Exodus 11:1—12:28: Night of Death and Deliverance
DEATH IS A powerful, painful lesson. It gets our attention as nothing else does. It's also unavoidable. It was God's final recourse in showing both his supremacy to Pharaoh and his power to liberate his people. When Pharaoh refused God's ultimatum, thousands perished; when Israel heeded his way of deliverance, thousands lived. The final act of judgment is thus a stark portrayal of how every person's fate hinges on either believing or disbelieving the one true and living God in heaven.
Warming Up to God
Sit quietly for a few moments and recall the events of your salvation. Thank the Lord for the way he "drew you out of Egypt."
Read Exodus 11:1—12:28. »
Discovering the Word
- What is God's promise and instruction to Moses (11:1-2)?
- How do you account for the Egyptians' change in attitude toward God's people and Moses (11:3)?
- What is to be the nature, scope and result of God's final judgment on Egypt (11:4-7)?
- What steps are the Israelites to take to be spared (12:1-13)?
- Why were they to eat the meal "in haste" (12:11)?
- Describe the memorial Feast of Unleavened Bread (12:14-20).
Applying the Word
- Like Moses, how can we continue to trust God in the face of seemingly irresistible unbelief among friends, family or relatives?
- The shield against the "destroyer" (12:23) in Egypt was the blood of a perfect lamb. Christ's blood secures the Christian's deliverance from eternal death (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:14; Rev 5:13). As you reflect on the powerful imagery of the Lord's Passover, and also on Christ's sacrifice, what response and deeds would be appropriate?
Responding in Prayer
Thank Jesus for being your Passover lamb and for the remarkable foreshadowing of his coming to earth in the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
For Further Study
Meeting Jesus (LifeGuide Bible Study) by Leighton Ford