Topical Bible: Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Chosen Before-Hand

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The Paschal Lamb, central to the observance of Passover, holds profound typological significance within the biblical narrative, particularly in its prefiguration of Christ. The requirement that the lamb be chosen beforehand is a critical aspect of its typology, reflecting divine foreordination and the meticulous fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Biblical Foundation

The instructions for the selection of the Paschal Lamb are found in Exodus 12:3-6 : "Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household... You must care for it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight." This passage underscores the necessity of choosing the lamb in advance, allowing time for inspection and ensuring its perfection, as it was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5).

Typological Significance

The pre-selection of the lamb typifies the foreordained nature of Christ's sacrificial role. Just as the lamb was chosen days before its sacrifice, so too was Christ "chosen before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). This pre-selection signifies God's sovereign plan for redemption, meticulously orchestrated and fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

Christ as the Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul explicitly identifies Christ as our Passover Lamb: "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). The pre-selection of the Paschal Lamb finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who was foreknown and predestined to be the sacrificial Lamb. The Gospel of John further emphasizes this typology, as John the Baptist declares, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Theological Implications

The concept of being chosen beforehand highlights the doctrine of divine election and predestination. It affirms that Christ's sacrificial death was not a reactionary measure but a predetermined act of divine love and grace. This typology reassures believers of the certainty and security of God's salvific plan, rooted in His eternal purpose.

Historical and Liturgical Context

In Jewish tradition, the careful selection and inspection of the lamb ensured its suitability for the Passover sacrifice, reflecting the community's obedience to God's commands. This practice not only reinforced the importance of ritual purity but also foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who was examined and found blameless before His crucifixion (Luke 23:4).

Conclusion

The typology of the Paschal Lamb, chosen beforehand, serves as a profound testament to the foreordained nature of Christ's redemptive work. It underscores the continuity of God's salvific plan from the Old Testament to the New, revealing the depth of divine wisdom and the assurance of salvation through the perfect Lamb of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:3
Speak you to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 2:4
To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... prophetical, I will briefly touch the typical promises also ... 1:2). By eating the paschal
lamb, the people ... one person, but of the common nature, clothing himself ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

The Westminster Confession of Faith. AD 1647.
... and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ ... 1121] doth, in its own nature,
bring guilt ... sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ...
/.../the westminster confession of faith.htm