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Non-Traditional Seder for Believers in Messiah |
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Page 4 of 9
Setting the Stage
Leader:
Tonight we will re-create to some degree the First Passover
of the Nation of Israel when the Lord came down with an outstretched arm and
mighty signs and wonders to deliver His people from the slavery and bondage of Egypt.
Imagine that we are
now in the home of an average Hebrew family. We have already witnessed nine of
the ten terrible plagues God brought on the land
of Egypt.
We have suffered with Egypt
as the Nile River
was turned into Blood, and later as Frogs and Lice over ran the land in
unprecedented numbers.
We have witnessed the Lord demonstrate His judgment upon the
Egyptians, their Gods, and their
authority with plagues of Flies, Death of Cattle, Disease, Hail, Locusts, and
Deep Darkness. We have seen these things
come upon our oppressors, but they did not affect us, our homes, or our
possessions.
As a result of these truly awesome events, we are convinced
that the Lord is here, that He is speaking and working through the man Moses,
and that the Lord is truly for us and able to deliver.
It has been over a year since these plagues and events
began. Initially were feared the Egyptians more than the LORD, God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. At that time we could not even consider to make a blood
sacrifices of lambs to this God of Moses because we knew of how the Egyptians
despised these animals and we feared their wrath against us. This life of
slavery is not a good one, but it seemed better than a sentence of death at the
hand of the Pharaoh.
All that has changed -
We are prepared for today -
The final plague has been prophesied - actually it is the
first message that Moses gave to Pharaoh...."say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the
LORD says: Israel
is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship
me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn
son.'"
NIV Exodus 4:22-23
Now we are all Taking Lambs -
A Lamb for every House, A Lamb for every family.
We understand Covenants; we understand signs and symbols, because
we live in a land driven and governed by images, offerings, and ruthless
authorities both the seen and the unseen. This animal and this blood that we
have placed on our doorposts is an affront and a challenge to everything of Egypt.
We no longer fear them. There is another God in Egypt
- He has come for us and He will deliver us tonight.
When He comes through the Land killing all of the firstborn
He will come into our Homes. He will
Passover the threshold of the doorways that are marked with the sign of our
Covenant with Him.
It is Life and Death tonight, and Blood of this Lamb is the
Covenant of Life He has given to us, the redemption price of our firstborn. We
don't altogether know why He chose a Lamb, but we know that what He says
happens, we trust Him, and He is our only Hope.
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