United Church of God

Letter From Dan Preston - April 15, 2022

Letter From Dan Preston

April 15, 2022

Good evening brethren and Happy Sabbath!  I am very much looking forward to the Night to be Much Remembered tonight, and the First Day of Unleavened Bread tomorrow, as I am sure all of you are!

Hopefully most have been able to get a copy or go online for our next booklet, "Angels: God's Messengers and Spirit Army."  This week, please begin by reading the Introduction, The Origin of the Spirit Realm and The Vast Multitudes of Heaven's Armies.

A special night for Israel

As mentioned, tonight is a very special night.  We ready about it in Exodus 12:37-42 (NKJV), "Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds--a great deal of livestock. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years--on that very same day--it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.  It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations."

After the Passover and plundering the Egyptians, the Israelites - 600,000 men and likely a few million people altogether, PLUS livestock - traveled 10 or so miles from Rameses to Succoth.  This would have been an all day journey, and would have taken place on the daylight portion of the 14th of Abib (or Nisan).  That night, at the beginning of the 15th of Abib, the Lord commanded them to observe this special night, commemorating His deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt.

What's that got to do with you and me?

So why do you and I observe this special night?  In talking about how to come out of a sinful lifestyle and habits, Paul refers to Israel coming out of Egypt.  "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (1 Corinthians 10:1-6)

While Israel was taken physically out of Egypt, many of them remained mentally and spiritually there, clinging to idolatry.  Paul drives the point to his readers home in verse 14, " Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."  Idolatry, as you know, isn't just worshipping a carved image, it can be anything that comes between us and God and causes us to sin.  Paul uses the story of those who didn't come fully out of Egypt to remind us that by contrast, we must come completely out of sin!

A special night for us

Tonight, as we gather together for fellowship, fine food and drink, let us remember this special night.  Not just for God delivering Israel from Egypt, but for Him delivering us from the death penalty of sin through our Passover, Jesus Christ!