UNLEAVENED BREAD

Crying, weeping, and wailing split the night air as death visited the homes of the Egyptians. But in the homes painted with the blood of the unblemished lamb, there was relief, rest, and rejoicing. Soon they would be leaving the life of slavery, headed for God’s land of promise.

“Let’s go! Pack light! It’s a long walk to Canaan! Don’t forget the picnic basket!”

“So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their clothes on their shoulders” (Exodus 12:33–34). The necessary supplies carried by every Hebrew family included bread. But because they left in such a rush, they didn’t have time to let their bread rise… “Oh well. Unleavened bread is still bread… it will have to suffice.”

Every emancipated slave would remember the night they made the exodus from Egypt. And, every emancipated slave would remember the unleavened bread! That was God’s plan when He introduced and ordained the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Even before Egypt was in the rear-view mirror, God gave them instructions to remember.

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors that he would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you must carry out this ceremony in this month. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord. Unleavened bread is to be eaten for those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, and no yeast may be found among you in all your territory. On that day explain to your son, ‘This is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt’ ” (Exodus 13:5–8).

Why was God insistent upon them removing leaven from their festivities? Leaven is associated with fermentation and thus, leaven represented sin. It required a pure heart and faithful obedience to follow the Lord. They turned their backs on sin-filled Egypt, and in holiness, followed the God of their salvation!

The Festival of Unleavened Bread, in conjunction with Passover, served as an annual reminder of God’s redemptive miracle… He led them out of slavery! He saved them! The unleavened bread reminded them to turn their backs on the sinfulness of their past.

Today, when we gather at the Lord’s table, we share unleavened bread, a reminder that our sin nailed Jesus to the cross. We share the fruit of the vine, a reminder that His blood bought our freedom. 

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).