Bitter herbs – Preaching
Preaching Outline Exodus 12:8 – And that night they shall eat meat roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread; they shall eat it with bitter herbs.
Theme: The tried and tested Church
Introduction to Exodus 12:8
Chapter 12 of Exodus recounts the guidelines given by God for the departure of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt towards Canaan.
Israel was enslaved there. The worst service was reserved for them.
They had a promise to return to their homeland. Humanly speaking, this was impossible and they didn’t know how that promise would be fulfilled.
They lived through the daily struggle of working under Pharaoh’s whip.
THE PROMISE
God calls Moses and speaks to him: “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt…”(Exodus 3:7) “Therefore I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians“(Exodus 3:8).
From then on, it was time for the people to leave Egypt.
They prepared themselves according to the Lord’s instructions. They had to be careful to faithfully fulfill the ordinances they had received for the night of their departure.
Each family had to immolate a lamb that was perfect, a year old, its blood smeared on the doorposts and lintels and eaten roasted over the fire. The command was to eat all the parts, without choice, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Dressed according to the Lord’s instructions, they would eat in haste.
Alongside so many ordinances and details for the departure, there was a great blessing: those who were faithful to God’s determinations would be freed from Pharaoh’s yoke, from death, they would depart to life.
A SIMILAR MOMENT TO THE ONE WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY
Similar to the moment the people of Israel lived through, we are living through it today.
We are heading towards eternity. We are preparing for the time of departure. There are guidelines determined by the Lord. It’s a difficult time.
The world in darkness. Tricks and difficulties surround us, but the Lamb is with us.
His precious blood has been poured out for us, and it has been passed on to us, whenever we cry out for it. It has been passed on in our homes. We have been able to live wonderful moments in this work, living as part of the body.
We have gathered as a family, fed ourselves, rejoiced in communion with our brothers and sisters. We have partaken of the blessings of salvation, healing and deliverance. And also eaten the bitter herbs.
Just as Israel had a promise of life when they went out, we too have a promise of life. Let’s go out into life.
Conclusion of Exodus 12:8
We have the light of the Lord.
We are aware, as Israel, of where we are coming from and where we are going.
There is, however, a spice for this moment: bitter herbs. Without them we would feel like we were in heaven. They are the obstacles, the struggles, the illness, things that are often beyond our reach. But the light is upon us. Shining on us. We have the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the gifts, the Lord speaking to us.
- You shall eat everything with bitter herbs: the lamb, the unleavened bread; with bitter herbs.
- The moment in which we are living is in every way similar to the moment Israel experienced when it left Egypt.
- We have a direction, a destination, a path to follow.
- Jesus, the Lamb, is present with us, but seasoning is part of this moment.
- They are the bitter herbs, the afflictions and struggles we face.
The Lord wants to speak to us, to warn us that at this time, when we are preparing to leave this world for the heavenly Canaan, alongside the great wonders we participate in every day, we also have to eat the bitter herbs.
So when we eat them, let’s never forget that there is a promise of life over us, which is eternal life.
Just as Israel came out of Egypt obeying the Lord’s instructions, heading for Canaan, the Church is heading for the heavenly Canaan. The Holy Spirit will go up with the Church.
While we wait for this glorious moment, enjoying the Lamb present, we eat bitter herbs, knowing that we have a promise of life upon us.
Preaching Outline Exodus 12:8 – And that night they shall eat meat roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread; they shall eat it with bitter herbs.
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