Also, you are to eat it this way: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is Adonai’s Passover.

―Exodus 12:11

The Israelites were to make themselves ready for God’s deliverance of them. On the night of Passover, they were to eat their meal in haste, prepared to leave at any moment the Lord called them into their freedom. When it came time to go, they didn’t have time for their bread to rise but took it with them as it was, unleavened.

What a vivid picture their readiness is for our lives as Believers today. Several times in the New Covenant God instructs us to be ready.

Ready to explain to others the reason for the hope we have in God.

Instead, sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you

―1 Peter 3:15

Ready to share the Good News that Yeshua paid the price for our sin and set us free to eternal life.

Proclaim the word! Be ready to preach the word, when it’s convenient and when it’s not.

―2 Timothy 4:2

Ready for Yeshua’s return for us.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.

―John 14:3

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect.

―Luke 12:40

Lord, thank You for all that You have done for me. You have delivered me from slavery to sin, and have freed me to abundant life, the protection of Your Lordship, and to freely worship You and walk in who You designed me to be. Because of Yeshua, I can know Your freely given love. Help me to live in readiness for You – ready to be used by You, to share with others the hope and good news You have given me. May I be ever ready for Your return when You will make our freedom complete!

Get the informative Passover Seder Plate Infographic!

Learn more about Passover, here: 

Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb – Passover Devotional 1

He Heard the Cry of Our Affliction – Passover Devotional 2

When I See the Blood – Passover Devotional 3

With Outstretched Arm – Passover Devotional 4

If God Had Not – Passover Devotional 5

Free Indeed – Passover Devotional 6

Freed to Serve A Good Master – Passover Devotional 7

Living Ready – Passover Devotional Day 8

Then Adonai said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him: This is what Adonai says: ‘Let My people go, so they may serve Me.

―Exodus 7:26

When God called His people out of Egypt and into freedom, it wasn’t to a freedom without purpose or parameters. He called them to be a people unto Himself. No longer would they serve Pharaoh who did not have their best interest at heart. God called them into freedom through serving, following, and worshipping Him. They were to serve God who had promised to give them a land for themselves that was good and abundant.

True freedom is that which creates an environment for us to live fully as we were designed. We have been designed to know and worship God, who is the only One deserving of our praise and devotion. The apostle Paul wrote much about our freedom in Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, yet he called himself His bondservant. Paul seemed to have a clear understanding that serving God is freedom.

But now, having been set free from sin and having become enslaved to God, you have your fruit resulting in holiness. And the outcome is eternal life.

―Romans 6:22

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

―Matthew 11:29-30

Father, thank You that You know what true freedom is for me. Thank You that in serving and worshiping You, I become free. Thank You for Your love. You are a good Master, and You have put the protection of Your Lordship over me. I will gladly serve You all the days of my life. I worship You, Yeshua. You are the perfect Lamb of God who purchased my freedom through Your death and resurrection.

Get the informative Passover Seder Plate Infographic!

Learn more about Passover, here: 

Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb – Passover Devotional 1

He Heard the Cry of Our Affliction – Passover Devotional 2

When I See the Blood – Passover Devotional 3

With Outstretched Arm – Passover Devotional 4

If God Had Not – Passover Devotional 5

Free Indeed – Passover Devotional 6

Freed to Serve A Good Master – Passover Devotional 7

Living Ready – Passover Devotional Day 8

The Ruach [Spirit] of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed Me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor

―Isaiah 61:1-2a

God is in the business of setting captives free. When Moses spoke God’s message to the Hebrews in Egypt, they knew their deliverance had finally come. When Isaiah spoke the words of the Scriptures above to the Jewish people captive in Babylon, it gave them hope. They would be free!

Yeshua (Jesus) became our Passover Lamb in fulfillment of the prophetic picture of Passover. Likewise, when He began His ministry on Earth, He announced to His people the fulfillment of the words Isaiah spoke referring to Israel’s physical captivity in Babylon.

