Return to Index.

Unleavened Bread
March 26, 2013

It was during the exodus that children of Israel were introduced to unleavened bread as a reminder of their hasty departure from Egypt. In the days and weeks prior to their departure, Moses had interceded with Pharaoh to no avail, and the heart of Pharaoh was hard and unwilling to compromise. One plague led to another plague until the death of the firstborn of Egypt occurred, and it was then that Pharaoh finally decided he could take no more. Moses and Aaron were summoned to the throne of Pharaoh and an urgent demand was made by Pharaoh of the children of Israel.

Exodus 12:29-42
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

Pharaoh and his Egyptians realized that the children of Israel through the miracles showed by God had the power of death over them, and chose life over death. The value of the labor they contributed was greatly diminished when compared to the loss of life. Not wanting to over stay a welcome and pleased to leave as quickly as possible, everything, including the baked unleavened bread, household goods, and whatever they could be given by the Egyptians was in the process of leaving the country. Today, when we bake bread we use yeast, baking soda, or baking powder. Most likely back then, the children of Israel were making what would taste most like a sourdough bread, where airborne yeast spores were used to leaven the bread. Since the bread did not have enough time to collect yeast spores, when baked the bread remained unleavened. To this day, unleavened bread is part of the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. It is during this time that God requires us to eat unleavened bread.

Leviticus 23:4-8
These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, unleavened bread is to be eaten. The first day of this feast, which corresponds to today's date in 2013, and the seventh day, April 1st, are religious holidays, a feast to God. I observe these days as a Christian because there is no command given to NOT observe these days as a Christian. How Christians observe these feasts may appear different than how our Jewish brothers and sisters may observe, and Paul writes about these differences in his letters. The explanations for how these may be observed differently are explained in the sacrifice of Jesus. It is this same sacrifice that almost all Christians cite when explaining why they instead observe Easter, a holiday which borrows practices from religions that the children of Israel observed among its non-believing neighbors. Instead of dumping a celebration outlined in the Bible and replacing it with a practice familiar to that of the non-believing neighbors of the children of Israel, I affirm the need to observe the feasts of God listed in the Bible, understanding that Jesus was our sacrifice and offering for our sins, and that the ritual sacrifices and offerings are not required of Christians.

Colossians 2:16-23
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Paul cautions us to not be subject to the commandments and doctrines of men, and Easter is one of those doctrines. Paul also reminds us in these verses that it is through Christ we are saved, and that the Sabbath and Holy Days are a shadow that reflect Jesus. For Christians observing the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, remember that it is through Jesus we are saved and we extend this thought in peace to those who do not observe, and when we extend peace to those who do not observe, we are able to celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
Copyright and Legal Information
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information