Day 16: Exodus 9-12

Summaries:
God continues to inflict signs, or plagues, upon the Egyptians through Moses, and Pharaoh remains obstinate. Pestilence, boils, hail (9), locusts, and darkness (10). All the while, the Israelites are spared. The final plague is described as the death of all the first-borns, but the Israelites will be spared, and Pharaoh refuses to listen (11). Then God explains how the Passover Ritual is to be performed. Essentially, it involves a lamb, unleavened bread, bitter and herbs, and God will kill the first-born in every house except those with the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. And every generation is to celebrate this memorial feast. The Israelites did as God (through Moses) commanded, and the first-born Egyptians died, and Pharaoh allows the Israelites to go to worship the Lord as they had requested. (for a fuller explanation of Passover rules/regulations, read ch 12)

Reflections:
I find the Passover ritual fascinating, especially in it's connection with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, as well as with the Eucharist. I don't fully understand all the connections, but as the footnote in the bible mentions regarding the instruction not to break any of the lamb's bones, "the application of these words to our Lord on the cross shows that the Paschal lamb was a prophetic type of Christ, immolated to free men from the bondage of sin."

I also think it's harder to understand the ritual since the culture is so different. I'm curious to know how the Jews of today celebrate Passover, as well as what it was really like back then to celebrate this.

Ultimately, it's wonderful to see God's plan for man's salvation coming to fruition through leading his people out of slavery.

Quotes:
Exodus 12:26-27 - "When your children ask you, 'What does this rite of yours mean?' you shall reply, 'This is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt; when he struck down the Egyptians, he spared our houses.' "