This post was last updated on February 25, 2026

Day 350, Year 1

Moses Instituted the Passover

“By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.” (Hebrews 11:28 NASB)

The word “keep” in today’s verse, in Greek poieo, also means “be the author of, make, do, or produce.” It seems more accurate to translate the verse’s beginning as “by faith Moses was the author of the Passover.” The Passover refers to the sacrificial lamb, the “sprinkling of blood” on doorposts and lintels, and also the subsequent supper. The bloodshed reminds us that the precious blood of Jesus must also be anointed on the hearts of believers so that we can be spared from eternal destruction. The perishing of the firstborns in Egypt reminds us that not only Pharaoh, but also those who disobey God will perish! In the past, Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites out of Egypt because of his hardened heart. Thus, God destroyed all the firstborns in Egypt. Only when the Israelites slaughtered the lambs and smeared the blood outside the doors according to His command would the killing angel pass over their houses and spare the firstborns. The lambs that were slaughtered took the place of the death of the firstborns. Similarly, Jesus’ death is our substitute for the eternal death of those who believe in Him.

At that time, Moses not only had faith in God but also in the obedient Israelites. It was not easy for slaves to slaughter lambs on common days. The Israelites were told to kill lambs and sprinkle blood outside their doors, which was clearly an act of faith and obedience. Similarly, accepting Jesus’ salvation requires faith, and this faith is the beginning of obedience to Him. As we accept the price He paid, we need to continue to obey His commands until the end. A good end can only be seen after we keep on His words. Some may question: Why was the Passover instituted? And why did Jesus shed His blood, so that those who trust in Him should not perish? The answer is simply because of God’s command and by His determination. The Passover was instituted as a substitute for the destruction of the firstborns. But the Scripture does not mean that Christians should observe the Passover meals nowadays. But if we want to experience the Jewish customs of the festival or even to preach the Gospel to them, then it is necessary to keep the festival. In short, the faith-events in Hebrews 11 were unique and cannot be repeated, but faith needs to be acted on. It doesn’t always make spiritual sense for believers to do the same actions as stated in the Bible.

Reflection questions:

1) Are you willing to pay the price for continually obeying God? How would you respond if someone were unwilling to pay the price but wanted to believe in Jesus?

2) How do you feel that the Lord Jesus has already suffered the eternal punishment of death in your place?