The Biblical Exodus and the Seven Day Work Week

In this post I'd like to talk about the workload the Israelites were under when they were enslaved in Egypt. We know they did hard work and manual labor. We know their slavers at least occasionally attacked them physically (a young Moses was so angry to see the harshness an Israelite was treated with that he killed the assailant). We know that the children of Israel cried out to YHWH because of the slavery. But we don't often hear about how much they worked. 

The Bible paints a picture of the Israelites working every day. The text doesn't expressly say this, but it can be inferred from the exchange that Moses and Pharaoh have in Exodus 5, and the fact that once they were freed they needed to be taught to have a rest day each week.

At the beginning of Exodus 5, Moses doesn't seem to be asking for all-out release of Israel from slavery...he initially asks Pharaoh for permission for the Israelites to take a three day journey into the wilderness to celebrate a festival (5:1, 3). He seems to be requesting vacation time from work.

Pharaoh's response to this tells us a lot. This request has angered him. How does he reply to Moses? He doesn't suggest they take a shorter trip over the weekend or use their day off to have their festival. In Exodus 5:4, he says to Moses and Aaron, "Why do you take the people from their work?" Pharaoh is asking, "Why would you have the people stop working? Why would you give them a day off?"

That certainly seems like the Israelites didn't have too many off days, but even if they were getting a day off here or there, it's probable that it was less than one out of every seven days, given that the command for a weekly Sabbath is repeated several times once they are freed. We see that this request for time off angered Pharaoh so much that he increased their workload, requiring them to make the same amount of bricks but now making them gather the straw needed to do so. This was a significant enough increase in work that Scripture records the Israelite slaves confronting Pharaoh about the unreasonableness of this new demand. So even if the Israelites actually did have some occasional days off before, they were certainly gone after they were forced to gather straw themselves. 

On a side note, ancient Egypt had a calendar system that had 'weeks' that were ten days long. It's not super relevant for our purposes here; the main point is that they were working every day of the week, however long that week was. The work schedule and calendar system of Egypt does give us insight into why the seven day week and the day of rest needed to be taught to the Israelites. 

Something we need to take notice of in this story is that it seems to indicate that a lack of time off is a serious impediment to worshipping YHWH. We know the Israelites had some sort of relationship with the Living God, they had cried out to him for freedom after all, but the enslaving powers had blocked them from having festivals and holidays to worship God. They were withheld rest, and Sabbath rest is worship.

This has some huge implications for how we are using our time. 

More and more companies and workplaces are demanding seven day availability from their employees. This can be disguised in language like, "flexible schedules," "weekend availability required," or "time and a half overtime pay." In some cases it can literally be a requirement to work seven days a week for a stretch (I talked to a man once who had just worked a shift for the 106th day in a row), but it can also be things like not being given set days off, or having a schedule of 'four on/four off' or something similar. And in the internet age it can also look like being expected to check email over the weekend or check in on Slack every day, as if you have nothing more important to do with your time than constantly be tethered to work.

Not only are expectations like this a huge emotional drain (any mental health professional will tell you that the pressure to always be working or always be available is detrimental to brain function, and quickly leads to burnout or breakdown), causing havoc at any attempt at a healthy work/life balance, but this expectation is literally unbiblical and ungodly. If you are an employer or manager and you're expecting the people who work for you to be available seven days a week or to check in with work every day, then you are doing things Pharaoh's way and not God's.

Keeping people busy all the time is keeping people from God's best for them. It is robbing them of opportunities to rest and worship on the weekly Sabbath and to take part in the Biblical holidays. That's not to say that you can't have a relationship with God if you are working all the time. Again, we see the Israelites crying out to him when they were slaves. But one of the ten commandments is that we should honor the Sabbath day. If we are not abiding by YHWH's schedule, then we miss out on the good things that come from that.

If you have a business, Scripture requires you to give your employees at least the Sabbath days off. That means they do not work, you do not bother them with work updates or news, and you do not require them to check in on work on that day. 

