everyone in the land of Egypt, including Israelites. This mind-boggling: God puts his people in slavery, then includes them in judgment. It teaches sober recognition that God is free to do as he pleases, and justice must be satisfied. We serve a God who requires his holy, righteous law's demands be met. Even with Israel's special favor, God does not pass over their sins due to favoritism. He will deal with their sins, pouring wrath as on Egyptians. Justice needs to be satisfied.

God's Providence Led to Salvation

What's the hope amid the death angel striking firstborn indiscriminately where requirements aren't met? God's providence led to salvation. He tells Moses and Aaron how to avoid judgment: take a lamb, slaughter it, put blood on doorposts (not threshold), eat it roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, in haste, girded, sandaled, staff in hand.

Hebrews 10:4: "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Yet those who obeyed were spared and delivered from Egypt, echoing New Testament salvation—trusting God consistently with his decree.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8: "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Christ instituted communion at Passover; he is our Passover. Celebrate not just in meal, but lifestyle: unleavened bread of sincerity (purity of motives) and truth (aletheia—not hiding anything). The road to hell is paved with sin, not good intentions. Live with pure motives: in communion, service, work, marriage, singleness. Truth means not hiding sin—coming to the light (Jesus) exposes deeds.

John 3:20: "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed."

Exodus 11:7: "But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel."

God distinguishes: blood on doorposts makes it visible. Add to faith uncommon character (virtue)—distinguishable like blood-marked doors. God knows hearts, but signs demonstrate his people.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19: "For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized."

In mixed groups (like Israel's exodus or church), divisions reveal the genuine.

God's Providence Led to Service

Requirements show service: share lamb evenly, splatter blood, roast whole (unmixed), with unleavened bread (unmixed from sin), bitter herbs (reminder of slavery's bitterness), eaten in haste, prepared to leave. Why obey after Pharaoh's resistance? Genuine trust God will deliver.

Alfred Edersheim said a nobler spectacle of faith is hard to conceive than the people's response: they bowed and worshipped. Knowing you've been passed over produces active holy worshipers. Lack of worship questions genuineness—no fooling God without blood.

In light of communion, three questions:

1. How sincere is your motive for taking communion? Not tradition, but recognizing sin's bitterness, celebrating with sincerity and truth.
2. Is there ongoing sin you are hiding? Confess directly to God; he cleanses.
3. Knowing you've been passed over, are you motivated to worship? Or just tradition? Let Jesus' work produce sincere worship.