Exodus 12:14-28, 13:1-16
PREPARATION
BEGIN IN PRAYER
OPENING DISCUSSION
We all have moments that have impacted us significantly, not just in the moment but continually through life as we remember and reflect on them. Share an incredibly impactful moment consistently recognized and reflected on in your life.
CONTEXT
The book of Exodus continues the story of Genesis. In a nutshell, Genesis tells the story of how God created the heavens and the earth, and everything God created was good.
At the pinnacle of this good world, God created humanity to live in a perfect love relationship with him and to image his glory to the world. The first man and woman were given a mission: to multiply and fill the earth with image-bearers of God so that the glory of God would cover the earth like the waters cover the sea (Gen 1:26-27). But an enemy crept into God’s creation, that ancient serpent, the Devil. And he deceived the man and woman, and the world was plunged into sin and death. God promised that one day a descendant of Eve would come as a deliverer, and he would crush the serpent’s head and lead humanity back into God’s presence forever. But until that day, there would be a battle between the Serpent's descendants and Eve's descendants (Gen 3:15).
The rest of Genesis tells the story of how God began to fulfill this redemptive promise through a specific descendant of Eve named Abraham. God came to Abraham and promised that through his family line, all the peoples of the world would be blessed (Gen 12:1-3). In other words, God was telling Abraham that the promised descendant of Eve, who would crush the serpent’s head and bring humanity back to God, would come through his line. Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob, and Jacob had twelve sons, and God began fulfilling this redemptive promise.
But Genesis ends with a threat. A famine comes upon the land, and this family, chosen to be the family through whom the deliverer would come, is threatened with extinction. It appears that God’s promises hang in the balance. So they flee to Egypt and find relief there for the next 400 years. The chosen family is spared. This is where Exodus picks up.
SNAPSHOT
Chapters 1-6 of Exodus tell the story of the birth and calling of Moses, the man whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After an initial conflict with Pharaoh, which ended with him rejecting Moses’ call for freedom, Chapter 7:7 begins to tell the story of ten confrontations.
In each confrontation, Moses calls for Israel’s release, Pharaoh refuses, and Moses sends a devastating plague from God. In each case, Pharaoh’s heart grows harder. The Exodus from Egypt finally occurs but is bracketed by two calls for feasting and remembering their slavery in Egypt and deliverance from Egypt.
OPENING DISCUSSION
We all have moments that have impacted us significantly, not just in the moment but continually through life as we remember and reflect on them. Share an incredibly impactful moment consistently recognized and reflected on in your life.
CONTEXT
The book of Exodus continues the story of Genesis. In a nutshell, Genesis tells the story of how God created the heavens and the earth, and everything God created was good.
At the pinnacle of this good world, God created humanity to live in a perfect love relationship with him and to image his glory to the world. The first man and woman were given a mission: to multiply and fill the earth with image-bearers of God so that the glory of God would cover the earth like the waters cover the sea (Gen 1:26-27). But an enemy crept into God’s creation, that ancient serpent, the Devil. And he deceived the man and woman, and the world was plunged into sin and death. God promised that one day a descendant of Eve would come as a deliverer, and he would crush the serpent’s head and lead humanity back into God’s presence forever. But until that day, there would be a battle between the Serpent's descendants and Eve's descendants (Gen 3:15).
The rest of Genesis tells the story of how God began to fulfill this redemptive promise through a specific descendant of Eve named Abraham. God came to Abraham and promised that through his family line, all the peoples of the world would be blessed (Gen 12:1-3). In other words, God was telling Abraham that the promised descendant of Eve, who would crush the serpent’s head and bring humanity back to God, would come through his line. Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob, and Jacob had twelve sons, and God began fulfilling this redemptive promise.
But Genesis ends with a threat. A famine comes upon the land, and this family, chosen to be the family through whom the deliverer would come, is threatened with extinction. It appears that God’s promises hang in the balance. So they flee to Egypt and find relief there for the next 400 years. The chosen family is spared. This is where Exodus picks up.
SNAPSHOT
Chapters 1-6 of Exodus tell the story of the birth and calling of Moses, the man whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After an initial conflict with Pharaoh, which ended with him rejecting Moses’ call for freedom, Chapter 7:7 begins to tell the story of ten confrontations.
In each confrontation, Moses calls for Israel’s release, Pharaoh refuses, and Moses sends a devastating plague from God. In each case, Pharaoh’s heart grows harder. The Exodus from Egypt finally occurs but is bracketed by two calls for feasting and remembering their slavery in Egypt and deliverance from Egypt.
READ
Exodus 12:14-28, 13:1-16.
EXAMINE
- Begin by examining the text together. What do you notice? What stands out? Who are the main characters? What is surprising? 1
- At the heart of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the importance of remembering who God is and what God has done in the life of Israel. This is not the only place the verb ‘to remember’ is used. It is used well over two hundred times in the Old Testament. Why does God place such importance on remembering?
- Israel sacrificed the Passover Lamb to put its blood on their doorposts so the Lord would pass over them. This is in line with the tenth plague. What happened during the tenth plague? What or who did the lamb take the place of for Israel? (Hint: The thing that was spared is consecrated in 13:1-2)
- What is the significance of the consecration of the firstborn? Read Colossians 1:15-23. Jesus is referred to as the “firstborn of all creation.” Knowing that God commanded the Israelites to consecrate each firstborn, what is the significance of Paul calling Jesus “the firstborn of all creation”?
- Read John 1:29, 36. In light of the Passover, what is the significance of Jesus being called “the Lamb of God”?
APPLY
- Remembering who God is, what God has done, and what God will do is a vital function within the Church and the Christian life. Read Luke 22:17-20. What do we remember when we take communion? What practices can we implement to help us not forget who God is, what God has done, and what God will do?
- Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Is remembering only for the good of individuals? In what ways can we implement remembering and recounting in our lives on a more regular basis? What can we share with friends/family?
PRAY
Father, you have always made a way for your people. Even in our rebellion and wondering, you have been faithful and have remembered your covenant with your people. Help us remember you: You have sustained, provided for, and saved us. May we go throughout our days recalling promises that you have fulfilled, giving us joy, and the promises you will fulfill, giving us hope. Thanks be to God for making a way: by sending his Son to save us from sin, defeat Death, and give us everlasting life. Amen.
1Example Observations:
- The ordinance of commemoration or remembering is for the generations.
- The Festival was in preparation for the Passover
- Israel is to not only remember the exodus but also their time enslaved in Egypt.
- Egypt loses their firstborns while Israel spares and then consecrates their first borns.
- Before the Passover, Israel could not leave Egypt. After the Passover, Israel could not stay in Egypt.
- The blood has always been significant for Israel (and us) since the Passover.