If you have a job that's requiring to much of you right now, please know that this is not a condemnation of you or any sort of judgment. The legitimate need to provide for your family or to pay your rent can put you in some very bad situations in this culture that largely doesn't recognize Biblical commandments. God understands your situation and cares for you. I'll link below to a post with practical ideas on how you can stop working on the Sabbath.

While many businesses and employers are at fault for their expectation of constant reachability and overburdening their employees, we as individuals need to make sure we are doing our part to make sure we are stopping on the Sabbath for rest and worship.

All of us can help others and ourselves to be more able to rest on the Sabbath day. Not running errands or shopping on the Sabbath means stores and restaurants do less business and therefore require less staffing. If I need to ask someone to do something for me, I can wait another day and not interrupt their Sabbath day with my requests. Pay attention and see what things tend to keep you from rest on the Sabbath - what adjustments can you make so that work, housework, email, etc. are not stealing your focus? If you need help with this, I'll post a link to an article that will help, or feel free to reach out and ask for advice!

We are not slaves. We serve YHWH who commands rest each week...let's do our best to not keep the schedule of slavery. In Revelation where it says, "Come out of her, my people," it's talking about certain cultural customs and ungodly behaviors. That includes the seven day work week! 

How to Stop Working on the Sabbath
Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath
Things That Aren't Required for Sabbath Rest

What Christians Should Know about the Crucifixion

What is the significance of the death of Jesus? As Bible believers, we see that Scripture says that he was sacrificed for us, and that his shed blood covers our sins. But what else should we know about this historical event at Golgotha? It amazes me that even though I grew up in church, there is always more that we can learn about the focal point of Scripture. There are so many fascinating details about the crucifixion that are packed with meaning!

Here are a few things that all believers should know about the Messiah's death:

-It was foretold in the Old Testament. Did you know that there are many prophecies about the death of the Messiah? Passages like Isaiah 53, many Psalms, and Zechariah 12:10 described details of the Savior's death hundreds of years before it happened!

-The Passover story in Exodus was a shadow of the work of the Messiah. In Exodus 12 God told Moses to have every Israelite household slaughter a lamb and brush its blood around the entrance to their homes. The people who followed this instruction were kept safe from the plague of the death of the firstborn. This is why the Messiah is later referred to as the lamb who was slain for our sins, and fits with the New Testament's descriptions of his blood being a covering for our sins.

-The Messiah was put to death on the Biblical holiday of Passover. Amazingly, the true Passover lamb was actually crucified on the day of Passover! Like the Passover lamb, none of his bones were broken. He rose from the grave during the week of Unleavened Bread, on the holiday of First Fruits.

-The Messiah's death was a fulfillment of the shadow of animal sacrifice, particularly the red heifer sacrifice of the Levitical priesthood. Priests used to sacrifice animals to serve as a temporary covering for the sins of the people, and the animals needed to be without blemish. The temple service was an analogy that foreshadowed the work that the Messiah would come to do!

-Caiaphas disqualified himself from his high priest duties. Matthew 26:65 tells us that Caiaphas tore his robes when he accused the Messiah of committing blasphemy. This action meant he was disqualified from serving in the role of high priest, as Leviticus 21:10 tells us that a high priest must not tear his robes. Because of this, there was no high priest that year to officiate the regular sacrifice of a lamb. The only high priest that year was the Messiah himself!

-The covenant with Abraham pointed to the death of the Messiah. Many people believe the cross was some sort of a 'plan B' but YHWH was not surprised by the need for this. All the way back in Genesis 15, the Living God made a covenant with Abraham that indicated that He - YHWH himself - would be the one to die if Abraham or his descendants broke their part of the agreement. If you've ever wondered why Abraham was in a trance during this process, that was YHWH taking full responsibility for the covenant. Isn't that beautiful?

-The Messiah's phrase, "It is finished," has several different meanings. It's not just about the crucifixion being done, we can also understand it to mean he was saying that the system of animal sacrifice as a sin covering had been completed. Many speculate that Levitical priests would have said, "It is finished," at the end of a sacrifice, and take this as another indicator that the Messiah was officiating as high priest. Most significantly, it can also mean that things are restored! I believe part of what Jesus meant when he said that was that now the lost tribes could be restored to the covenant, as well as all individuals having an available means to restoration and relationship with the Living God.

