Exodus 12:1-20 - Homilies By J. Urquhart

1. It Was then only that the history of the nation as the people of God began. Before they had been told of God's favour towards them; they now knew it. "Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves" ( John 4:42 ).

2 . God's final deliverance begins a new era for his people. "Behold! make all things new."

3 . This has its correlative type in Christian experience now. The true life of the servant of God dates from the hour of his deliverance from the bondage of sin. "If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new." Before Israel lay the experience of God's care and love, Sinai, the giving of the law, etc. Before us ties the deepening knowledge of his love, and of his will, the priestly service, etc.

II. THE COMMAND TO MAKE IT THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS .

1 . The remembrance of God's grace makes the soul the dwelling-place of humbleness and trust.

2 . It is joy and strength for service.

3 . It is consecration; in the brightness of that unmerited grace the life is claimed for God; the ear is opened, the heart is touched and changed; we forget things that are behind, and reach forth to things that are before.— U .