Story 16
The Passover
Exodus 11:1-13:19
The Bridge: The final plague was terrible! God was working His plan to reveal His awesome power to the Egyptians who worshipped false gods, including their Pharaohs. God told Moses that after this final plague, Pharaoh would finally let His people go (Exodus 11:1).
The Story:
- The Lord told Moses that He would cause the death of the firstborn male of every family [from the king’s house to the lowest servant’s house] and of every animal in the land of Egypt (Exodus 11:4-5). He also told Moses, “Speak now in the hearing of the people that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry” (Exodus 11:2, ESV).
- In order to avoid the death plague, God gave Moses very specific instructions to tell the people. They were to kill a lamb or goat without blemish and put some of the blood on the doorposts of their houses. This blood was a distinguishing mark (Exodus 12:13) that symbolized that the people in that house trusted God and that a substitute had been offered for the firstborn. The firstborn belong to God (See Exodus 13:2, 11-13). Then the Lord would pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come in to that house (Exodus 12:13, 23).
- They were also to observe a Passover Meal. God told the Hebrew people to get ready and to eat the meal ready to travel, because after the last plague the people were going to flee Egypt (Exodus 12:11).
- When the destroyer came that night (Exodus 12:23), the people all over Egypt were crying. The firstborn of Pharaoh’s house died, too. Pharaoh then told Moses to take his people and leave (Exodus 12:29-32).
- As the Hebrews were leaving, they asked the Egyptians for gold and silver. The Egyptians were so happy to see them go that they loaded them down (Exodus 12:35-37).
- The Israelites travelled across the desert with about 600,000 men and their families with them along with their animals and possessions. Many others from Egypt also travelled along with them (Exodus 12:37).
What do God’s instructions regarding the Passover lamb and meal reveal about our deliverance?