Related posts:
What are the Differences Between Passover and Easter?
The Beginner's Guide to Passover
Five Things Every Believer Should Know about Easter

Messiah our Passover Lamb - Free Printable

Here's a New Testament Bible verse drawing attention to two Biblical holidays: Passover and Unleavened Bread.

"For Messiah our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us: so then let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." -1 Corinthians 5:7-8

That's a powerful statement penned by the Apostle Paul. I love that he said to keep these times, not just know about them. Let us keep the feast. Let us recognize the foretelling of the Messiah in the Exodus story and the holiday of Passover, and celebrate the work he did on this day many years ago. Let us get rid of the old leaven of our cultural traditions and sincerely take part in these times, recognizing that they point to the truth of the Messiah.

What better verse to focus on during these special times? It's an easy way to add a touch of festivity to your home or office, and a decoration that is perfect for Passover and Unleavened Bread. The printable itself is simple enough to print off on any basic printer. I love having this verse out for others to see because it points to the validity of the Messiah and Biblical holidays!

This printable is free for your personal use. Click here to download this printable for Passover and Unleavened Bread. Have a joyous celebration time!

Related posts:
The Beginner's Guide to Passover
Kids Crafts for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits
Why the Biblical Holidays are for All Believers

Bitter Herb Recipes for Passover

What is the "bitter herb" that Scripture says the Israelites ate at their Passover? What recipes can we use to incorporate a bitter herb into our own Passover meals today? We find this description in Exodus.

"They are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and unleavened bread." -Exodus 12:8

The Bible doesn't exactly specify what the bitter is that was eaten along with the roasted lamb and unleavened bread, so we can't know for sure what they ate that night in Egypt. Since Scripture doesn't specify exactly which herb or green or vegetable is being pointed to, that gives us freedom to use what's available near us or what we are used to in our cultural cooking. I love that the Living God gave flexibility in this so that no matter where his people are they can participate in this! Traditionally horseradish is often used. Parsley, endive, romaine, and even celery are popular choices, and greens such as mustard or dandelion greens could be used too. I think any type of green, lettuce, or herb with a slightly bitter taste would be appropriate to eat on Passover.

Potential bitter herbs for Passover:

Parsley
Romaine lettuce
Endive
Radicchio
Kale
Collard greens
Mustard flowers or greens
Dandelion greens
Horseradish
Wasabi
Celery
Bitter melon
Broccoli rabe
Any other herbs, greens, or vegetables with a slight or strong bitter taste.

There are so many different ways you can incorporate these into your Passover meal! From salads to sauces to braised greens or cooked veggies on the side, there is no right or wrong way to incorporate a bitter herb element into your menu. Again, I believe YHWH intentionally lets us use the plants and produce that are in our area and available to us so that all of his people can participate in this custom.

These recipes are just a few ideas for incorporating some of these into your Passover meal for a bitter herb element.

Gremolata from Love and Lemons

Coconut Curried Greens from Minimalist Baker

Bistro Salad from Pinch of Yum

Beet and Goat Cheese Endive Bites from A Beautiful Plate

Sauteed Broccoli Rabe from Love and Lemons

Easy Massaged Kale Salad from Minimalist Baker

Chimichurri Sauce from Love and Lemons

Celery Salad with Torn Olives, Almonds, and Parmesan from Cookie and Kate

Endive Salad with Parmesan and Orange from A Couple Cooks

Grain Free Tabbouleh from Minimalist Baker

Quick Collard Greens from Cookie and Kate

5 Minute Kale Pesto from Pinch of Yum

More about Passover:
The Beginner's Guide to Passover
Meal Ideas for the Feast of Unleavened Bread
What the Bible Says About Passover

The Beginner's Guide to Passover (for believers in Messiah)

Are you new to celebrating Passover and the other Biblical holidays? Are you wondering why to take part in Passover, when it is, what the Bible says about it, or who should celebrate it? This post will go over the details for you and make observing this time doable and spiritually meaningful as a believer in Messiah.

