EATING BITTER HERBS

Text: Exodus 12:1-11   vs 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Introduction:  The Roast lamb was sweet to the lips. It was an encouragement to the children of Israel. The shed blood gave them protection from the death angel. It enabled them to survive by being obedient to the instructions given to them.  The Roast lamb was to be eaten with Bitter Herbs. The Roast lamb was a type of the victory over battles. The Bitter Herbs reminded them that every thing wasn’t always pleasant and nice.

How much like the Christian walk was this meal. The Roast Lamb signifying the Good times with God. The Bitter Herbs representing the discouraging times, and times of trials and temptations that face the child of God in their life.

The meat tasted better because of the Bitter Herbs. The good times that a child of God sees seem better because of the times of testing.

THE BITTER HERBS

1-FOLLOWING A LOVED ONE TO THE GRAVE

2-BEING BETRAYED BY A FRIEND BECAUSE OF YOUR STAND 

   FOR GOD

3-SEEING A BROTHER STUMBLE OR EVEN FALL ALONG THE

   WAY OF SERVING GOD

4-HAVING EVERYTHING YOU OWN TAKEN FROM YOU

5-TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK ONLY HAVING IT HIT TOO

CHARACTERS IN THE WORD OF GOD WHO TASTED THE BITTER HERBS…

1-ABRAHAM—AFTER GOD GAVE HIM A SON IN GENESIS 21, 

                            GOD CHALLENGED HIM IN CHAPTER 22 TO

                            OFFER HIS SON

2-JOSEPH---ACCUSED OF A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT.

                       PLACED IN PRISON (GENESIS 39:13,20)

3-DAVID—HAD URIAH KILLED, TOOK HIS WIFE, AND SHE BARE

                    HIM A SON. THIS DISPLEASED THE LORD. NATHAN

                    CAME AND TOLD DAVID…”THOU ART THE MAN”

                    (II SAMUEL 12:1-7)

4-JOB—LOST EVERYTHING HE HAD, AND HIS WIFE TOLD HIM

  TO CURSE GOD AND DIE. HE BEGAN TO SCRAPE

  HIMSELF BECAUSE HE WAS SMITTEN WITH BOILS 

  FROM HEAD TO TOE. (JOB 2:7-10)

5-PETER—AFTER MAKING A PROMISE TO NEVER TURN HIS

                    BACK ON THE LORD, HE DENIED KNOWING CHRIST

                    ON THREE OCCASIONS AND AFTER THE THIRD

                    OCCASION, THE COCK CREW AND PETER

                    REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS. (MATT 26:74-75)

THERE WILL BE BITTER HERBS ALONG LIFE’S JOURNEY. DON’T ALLOW THEM TO MAKE YOU BITTER.

TRUST JESUS, AND HE WILL HELP YOU TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE TIMES.

THERE WILL BE ENOUGH ROAST LAMB TO MAKE THE BITTER HERBS PLEASANT TO TASTE.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEASON THE ROAST LAMB WITH THE BITTER HERBS.