June 11, 2026

djohnstoncc
55 minutes ago
4 min read

THERE MUST BE BLOOD ON THE DOORPOST

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:12-13 NLT

TODAY’S THOUGHT

By the time we reach this point in the Exodus story, the empire of Egypt has been completely decimated. Over a grinding period of about twelve months, nine successive plagues have ruined their crops, wiped out their livestock, and broken their economy. The Egyptian citizens are begging Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave, but his suffocating pride repeatedly overrides logic.

Now, comes the tenth and final plague. As God prepares to execute definitive judgment, this momentous night establishes three foundational spiritual principles:

1. The Refusal to Bargain

As the pressure mounted during the previous plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly tried to negotiate a compromise with Moses. First, Pharaoh suggested that only the Hebrew men leave to worship, keeping the women and children behind as hostages. Later, he agreed to let the families go, but demanded they leave their herds and flocks behind.

Moses flatly refused to leave a single hoof in Egypt. He understood an essential rule of the spiritual walk: We cannot negotiate terms with a directive from God. The world will always try to pressure us into a partial surrender, asking us to compromise our values just enough to fit in. True obedience demands a total, uncompromised "yes."

2. The Devout Distinction

Throughout this entire year of judgment, God maintained a clear, visible boundary between the Egyptians and the Israelites. When swarms of flies and locusts blanketed Egypt, the land of Goshen remained completely clear. When dark, tangible pitch blackness paralyzed the Egyptians for three days, the Israelite homes were filled with light.

God loves to demonstrate a distinction between those who are in a covenant relationship with Him and those who are not. He does not leave His people exposed to the wrath of the enemy; He actively provides a supernatural perimeter of protection and a definitive way of escape.

3. The Power of the Covering

For this final night of judgment, the protective distinction required action. God didn't automatically bypass the Hebrew homes just because of their nationality. They had to actively follow a plan: sacrifice a spotless lamb, apply its blood to the top and sides of their wooden doorframes, and remain inside.

When the executioner passed through Egypt, salvation did not depend on the occupants' moral perfection, their financial status, or their good intentions. God didn't look through the windows to check if the people inside were worthy. He only looked for one thing: the blood on the doorpost. If the blood was applied, the house was secure.

This was the inauguration of Passover—a sacred remembrance the Jewish people still celebrate thousands of years later. It is also the ultimate prophetic picture of our salvation. We do not stand before God vindicated by our own goodness, our church attendance, or our ancestry. We are saved simply because we have applied the blood of Jesus—the ultimate Passover Lamb—to the doorposts of our hearts. When the Father looks at us, He sees us through the perfect covering of His Son.

Personal Application

Looking back over a lifetime of faith, I am continually anchored by the simplicity of the cross. We often exhaust ourselves trying to prove our worthiness to God, forgetting that our security was purchased entirely by the blood of Christ.

However, being covered by the blood also means we are called to live distinct, uncompromised lives. If the Holy Spirit has set you apart, your daily conduct, your business ethics, and your vocabulary should look radically different from the culture around you. True security breeds holy distinctiveness.

Questions for Reflection

Compromise Check: Is there an area of my life where I am trying to bargain with God—holding back a piece of my heart, my habits, or my finances instead of offering total obedience?
Holy Distinction: If someone were to observe my daily life, my reactions to stress, and my treatment of others, would they see a clear distinction that points to Jesus?
Resting in the Blood: Am I still trying to earn my salvation through my own exhausting performance, or am I resting peacefully behind the secure covering of Christ's sacrifice?

TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, expose any hidden areas where I have been tempted to compromise my walk with You. Help me to live a life that is noticeably distinct, pure, and set apart for Your purposes. Thank You for the precious blood of Jesus that covers my past, secures my present, and guarantees my eternity. I rest in Your complete forgiveness today. Amen.

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