The Wonder and Majesty of God's Festivals and Holy Days

The Feast of Unleavened Bread Is for Believers of All Times

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is replete with symbolism and metaphors. The everlasting nature of this vivid symbolism is a strong indication that God did not ordain His holy days for Israel alone, but for all of people throughout time. Here are some examples:
• The quick departure of the Israelites from Egypt: In Exodus 12:30–34, we are told that Pharaoh rose up in the night after the firstborn of the Egyptians had been slain and demanded that the Israelites leave. They brought some dough with them as they were leaving. They were forced out unexpectedly. They took the dough as it was, in the form of unleavened cakes, as it didn’t have time to rise. Getting out of Egypt in a hurry was an example of obedience to God by not procrastinating, but rather leaving a sinful life fast.
• It represents putting sin out of our lives—ancient Egypt and leavening were both representative of sin. As the Israelites left Egypt and put leavened products out of their houses for seven days, they were symbolically putting sin out of their lives.
• Feeding on bread without leaven is a picture of feeding on Jesus/Yeshua, the Word, the Bread of life.
• Unleavened Bread is a type of sanctification. By eating unleavened bread, believers in Jesus/Yeshua are showing that we are metaphorically walking out of Egypt and being cleansed from sin.
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also symbolic of repentance. Repentance includes a deep sorrow and a decision to leave a past life of sin. As the Israelites decided that living in Egypt was not pleasing to their Creator, they followed Moses out of Egypt. This was symbolic of repentance as they intended to leave their old life and enter into a new life and covenant with God.
• It was at the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread season when Joshua led the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land, and they first ate some of the produce of the land (Josh. 5:10–12). As believers in Jesus/Yeshua, we repent and begin our journey out of our sinful past life, and we begin to eat the fruits of our new life in Jesus/Yeshua.
• It was on the first day of Unleavened Bread that the children of Israel left Egypt—they symbolically left a life of sin. The seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread is meant to represent the fullness of overcoming sin and changing our lives. All the way from repentance to a life in Jesus/Yeshua.
• When Jesus/Yeshua willingly died on the cross for our sins, He became the “leaven” so that we could be made righteous. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
• The Jewish custom of searching for leaven right before the feast represents our searching for Jesus/Yeshua and the truth. A candle, feather, wooden spoon and paper bag were used in the search for leaven. The candle represents the Word of God, who is the light of the world. The feather represents the Holy Spirit directing us to Jesus/Yeshua. The wooden spoon represents the tree of crucifixion. The paper bag represents the grave. After leaven was found and placed in a paper bag, it was burned. The fire represents how our sins have been dealt with, never again to be remembered.
• We need to apply this tradition of cleaning the home as we clean our hearts. Where there is unconfessed sin in our lives, there are obstacles in our relationship with God (Isa. 59:2). Before the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a great time for reexamination of our lives, to search for the hidden leaven (of sin) and to root it out.