The First Passover

God's People Worship
First Things
First Freedom

Beginning of Passover

Exodus 12:21-28

The Message

^21-23 Moses assembled all the elders of Israel. He said, “Select a lamb for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the bowl of blood and smear it on the lintel and on the two doorposts. No one is to leave the house until morning. God will pass through to strike Egypt down. When he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, God will pass over the doorway; he won’t let the destroyer enter your house to strike you down with ruin.
^24-27 “Keep this word. It’s the law for you and your children, forever. When you enter the land which God will give you as he promised, keep doing this. And when your children say to you, ‘Why are we doing this?’ tell them: ‘It’s the Passover-sacrifice to God who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt when he hit Egypt with death but rescued us.’”
The people bowed and worshiped.
²⁸ The Israelites then went and did what God had commanded Moses and Aaron. They did it all.

For Reflection

God makes a clear distinction between the Egyptians and the people of God.  People of faith are to live lives distinctly different from those lived in the shadow of their contemporary cultures.  People of faith are protected by God.  People of faith are God-centered.  People of faith are humble, compassionate and just.  How do you see yourself? 

Pray

Pray for the people of God in all parts of our world who face the tyranny of hate and injustice.  Pray for God to comfort them.  Pray that all will find hope in the promise of God's Kingdom.