Devotional, The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

I admit it. I feel sorry for the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. This feast doesn’t get much individual attention even though it is one of the seven feasts established by God some 3500 years ago. In the books I have read on the feasts, it rarely gets the mention I believe it deserves. Even in the Bible, the Feast of Unleavened Bread only receives short references and these are often coupled with the Feast of Passover. I want to give the Feast of Unleavened Bread some much deserved time and focus.

The back story behind these two feasts is presented in Exodus 12. The Israelites were crying out to God for release from bondage to the Egyptians. After a series of escalating plagues they were instructed to place the blood of an unblemished one year old male lamb on the doorposts of their homes and to stay inside. This blood protected their families as they were passed over by the angel of death who took the first borns in the other homes in the land. That very night in his anguish, Pharaoh declared the Israelites were free to leave Egypt, immediately. They left in haste. They grabbed their dough that had not had time to be leavened and the many gifts the Egyptians showered upon them and departed.

These first two feasts established by God in Leviticus 23:5-8 celebrate the pivotal event of redemption and something else. Passover is a supper that celebrates the freedom from bondage the Israelites received that night. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is celebrated over the next seven days after Passover as each family rigorously avoids having yeast in their homes remembering the night in Egypt they left in haste.

Why no yeast? What does yeast symbolize? Why is this important enough for a seven-day feast? If the feasts not only look back to the history of the Israelites but also picture some aspect of our life in Christ, what does this feast mean to us today?

Yeast in the Bible often speaks of sin. “Not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness…” I Corinthians 5:8 and, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” Galatians 5:8. If leaven represents sin, then departing without leaven would mean the Israelites laying aside sin and heading out into their new lives leaving their sinful lives behind. This is called sanctification. It is also called dying to self. It is a lifelong process to which we are called as believers in Christ. This is what the Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrates, the laying aside of the old self and putting on Christ.

The Passover is a one night event that focuses on redemption. Once the Israelites placed the blood of the lamb on their doors, they stayed inside. Their redemption was something that was done for them. Unleavened Bread celebrates an entire action packed week in the life of the ancient Israelites. The Israelites had to get up and start walking. They were equipped with gifts they carried into their new lives. They had to actively make sure there was no leaven in their midst. They had to stay close to the Lord who led them through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. As they stayed close to the pillar they were protected from the enemy who chased them. When they were in an impossible situation the Lord worked a miracle, He parted the Red Sea and they walked across on dry land. As they stayed close to the Lord, God destroyed their enemy and the people experienced the goodness and the power of the Lord. Whew. This all happened in that one week. It wasn’t a time to be passive. The Israelites had to actively pursue the Lord every step of the way. Their experiences relate to our lives as followers of Christ today. Sanctification requires our full participation.

Sanctification is not a one time event, it is a lifelong daily process. It is important. We have been equipped and set free, purge out the sin, follow the Lord closely, celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread every day.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You, Lord that you did what we could not do for ourselves on the cross, You paid the price and brought us redemption. But you also invite us to actively participate with you as we walk out our our salvation. Help us to follow you closely and to willingly obey You. Help us to purge out the leaven in our lives. Thank You for the freedom that is ours through Christ.
In His name,
Amen