In this post we look at some important and timeless symbols from the Passover:
- The Body and Blood of the Passover Lamb
- More Symbols of the Passover
- Dreams of the Butler and the Baker
- Hidden Symbols associated with the Passover
- Are Dreams for Now or for the Future?
- The Passover is Forever
The Body and Blood of the Passover Lamb
According to Exodus 8:22, the Children of Israel were still living in Goshen in Egypt when the plagues started. Goshen was where they once enjoyed the “best of the land” to shepherd their livestock. However, a few generations later, Egypt had a different leader. This Pharaoh was less than considerate and forced Israel into slave labor. Mercifully, God intervened and scheduled their departure from Egypt.
The tenth and final plague was so deadly (death of every first-born) that Israel had to prepare for it!
So, in accordance with God’s instructions they gathered their belongings and animals, marked the lintels and doorposts of their homes with the blood of an unblemished lamb, then they roasted and ate the lamb with unleavened bread… in haste.
That night God saw and “passed over,” each home covered with blood to prevent the entry of the destroyer, but the unprepared Egyptians were left devastated. Then, God demonstrated His ability to supernaturally deliver His people from death (bondage) to life (liberty). Miraculously, He did the unthinkable. God parted the Red Sea so Israel could cross on dry land.
Since that event, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread have been celebrated annually in the Hebrew month of Nisan (either March or April) (Exodus 12:13-27).
On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread (Leviticus 23:5-6).
The Passover holiday coincides with Good Friday and Easter weekend this year, a great time to remember that the Lord is Our Deliverer. There are no happenstances in God’s Kingdom. Everything written in the Scriptures is intentional and to teach us something (Romans 15:4).
Through symbols, God prophesied that He would provide the Body (unleavened bread) and Blood (wine) of the Passover Lamb (Jesus) to deliver all His children (Jews and Gentiles) from the bondage of sin and death forever. The color red symbolizes the Blood of Jesus, and passing through the sea represents the waters of baptism. Additionally, we must pass through the Blood to access the promises of God.
More Symbols of the Passover
Passover symbols occur throughout Scripture and begin appearing long before Jesus’ birth. For example, we see bread and wine in the tabernacle of Moses, as well as during Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek (about 1800 years before Christ):
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Genesis 14:18-20
Dreams of the Butler and the Baker
The first son of Jacob to arrive in Egypt was Joseph. He was a gifted dreamer and interpreter of dreams but suffered a string of unfortunate circumstances that landed him in prison. But the story does not end there. God has exciting ways of transforming irreversible adversities into unexpected blessings.
As it turned out, the prison was in the right place at the right time for Joseph to meet two of Pharaoh’s chief servants who had lost favor with their leader. After the Butler and the Baker shared their dreams with Joseph, the interpretations were very accurate. One of these two men would eventually arrange for Joseph to interpret the dreams of the Pharaoh. As a result, Joseph was immediately promoted to protector and provider for Israel, Egypt, and many other nations.
Hidden Symbols associated with the Passover
God gave the dreams to the Butler and the Baker, as He revealed the interpretations to Joseph. As expected, the dreams came true in three days, precisely as Joseph prophesied. However, there were symbols in those dreams that pointed to much more significant events to come.
On the one hand, the baker’s dream foretold the death of Jesus the Messiah, who was crucified on a tree and left dead for three days.
However, unlike the baker, Jesus’ body (the bread) was not exposed to birds or decay. King David prophesied this many generations after Joseph. (Acts 2:31 and Psalm 16:9, 10).
On the other hand, the butler served wine to Pharaoh. Wine (from the fruit of the vine) is symbolic of the Blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28), and “life is in the blood.”
Therefore, the butler’s dream revealed Jesus’ restoration to life (the Resurrection) after three days. Just as the Butler put a cup of wine in Pharaoh’s hand, Jesus presented His shed blood in Heaven.
Are Dreams for Now or for the Future?
The dreams Joseph interpreted were for his day and for events to come far beyond his lifetime. Similarly, our spiritual dreams can hide symbols or interpretations for the present and future… until the Holy Spirit gives us understanding.
We may even see different dream symbols related to the Passover and Jesus, our Messiah. Why? Because dreams are prophecy and the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Numbers 12:6, Revelation 19:10).
Bread, a lamb, a cross, a garden, plagues, thorns, the number 14 (fourteenth of Nisan), a ram, or crossing a sea, resurrections, the color red or blood (even the application of the blood to the doorposts and lintels on the first Passover formed the sign of a cross), wine, wounds like Christ’s, a red cord or many other symbols may be seen in dreams to remind us of God’s Provision to us.
The Passover is Forever
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever. (Exodus 12:24)
God instructed Israel to observe the Passover forever. Even Though He is the Lamb, Jesus celebrated the feast with His Disciples and gave them bread and wine at the very first Holy Communion to remember His death. Apparently, forever includes remembering God’s Passover in Heaven, as witnessed by the Apostle John.
Revelation 5:6 says: And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Therefore, this weekend as we celebrate the Passover or Resurrection Sunday (or both), let us remember the same message of blessed redemption centered around the Lamb who has so marvelously delivered us from bondage to liberty. Happy Pesach, and have a blessed Easter!