Exodus | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

EXODUS 12

THE PASSOVER + THE FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

God tells Moses and Aaron that the people of Israel are to kill a lamb without any blemishes as a sacrifice on a specific day. They were to take the blood of the lamb and use a hyssop branch to spread it on the top and sides of their doorposts. Some believe this may have symbolically formed the shape of a cross, pointing ahead to Jesus as the Lamb of God. God also told the Israelites not to break any of the lamb’s bones, a detail that later becomes significant when Jesus, the Lamb of God, is crucified with none of His bones broken.

God explains that this is called Passover, and those who do this will be passed over by the plague and not afflicted. After Passover, there will be a Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The unleavened bread represents the swiftness in which the Israelites would leave Egypt. Once God sends the tenth plague, there is no time for the bread to rise.

After instructing the Israelites on the Passover rituals, God strikes down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. This applied to everyone besides the Israelites—the rulers, the people in prison, and even the livestock all lose their firstborn to the plague.

Pharaoh awoke because of the great cries throughout Egypt. This loss was catastrophic! He told Moses and Aaron to leave Egypt, just as God said would happen. Before leaving Egypt, God instructs the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians, taking valuable items before they leave. By this time, there are 600,000 Hebrew men plus women, children, and livestock.

God institutes Passover as an annual remembrance of God’s provision for the Israelites and their freedom from Egypt.

STUDY QUESTIONS

God required a spotless lamb for the Passover. Why would this be a significant sacrifice? What does it foreshadow?