Why Do We Eat The Bitter Herbs At Passover?

The Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt. It is written:
"So they put slave drivers over them to oppress them with forced labor, but the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. Exodus 1: 11-14

This morning was a busy morning. While at the grocery store, we decided to pick up some food for our upcoming Passover Seder dinner. It felt like Groundhog Day when we couldn’t find a fresh horseradish root in the Produce Department. We face this same dilemma every year! The grocer told us, “The shipment has not come in.” So I turned to my hubby and said: “Just use the stuff in the jar.” And like so many other years, he stood firm; “I’ll try another store tomorrow.” He prefers the fresh, potent root because he likes to get us feeling the drama of oppression that the Israelites faced under Egyptian slavery. Suffer we must! I dislike that part of the Seder. I don’t like to suffer and cry; On the other hand, it’s my favorite part. You see, God brought them through it. He delivered them. That part is my favorite part! Guess you can’t have the deliverance without the suffering.

As we shopped, we bumped into friends we haven’t seen in years and off to the coffee bar we went. It was good to sit and chat. They needed to talk. They were dismayed because of job loss and financial strain. We listened and offered encouragement. I shared a similar experience we went through years ago and how God rescued us. I could tell that they felt validated in familiar suffering. Tears welled up in their eyes. Pretty soon we were all choked up. We prayed with them before leaving and they said they felt much better.

After that, we continued to shop, but my heart changed toward the horseradish. I was up for the search for that bitter root realizing that it is good to cry and feel the pain!

Jesus, our Yeshua Hamashiach – the Anointed One, Our Messiah, has indeed come to rescue us. This year I’m seeing the suffering in the Seder a little differently and it is more of a focal point for me. It’s real life. We can only be delivered by going through the trial. By the power of the cross, He has delivered us. He is, indeed, our Passover Lamb, our powerful sacrifice.

A Memorial Day Reflection

Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls. Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts run through my mind. The journey of loss takes on various emotions. The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness. In a split second, I would forget he departed forever. I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home. My mind is realistic now. He's not coming back. There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars. He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day! And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...

Abba's Lap

I noticed a behavior pattern in little Amy, twenty months old, that I want to imitate. She moves fast engaging in one toddler activity after another spinning like a whirlwind from one room to another. Yet, she pauses, intermittently , long enough to get refreshed. I want to be like this grandchild of mine because she knows where to go and how to get comforted. Amy moves at record speed, putting more miles on a pedometer in one hour than my accumulated weekly workouts at the gym. She can build a skyscraper so tall, I wonder why those bright pink Lego’s don’t topple to the ground as she continues to stack just one more piece on top. I learned never to leave the room to get another cup of coffee. Once, when I returned, I found her climbing past the couch with hands and feet reaching for the living room drapes. She has a consistent habit that I admire. In the midst of her activities, as she moves robustly from one play...

A Surprise at the Mall

I lost touch with a writer friend. I missed her and her cheerful blog posts. We met up in a most unusual way! I’m still in awe of how it happened. I finished my shopping at the mall and took a short cut to get to the parking lot. The path led me through the food court. The smell of Chicken Fajitas stopped me in my tracks. I planned lunch elsewhere, but now I followed my nose. I chewed my first bite of chicken taco salad when, out of nowhere, a loud redhead moved rapidly past the tables and into the booth with me. “I know you !” She shouted. I pondered if I knew this crazy lady. Did she mistake me for someone else? She shouted louder and stuck her finger in my face: “ You’re Mary; you have a blog called Pile of Smiles and you live in the Verde Valley .” It took me a second to compose myself. I stopped chewing my food. I know I stared too long at her face and then she said:...

DeniseApril 10, 2014 at 9:23 PM
Very interesting, love you my friend.
Nikki (Sarah)April 11, 2014 at 7:44 AM
Can't have the deliverance without the suffering...that's so true. I think so many of us know that on a personal level. Love that you guys celebrate Passover. Happy passover.
PeggyApril 12, 2014 at 11:02 AM
What a wonderful spiritual application you have made of the bitter root of suffering. And how perfect of The Lord to bring that couple across your path that needed your encouragement. I'll be thinking of that bitter root in this week leading up to Easter. And how our Lord had to go through bitter suffering before receiving glorious deliverance. Thank you!
Mevely317April 13, 2014 at 4:44 PM
I love this episode, Mary! Surely, it was no accident you 'happened on' your friends - so in need of encouragement!

Only in the last few years have I been so interested in the Jewish faith; and really appreciate the way in which you share their teachings!

Love ya,
Myra

PS - That tablecloth is equisite!
SharonApril 14, 2014 at 12:34 PM
Mary, such an interesting post. I love how God used you and your husband to ease the suffering of someone else while you were on your *root* hunt. See, He did indeed bring joy out of suffering!

GOD BLESS - have a wonder-full Easter!
RCUBEsApril 14, 2014 at 5:57 PM
I love when the Lord uses a simple errand for someone needing encouragement through both of you. How significant too that you realize the value of His saving grace whenever we are going through tough times. Praying for His provision for your frIends. You know. .. You also continue to encourage me too. Thank you sister Mary. Thanks be to God...we are not disabled because He is God Who enables! God bless and love to you.
CeilApril 17, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Hi Mary! How amazing that you were looking for bitter root, and found it in your friends sufferings. So many are in a bitter season now. You were such a comfort to them!

May your family have a wonderful Seder and Passover celebration. I have taken part in Seder several times, and it's so meaningful.
Blessings to you!
Ceil
DeeApril 19, 2014 at 8:43 AM
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing about the reason for the bitter root. I feel God placed you and your husband just at the right place and time to connect with your friends and to minister to them...so inspiring to hear these story's. Have a Blessed Easter. Dee

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