Passover Miracles

As we approach Pesach (Passover) we cannot help but think of our six months of war in Gaza. We remember the trauma of October 7th on Simchat Torah (the end of the Feast of Tabernacles) when Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdered over 1,200 people, including elderly, women and little children, and took over 250 hostages, including women, children, infants, and elderly. Though some were 134 Israel hostages (over 34 of whom are now confirmed dead) remain in Hamas captivity in extremely difficult circumstances.

Soldiers are away from home, many away from their wives and children, fighting bravely to regain security. There have arisen enemies on all sides: Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Yemenite Houthis, Syrians and Iraqis, and the head of the snake: Iran.

And now we approach Passover: a holiday of deliverance and salvation.

Passover reminds us that in the midst of great trouble, the Lord God of Israel is in control. He keeps His covenant promises and hears the cry of His people. Even in the darkest times, the Lord is present to save.

In the book of Exodus, we read that the children of Israel suffered greatly under the hand of Pharaoh: “So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor… So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:13-14,22)

But when Israel cried out to the Lord, He heard and remembered His covenant: 

“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So, God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them”. (Exodus 2:23-25).

For most of our history, even in the most difficult times, the Jewish people have kept the Passover. At this time, when Israel is undergoing such a time of traumatic testing one might ask: “Where is God? Why didn’t He intervene?” But the Lord is faithful and will fulfill His covenant promises to His people.

In the Dachau concentration camp, the suffering was unimaginable. As Passover approached a Jewish slave laborer who was nicknamed “Rebbe” decided they had to celebrate Passover. The year was 1945 and the Germans were getting nervous as the Allies advanced. “This Passover we will celebrate our exodus from Germany”, Rebbe proclaimed. “We need to prepare Matza (unleavened bread).”  But how?

One prisoner worked in the kitchen. With fear and trembling he asked the German cook for flour to make unleavened bread. With an added bribe of two gold teeth (from a dead prisoner), the cook agreed. 

On March 27, 1945, Rebbe brought the matzos and declared that the Passover Seder would now begin.

“Out of the seven ingredients needed to conduct the Seder, there were only two: Matza and Marror, but the Almighty will understand,” Rebbe said.

When asked. “Where is the Marror (bitter herbs)” Rebbe replied. “Our lives in this camp are the Marror; all of our lives are bitter enough.” Rebbe then divided the matzah, gave each a piece, and the prisoners said the blessings.

That night of Passover, these prisoner/slaves held a Seder, though many elements were missing, as well as no food.

At the end, Rebbe made a short prayer in Yiddish: “Please, forgive us, Oh Master of the Universe, for conducting such a poor Passover Seder service. But it was the best we could do, and please deliver us, Oh Lord, from the hands of our enemies who rose up, once again, in this generation to destroy us.”

May 2, 1945, the U.S. army came and freed the captives. 

(Taken from: (https://www.theyeshiva.net/jewish/2385/a-seder-in-dachau)

Back to the Exodus story: the Lord heard the Israelites and sent a deliverer, Moses. Through this man God wrought a mighty deliverance. God sent 10 plagues, culminating in the death of the first-born. On that night, the Lord commanded the Israelites to prepare a lamb per house, sacrifice it, and put the blood on the doorposts and threshold of the houses. Thus, the destroyer would “pass over” and not come in to smite their first-born.

The next day, the Lord released the children of Israel from slavery to Egypt and they began their long journey to the promised land.

Approximately 1,500 years later another Passover Seder was celebrated. This time by Yeshua (Jesus) and His disciples. This was the One of Whom John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world”. As Yeshua and His disciples partook of the Passover meal, Yeshua took the Matsa and proclaimed: “Take eat this is My body. After that He took the cup of wine (Elija’s cup) and declared: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood”.

The next day, Yeshua, the Lamb of God, was crucified on Golgotha as a perfect sin offering for the world. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed in a messianic prophesy: 

“As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.” (Zechariah 9:11)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Isaiah 61:1-2a)

The acceptable year is also known as the year of Jubilee, where freedom is declared for all slaves. 

In the coming days, Jewish families all over the world will sit at the Passover table and celebrate the deliverance God wrought. We and our children will remember when God saved His people out of Egyptian bondage. with a strong hand and outstretched arm. As Messianic Jews will also join our people at the Passover table as we remember both our deliverance from Egypt and the final redemption from sin and death which Yeshua, the Lamb of God, obtained through His sacrificial blood.  Our prayer for this season is that Israel would be delivered from all her enemies, the hostages released, but also that Israelis would come to know the redemption and salvation in their Messiah, Yeshua.

Please agree with us that God would use Jerusalem Bible Institute to equip a new generation of young Israeli men and women who will bring this message of redemption to our nation. 

I look forward to staying in touch with you as we move closer to launching our first school year this Fall.

Blessings in Messiah Yeshua,

Zvi Randelman

President, JBI