Leavening & Traveling Light

Fifty2 Sunday's ~ Listening 4 God

       I learned something last Sunday about the unleavened bread and Passover that I have never known or understood.  The Jews were told in Exodus 13: 6 & 7: "For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord.  Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.”  The preacher went on to explain the Jewish custom of searching the house for any grains of yeast.  He assured his listening audience that this custom continues today in homes that celebrate Passover.

        What was perhaps of most interest (and new information) to me was the reason for no yeast.  In simple terms, baking with yeast takes more time and the Jews needed to be prepared to leave quickly when Moses led them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.  In other words, they needed to be prepared walk out the door at all times of day and night.  The preacher went on to discuss what he titled God's "Journey Motif"- the essence of which is that we don't know what God has planned, and we need to be ready to move when he says so.  The Jews who were ready and obeyed God were also protected and provided for.  Much of the rest of the sermon focused on Passover and the similarities between that and what we celebrate at Easter, but I was left thinking about yeast.

 I have been reflecting on if there is any 'yeast' holding me back or making me unavailable for something God might intend for my life.

     There are many species of yeast; some are helpful (i.e. for making bread or alcoholic beverages) and others are harmful (i.e. as in causing infections).  Life is like that too, there can be things in our lives (relationships, habits, etc.) that can have both a positive or negative impact.  Sometimes something that was good can turn bad and that is when we need to let it go.  Jesus warned about the effects of 'bad' yeast (Matthew 16:12 & Mark 8:15) when speaking of the Pharisees and Herod; and the Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians to get rid of the 'old' yeast - challenging them to be the "new unleavened batch" they were in Christ (I Corinthians 5:6-8). 

    As born again believers and followers of Christ and members of God's kingdom-we are to represent the 'new' yeast (Luke 13:20) to those around us. This may require an unexpected and sudden change, move, job, (etc.) for reasons God ordains.  All the more reason to remember we need to travel light in this life.