Passover: Remembering the Lamb

 Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - Monday: Passover

Remembering the Lamb
Read Joshua 5:10

As the Israelites stood ready to conquer Canaan, Joshua could have rushed into battle, seizing the land while their enemies were weakened. Yet he made a remarkable decision: he paused to celebrate the Passover (Joshua 5:10). This was not mere tradition or ritual; it was a profound act of obedience and remembrance. Even amid pressing tasks, God’s covenant and redemption took precedence over immediate gain.

The Passover had been instituted decades earlier as a memorial of God’s deliverance from Egypt: each family was to sacrifice the lamb at twilight (Exodus 12:6), and the festival was to be observed annually as a holy assembly (Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16). Through this act, God’s people remembered that salvation comes from His power and mercy, not their strength. By keeping the Passover, Joshua was teaching Israel that God’s past faithfulness must guide their present and future.

Beyond remembrance, Passover foreshadowed Christ. The lamb slain in Egypt pointed forward to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood redeems humanity from sin (John 1:29). The sacrifice of the Lamb prefigured the ultimate deliverance — freedom from sin and death. John in Revelation offers a glorious vision of this final redemption:

“…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready… Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” — Revelation 19:6-9

The Lord’s Supper continues this remembrance, inviting us to keep the reality of Christ’s sacrifice central in our lives. Even when we are not celebrating the Lord’s Supper, there are ways to keep the Cross ever before us: meditating on Scripture, sharing our testimony of grace, living in gratitude, and allowing our daily choices to reflect His love. These small acts are spiritual reminders that salvation is not a past event alone, but a present reality guiding every moment.

Reflection
Joshua reminds us that obedience and remembrance should not be postponed for busyness or expedience. By keeping the Passover before conquest, he taught that victory flows from God’s faithfulness and that remembering His salvation equips us for the battles ahead. Today, the Cross is our Passover; the Lamb has been slain, and through Him, we are called to live in constant awareness of His redeeming power.

Prayer
Lord, help me never to take Your sacrifice for granted. Teach me to remember the reality of the Cross daily, not only in celebration but in my choices, words, and actions. May I live in the freedom Your blood has purchased, keeping my heart aligned with Your will and ready to reflect Your love. Amen.

More: Ultimate Loyalty: Worship in a War Zone - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - The Lessons of Faith from Joshua

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