Sabbath: Passover
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 26th of July 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Exodus 11:1-10, Micah 6:8, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Exodus 13:14-16, Hebrews 11:28.
Memory Text:
“ ‘And it shall be, when your children say to you, “What do you mean by this service?” that you shall say, “It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households” ’ ” (Exodus 12:26-27, NKJV).
The tenth and last plague is about to fall. The last warning is given; the final decision must be made. It’s truly a matter of life or death. Not only the life of an individual but the prosperity of families and the entire nation is at stake. Pharaoh and his officials will be responsible for the fate of many people, either for life or for death. Pharaoh’s attitude toward the living God of Israel will determine not just his future but that of his nation.
How do we feel, and what do we do, when the gravity of circumstances lies heavy upon us and we have to choose the next step and direction, a choice that can greatly impact the lives of many others besides ourselves?
God is more than willing to grant us wisdom, understanding, and power to do what is right (1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 2:13).
The problem, however, is that, in our own stubborn hearts, we don’t always want to do what is right. We know what it is, but we refuse to do it. In the account of the Exodus, one man’s refusal to submit to God, even in face of overwhelming evidence, brought tragedy upon many others besides himself, which is often how it works, anyway.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 2.
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The big message of the Passover is deliverance: deliverance from the tenth plague and deliverance from bondage into a nation lead by Jehovah. While we can make theological comparisons to our present situation where we look forward to freedom from bondage to sin and the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, we mustn't become so heavenly-minded that we forget there is a message for us living in the reality of modern oppression and control.
The Passover became an important symbolic ordinance that is still kept even by non-observant Jews, It is steeped in tradition with special foods, ceremonies, and readings from the Torah. The irony is that for many modern Jews, the symbolism has become more important than the principles they represent.
Seventh-day Adventists have inherited the Passover in the form of the Communion Service, and while the meaning was changed by Jesus, there is a danger of the symbolism becoming more important than the meaning. Our ultimate deliverance from the bondage of sin is meaningless if we ignore the oppression of those within our horizon of influence.
Matthew tells this little story:
We are not to forget that we are partners in the delivery business with Jesus.
Glad that you're back I'm one of those who read your comments each time I read our Sabbath school lesson, because you give more informations for me to understand more. Happy Sabbath and God bless you...
The tenth plague was the most devastating calamity that God caused upon the Egyptian people. It caused the greatest pain, sorrow, and sadness. It is truly remarkable to see how God can turn a tragic event into a symbol of salvation for the entire human race (the Passover lamb) . God gave firm instructions to the Hebrew community to remember this event (Exodus 12:26-27). God wanted this event to be a perpetual memorial for deliverance. For Christians today, the Lord’s Supper/Communion is the fulfillment of this memorial; Jesus instituted it during Passover (Luke 22:7–20). As we participate in the ordinance of humility, it is worth remembering its background and, by the grace of God, never to have the heart of Pharaoh.
Just as the lamb's blood saved the Israelites from death, Jesus’ blood saves believers from eternal judgment (1 Corinthians 5:7).
One of my favorite comics by Gary Larson shows a student attempting to open a door clearly labeled "pull" by pushing mightily with his full body weight, really leaning forward into it such that if the door suddenly opened by someone on the inside he’d be hit in the face! On the lawn is another sign with the school name, Midvale School for the Gifted.
This reminds me of pharaoh. He thought himself so smart, a god in fact. But he was ignoring the obvious that was right at eye-level for him, about to hit him between the eyes. These plagues dragged on for 40 days. He and his people were experiencing a lot of discomfort and trouble. A healthy flow of life had been disrupted.
Makes me wonder about my own life story, … maybe if a choice is taking so long, maybe if I find myself paralyzed with indecision, maybe if moving on with a rhythm seems increasingly difficult, maybe if I find myself being in a state of limbo for a long time, sometimes even a nightmarish state of limbo, …. Could this sometimes be signs telling me that I’m worshiping the wrong God? Holding pridefully onto my own rulership over my life.
Now I’m thinking of another showdown between God and the false god Baal on Mt Carmel (at first I wrote “Caramel”…haha, well it was a sticky situation!). Remember how the prophets of Baal tried all day to communicate with their god, cutting and harming themselves and suffering and ultimately failing to get their god to respond. While Elijah's prayer to the true God was answered immediately by fire from heaven. “Before you even call, I will answer” (Is. 65:24) is God’s style! God asked His people “‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). They didn’t answer. But not answering is a choice against God.
God is asking me to choose each moment between Him, the God who delivers me, and any other false god upon which I’ve placed my affections and by which I’m immobilized and hurting myself and others. Negotiating with God, sitting on the faith fence and keeping options open is not an option. Consider carefully, reason together, look at the signs of God’s power and mercy for the full number of days, but then choose without doubting (James 1:6) because there comes a time when avoiding the choice becomes idolatry (like Pharaoh told Moses he didn’t want to see him again, Ex. 10:28-29). God wants commitment, either leave Egypt to worship Him wholeheartedly, or stay in Egypt to worship defeated gods and die.
Thank you for the message
The Passover was instituted by God on the eve of the final plague in Egypt—the death of every firstborn. God instructed the Israelites to take a spotless lamb, slaughter it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintel of their houses (Exodus 12:5–7). That night, the Lord would pass through Egypt, striking down the firstborn in every house except those marked with the lamb’s blood. As God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:13, NIV). This act of obedience saved the Israelites and demonstrated their faith in God's promise.
God commanded that the Israelites remember this night every year as a lasting ordinance: “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance” (Exodus 12:14, NIV). During the Passover meal, they were to eat unleavened bread and roasted lamb, symbolizing both haste in their departure and the blood that spared them. The annual celebration served as a reminder of God's deliverance: “And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt…’” (Exodus 12:26–27, NIV).
Truly no man can ransom another. Psalms 49:7. The tenth plague was much of the beginning of the Israelites, dependence on God rather than man. We need Christ and Christ only as our guru. The problem with following earthly guru’s is we can be lead astray. God has promised even to get us over our stubbornness. We are to take our problems to the Lord in prayer; He knows our every weakness. In His arms He will take and shield us. We will find a refuge there. Do we have trouble with stubbornness, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Our choices impact not only ourselves but also the lives of those we love and those around us. God is always waiting for us with open arms; nevertheless, we are the ones to hinder His blessings.
Thank you, Pastor Maurice.
I have been changed because of the inspiring commitments you share on Sabbath School Net. After reading your posts, I pick up every word carefully—they truly help me continue on this spiritual journey. May the Lord bless you abundantly with good health and strength so you can keep sharing these uplifting and Spirit-filled messages. Your words are a light to many, and I pray that God continues to use you as a vessel for His truth and love.
It's interesting that, God already set this day as a memorial for Israel to keep throughout the ages (Exodus 12:1-4). God who knows the end from the beginning and beginning from the end, is so clear - Pharaoh is crushed; his resistance is futile.
For Satan, this is also a reality, and he knows.
But, what of us today, do we know that God's victory is already secure? Do we know that God has already prepared a feast for this victory over Sin and Death? Where is our trust in God? Where is our obedience to God? God shares his victory with us, if we just accept; if we just believe and trust Him; if we just obey and surrender to Him.