Where in the Bible is Passover?

Exodus 12 gives us many details about Passover, when God was working through Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The climax of the Exodus story is about the Passover lamb and the death of the firstborn plague not bothering the people who had followed YHWH's instructions.

Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13 talk about the Messiah's last supper and then his crucifixion...which happened on Passover!

There are other mentions of Passover throughout the Old and New Testaments! Joshua and the Israelites kept Passover before the battle of Jericho. Kings and Chronicles record mentions of Passover celebrations. Mary and Joseph kept Passover when Yahusha was young. The Gospels and books of Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Hebrews all mention Passover. Some scholars believe that when Abraham and Sarah served unleavened bread and meat to their heavenly visitors they were observing Passover.

Why is Passover celebrated?

Passover is celebrated because it is one of the seven Biblical holidays that the Living God expressly told his people to celebrate in Leviticus 23, Numbers 9, and Deuteronomy 16. Passover celebrates the miracles of the Exodus story when YHWH spared his people from the plagues against the Egyptians and freed them from slavery. For believers in Messiah, Passover is also when we make a special point of remembering and honoring the Messiah's sacrifice for our sins.

What does Passover mean?

Passover comes from the Hebrew word 'Pesach,' the root word of which means pass-over. This comes from the angel of death 'passing over' the homes of the people who had slaughtered a lamb and put its blood around the door to their homes in the Exodus story. Doors that had not been covered with the blood of the lamb resulted in the firstborn dying in each house/family. This was the tenth plague YHWH brought upon Egypt, and after the death of his son Pharaoh decided to let the Israelites go.

Are Passover and Easter the same?

No. Even though there are many well-intentioned people who believe that Easter celebrates the same thing as Passover, there are many differences between these holidays. For believers in Messiah, Passover focuses on the death of the Messiah and his sacrifice covering our sins, and his resurrection is celebrated a few days later on the Biblical holiday of First Fruits. The holiday of Easter does not have its root in Scripture, and is not mentioned by the Bible. Many Easter traditions and customs are also not from the Bible, such as the ubiquitous Easter bunny. Scripture emphasizes the Passover lamb. Those who currently celebrate the resurrection of the Messiah at Easter would do well to start following the Living God's instructions about this!

Who should celebrate Passover?

All Bible believers should take part in Passover and the other Bible holidays! No matter our ancestry, Scripture instructs all of God's children to take part in this special time. It is mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments; Moses and Apostle Paul both said that we should keep the feasts! Participating in the Biblical holidays will help us better understand the Bible from historical and prophetic perspectives.

What to know about Passover:

-Passover is a one day holiday, which is immediately followed by seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

-Passover is not a no-work day. This is likely because of the work of sacrificing and roasting a lamb that was required of believers in Exodus.

-Deuteronomy 16:3 says we eat the Passover meal of lamb, herbs, and unleavened bread to remember how quickly the Living God brought his people out of Egyptian slavery!

-The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach and these words are used interchangeably.

-Passover happens around the same time as Easter, but the holidays are very different. One has its roots in Scripture, the other does not.

-We do not sacrifice a lamb today because the Messiah is the ultimate Passover lamb! However, serving and eating lamb is perfectly okay!

Spiritual significance of Passover:

-The Messiah was put to death on this day. Significantly there was no lamb sacrificed that year.

-John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, Luke, and John all refer to the Messiah as the lamb in the New Testament. This points to Passover and how the Messiah's death would free us from our sins!

-There are many parallels between Jesus and the Passover lamb from Exodus. The lamb had to be without blemish, and none of its bones were to be broken. The Messiah was without sin and, despite the horrific abuse he endured before and on the cross, none of his bones were broken! The Passover lamb was to be selected four days before Passover. Four days before his death, Yahusha rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

-The Messiah said to do this in remembrance of him! Many of us have limited our participation in this command from Luke 22:19 to occasionally taking communion. But don't miss that the bread Jesus described as himself was the unleavened bread of a Passover meal!

