The Passover: Part 1 (Exodus 11:1-10, 12:21-42)
Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week.
Transcript
Good morning. My name is Spencer. I am one of the pastors here. We're going to be in Exodus 11 and 12 today, which is on page 31 in your Blue Bibles. We're actually going to be in this story twice when we're here this week and next week as well. So you can go ahead and flip there and follow along.
The text will also be on the screen this week. So I was told that when you get to your 30s that you get into one of two things. You get into smoked meats or World War II. That's what they say. And four years in, I've gotten into both of those. Not that World War II is something I was disinterested in.
I've always been interested in World War II. It was my family's war. So my grandfather, both my grandfathers fought in World War II. One was a Boilermaker in the Pacific Wars. The other one was actually an original member of Navy SEAL Team 6 in the Pacific Wars. He was pretty bad at the bone.
So both of them fought in it, and therefore I've always had interest in it. It's always been significant. And that's not just significant to me. It's significant to many Americans. I mean, we beat evil. We won.
It was a big deal. It was a big part of our nation's history. And there's a lot of significance for it us as a country. But what happens is I think oftentimes you get caught up in the significance of the story and how big and how weighty it is that you actually miss the details of the story. And for me, that was me. Like, growing up, I sat in history classes.
I watched Pearl Harbor and Saving Private Ryan. Like, I knew things. I knew the big events. I knew the significance. But I never actually sat in some of the story.
And over the last few years, like, I watched movies and look at documentary things and read about it. Just how the politics of how we got into the war in the first place. The fact that they're actually, I don't know, when I finally realized that there was a war before we got into it. Like, the war just kind of started for me when Pearl Harbor happened. There was a whole war that was going on before. Looking at the details of that.
Looking at that story. How we got into it. The different battles that were fought. The story itself is actually pretty incredible. And what can happen, what can happen is, is that you can be so caught up in the significance of it that you miss the story itself. And that is what happens with Passover.
Passover, I mean, it's one of the biggest events in the scriptures. I mean, outside of the creation and the fall, in Genesis 1 and 2 and 3, I mean, there's no other bigger moment in the Old Testament. I mean, Passover is huge. A lot leads up to this. And a lot flows out of this. And you can get so swept up in the significance and the weightiness of the Passover event that you actually miss the story.
So what we're going to do is we're going to take this in two parts. Part one is this week. And we're just going to look at the story and spend some time in the story. And then next week we're going to come back to it and look at the significance of how that flows into the rest of the scriptures. So we're going to look at the story today.
And then we're going to see why it's really good news. Let me pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that you would help us be immersed in this story and see you so clearly and so wonderfully. That it would compel us to worship, to believe, to delight in you who brings redemption and freedom. We ask that you go to work in our hearts and help us respond in Jesus' name. Amen.
All right. So in chapter 11, verse 1, The Lord said to Moses, Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. So this is it.
This is the final sign and wonder. This is the final plague upon the Egyptians. It's all going to end here. This is what God predicted when he called Moses at Mount Horeb in Exodus 3. When he told Moses, I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it. After that, he will let you go.
This is the end of the wonders. He does this. And then you are going to leave. And all of you are going to leave. Every man, every woman, every child, every livestock, everyone. One of our students was listening to Chet preach last week.
And she said, this is no hoof left behind. Like, this is everyone. And I thought, that is a fire dad joke. I'm saving that for when I teach this to my kids. But it is.
It's every single person is leaving once God finishes this. The time has come. Verse 2. 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. This was also foretold in Moses' calling.
That you're not just going to leave completely. You're not just going to leave completely. You're going to leave with riches. You're going to plunder the Egyptian enemy once I'm through with them. When the total war of victory is complete, you will leave with gold and silver and clothing. The Egyptians are going to freely give this to you.
Verse 3. And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt. In the sight of Pharaoh's servants. In the sight of the people. Let's just pause for a moment.
Sometimes it's good to look at the Bible and look at the different figures in it. And just follow their story. If you look at Moses. At 40 years old, he kills a man and he's scared. So scared that he leaves Egypt.
And he goes away. And then at 80 years old, he's older. He's weaker. He has a speech impediment. He has self-doubt. He has all kinds of excuses why he can't be used by God.
He is not an imposing figure in himself at all. And that is exactly who God uses over and over again. He's so feared. So respected. This is the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt. In the sight of Pharaoh's servants.
In the sight of the people. I mean, Pharaoh's servants feared him. He was the king. One of the most powerful men in the world. He was a God to them. Moses.
Moses. And his weakness. He was great to them. Verse 4. So Moses said.
Thus says the Lord. About midnight. I will go out in the midst. Of Egypt. And every firstborn. In the land.
Of Egypt. Shall die. From the firstborn of Pharaoh. Who sits. On his throne. Even to the firstborn of the slave girl.
Who is behind the hand mill. And all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry. Throughout all the land of Egypt. Such as there has never been. Nor ever will be again.
But not a dog. Shall growl against any of the people of Israel. Either man or beast. You may know. The Lord makes the distinction. Between Egypt.
And Israel. So the final. Plague. The final sign. And wonder. Moses announces it.
To Pharaoh. This will be the devastating blow. That ends. Centuries. Of slavery. Centuries.
Of abuses. This is going to end it. God is going to kill. Every firstborn. Male. In Egypt.
And that's what's bound up in that word. Firstborn. This is the firstborn males. Every firstborn son. From Pharaoh. All the way down.
To the cattle. Everyone is going to die. There's going to be a weeping. And a wailing. That has never been heard. In the land.
And that never will be heard again. The grief. Is going to be. Deafening. And this final part of the plan. Was also foretold.
To Moses. In Exodus 4. When Moses was coming to Egypt. God made this clear. He said. Then you shall say to Pharaoh.
Thus says the Lord. Israel is my firstborn son. And I say to you. Let my son go. That he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go.
Behold. I will kill your firstborn son. The Egyptians. Enslaved. The firstborn of God. That's what's being.
That's what's being shown here. The Egyptians enslaved. The firstborn of God. Israel. For years. Abusing them.
Forcing them to labor. Taking their very children. Ripping them out of their hands. And killing them. This is what the Egyptians did. To the firstborn of God.
And then. An ironic twist. God is going to bring that judgment. On their head. He's going to bring Pharaoh. And this nation.
To its knees. And he's going to bring judgment. To this false God. And this people. That has oppressed them. For so long.
And some may look at that. And go. Isn't that. Excessive. Isn't that a bit much. That God is going to end this like this.
By killing the firstborn male. In every household. Let me speak to that for a moment. And examine why. Actually God is just. In doing this.
First. God is God. He is a righteous judge. And if he deems this. As judgment. Then.
It is a righteous one. Now. I know that's not satisfying. I don't know how circular that sounds. To some of you. But it doesn't mean it's not true.
Second. There is a western. Kind of grimacing. To this story. That I would argue. Is a unique reaction.
When compared to other cultures. In this world. And certainly other time periods. That we just. As western Americans. Are largely insulated.
From injustice. We don't. Experience. The kind of injustices. That other parts of the world do. We don't know what.
Genocide is like. We don't know what mass. Murder. And rape. And all the. Horrible things that happen.
Under dictators. We don't know what that's like. We're largely insulated. From them. So we don't know what a real cry.
For justice is. There are moments. Where we see glimpses of it. In our culture. Saw it a couple of weeks ago. There's a man.
That was sentenced. For. For taking his vehicle. And running it through a Christmas parade. A couple of years ago. Killed.
Six. Seven people. Killed a child. Injured. Dozens. It was a terrorist.
An terrorist attack. Wanted to kill as many people. As he could. And that is sentencing. Someone. Yelled out.
Burn. In hell. You piece of. Fill in the blank. No one looks at what happened. With that event.
And looks at that response. And thinks. That's not merited. So we. We see a glimpse of it. There is.
There's a. There's a call. For justice. That we feel. That we tap into. A little bit.
We're just largely insulated. From it. Because other cultures. Have experienced. Horrible injustices. And you have to understand.
The Israelites. Have endured. Centuries. Y'all. Longer than America. Has been a country.
Centuries. Of abuses. Of oppression. Of enslavement. And had their children. Ripped out of their arms.
And murdered. They've endured. Horrible. They've endured. The worst. And they desire.
Justice. Justice. Other cultures. And other peoples. Who experience it. They desire.
Justice. They don't see that as a bad thing. They say. God is a good. Just. God is a.
Good thing. And they are longing. For this justice. To happen. There will be a painful. Grievous.
Wailing. In the land of the Egyptians. But not a sound. Not a sound. Will be uttered. Against the Israelites.
And Goshen. They're going to be. Okay. So Moses. Announces this judgment. And then he continues.
He says. And all these. Your servants. Shall come down to me. And bow down to me. Saying.
Get out. You. And all the people. Who follow you. And after that. I will go out.
And he went out. From Pharaoh. In hot anger. Moses. Moses says. All of this.
And again. The irony. Is unbelievable. Moses. Or Pharaoh. Was a false God.
To the Egyptians. They bowed down. To him. Fearing him. And Moses says. When this is done.
You're going to bow down. And you're going to beg. Us to leave. Then. We'll be free to go. It just demonstrates.
The power of God. Here. And then it says. He left in hot anger. Now. We don't know.
Why he left in hot anger. We don't know. If he is a prophet. Who is taking. The tone. Of God.
We don't know. If. At this point. Pharaoh has already. Said. You're not leaving.
And he's. Angry at this. We don't know. But he leaves. At hot anger. And then God gives.
Tells Moses. This in verse nine. Then the Lord. Said to Moses. Pharaoh will not. Listen to you.
That my wonders. May be multiplied. In the land. Of Egypt. Which was the plan. All along.
Moses and Aaron. Did all these wonders. Before Pharaoh. And the Lord. Hardened Pharaoh's heart. And he did not.
Let the people of Israel. Go out. Of his land. So. Pharaoh says. No.
Which is how. This is always going to be. Therefore. Judgment. Is coming. Now.
We're going to skip. Chapter 12. Verse 21. And we're going to see. How Moses prepares. The people.
For the coming. Judgment of God. And we're going to see. The redemption. That he offers. To his people.
So pick up. In verse 21. Chapter 12. And Moses. Called all. The elders of Israel.
And said to them. Go. And select. Lambs. For yourselves. According to your clans.
And kill. The Passover lamb. So. We're going to see. What Passover means. In a moment.
But he tells them. Go. According to your clans. According to your families. And kill. The Passover lamb.
Slaughter. This Passover lamb. Then he says. Take. A bunch of hyssop. Which is a bush.
They use for cleansing. Cleansing. Some cleansing ceremonies. It's going to be used. As a paintbrush here. Take a bunch of hyssop.
And dip it in the blood. That is in the basin. And touch the lentil. And the two door posts. With the blood. That is in.
The basin. So. This is what. This is what it looks like. You have a lentil at the top. Posts on the sides.
And he says. Slaughter the lamb. Put his blood into a bowl. To a basin. And you take that. With some hyssop.
And you go. And you Mark the top. And you Mark the sides. You Mark your door. With the blood. And every.
Israelite family goes. And they find. A lamb. And they start marking. The doors. He says.
None of you. Shall go out of the door. Of his house. Until morning. Because judgment is coming. You're not going to be out there.
For this. None of you. Shall go out. Of the door of your house. Until morning. For.
Verse 23. The Lord will pass through. To strike the Egyptians. And when he sees. The blood of the lentil. And on the two door posts.
The Lord will pass over. The door. And will not allow. The destroyer. To enter. Your houses.
To strike you. So when. Night. Falls. And the sun. Sets.
Get into your houses. Hide yourself. Behind the blood. Because judgment is coming. He says. The destroyer.
Is coming. So the destroyer. Some look at this. And say. It's the angel of God. Angel of death.
Some look at this. At Psalm 78. And say. This is a company of angels. That are doing this. But.
It seems to be angelic forces. On behalf of the power of God. They're going to come. To every single door. And if they see. The blood.
That is on the door. They're going to pass. Over. This is where we get the term. Pass over from. They're going to pass over.
Your. Door. And you will be saved. And judgment will go. To somewhere else. Verse 24.
You shall observe. This right. As a statute. For you. And for your sons. Forever.
When you come. To the land. The Lord. Will give you. As he has promised. You shall keep.
This service. And when your children. Say to you. What do you mean. By this service. You shall say.
It is the sacrifice. Of the Lord's Passover. For he passed. Over the houses. Of the people. Of Israel.
In Egypt. When he struck. The Egyptians. But spared. Our houses. And the people.
Bowed their heads. And worshipped. Verse 28. Then the people. Of Israel. Went and did so.
As the Lord. Had commanded. Moses and Aaron. So. They. Did.
So the people. Hear this. Response. Hear what they're called to do. And they're going to remember this. We'll look at this more next week.
This is going to be something. That they continue to remember. For years to come. And then it says. They worshipped. They worshipped.
When they heard this. You know why they worshipped? Because they've been slaves. For centuries. And they won't judgment. They won't redemption.
So they worshipped. God. And then they did it. They went. Just as they were told. They trusted.
Moses and Aaron. They trusted the word of God. And they went. And each clan. Slaughtered a lamb. Can you imagine.
The frantic energy. That would have been felt. On that day. After receiving this. Each family. Going.
And making sure. They find the lamb. Making sure they slaughter it. Making sure they get enough blood. To put on the doors. Each family.
Marking the doors. The sounds of. Goats. Being slaughtered. This would have been a frantic. Day.
As night began to fall. And as the sun set. The people of God. Hid themselves. In their homes. And they waited.
And as night. Got. Darker. Verse 29. At midnight. The Lord.
Struck. Down. All. The firstborn. In the land. Of Egypt.
From the firstborn. Of Pharaoh. Who sat. On the throne. To the firstborn. Of the captive.
Who was in the dungeon. And all. The firstborn. Of the livestock. Can you imagine. How intense.
That night. Would have been. The Israelites. Huddled in their homes. Waiting. For this force.
To come through. I can imagine. That they probably. Were huddled. As far away. From the door.
As possible. I can imagine. That they were huddled. Together. As families. Surrounding their kids.
I can imagine. That the firstborn. Was hugged. A little bit tighter. And they're looking. At the door.
And they're. Trusting. That the blood. Is going. To cover them. That the blood.
Is going to hide them. From judgment. That as long as. They're behind the blood. They're going to be okay. And they wait.
Until finally. Judgment comes. Over each. House. And the land. And then it finally.
Shows up to their door. And they wait. And then finally. Passes over. And then. And the darkness.
And the silence. Of the night. When it's all done. There's a cry. And there's another cry. And then there's a chorus.
Of grief. That goes over. All the land. Verse 30. And Pharaoh rose up. In the night.
He. And all his servants. And all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry. In Egypt. For there was not.
A house. Where someone was not dead. Every. Egyptian house. Has a dead boy. Verse 31.
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron. By night. And said. Up. Go. Out.
From among my people. Both you. And the people of Israel. And go. Serve the Lord. As you have said.
Take your flocks. And your herds. As you have said. And be gone. And bless me also. Pharaoh.
The most powerful man. In the land. A king. That is feared. Is begging them. Get out.
Leave. And he's so humbled. In this complete. Military. Defeat. That he is begging Moses.
For a blessing on his way out. Pharaoh said. Seven chapters before. Who is this God. And now he's saying. Please leave.
And bless me. By the power of your God. Bless me before you leave. This is complete devastation. Verse 33. The Egyptians were urgent.
With the people. To send them out. Of the land. In haste. For they said. We shall be.
All be dead. Amen. So again. The Egyptians. Were oppressors. The Israelites.
Feared them. And now. They're saying. Get out. Or we're all going to be gone. Leave.
So. Verse 34. The people took. Their dough. Before it was leavened. Their kneading bowls.
Being bound up. And their cloaks. On their shoulders. The people of Israel. Had also done. As Moses told them.
For they had asked. The Egyptians. For silver. And gold. Jewelry. And for clothing.
And the Lord. Had given. The people. Favor. And the sight. Of the Egyptians.
So that they let them. Have what they asked. Thus. They plundered. The Egyptians. So they.
Gather. Their unleavened bread. Their families. And they plunder. The Egyptians. Just as God said.
The Egyptians. Freely giving their riches. Gold. Silver. Clothing. Take it.
Just take it. And leave. This is a complete. Surrender. This is what happened. In military.
Victories. Once you surrender. You surrendered. All the loot. All your values. Get out.
Verse 37. And the people of Israel. Journeyed from Rances to Succoth. About 600,000 men on foot. Besides. Women and children.
They leave. Can you imagine. What that was like. To finally. Walk. Freely.
All they've ever known. Is slavery. All they've ever known. Is slavery. They've. They've been beaten.
They've been mistreated. They've been treated as property. They've had. Their babies. Ripped from their arms. All they've ever known.
Is. Suffering. Under this people. And not just them. Their parents. And their.
Grandparents. And their great grandparents. For centuries. This is all they've ever known. Is. To be slaves.
To a people. Who brutalized them. And they walk. Freely. Away. And as the sun rises.
They're free. They're finally. Free. Their redemption. Is there. They can taste it.
They can. Realize it. They're finally. Free. And they're leaving the land of sorrow. And pain.
This moment is huge. This moment is unbelievable. People are joyous. Verse 38. A mixed multitude. Also went up with them.
And very much livestock. Both flocks. And herds. And they baked. Unleavened cakes of dough. That they had brought.
Out of Egypt. For it was not leaven. Because they were thrust. Out of Egypt. And could not wait. Nor had they prepared.
Any provisions for themselves. Look at more of that. Next week. Verse 40. The time. That the people of Israel.
Lived in Egypt. Was 430 years. So centuries. Y'all. Of suffering. At the end.
Of 430 years. On that very day. All the hosts. Of the Lord. Went out. From the land.
Of Egypt. And hosts. There's intentional language. That's military language. They're military victors. Because of God's work.
Verse 42. It was a night. Of watching. By the Lord. To bring them out. Of the land of Egypt.
So this same night. Is a night. Of watching. Kept to the Lord. By all. The people of Israel.
Throughout. Their generations. And they're free. You got to sit. And look at the story. And you got to sit in it.
And imagine. What that's like. You got to put yourself. In their shoes. And imagine. How long.
And how desperate. They would have been. How hopeless. They would have felt. They heard about. That they were the people of God.
They heard all this. They had their. They knew. That they were. They were a part of. Of a people.
And they weren't always here. That. It's not the way. It's supposed to be. And they longed. And they waited.
For years. And for years. And for years. Hoping. And then finally. Someone came.
And they came. And they told them. You're going to be free. God is coming. He's going to free you. He's going to bring signs.
He's going to bring wonders. And they waited. And they watched. As the first sign and wonder. And then the next plague. And the next plague.
And the next plague. And the next plague. Each one. Showing the power of God. Each one. Showing.
Maybe this is it. All the way. To this final one. Can you imagine. What it was like. To be the people.
Who received this news. The judgment was coming. That very night. And to receive the instructions. For Passover. Can you imagine.
What it was like. To finally say. All right. We're going to be saved. We're going to be free. But we need to take a step of faith here.
We're going to trust. Moses and Aaron. And to find the lamb. And to slaughter the lamb. And to go to your door. And to paint the door.
And to sit there. In the darkness of the night. Hoping. Waiting for your redemption to come. Waiting. And then judgment comes.
And how terrifying that must have been. And to hide yourself behind the blood. Hoping that that blood is enough. To keep judgment at the door. And then finally judgment. Hits the lamb with a force.
That has never been felt before. And then finally. They're free. The hesitant step out of the house. The hesitant step. Towards the Egyptians.
Who used to be so scared of. You've been longing for change. You've been longing for a new life. You've been longing for this. And finally. It's there.
You take the riches. And you walk. Freely. To be with your God. Can you imagine what that. Felt like.
If you're a Christian. You don't have to imagine that. That is your life. If you're a Christian. That is your life. Because you.
Because you. Through faith. Received. A spiritual. Exodus. This story.
Is your. Story. Everyone. Comes into this world. A slave to sin. A slave to your desires.
Obeying the enemy of this world. The evil one. That's what the Bible. That's what the Bible clearly. Teaches. You don't come in this world.
Free. You come in this world. Slave. If you're in Christ. Especially. If you came to Christ.
Later in life. You can remember. What it was like. To be a slave to your sin. You can remember. What it was like.
To be. Longing for change. Longing for something. Different in life. Be longing. For something.
To be different. This can't be. All. That there is. Know what that's like. And then.
Someone came. And someone told you. The good news. Of the gospel. Someone told you. About the blood.
Of Jesus. Passover. Points forward. To. The cross. Jesus.
Became. Our Passover lamb. Someone told you. About the blood. Of Jesus. Someone told you.
That he died for you. Someone told you. That if you trust. In the finished work. Of Jesus. On the cross.
That you can hide. Behind the blood. That his blood. Will cover you. That judgment. Will pass over you.
And more importantly. It passes on to him. Because Jesus. Is the Passover lamb. That was slaughtered. On our behalf.
Judgment. Ultimately. Was not poured out. On any Pharaoh. It was poured out. On Christ.
And you heard. The gospel. And you believed. And trusted in Jesus. As your only. Hope.
And you pointed to the blood. As your only. Hope. And then you walked out. Free. For the first time.
You tasted. Freedom. The freedom. That is found. In the gospel. The freedom.
That is found. Is that I don't have to obey. My sinful desires. Anymore. That I actually can have. Freedom.
That I can taste. And see. That God is good. And choose. To follow him. And be with him.
Forever. And you. Got to experience. The riches. That come with that. That this military victory.
That Christ. Secures for us. Comes with. Plundering. Of riches. And it's not gold.
Or jewels. Or clothing. It is his grace. And his goodness. And his kindness. And his faithfulness.
And his gentleness. All of that. That resounds. Into eternity. You get to experience. All of that.
And what you get to experience. In part now. You get to experience. In full. Later. If you're a Christian.
This is your story. You know this story. You live this story. You know Passover. But some of you.
May not be a Christian. And some of you. Have not experienced this. But maybe you. Have always said. That you were a Christian.
Maybe you've. It was an intellectual belief. Maybe it's something. You just agreed with. But this.
Right here. This. This is not. Your life. If you trusted. In other things.
As your only hope. Maybe it's the things. Of this world. Maybe it's the riches. Of this world. Maybe it's yourself.
That you put. Hope. In other things. That you've never. So clearly heard.
The word of God. You've never clearly. Heard the gospel. And hidden yourself. Behind the blood. And said.
That's my. Only hope. That blood. Is my. Only. Hope.
Hope. And you've never. Experienced. What it's like. To walk in the freedom. That Christ provides.
You've never. Experienced. What it's like. To not obey. Sinful desires. You've never tasted.
And seen. That God. Is truly. Better. Than anything. This world.
Has to offer. That you've never. Walked. In the freedom. That he offers. And with him.
That if you're honest. You've never. Had this. And what I so. Desperately. Want for you.
This morning. Is to finally. Believe. Is to finally. Trust. In the Passover lamb.
As your. Only. Hope. To hide yourself. Behind the blood. That covers your sins.
To finally. Surrender. To this. God. We're going to do something. Differently.
That we. We don't normally do.