Lambs were “an abomination” in Egypt, perhaps since the rule of the Hyksos “shepherd-kings.”
There aren’t many days so momentous that they change the whole calendar, but this was one. “This month shall be your beginning of months;” said the Lord; “it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Ex 12:2). Up until then, the Hebrew calendar began in the fall, much like our school year. But this was Abib, the month that straddles our March-April. From this time forward, the Jewish people would have a civil New Year in the fall and a spiritual New Year in the spring. Come to think of it, every believer has two “beginning of months” as well—a natural birthday and a spiritual birthday! What was the focus of this new New Year? “On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb,…a lamb for a household” (v 3). The focus was “a lamb” (v 3), “the lamb” (v 4), “your lamb” (v 5). Yes, Christ is a Savior (Lk 2:11) and He is the Savior (Jn 4:42), the only One; but can you say, as Mary did, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Lk 1:47)? The chosen lamb was to be an unblemished young male, because it was an object lesson pointing to the Lord Jesus, also an unblemished young male. It was to be examined over and over from the tenth to the fourteenth day, to make sure it was perfect, just as Christ was examined in his trials before both religious and civil rulers. Christ’s judge said, “I find no fault in Him at all” (Jn 18:38). His executioner confessed, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” (Lk 23:47). Even His accusers declared, “He saved others” (v 35). Yes, He did, and yes, He does! We say with John, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29). My sin! Your sin! Taken away by His death at Calvary; taken away when, by faith, we transfer our trust to Him alone.