The Passover

God sent a final plague upon Egypt, which resulted in the death of firstborn sons, but God protected those families who appropriately expressed faith in Him.

God told Moses about one more plague He would bring on the Egyptians, so before Moses left Pharaoh’s presence for the last time, he said, “Here is God’s message.”

“At midnight, I will pass through Egypt, and every firstborn will die—from Pharaoh’s firstborn who sits on the throne to the firstborn of the poorest slave girl. The firstborn of cattle will also die. What loud lamentation there will be all over Egypt! And yet, no one will offer the least resistance to Israel when they leave. In fact, your officials will get on their knees and beg them to leave. This is to show you the distinction I make between Egypt and Israel.”

Osiris, an important, revered god of Egypt, was the fearsome god of death and the underworld. With this plague, the LORD God was about to demonstrate that He alone is the true God of life and death.

God had a related but different message for the Israelites. He told Moses: “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of the month, each family must choose a one-year-old, healthy male lamb without defect. They will take care of it until the fourteenth day of the month, when they will slaughter the lamb at twilight. Then, they will dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood, and they must spread the blood on both sides of the frame and the top of the door frame of the house in which they will eat the lamb. And here is how they are to eat it: roast the meat with fire and eat it with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast, and be dressed to travel with staff in hand. Eat it quickly. This is the LORD’s Passover. On that night, I will pass through Egypt, strike down every firstborn, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. When I see the blood on the doorframes, I will pass over you. Nothing will happen to you when I strike Egypt.”

So Moses assembled all the leaders of Israel and gave them this message. Then, the people bowed down, worshiped God, and went out to do exactly as He commanded.

Then it happened. At midnight, the LORD struck every firstborn in Egypt. Pharaoh, his officials, everyone in Egypt got up and cried bitterly because there was not one home where someone had not died. But the Israelites who expressed faith in God by obeying His word were safe. Their firstborn sons didn’t die.

Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Up and out! Leave us, all of you Israelites! Take your flocks and herds and go worship the LORD as you asked. Just go. But ask God to be kind to me.”