“The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.”
Context:Exodus 34:18 is part of the account of Moses receiving the second set of stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments from God. The first set was destroyed when Moses, upon descending from Mount Sinai, found the Israelites worshiping the golden calf they had made. In this verse, God instructs Moses to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast was an important event in the Jewish religious calendar, celebrated annually during the month of Abib (later known as Nisan), which corresponds roughly to our March-April. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed immediately after the Passover and lasted for seven days, during which the people were to eat only unleavened bread.
Key Themes:
- The Feast of Unleavened Bread: This feast was a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites had to leave Egypt after the final plague (the death of the firstborn). They had no time to let their bread rise, so they baked unleavened bread. Symbolically, the removal of leaven (which represents sin and corruption) from their homes emphasized the importance of holiness and obedience to God’s commands.
- Obedience and Remembrance: God commanded the Israelites to keep this feast as a perpetual ordinance to remember their deliverance from Egypt and their status as a redeemed people. Obedience to God’s instructions in observing this feast demonstrated their faithfulness to God and their acknowledgment of His saving power in their lives.
Spiritual Lessons:
- Remembering God’s Deliverance: Just as the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a way for the Israelites to remember their redemption from slavery in Egypt, as Christians, we should also regularly recall and celebrate the salvation and deliverance we have through Jesus Christ. We should never forget how God has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) and continually give thanks for His saving grace.
- The Symbolism of Leaven: Leaven in the Bible often represents sin and pride. The unleavened bread signifies purity and humility. As we partake in this feast’s significance, it serves as a reminder for us to continually examine our hearts, repent of our sins, and strive to live a holy and sanctified life before God.
- Obedience and God’s Commands: God’s instructions to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread were not given lightly. Obedience to God’s commands brings blessings and deeper intimacy with Him. As Christians, we are also called to obey God’s Word and live according to His precepts, finding joy in doing so.
- Grace and Redemption: Just as the Israelites were delivered from slavery through the blood of the Passover lamb, we have been redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Feast of Unleavened Bread points us to the ultimate fulfillment of redemption in Christ, who is the sinless Bread of Life (John 6:35).
