“And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” If an Israelite household were unable to eat the entire lamb on that memorable night, the portion that remained was to be consumed by fire.
First, there was God’s view of the sacrifice. It looked on to the offering up of His dear Son on Calvary, and the roasting of the lamb told of God’s judgment of sin falling on Him. The shedding of the innocent victim’s blood and its display on the doorpost set forth the atoning value of that precious blood which would flow forth from the Saviour’s side. Then there is the believer’s portion, typified by the feasting on the roast lamb, which speaks of the redeemed’s enjoyment of their portion in Christ, and of the communion which they are brought into with the Father and the Son.
Yet nothing was to be left till the morning. That which spoke of the death of Christ must not be treated lightly. All the work of Christ and His death must be accounted for to God.
None of it was to be refused. If the appetite was not equal to it, what could not be eaten was to be returned, as it were, as God’s portion, and entirely burned with fire. Nothing pertaining to Christ is ever to be considered without value or of little importance.
If the believer is not equal to enjoying all of his Saviour, which is his privileged portion, then God Himself will find infinite delight in all that is associated with the sacrifice of His beloved Son.
The roast lamb was not to be consumed as ordinary or common food. It could only be eaten in association with the judgment through which it had passed. In order to feast upon Christ, one must be in the apprehension of His death. It was only around the passover table that they could properly feed upon the Passover lamb. On the passover night, as also in the morning when the judgment had passed, they might forget the import of the lamb roast with fire. But the burning of all that was left would recall to them its solemn character, they would be reminded afresh that the lamb had been sacrificed for them, and it would prevent it from degenerating into common food.
A child of God should be exercised if his enjoyment of the things of Christ is not what it should be, and should seek prayerfully to find what is needed to bring him into a deeper sense of his privilege of communion. Perhaps where this is the case, it is the result of feeding on inferior food, other things than Christ, when the appetite is thus dulled. The enemy of our souls is quick to fill our thoughts, activities, and our lives with occupations, cares or worldly pleasures, that will intrude into our communion and mar our enjoyment of Christ.
Memory Verse
ML-03/02/1969