God was faithful to release Israel from their physical bondage to various nations in their ancient history, and Yeshua came to set us free from spiritual slavery to sin, a bondage leading to an eternal captivity. And while He proclaimed liberty to the captives, Yeshua also declared that this freedom would be unlike any other. Yeshua told us that the life He came to give us was abundant and that if He sets us free, we are truly free. He gave us His Spirit so that we could walk in life and freedom (John 6:63).

I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!

―John 10:10

Yeshua answered them, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!

―John 8:36

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Ruach Adonai (Spirit) is, there is freedom.

―2 Corinthians 3:17

Father, thank You for giving me complete freedom and abundant life through Your Son, Yeshua. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit to dwell within me to help me walk in that freedom and know the fullness of life You have given me.

Get the informative Passover Seder Plate Infographic!

Learn more about Passover, here: 

Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb – Passover Devotional 1

He Heard the Cry of Our Affliction – Passover Devotional 2

When I See the Blood – Passover Devotional 3

With Outstretched Arm – Passover Devotional 4

If God Had Not – Passover Devotional 5

Free Indeed – Passover Devotional 6

Freed to Serve A Good Master – Passover Devotional 7

Living Ready – Passover Devotional Day 8

On the eve of week-long Passover and Easter observances — and with obvious calculation — the Islamic State (ISIS) has intensified its terror attacks.

ISIS sent suicide bombers into two Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday, killing at least 45 worshippers. The attacks were coordinated and clearly intended to cause maximum carnage and fear for followers of Yeshua (Jesus) during this holy week.

Meanwhile, ISIS has also claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on southern Israel, launched from Sinai on Monday. One person apparently suffered shock, but no other injuries were reported.

The rocket attack came as Jews all across Israel were preparing for Passover and shortly after the Israeli government closed its side of the Taba border crossing, between the resort town of Eilat and Egypt, due to concerns over possible terrorist attacks targeting tourists.

For the last few weeks, Israeli intelligence has warned citizens and been on guard noting the possibility of increased attacks during Passover week. The Times of Israel reported on Sunday that the Israeli Counter-Terrorism Bureau encouraged Israelis not to travel to the Sinai Peninsula, where the Islamic State is in a bloody conflict with Egyptian security forces and carries out attacks against civilians.

These two attacks show the undeniable cynicism and deeply rooted evil that guide the expanding worldwide threat of radical Islamic terrorism.

The latest on Syrian chemical attack

Following up on last week’s Middle East Update, the Israeli government is said to be considering if and how it might bring Syrian children hurt in last week’s chemical weapons attack to Israel for treatment.

While Israel has helped thousands of Syrians wounded in the nation’s 6-year civil war, it has treated only those who can make it to the Golan Heights border. Reaching out to children wounded in the gas attack far inside the border would be difficult and mark a shift in policy.

Israel says that since 2013, it has quietly treated 3,000 Syrians who were spirited across the border by the Israeli military for medical treatment at Israeli field hospitals and medical centers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said there has been no vote on the matter and it was only being explored.

Netanyahu was outspoken in his support of U.S. airstrikes last Thursday on the airfield where the Syrian chemical attack was allegedly launched. Before his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday he said, “Israel fully supports the American attack on Syria.” He added that “they did this . . . to make it clear that there is a price for using chemical weapons.”

Pray for Israel during this special week of Passover and Easter

It’s difficult to watch as terrorists use Passover and Easter observances to multiply the deadly impact of their attacks. But we must stand strong for our fellow believers in Yeshua—and for those we wish to bring to salvation in His name. Prayer is a vital weapon in the war against evil.

As we approach Good Friday, then Resurrection Sunday, and the closing days of Passover, please pray for Jewish people who are in harm’s way. There’s great urgency to reach them with the Gospel.

And, as you pray, I hope you’ll consider making a gift to Jewish Voice. Your generosity, and that of other caring followers of Yeshua, make this ministry to Jewish people possible. We deeply appreciate your support of the work God has called us to.