How to observe:

-Remove the leaven from your home. Start with getting rid of breads or similar products made with sourdough starter, yeast, baking soda, or baking powder. Don't forget any containers of breadcrumbs or products made with breadcrumbs such as meatballs, or breaded chicken.

-Plan a meal using lamb, unleavened bread, and herbs. While traditional Passover Seders can be daunting, it's okay to keep things simple! It can be just yourself, or invite family and friends to honor this time with you.

-Have communion. Use unleavened bread and grape juice or wine to pause and give thanks for the Messiah's sacrifice. 

-Read, tell, or watch the accounts of the Messiah's last supper and death, as well as the Exodus story.

-Remember the miracles and faithfulness of YHWH in your own life. Scripture repeatedly instructs us to remember the works of YHWH and I think that applies to our own experiences outside of the Bible. Sharing how you have seen the Living God's provision and encouragement in your life is a great way to spread hope to others, as well as yourself!

There is some learning curve when you start to observe a new holiday, so give yourself grace about that. It takes time to get used to celebrating the times of the Creator and next year it will seem more natural and be even more fun! The Living God is honored by your efforts to take part in his set apart times!

More about Passover: 
What the Bible Says About Passover
Differences Between Passover and Easter
How to Host a Passover Seder
Five Reasons Believers Should Keep Passover

A Few Things to Remember about Passover

No matter if you are new to celebrating Passover and the other Biblical holidays, or have been doing so as long as you remember, here are a few things to keep in mind as we approach this set apart time. These reminders will help you to focus on what's really important: the promises of YHWH and the death of the Messiah for our sins. 

As believers in Messiah our focus should be on remembering and honoring his sacrifice and death to give us life! Passover is all about being passed over from death, because of the blood of the lamb. 

It's okay if the food is not perfect. It's okay if you're not sure what to say during the service or meal or worship time. It's okay if you've never celebrated before and it feels strange. Passover is not about our actions being perfect, but resting in the one who is complete perfection.

No matter how simple or extravagant your celebration is, no matter if it goes according to plan or not, take joy in remembering the awesomeness of what happened on this day in Biblical history.

At Passover we remember that YHWH set the Israelites free from slavery. No one would have ever thought that a million slaves would one day walk out of Egypt. But all things are possible with our God, and whatever you're dealing with there is hope for you too!

Remember the meaning of this set apart time and enjoy Passover!

More about Passover:
What the Bible Says about Passover
Five Reasons Believers Should Keep Passover
Things the Messiah Said at Passover

Here's When the Biblical Holidays Happen in 2023

This is when the Biblical holidays happen in 2023.

What are the Bible holidays? Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles are all days we are told to observe and celebrate in Scripture. They are listed in Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16, and elaborated on elsewhere in Scripture. Each of these has historic and prophetic significance for Bible believers!

The Bible gives specific dates for each holiday, but since the Gregorian calendar doesn't match up with the Creator's calendar the dates land a little bit differently each year on our modern calendar. There are also a few different ways to calculate the start of the year and because of that some groups will observe them at slightly different times. What I'm sharing here is the most commonly used set of dates. Whether you go by this calendar or another, mark your calendars for these set apart times!

When do the Biblical holidays happen in 2023?

Passover - April 5-6

Unleavened Bread - April 6-13

First Fruits - April 8-9

Shavuot - May 25-27

Feast of Trumpets - September 15-17

Yom Kippur - September 24-25

Feast of Tabernacles - September 29 - October 7

A couple of things about this: according to this calendar, days start in the evening at sundown. This means that Passover starts on the evening of April 5 and goes through the evening of the 6th. This calendar also gives an extra day to both the Feast of Trumpets and Shavuot, even though in the Bible they are both just one day events.

It's also important to note that while all of these are special times, some of these are also considered Sabbath days which means we shouldn't work on them. These Sabbath days are the first and last days of Unleavened Bread, Shavuot, the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the first and last days of Tabernacles.

