Death of the Firstborn and The Exodus

Story: Death of the Firstborn and The Exodus

Passage: Exodus 12:29-42

Characters:  Israel, Egypt, God

Summary:  The Lord struck down the firstborn of everyone in Egypt.  Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to leave.  The Egyptians were urgent to get the Hebrews out of Egypt.  They feared for their lives.  The Israelites ate unleavened bread because they did not have time to fully prepare it.  They left Egypt with 600,000 men not counting women and children.  They had been in Egypt for 430 years.

Notes:  Every house in Egypt lost their firstborn.  From Pharaoh, to his lowliest servant, even to the flocks, no one was spared.  The passage says that everyone woke up in the night and Egypt was filled with wailing.  Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron after telling them that he would never see them again.  He tells them to leave once and for all.  Finally, the plagues became too much for him.  God had accomplished what He intended to accomplish through Pharaoh.  He had delivered the Israelites from death through the blood of a perfect lamb.  The Egyptians weren’t stupid!  Their land had been ruined!  They wanted to get the Israelites out of their country.  What impressed me the most out of this passage though is the fact that one family had become 600,000 men alone over a period of 430 years!  That is a massive slave force to lose!  And Egypt was losing their slaves right when they needed some significant work done!  By the way, that is 430 years to the day apparently!  The passage concludes by stating that it was a night of watching by the Lord, so the Passover has become a night of watching by Israel. 

Questions:  Could Egyptians have killed a lamb to be passed over?  Did any Egyptians leave with the Israelites?  Why did the Egyptians just give their gold and silver to the Hebrews?  What was the Lord watching for exactly? 

Lessons:  This is a story of deliverance.  God kept His promise and delivered Israel from the hand of Egypt.  We need to remember that even when it feels like God is distant, He never has left us and He will keep His promises!