Now we come to the more positive commands. They were to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, remembering the exodus. In the same way Jesus commanded us to celebrate the Lord's Supper, remembering what He achieved for us on the cross. For it is the cross that has set us free.
They had been spared the slaughter of the firstborn, so they were to dedicate the firstborn of everything to the Lord. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed". We should all bring offerings to the Lord. We should all be under sentence of death for our sins, but have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. So every part of our lives belongs to Him.
They were to rest, even during the ploughing season. So even when the pressure was greatest they should have times of rest. We most definitely need to apply this principle to ourselves. Yet we can find it so hard. The reason is that we think success is dependent entirely upon our own efforts. This is not true. We can afford to rest. Moreover, we must rest. We must say no to the pressure, and yes to the gift of rest from God.
In the offerings and the resting our natural reaction is that we are losing something, giving something up. But in all these things we are actually gaining.
When Moses came down the mountain his face was radiant because he had been in the presence of the Lord.
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