Pesach 2024 - The Light of Torah Messianic Congregation

Prepared by P. R. Reid, a bond servant of Yeshua HaMashiach

April 1, 2024

As we enter the season of Pesach, it’s only prudent to revisit the first of YaHaVahs appointed times.

There is a specific reason that Pesach is first. Pesach is a “covenant” festival. If you are not celebrating Pesach there is a good chance you won’t be celebrating the remaining six festivals.

Recall the luminaries were created on the fourth day for the express purpose of determining the day each set of festivals begins i.e. the spring festivals which begin on the fourteenth day of the first new moon of the year and the fall festivals which begin on the first day of the seventh new moon of the year.

The Appointed Times

First: Pesach (Passover)
Second: Hag HaMatza (Unleavened Bread)
Third: Hag HaBikkurim (First Fruit)
Fourth: Shavuot (Pentecost)
Fifth: Yom Teruah (Trumpets)
Sixth: Yom Kippurim (Atonements) Seventh: Sukkot (Tabernacles)

Who are the participants

YaHaVah is the creator of heaven and earth.
Moses is the last High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is also a Levite.
The Pharaoh of Egypt represents the leader of the nations of the world.
The nation of Israel represents the “firstborn” of YaHaVah.
The “mixed multitude” represents the “first fruit” of the nations.

Today, this Shabbat, is the highest Shabbat of the entire year. It’s called Shabbat HaGadol. It’s the Shabbat that precedes Pesach. During the time of Yeshua, this day was referred to in Scripture as His triumphal entry. He entered Jerusalem for the last time on the 10^th day of the first month. This is the day we are instructed to select our Pascal lamb!

Why did The Father institute the very first Pesach?

In order to answer this question, we must look at the tenth plague. Ex. 11:1 – 10: “And the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold. And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. Then Moses said, thus says the LORD: ‘about midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the animals.

Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out. Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger. But the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.’ So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”
Passover is linked to the tenth plague, the death of the “firstborn.” The reason for the first Pesach and all subsequent observances is the redemption of the “firstborn, Israel.” Without the Pesach ritual, Israel would have also lost its very significant firstborns. Pesach then, is related to the redemption of the “firstborn.”
Ex. 4:22 tells us how The Father views Israel: “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘thus says the LORD: ‘Israel is My son, My firstborn.’” Please consider the following; YaHaVah imposed the tenth plague (death of the firstborn) on Pharaoh, which represented Egypt, because he had no regard for the firstborn of YaHaVah, Israel.
YaHaVah is going to make a distinction between the firstborn of Egypt representing the nations of the world and His firstborn, Israel. The first Pesach is the festival wherein Israel will begin to see themselves as Yahs’ firstborn with all the status that entails, i.e. kings and priests!
YaHaVah is going to make a safety provision for the firstborn of Israel, in fact, all Israel in the first appointed time, i.e. the covenantal festival of Pesach.
The first Pesach is recorded in Ex. 12:1 – 13: “Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘this month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.’ Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.
For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood ( אֶת־הַדָּם ), I will pass over (פָּסַח ) you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.’”
In Ex. 12:13 we find the first mention of the word Pesach. In its ancient form Pesach would read; “Our mouth will support His separation.” In other words, our “mouth,” i.e. our verbal witness, as in the Shema, will uphold our separation from the world system of belief and practice.
The numerical value of Pesach is 148; 1 + 4 + 8 = 13. The number thirteen is a reference to the thirteen tribes of Israel.
There are twelve original tribes. YaHaVah separated the tribe of Levi for His own service reducing the number to eleven. Jacob replaced Reuben and Simeon with Ephraim and Manasseh raising the total to thirteen. All thirteen tribes are to observe Pesach, from year to year.
V 13: “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood (אֶת־הַדָּם ), I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” **It is Yeshua, the Aleph Tav blood, who ratifies this covenant festival.
The blood of King Yeshua always relates to “covenant.” We find this connection in the way “blood” is spelled. The Hebrew word for “blood” is דָּם.
This word is composed of a Dalet which is the fourth letter of the Aleph Bet and the Mem, which is the thirteenth letter. In its ancient form this word would read; “His blood is the pathway of the mighty.”
The numerical value of “dam” is 44; 4 + 4 = 8. Eight is the number for covenant.
As noted in Ex. 4:22, Israel is the “firstborn” son of YaHaVah. The tenth plague, death of the firstborn, is akin to the separation of the wheat and the tares as recorded in Mt. 13:24 – 43.
In order for YaHaVah to consider us as His “firstborn, Israel,” we must be observant of His covenant festival of Pesach. Pesach is linked to the redemption of the “firstborn.”
Recall Yahs’ invitation to Israel recorded in Ex. 19:5 – 6: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant (אֶת־בְּרִיתִי ) , then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Who is Israel?

