The blood on the doorposts was the God-appointed token that marked Israel's houses so that when God saw the blood, He passed over them and their firstborn were spared from the death angel.
In Exodus 12, God commanded Israel to strike the Passover lamb's blood on their doorposts as a token upon their houses. When God saw the blood, He passed over that house and the plague of death did not destroy the firstborn. Les Feldick stresses that Israel's security that night was never without the blood — it was the blood applied that gave them safety, and they rested in that promise by faith.
Exodus 12:13 — This verse directly states the significance: the blood was a token upon Israel's houses, and when God saw it He passed over them so the plague would not destroy them.
In Exodus 12:7, God commanded each Israelite household to take the blood of the Passover lamb and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the house where they would eat the lamb. Then in Exodus 12:12-13, God declared that He would pass through the land of Egypt that night and smite all the firstborn of man and beast, executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt. The blood would be a token upon the houses where Israel was; when God saw the blood, He would pass over them, and the plague would not be upon them to destroy them. In Exodus 12:22, the explicit instruction was to take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood in the basin, strike the lintel and the two side posts, and remain inside the house until morning.
Les Feldick teaches that the blood on the doorposts was the sole basis of Israel's protection on Passover night. He emphasizes God's own words: "when I see the blood, I will pass over your house, and the death angel will not strike the firstborn" [Clip 1]. He stresses that the safety of those Jewish families was never without the blood — if a Jew had decided the blood was unnecessary and simply stayed inside, he would not have been safe, because the blood applied to the door was what gave them their security and safety [Clip 4]. God looked at the doorposts, and when He saw the blood, He saw their faith and gave them safety. Les also pictures how Israel stood in their little huts by faith, not shaking in fear, because they knew the blood on the door had made them secure [Clips 1, 3, 6]. He further observes that the blood struck on the two door posts and on the lintel was the outline of the cross, and he connects the Passover lamb to Paul's teaching that Christ is our Passover — where there is a Passover lamb, there has to be blood, for the whole idea was the shedding of the lamb's blood so it could be stricken on the door post [Clips 2, 6].
God's explicit instruction was that the blood of the Passover lamb was to be applied to the two side posts and on the lintel of each house where the household would eat the lamb [Clip 2]. The blood was to be a token for Israel upon their houses so that when God saw the blood, He would pass over them and the plague would not destroy them [Clip 7]. Les notes that this was not to be done just any way — it had to be done in a particular way, with a bunch of hyssop dipped in the blood in the basin and struck on the lintel and the two side posts — and that the placement formed the outline of the cross [Clips 2, 5].
According to Les, the Jewish families did not shake with fear that night. Even though they were former slaves in Egypt and knew the death angel was going through the land, those who were people of faith were secure, knowing the blood was on the door and they were covered [Clips 1, 3]. They knew by faith that with the blood on the door, the death angel would never strike them, so they were safe and secure [Clip 6].
No. Les makes the point emphatically: it was never without blood. There may have been the possibility of a Jew who said there was no need to put blood on the door, but who stayed inside because of what was going on outside — such a person would not have been safe, because it was the blood applied that gave them their security and safety [Clip 4]. God not only looked at Israel's faith; He also looked at the doorposts, and when He saw the blood, He saw their faith and gave them their safety [Clip 4].
Les points out that although the Israelites did not know it at the time, the blood struck on the two door posts and on the lintel was the outline of the cross, and that is certainly what God had in mind [Clip 2]. He also connects the Passover lamb to Paul's statement that Christ is our Passover — reminding his listeners that where there is a Passover lamb, there has to be blood, because the whole idea was the shedding of the lamb's blood so that it could be stricken on the door post [Clip 6].
God's Judgment on Egypt
Les sets the context: God passed through Egypt to smite all the firstborn of man and beast and execute judgment on all the gods of Egypt, which is the judgment from which the blood on the doorposts protected Israel.
God's Promise to Pass Over
Les quotes God's promise that when He sees the blood on the doorposts He will pass over the house and the death angel will not strike the firstborn, and explains that Israel stood by faith without fear.
Applying the Blood on the Doorposts
Les describes the instruction to strike the blood on the two side posts and the lintel with hyssop, and observes that this placement outlined the cross.
Security Under the Blood
Les explains that Israel huddled in their little huts without fear of the death angel because the blood was on the door and they were covered.
Never Without the Blood
Les stresses that Israel's safety was never without blood — God looked at the doorposts, and when He saw the blood He saw their faith; a Jew who refused to apply the blood would not have been safe.
How the Blood Was Applied
Les walks through Exodus 12:22, showing the explicit method: a bunch of hyssop dipped in the blood in the basin, struck on the lintel and the two side posts, with no one leaving the house until morning.
Faith and the Passover Connection
Les reiterates that Israel knew by faith the death angel would never strike them, and he connects the Passover lamb to Christ our Passover, noting that where there is a Passover lamb there must be blood.
The Blood as a Token
Les reads Exodus 12:12-13, showing that the blood was a token upon the houses of Israel and that when God saw the blood He passed over them so the plague would not destroy them.
Exodus 12:7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
This is God's command placing the blood at the entrance of every Israelite home where the Passover lamb was eaten.
Exodus 12:12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
This describes the judgment that was coming to Egypt on the night the blood marked Israel's houses.
Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
This is the key verse explaining the significance of the blood: it was the token God saw that caused Him to pass over Israel's homes.
Exodus 12:22: And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
This gives the explicit method God required for applying the blood to the doorposts and lintel.
1 Corinthians 5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
This is the New Testament connection Les cites when he points out that Christ is our Passover, which required the shedding of blood.
God told Moses and Aaron that the blood of the Passover lamb would be a token upon the houses where Israel was; when God saw the blood, He would pass over them and the plague would not destroy them (Exodus 12:13). The blood identified the households that were to be spared when the firstborn of Egypt were smitten that night [Clip 7].
No. Les Feldick says the Jewish families did not shake in fear because they knew by faith that the blood on the door made them secure [Clips 1, 3]. They knew the death angel would never strike them with the blood on the door, so they were safe and covered [Clip 6].
No. Les teaches that it was never without blood. God looked at the doorposts, and when He saw the blood, He saw their faith and gave them safety. A person who dismissed the blood as unnecessary and simply stayed inside would not have been safe, because the blood applied gave them their security [Clip 4].
Watch the Teaching: Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts