“Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”
My Notes
What Does Hebrews 11:28 Mean?
The author of Hebrews is cataloguing the heroes of faith, and here Moses is commended for keeping the Passover. The emphasis is on faith — Moses didn't fully understand how lamb's blood on a doorframe would protect firstborn children from the angel of death. He obeyed because he trusted God.
The "sprinkling of blood" connects directly to the larger theology of Hebrews, which presents Christ as the ultimate Passover lamb whose blood provides final deliverance. What Moses did in physical Egypt, Christ accomplished in the spiritual realm. The pattern of blood-bought protection runs from Exodus to Calvary.
Moses acted on partial information with full obedience. He didn't need to understand the mechanism. He needed to trust the one who gave the instruction. The firstborn were protected not by the Israelites' understanding but by the blood applied in faith.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to obey before you understand — and what's holding you back?
- 2.How does the connection between the Passover lamb and Jesus deepen your understanding of what His death accomplished?
- 3.When have you obeyed God without understanding the 'mechanism' — and what was the result?
- 4.What does it mean to 'apply the blood' in your life today — not just believe in it, but actively trust it?
Devotional
Moses didn't have a theology of atonement when he painted blood on his doorframe. He had a command from God and a decision to make. That's faith — acting on what God said when you can't see how it works.
The Passover lamb was killed, its blood was applied, and the firstborn were spared. Centuries later, Jesus — the Lamb of God — was killed, His blood was applied, and those who trust in it are delivered from death. The shadow and the substance tell the same story.
But here's the part that might encourage you today: Moses didn't need to understand the full picture. He just needed to obey. The blood worked not because Moses had perfect theology, but because God was faithful to His word.
You might not understand everything God is doing in your life right now. The instructions He's given you might not make complete sense. You might not see how obedience here leads to protection there. That's okay. Moses didn't either. But he applied the blood, and the destroyer passed over. Faith isn't understanding the mechanism. It's trusting the one who designed it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,.... Of themselves, not from any natural cause: the Jews say (n) they sunk right…
Through faith he kept the passover - Greek, “he made - πεποίηκε pepoiēke - the passover,” which means more, it seems…
He kept the passover - God told him that he would destroy the first-born of the Egyptians, but would spare all those…
The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some…
Through faith Rather, "by faith," as before.
he kept the passover Lit. "he hath made," or "instituted." Another of the…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture