DAY 9
MOSES & THE PASSOVER
The Lord will go through the land to strike the Egyptians down. He’ll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won’t let the destroying angel enter your homes to strike you down.
-Exodus 12:23
REFLECT
The Israelites had grown into a great nation while living in Egypt. But after many years, a new Pharaoh came into power—one who didn’t care about Joseph or his family’s history. This Pharaoh made all the Israelites slaves.
God saw their suffering and wanted to rescue His people. Just as He had promised Abraham that his family would become a great nation, God was about to prove His faithfulness once again. He would set His people free, and He would use a man named Moses to do it.
One day, as Moses was tending sheep in the desert, he saw something strange: a bush on fire that wasn’t burning up. God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, calling him to go to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery. Moses was afraid, but God promised to be with him and to help him.
So Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh with a message from the Lord: “Let My people go.” But Pharaoh refused to listen. In fact, he became angry and made life even harder for the Israelites.
Then God sent ten plagues to show His power and warn Pharaoh.
He turned the Nile River into blood.
He sent frogs that covered the land.
He sent gnats and flies that filled the air.
He caused the Egyptians’ animals to grow sick and die.
He sent painful boils on their skin.
He sent huge hailstorms.
He sent swarms of locusts that destroyed the crops.
He sent thick darkness that covered the land for days.
Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hard. So God sent one final, terrible plague. During the night, the firstborn son of every Egyptian family would die. But God had a plan to protect His people.
He told the Israelites to choose their best lamb, sacrifice it, and paint the doorframes of their homes with the lamb’s blood. When the angel of death passed through Egypt, he would see the blood and “pass over” that home, sparing every firstborn inside.
That night, everything happened just as God said. Pharaoh’s own son died, and in his grief and fear, Pharaoh finally told the Israelites to go free. Moses led God’s people out of Egypt and into freedom!
The Israelites remembered this great rescue as the Passover.
Many years later, God would send Jesus, the true and perfect Lamb, to rescue His people once again. This time, He would save them not from slavery in Egypt, but from the bondage of sin, bringing freedom and new life to all who believe.
DISCUSSION
What is a time you remember that God came through for you?
Does it make it easier for you to obey God knowing He is right there with you? Why?
PRAY
Thank you God for always being there to protect me. I praise you Lord for Your power and strength. Thank you for sending your son to rescue me from my sins.
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Look up a recipe for a Ten Plague trail mix. Here are some ideas for snacks.
Blood: Strawberries or pomegranates
Frogs: Gummy frogs or green apples
Gnats: Nerds or seeds
Flies: Blueberries or raisins
Livestock: Animal crackers
Boils: Red candy or dried cranberries
Hail: Marshmallows or popcorn
Locusts: Chocolate covered raisins or Cashews/almonds
Darkness: Chocolate chips or blackberries
Firstborn: Sour Patch Kids or pretzel sticks
While you are eating your snack, talk about the plagues and see if your children can remember them all. Draw a large door on a piece of paper. Using red paint or marker, let your children paint around the doorframe as a symbol that Jesus has passed over their sins.
The Lord will go through the land to strike the Egyptians down. He’ll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won’t let the destroying angel enter your homes to strike you down.
-Exodus 12:23
REFLECT
The Israelites had grown into a great nation while living in Egypt. But after many years, a new Pharaoh came into power—one who didn’t care about Joseph or his family’s history. This Pharaoh made all the Israelites slaves.
God saw their suffering and wanted to rescue His people. Just as He had promised Abraham that his family would become a great nation, God was about to prove His faithfulness once again. He would set His people free, and He would use a man named Moses to do it.
One day, as Moses was tending sheep in the desert, he saw something strange: a bush on fire that wasn’t burning up. God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, calling him to go to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery. Moses was afraid, but God promised to be with him and to help him.
So Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh with a message from the Lord: “Let My people go.” But Pharaoh refused to listen. In fact, he became angry and made life even harder for the Israelites.
Then God sent ten plagues to show His power and warn Pharaoh.
He turned the Nile River into blood.
He sent frogs that covered the land.
He sent gnats and flies that filled the air.
He caused the Egyptians’ animals to grow sick and die.
He sent painful boils on their skin.
He sent huge hailstorms.
He sent swarms of locusts that destroyed the crops.
He sent thick darkness that covered the land for days.
Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hard. So God sent one final, terrible plague. During the night, the firstborn son of every Egyptian family would die. But God had a plan to protect His people.
He told the Israelites to choose their best lamb, sacrifice it, and paint the doorframes of their homes with the lamb’s blood. When the angel of death passed through Egypt, he would see the blood and “pass over” that home, sparing every firstborn inside.
That night, everything happened just as God said. Pharaoh’s own son died, and in his grief and fear, Pharaoh finally told the Israelites to go free. Moses led God’s people out of Egypt and into freedom!
The Israelites remembered this great rescue as the Passover.
Many years later, God would send Jesus, the true and perfect Lamb, to rescue His people once again. This time, He would save them not from slavery in Egypt, but from the bondage of sin, bringing freedom and new life to all who believe.
DISCUSSION
What is a time you remember that God came through for you?
Does it make it easier for you to obey God knowing He is right there with you? Why?
PRAY
Thank you God for always being there to protect me. I praise you Lord for Your power and strength. Thank you for sending your son to rescue me from my sins.
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Look up a recipe for a Ten Plague trail mix. Here are some ideas for snacks.
Blood: Strawberries or pomegranates
Frogs: Gummy frogs or green apples
Gnats: Nerds or seeds
Flies: Blueberries or raisins
Livestock: Animal crackers
Boils: Red candy or dried cranberries
Hail: Marshmallows or popcorn
Locusts: Chocolate covered raisins or Cashews/almonds
Darkness: Chocolate chips or blackberries
Firstborn: Sour Patch Kids or pretzel sticks
While you are eating your snack, talk about the plagues and see if your children can remember them all. Draw a large door on a piece of paper. Using red paint or marker, let your children paint around the doorframe as a symbol that Jesus has passed over their sins.