https://www.torahfamilyliving.com/2013/03/13/the-intimate-feast-passover/
Menu Torah Family Living helping you make Torah the heart of your home Passover (This post was originally published January, 2012. We hope it is a blessing to you this year, too.) We are part way through the winter months and it is exciting to think that the spring feasts will soon be upon us. We are already making preparations for Passover this year. I would like to take this opportunity to point out some things that should be considered as we each prepare. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired servant may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” (Exo 12:43-49) No foreigners YHVH is quite clear that Pesach, or Passover, is not for unbelievers. Why? Shouldn’t we be reaching out as a light to those around us? Absolutely! But Pesach is an intimate feast between YHVH and His children. It’s special and intimate. It’s a picture of the salvation we enter into through Yahshua our Messiah. It reminds us of the redemption of us, His firstborn. Sometimes, special events are just for family members, not for the whole neighborhood. For example, the birth of my son Noah was a wonderful event. It was incredibly exciting, and I learned so much on a spiritual level. I even wrote about it on my blog so I could share with others. But only a select few were invited to such an intimate, private affair. Passover is a picture of our salvation, our birth into YHVH’s family. It’s a pretty intimate affair. Even Yahshua kept the Passover with only his disciples. He looked forward to sharing that special time with them, but we don’t see a huge crowd. He shared with the crowd at other events. I would encourage you each to find a way to share the teaching of Pesach with others. But save the actual event for those you are most intimate with, those that are fellow believers. Circumcision required Another command that is very explicit is the requirement that all males partaking in the Passover be circumcised. This is a continuation of the command that no foreigners partake. Those that are circumcised have entered into covenant with YHVH. They have joined themselves to Israel. They have been circumcised in the heart, and as with all of Torah, the inside is shown by obedience that can be seen on the outside. I understand this commandment all too well, primarily because I disobeyed it. When we were expecting our first child, I researched whether or not we should circumcise the baby if it were a boy. I swallowed the anti circ propaganda hook, line, and sinker. I was as anti circ as they come. When my third child, our first boy, was born, we did not have him circumcised. When we began keeping Torah two years later, the question of circumcision came up. I refused to believe that it was required. We are now circumcised in the heart! We aren’t in the land! He is under the umbrella of his parents’ obedience! I thought up every loophole I could, and completely convinced myself that we were doing the right thing. My dear husband was so patient, and prayed that YHVH would change my heart. And He did! My brothers and sisters, circumcision matters! YHVH always gives us physical pictures to illustrate the spiritual. Yes, we are circumcised in the heart, but we demonstrate that by the physical act of circumcision! Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Gen 17:14) YHVH is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Circumcision is still a sign of the covenant. If a male in Israel is not circumcised, he is cut off from the covenant. I couldn’t bear the thought of my Isaac not being allowed to be part of Israel. I swallowed my pride and asked YHVH for forgiveness and in His wonderful mercy, He forgave me! But true repentance requires action. So I made an appointment, and scheduled Isaac for surgery. He was four years old. Of course, we reap what we sow. I had to get up and take him to the hospital at 6:00 am in the middle of the winter, hold him while he cried because he couldn’t pee. I helped him bathe every day for over a week while we waited for it to heal. But praise YHVH! My son is part of the covenant and excited about praying to YHVH and returning to Israel someday. He eats the Passover each year without reservation. My younger sons, Elisha and Noah, were circumcised at a week old. What a blessing to do things His way! Circumcision is a sign that we want to be part of YHVH’s covenant with Israel. It is required before we take part in the Passover. It matters! Please don’t be stubborn like I was. Eaten in one house Again, the Israelites were told to eat the Passover in their home. It was kept by each family as a very serious event. All around them, firstborn Egyptians were being killed. Each family huddled together, thankful that YHVH had provided a way for them to be delivered. As we keep the Passover with our families this year, we are to share with our children the wonderful truth that YHVH provided for our salvation through the death of His Son. We have been delivered only through Yahshua’s blood, shed on our behalf. What a special opportunity we have to teach our children how to enter YHVH’s family. This intimate, serious time