The first mention of the word Israel is recorded in Ge. 32:28. Our narrative begins in verse 24.
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, ‘let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me! So He said to him, ‘what is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’”
The “firstborn” son of Jacob/Israel is Ephraim. Ge. 48:3 – speaks to Ephraim being given the status of the “firstborn” son replacing Reuben.
“Then Jacob said to Joseph: ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,’ and said to me, ‘behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’ And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”
Ge. 48:13 – 14: “And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.”
Notice by Jacob crossing his arms in order to bless each of Josephs sons, he created the letter Tav, the crossed sticks. In its ancient form this letter means mark, seal or covenant.
Recall the kingdom of Israel was divided in 1 Kings 12. The Southern Kingdom is referred to as Judah while the Northern Kingdom is referred to as Israel or Ephraim.
This concept is recorded for us in Ez. 37:15 – 17: “Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.” **This prophecy is speaking to the restoration of the whole House of Israel.
The Northern Kingdom is also referred to in Scripture as “the lost sheep” of the House of Israel. In fact, Yeshua said in Mt. 15:24: “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’”
At His first advent, Yeshua came “only” to redeem Israel, the Northern Kingdom. His death, burial and resurrection paid the price to redeem the “firstborn” Israel.
After the first Pesach, the exodus begins. Israel follows YaHaVah into the desert for 47 days, camping at the base of Mt. Sinai. On the 50th day, Israel is given the Ten Words. It’s very important for Israel to understand her assignment.

Who then, is the “whole House of Israel?

The “Whole House of Israel” began with Abraham.
Abraham, then to Isaac and Jacob.
Jacob became Israel.
Israel adopts Ephraim.
Ephraim became the “firstborn” son of Jacob/Israel.
Ephraim means “doubly fruitful.”
The “double fruit” of Ephraim = those who “enter into covenant” from the nations and those who reenter covenant from the native born Israelites. These two groups of believers = those being referred to in Rev. 5:9 – 10.
Rev. 5:9 – 10: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Israel will have come full circle. The first Pesach began their process of redemption. They were invited to understand their “firstborn” son status.
Israel was invited to be a “kingdom of priests.” Down through the centuries, Israel lost her identity. Her identity was hijacked by Rabbinic Judaism. According to the two stick prophecy in Ezekiel, they will understand who they are once again.
Since the first Pesach was the beginning of the redemption of the “firstborn,” Israel, it makes perfect sense to me that at some future Pesach the final redemption of covenant Israel will begin.
This event in Scripture is referred to as the “greater exodus.”
Jer. 31:7 – 11: “For thus says the LORD: ‘Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labors with child, together; a great throng shall return there.
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.’”
Is. 11:11 – 12: “It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea.
He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
Ez. 11:17 – 20: “Therefore say, ‘thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.’”

Redemption

The Hebrew word for redeem is “Ga’al,” גָּאַל which is defined as to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
In its ancient form “Ga’al” would read: “The Son of Yah was to be lifted up for all mankind from the beginning, He will be all authority.”
The numerical value is 34; 3 + 4 = 7. The final redemption for mankind will begin in the seventh millennia.
Is. 43:1: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.”
In conclusion, Pesach and the redemption of the firstborn go hand in hand.
The very first Pesach instituted the redemptive process for all mankind. Yahs’ firstborn son Israel, along with the first fruit from the nations, is recorded for us in the first Exodus.
At a future Pesach, the second and final Exodus will begin. My question to you is this: do you see yourself as Israel? Are you His firstborn son, Israel? If we have already made the choice to follow His “rules of the kingdom,” i.e. observing the Shabbat, honoring His appointed times and eating cleanly, then I believe He views us as His firstborn son, Israel.