Tara Lee Cobble

Interestingly, if you were to use a hyssop branch like they did to wipe blood in those three spots, the placement on the left and the right, and then the dripping from the top down to the ground would leave the shape of a cross. God also tells them to eat their dinner, but finish it quickly. Don't even make bread that rises and stay fully dressed with your car keys in hand, basically.

Interestingly, if you were to use a hyssop branch like they did to wipe blood in those three spots, the placement on the left and the right, and then the dripping from the top down to the ground would leave the shape of a cross. God also tells them to eat their dinner, but finish it quickly. Don't even make bread that rises and stay fully dressed with your car keys in hand, basically.

By the way, the description he gives of their attire is a little bit reminiscent of the armor of God described much later in Ephesians 6, 10 through 18. Then he tells them about an annual dinner party he's planned for them to celebrate what he's about to do that night. I love that God is already telling them how to commemorate his deliverance before he fulfilled it.

By the way, the description he gives of their attire is a little bit reminiscent of the armor of God described much later in Ephesians 6, 10 through 18. Then he tells them about an annual dinner party he's planned for them to celebrate what he's about to do that night. I love that God is already telling them how to commemorate his deliverance before he fulfilled it.

Jewish people around the world still celebrate this event today. The Hebrew calendar is built around it. You'll see this one-day event referenced in scripture as Passover, and this is important to what we'll be learning in scripture, so make a mental note of it. It's called Passover because that's what the Lord did when he saw the blood on their doorways.

Jewish people around the world still celebrate this event today. The Hebrew calendar is built around it. You'll see this one-day event referenced in scripture as Passover, and this is important to what we'll be learning in scripture, so make a mental note of it. It's called Passover because that's what the Lord did when he saw the blood on their doorways.

He passed over that house and didn't kill the firstborn. So all the firstborn of Israel are spared, but not Egypt. By the way, in the references to the destroying angel in this passage, his identity is kind of blurred, but most signs point to this being a theophany, possibly a Christophany.

He passed over that house and didn't kill the firstborn. So all the firstborn of Israel are spared, but not Egypt. By the way, in the references to the destroying angel in this passage, his identity is kind of blurred, but most signs point to this being a theophany, possibly a Christophany.

After the angel, who is maybe God the Son, passes through, the Egyptians drive the Israelites out just like God promised, with fistfuls of jewelry and fine clothing that they willingly handed over, just like God promised. The Israelites plundered the Egyptians. In the middle of the night, 600,000 men and an estimated total of 2 to 3 million people left Egypt on foot.

After the angel, who is maybe God the Son, passes through, the Egyptians drive the Israelites out just like God promised, with fistfuls of jewelry and fine clothing that they willingly handed over, just like God promised. The Israelites plundered the Egyptians. In the middle of the night, 600,000 men and an estimated total of 2 to 3 million people left Egypt on foot.

Some other non-Israelites went with them. We find out later that even some Egyptians went too. And God tells the Israelites to treat them like family as long as they're circumcised. Also, you may be a little concerned about the 430 years that it says they spent in Egypt. Like, God was 30 years late. I thought it was only supposed to be 400 years. There are two possible ways this could shake out.

Some other non-Israelites went with them. We find out later that even some Egyptians went too. And God tells the Israelites to treat them like family as long as they're circumcised. Also, you may be a little concerned about the 430 years that it says they spent in Egypt. Like, God was 30 years late. I thought it was only supposed to be 400 years. There are two possible ways this could shake out.

First, God could have just been giving a round number generality, not a down to the minute timeline. Or second, those first 30 years may have included the good times when Joseph had first moved his family there and all was still right with the old Pharaoh before they started enslaving them. So if you were worried that God got it wrong or broke his promise, hopefully that will help you breathe easy.

First, God could have just been giving a round number generality, not a down to the minute timeline. Or second, those first 30 years may have included the good times when Joseph had first moved his family there and all was still right with the old Pharaoh before they started enslaving them. So if you were worried that God got it wrong or broke his promise, hopefully that will help you breathe easy.

What was your God shot today? What did you see about his character or his motives or his heart? I've kind of been paying attention to this theme he keeps touching on. Think back to day 31. We read two things in Exodus 4 that kind of foreshadowed this final plague and helped us see a little bit of what's happening here with God's motives.

What was your God shot today? What did you see about his character or his motives or his heart? I've kind of been paying attention to this theme he keeps touching on. Think back to day 31. We read two things in Exodus 4 that kind of foreshadowed this final plague and helped us see a little bit of what's happening here with God's motives.

Remember how God was angry and sought to kill someone, maybe Gershom, Moses' firstborn son, because Moses had disobeyed God by not circumcising Gershom, which means he wasn't set apart as one of God's people? And remember how God said that if Egypt didn't relent and let his firstborn son Israel go free to be set apart, that he would kill their firstborn son?

Remember how God was angry and sought to kill someone, maybe Gershom, Moses' firstborn son, because Moses had disobeyed God by not circumcising Gershom, which means he wasn't set apart as one of God's people? And remember how God said that if Egypt didn't relent and let his firstborn son Israel go free to be set apart, that he would kill their firstborn son?

That was all a bit of foreshadowing for today. This even has echoes of Abraham and his firstborn son Isaac. And then today, just like with circumcision, God tells Israel to set themselves apart with a specific marking, to mark the entryway of their homes with blood, in the shape of a cross, no less. That makes today's reading feel like foreshadowing for something yet to come in Scripture.

That was all a bit of foreshadowing for today. This even has echoes of Abraham and his firstborn son Isaac. And then today, just like with circumcision, God tells Israel to set themselves apart with a specific marking, to mark the entryway of their homes with blood, in the shape of a cross, no less. That makes today's reading feel like foreshadowing for something yet to come in Scripture.