Let’s dive in.
According to Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, as the time approached for the Israelites' redemption from Egyptian slavery, a dilemma arose. They hadn't accumulated enough good deeds to merit their freedom! So, what did God do? He gave them two commandments: to sacrifice the paschal lamb (the Passover lamb), and to circumcise their sons.
And there’s more. With the paschal lamb came the Jewish calendar, its year beginning with the month of Nisan, in which Passover is celebrated on the fifteenth day. The computations, however, were so complex that Moses couldn't grasp them until God revealed the movements of the moon to him. Ginzberg's retelling highlights that the intricacies of the calendar weren't the only thing that required divine intervention. Compounding the holy anointing oil, constructing the candlestick in the Tabernacle, and distinguishing between permitted and prohibited animals also needed God's direct teaching.
The determination of the new moon, the Rosh Chodesh, warranted special attention. God, as the story goes, appeared to Moses in a fringed garment, instructed Moses to stand at His right and Aaron at His left, and questioned the angels Michael and Gabriel about the appearance of the new moon. Then, God told Moses and Aaron, "Thus shall My children proclaim the new moon, on the testimony of two witnesses and through the president of the court." Imagine that scene for a moment.
When Moses told the Israelites that their redemption would occur in the month of Nisan, they were skeptical. "How can we be redeemed when Egypt is full of our idols, and we have no good deeds to our name?" they asked. Moses reassured them, saying, "God desires your redemption, and He pays no heed to your idols. He passes them by. Nor does He look upon your evil deeds, but only upon the good deeds of the pious among you."
The key, it seems, was abandoning idol worship. That's why God commanded them to sacrifice the paschal lamb. This act was a clear renunciation of Egyptian idolatry, particularly the worship of the ram. According to the lore, they were instructed to select their sacrificial animal four days before the offering and publicly designate it, a bold statement that they no longer feared the Egyptians.
Can you imagine the tension? The Egyptians watched, hearts heavy, as the Israelites prepared to sacrifice the very animals they worshipped. Yet, they dared not interfere. And when the time came, the Israelites, emboldened by days of unchallenged preparation, performed the ceremonies without fear.
Another act of defiance involved the blood of the lamb. The Israelites openly put it on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. This wasn’t just any ritual; it was a public declaration. Moses conveyed the laws of the Passover sacrifice to the elders, who then shared them with the people. The elders were praised for their early support of Moses, their faith inspiring the entire nation to follow him. God recognized their role, saying, "I will reward the elders for inspiring the people with confidence in Moses…They shall lead the people to the Passover sacrifice, and through this the redemption will be brought about."
The symbolism of the Passover sacrifice is rich. The blood on the doorposts, according to Ginzberg, was a reminder of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The bunch of hyssop used to sprinkle the blood symbolized Israel's humble position among nations, yet their unity and preciousness to God, just like the tightly bound hyssop.
The paschal sacrifice also presented Moses with an opportunity to persuade the Israelites to undergo circumcision, a commandment many had resisted. God intervened with a divine fragrance. A wind carried the sweet scents of Paradise toward Moses' lamb, drawing crowds from all over Egypt. When they desired to partake in the offering, Moses declared, "This is the command of God, 'No uncircumcised person shall eat thereof,'" leading them to embrace circumcision.
Finally, when God passed through Egypt, He blessed every Israelite for fulfilling the commandments of the paschal sacrifice and circumcision.
And there’s a final, almost unbelievable detail. As no sacrifice is to be eaten outside the Holy Land, God performed a miracle: transporting all the Israelites to the Holy Land on clouds to partake in the sacrifice, and then returning them to Egypt in the same manner.
So, what does this all mean for us today? The story of the first Passover is more than just a historical event; it's a testament to faith, courage, and the power of divine intervention. It reminds us that even when we feel unworthy or surrounded by challenges, God can create opportunities for redemption. It challenges us to consider what "idols" we need to abandon in our own lives and what acts of faith we can embrace to move closer to freedom and purpose.