is given to us to reach our children’s hearts. As we remember the plagues, the judgements on Egypt, and the amazing deliverance provided, we praise YHVH! As we explain the afikomen, the One who was pierced for us and rose again, we remember anew the cost of our salvation. As we sing “Diyanu” we are reminded that we have all we need. We are given hope as we say, “Next year in Yerushalayim!” I pray that each of you have a wonderful, intimate precious time with your family and YHVH this year at Passover! Be sure to share with others what YHVH has taught you, but make sure that this special event meets YHVH’s standards. Practical Ideas I feel that the most important part of Passover is teaching your children about our awesome Elohim, and the more hands-on, the better! Get my favorite flatbread recipe here. Torah Sisters has a cookbook completely devoted to matzah. I have filled my Passover Pinterest board with ideas for you, everything from hand puppets to games. You can find them all here. Torah Family LivingPassover Ikuti di Pinterest May YHVH bless you and keep you. Goodies for Passover TorahLine Card Game, Exodus fro… $14.99 (34) A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays: Wit… $39.95 (82) "Passover Pastels" Seder Plate Melamin… $8.35 (11) Judaica My Soft Seder Set in Reus… $14.80 (9) Go Ads by Amazon We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Share this: Facebook24TwitterPinterest Related Great Bible passages for reading aloud What a migraine headache taught me about sin 10 days of heart issues- Take the blame March 13, 201310 Replies « Previous Next » Leave a Reply Andi on January 16, 2012 at 12:24 am Great post with lots of details! I was just thinking about how fast these seasons are upon us! ;0) Reply Michael Race on January 16, 2012 at 8:48 pm Thank you for blessing us with this post. We too struggle with ridding ourselves of the wrong things we have been taught in churchianity. May Yahweh our Elohim bless you as you continue to serve Him Reply Eugenia on February 18, 2012 at 5:05 pm I believe that the requirement for circumcision refers only to eating the sacrificed Passover lamb. That is not applicable right now because, at this point, there is no Temple. Reply Heidi on February 19, 2012 at 2:02 pm Thank you for your comment. We cannot partake of an actual Passover lamb because we have no temple. However, there is no connection between circumcision and the temple, ie we are not required to circumcise at the temple. Circumcision is a sign that we are part of the covenant, and we should circumcise our sons regardless of the existence of a temple. “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.” Genesis 17:10 I believe we may have a temple in my children’s lifetime, and I want them to be prepared with understanding of temple procedures and by my sons being circumcised. Many blessings to you. 🙂 Reply Eugenia on March 23, 2012 at 8:12 pm I did not make myself clear. I was saying that circumcision is not required now – only that it was necessary for one who was to eat of the Temple sacrificed lamb. We do not do that in this day since there is not Temple, so the uncircumcised can certainly be blessed by the Passover Seder. Reply Heidi on March 23, 2012 at 11:50 pm Thanks for the clarification, Eugenia. 🙂 Shabbat Shalom to you. Reply Jonathan on October 3, 2012 at 2:55 am I agree Heidi. Not to make waves. I do not let any stranger take part in our Seder at the house. At our congregation it is allowed but for teaching purposes and during Unleavened not at actual time of Pesach. I think we could use the Seder, again being done outside the time of Pesach, to teach our bros/sis that are not aware of these moedim about the depth of our Messiah. I have felt the same way about circumcision and covenant for a few years now. It didn’t go to well at a bible study on Acts when I expressed it. I expressed it in a loving manner but it wasn’t accepted and the study fell apart 2 weeks later. Shame. Anyway, kudos again. Shalom and Chag Sameach Sukkot!!!!! Rejoice for our Savior was born into the world for our redemption. Hallelujah! Reply Heidi on October 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm Glad you found us, Jonathan! I agree that the seder has so many elements that are important for people to understand. I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. Shalom to you and your family as well, and have a wonderful Sukkot! Reply Lori Maner on March 13, 2016 at 6:33 pm Our son is turning 7 and wasn’t circumscribed at birth due to being born premature. We were without insurance for a while but since we have it now are scheduling a Dr. apt. for surgery. Do you have any suggestions being that he is so old? Did you say a special prayer over your son? Reply Heidi on March 14, 2016 at 7:33 am We took our son in at four. I made him his own tallit beforehand, and he took it with him to the hospital. We did pray over him the day before, and then I took him in early in the morning. Afterwards, we did a lot of encouraging, and he took plenty of soaks in the tub to help the healing process. Praying that everything goes smoothly for you. Reply View Full Site Proudly powered by WordPress
