Moses Delivers Israel from Egypt
After a series of nine terrible plagues that came upon Egypt, Pharaoh made the mistake of challenging God one too many times; as a
result, God chose to bring the tenth and final plague on Egypt. As you may recall in the last story, the angel was to carry out the death
sentence imposed by God. The night must have been a very frightful time. The Israelites could hear the screams of pain and sadness
throughout the land as the firstborn male from each Egyptian family died at the hands of the angel of death. The angel even entered
the house of Pharaoh to put his firstborn son to death.
But all was quiet in the homes of the Israelites because they had followed God’s instructions. The blood of
a sacrificial lamb was marked on each doorpost, and each family ate the lamb and unleavened bread. As a
part of his plan, God told the Israelites to remember this day and celebrate it every year. This celebration is
known today as the Feast of the Passover because the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites.
The first born was spared because of their obedience to God. The feast would be a special time to remember
how their families were saved from death by the sacrifice of the innocent lamb.
This special event draws a picture of what Jesus did for us many years later. The innocent lamb represents Jesus. The lamb was sacrificed
and his blood was used to protect the Israelites who believed and carried out Moses’ instructions from God. God orchestrated a carefully
laid out plan for the Israelites the night of the Passover that foretold the plan of Jesus’ death for us fifteen hundred years later. Those
who chose to believe and follow God’s plan were saved from death just as we too are saved from spiritual death (separation from God)
when we believe that the innocent blood Jesus shed will save us from the punishment for our sins. We escape judgment and punishment
from God because we follow the instruction that God provides.
Below are excerpts taking from the book Making God Part of Your Family that shows how much God cares for us, how each story can provide guidance in living our lives and how God planned even from the beginning that we would need a savior through his son, Jesus.