More on the Biblical holidays:
Why I Started Celebrating the Biblical Feasts
Why the Biblical Holidays are for All Believers
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays

The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays

This post is an overview of the Biblical holidays from Scripture, explaining what the holidays are according to passages like Leviticus 23, and Deuteronomy 16. These are not traditional Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas, but rather set apart times created by the Living God. We will go over the basics of each holiday from Passover to Shavuot to the Feast of Tabernacles, what happened on them historically and what they symbolize.

In addition to the weekly Sabbath, there are seven different holidays that we are instructed by Scripture to set apart. These times are special, and not only because we are told to celebrate them. Each holiday has significance historically, prophetically, and in the life of the Messiah. Paul wrote in Colossians that these times are a shadow of things to come. That means we have a lot to learn from these holidays.

The Biblical holidays are:

Passover
Feast of Unleavened Bread
First Fruits

The Feast of Weeks / Shavuot / Pentecost

Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah

Day of Covering / Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur

Feast of Tabernacles / Sukkot

While specific dates are given in Scripture, the Biblical calendar doesn't mesh perfectly with the Gregorian so the dates move a bit each year. Land of Honey posts the dates for the upcoming holidays at the beginning of each year.

Please note that Bible holidays are for Bible believers. 

Many people are under the mistaken belief that the holidays that YHWH instructed us to keep were somehow only for the Jewish people, but that idea is not supported by Scripture. Deuteronomy 16:14 expressly tells us that foreigners who join the community of YHWH's people should celebrate these days too, so no matter your background, ethnicity, or family traditions the Creator invites you to these times.

When we learn about each Biblical holiday, we learn more about Scripture. It's truly stunning how much meaning is jam-packed into each of these times. And studying these holidays means we remember what YHWH did on these days. The holidays are, as N.T. Wright says, 'kingdom moments' and God has always performed amazing miracles on these days throughout history. Celebrating these holidays is celebrating what God has done.

A brief overview of the set apart times:

Passover: In the Biblical year Passover is the very first feast. We see the Israelites keep Passover just before the Egyptian exodus. They were instructed to brush the doors of their homes with blood from a lamb, we are reminded that the Messiah was the perfect sacrificial lamb. That's not just an allegory either, Yahusha was killed on Passover. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: This is a week long celebration that starts the day after Passover. Leavened/yeast bread and other products are forbidden this week. As yeast is a very small ingredient that rabidly transforms all the dough, we are reminded that the small things in our life make a huge impact. And this lack of leaven reminds us to purge the sin from our lives, which is made possible through the Messiah's sacrifice.

First Fruits: This day happens the day after the Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread. This is when the first of the barley harvest was to be presented before YHWH. First Fruits is the day the Messiah resurrected from the dead and presented himself to the Father. It is also when we are to start counting fifty days.

Feast of Weeks: Fifty days after First Fruits we are to celebrate Shavuot. This is a day of great significance as the instructions on how to live were given at Mount Sinai and then shortly after the Messiah's ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Shavuot. The Feast of Weeks is a celebration of having God's word and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Feast of Trumpets: The first of the fall feasts, Yom Teruah means something like Day of Sounding. All those verses that talk about a trumpet sounding when the Messiah returns? It will happen on that day. Perhaps the most joyous time in history will be on Yom Teruah at the return of the Messiah!

Yom Kippur: Under the Levitical priesthood this was a very significant day because it's the day that the priests made atonement for all of Israel's sin with the two goats. Today we can celebrate that the Messiah has atoned for our sins. Prophetically, it is thought that this will be the day that the earth is judged and the people who have been atoned for by Messiah will be separated from those who have not.

Feast of Tabernacles: This is a beautiful look ahead to when YHWH will dwell or camp with us. With that in mind, it's no surprise that it is believed the Messiah was born during this time. This eight day celebration usually looks like a camping trip, with the commandment being to dwell in tents. Others build a temporary structure on their property and spend time there throughout Sukkot. We reflect on this world being a temporary place for us, while we look forward to the day when the Messiah returns to dwell with his people!

Related posts:
Why the Bible Holidays are for All Believers
Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Feasts
Why I Started Celebrating the Biblical Holidays