January 19: The Passover

This week’s study covers the passover (Exodus 11:1-7, Exodus 12:1-14, and Exodus 12:29-36), which eventually lead to the freedom of the Israelite people from Egypt.  

Here are some of the key things we looked at this week:

• God did not forget his people.  They had been slaves to the Egyptians for 400 years, but God raised up Moses and provided a way out.
• God warned Pharaoh through Moses and 9 plagues before the passover.  Pharaoh's heart was hard and he and his people paid for his lack of faith in God.
• The final plague was to be the death of any first born male (human and animal).  For those who did not follow the instructions (all of the Egyptians) there were horrible consequences.  Every first born male in the whole country died in a single night.
• In order to be saved from this plague, the Israelites were required to sacrifice a lamb.  This again had many similarities to the sacrifice of Christ.
• The animal had to be spotless (similar to sinless)
• The family had to keep the animal with them for 4 days.  They had to get to know the animal.  Much harder to sacrifice.
• After the lamb was killed, the meat had to be roasted and eaten.  This is similar to other sacrifices in the old testament.
• The lambs blood had to be smeared on the door frame of each house in order for God to "passover" the house in the last plague.  By putting the blood on the right, left, and top door frame, the Israelites made a cross.