Unleavened Bread and Life

Today proved to be busy day. The weather was great for January. Warm and sunny. I even took time to take down some outside Christmas decorations and take the dog for a walk. I had a good meeting with Mike Walker and Zane Strange with Serve 6.8. This is the community outreach arm of Timberline Church and the group that built our handicap ramp and has been so instrumental in providing assistance to fire and flood victims in recent years. I toured the Murphy Center that serves as a hub for meeting the needs of the homeless and near homeless. This is an amazing community success story.

In preparation of some future opportunities, I had to take a couple of suits in to have them altered. The tailor suggested that I skip a few meals! Perhaps I need those who prayed that I gain weight, pray that I lose weight. Overall it was good to be out and about and active for most of the day.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “They left Egypt in such a hurry that they did not have time to prepare any food except the bread dough made without yeast. So they baked it and made thin bread.”  Exodus 12:39

The history of unleavened bread is established with the final judgment on Egypt and the death of the firstborn in the land. The preparations included a lamb brought into the home and then killed. The blood of the lamb spread on the door posts of the home and the baking or preparing of unleavened bread.

The bread was made without yeast because there would not be time for the bread to raise before they needed to leave Egypt. So the bread without yeast was thrown over their shoulders and at least provided some food for the initial exodus. But unleavened bread took on a significant meaning for the Israelites. The Lord established for His people the feast of unleavened bread, where all yeast was to be removed from the home for seven days. The penalty for disobedience was severe. “If you eat anything made with yeast during this festival, you will no longer be part of Israel.” (Exodus 12:15)

Unleavened bread became a symbol and reminder of the deliverance the Lord brought to His people in Egypt. It was a reminder that salvation from death comes through submitting to the Lord’s direction and coming under His protection. It was a call to vigilance, because it was “eaten in haste.” They had to be anticipating the deliverance that was coming and not focused on the cares of their current life and existence.

When we come to the New Testament we see leaven as a symbol of sin. It is something small that is introduced into the bread mixture but before long it spreads and takes over. The Lord is reminding us that is what sin does in our life when it is unchecked and allowed to remain. Leaven is pictured as an “old way” of life and is connected to sinful behavior.

Jesus warned his disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) As Paul writes to the Corinthians he says, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” ….. “let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6,8)

We need to make application to our lives today of these principles. It is not the practice of actually “eating unleavened bread” that is as important as understanding that our lives are to be lived committed to the new life Christ has brought to us.  Remember, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Don’t return to an old life or an old way of proving  yourself worthy to God.

Be vigilant in your life about what is in your life. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” (Ephesians 4:31) Paul also gives these instructions, “…put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Ephesians 4:22-24)

There are some important lessons for us to learn from this Old Testament pattern. What is important for Christ follower today, is not eating unleavened bread, but making sure we have an “unleavened life.”