To thank you for your gift of $40 or more today, we’ll send you a revealing — and encouraging — package of gifts. Kamal Saleem is a former terrorist who is now a follower of Yeshua. His two DVDs, “Unveiling the Ugly Truth” and “Unveiling the Beautiful Truth” address the rising threat of radical Islam and provide you significant how-tos for reaching the Muslim people with the Gospel of Yeshua. Presented along with General Jerry Boykin and Tom Doyle, these two DVDs are valuable tools during these times we’re living in.


 

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“If God had not delivered us, we would still be slaves.”
―Passover Seder

Without God’s intervention, the Jewish people in Egypt had no hope of freedom. They were powerless against their captivity. They would have remained in their oppression and continued to face the heartless disregard for their humanity, needs, and dreams. But God stepped in, declaring His love for His people, rescuing them out of their slavery to Pharaoh, and setting them free.

Likewise, God initiates our salvation. He is the One who saw our need and stretched out His hand to meet it. He sent Yeshua (Jesus), our Passover Lamb, to die in our place. God came to our rescue. If not for His intervention, we would remain in our sin, unable to have fellowship with God.

God is good. He is light, and He is love. If God had not delivered us, we would not know Him as these spirit-filling need-meeting, soul-quenching characteristics. We would still be slaves to sin, obeying its power to lead us away from our good God and into things that cannot satisfy our true and deepest needs. But God stepped in, declaring His love for us, rescuing us out of our slavery to sin, and setting us free.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

―Romans 5:8

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua. For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and death.          

―Romans 8:1-2

Thank you, Father, for rescuing me out of slavery to sin so that I can know Your deep love. Thank You for wanting me to have life, which comes from reconciled fellowship with You. You are so good! Thank You, Yeshua, for dying to give me life!

Get the informative Passover Seder Plate Infographic!

Learn more about Passover, here: 

Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb – Passover Devotional 1

He Heard the Cry of Our Affliction – Passover Devotional 2

When I See the Blood – Passover Devotional 3

With Outstretched Arm – Passover Devotional 4

If God Had Not – Passover Devotional 5

Free Indeed – Passover Devotional 6

Freed to Serve A Good Master – Passover Devotional 7

Living Ready – Passover Devotional Day 8

I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Adonai your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. So I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and give it to you as an inheritance. I am Adonai.”

―Exodus 6:6-8

The Hebrew people endured hundreds of years as slaves to Pharaoh. They may have wondered if He even remembered them and His covenant to their forefathers. He must have seemed very far off. But then, He came to them. With an outstretched arm, He came to their rescue, delivering them out of slavery to Egypt. When they felt far off, He brought them near. It was the beginning of a new and deep relationship with Him.

And so it is with Yeshua (Jesus).

Sin separates us from God, but with an outstretched arm, God reached to us in Yeshua and calls us to Himself. Because He loves us, He calls us near. As we place our faith in Yeshua, He brings us near to be a people of His own. It is the beginning of a new relationship with Him. One that is deep and rich. Through Yeshua, we are able to know His love for us and walk in newness of life with God (Romans 6:4).

…our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds.

―Titus 2:14

But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

―Ephesians 2:13

God, thank you for loving me enough to rescue me and bring me near. Thank You for the new relationship I have with you through Yeshua. Thank you for the countless ways you continue to reach out to me, calling me to Yourself each day. I can say with the psalmist, “As for me, the nearness of God is my good” (Psalm 73:8 NASB). Help me to daily see Your outstretched arm, draw near to You, and experience You drawing even nearer to me (James 4:8).

Get the informative Passover Seder Plate Infographic!

Learn more about Passover, here: 

Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb – Passover Devotional 1

He Heard the Cry of Our Affliction – Passover Devotional 2

When I See the Blood – Passover Devotional 3

With Outstretched Arm – Passover Devotional 4

If God Had Not – Passover Devotional 5

Free Indeed – Passover Devotional 6

Freed to Serve A Good Master – Passover Devotional 7

Living Ready – Passover Devotional Day 8