Christ-Light Connections: The First Passover & God Delivers His People at the Red Sea

The theme this week is: The LORD fights the battle for his people and delivers them.

Just as we were helpless to free ourselves from the slavemaster of sin and to be released from the bonds of death, Jesus stepped in to fight the battle for us. These two stories are rich with prophesy and parallels to the greatest rescue story of all!

OT2 2A

The First Passover — Exodus 11:1- 12:42

Context

We now approach the climax of the plagues that have been cast upon Egypt. Number ten is the most fierce and terrible. God had previously prophesied this event in Exodus 4:22-23 to Moses. In these verses, we see that God considers Israel to be his firstborn son. Thus he now carries out his judgment and punishment upon the firstborn of those who held Israel captive to redeem and rescue his child.

Exodus 12 is a picture of the great redemption story. As you study, look for connections to Christ’s work of redemption and also to the final judgment and rescue that will take place at the end of time.

Big Ideas

Every firstborn son will die: Pharaoh’s, the slave girl’s, the cattle’s (Exodus 11:5)

This paints the picture of the massive and thorough punishment and judgment. No Egyptian household would be untouched by death. Not even animals would escape. Can you imagine the wailing that took place that night?

Many think that judgment and death come from the devil. Here is a good place to explain that God is the judge. It is from his wrath we need to be rescued.

Not even a dog will bark (Exodus 11:7)

The wailing of the Egyptians is juxtaposed with the peaceful night that Israel would have. It doesn’t take much to alarm a dog, yet even they are relaxed and resting in the safety of God’s mercy.

The Begining of the year (Exodus 12:2)

As God instructs Israel to recreate their calendar he is marking this day as the beginning of a new definition for Israel from slave to God’s child. For hundreds of years, the nation of Israel would celebrate and reflect on Passover until it’s fulfillment in the coming Messiah.

The Passover

It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the details of the Passover. So let’s focus on the key points.

Conversation Starters:

• Describe the lamb. Describe Christ.
• What was the purpose of the lamb’s blood? How does it connect to the blood of Christ?
• How does the eating of the lamb connect to the Lord’s Supper? (Consider when Jesus instituted the sacrament.)

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“I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:12-13)

These verses are a gospel nugget! The terrifying judgment of God is again contrasted with his protective care for the Israelites. If they could hear the wailing of the Egyptians all around them, I wonder if they repeated the promise over and over these words, “I will pass over you. No plague will touch you.”

Conversation Starter:

• Knowing that this part of scripture is also a picture of the final judgment, how does it make you feel? Fearful? Confident?

And when your children ask… (Exodus 12:26)

God is giving Israel a holiday and ritual that is meant for the whole family. It is for the children to partake. Even the liturgy that they used included the children asking “why.”

Conversation Starter:

• Children, what question does God want you to ask?
• What does this teach us about children’s involvement in worship?
• How can we intentionally put this into practice as we celebrate any religious holiday?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

40 Minutes in the Old testament

• Episode 73: The final act God will perform to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go and a look back at the previous plagues through the lens of Christ and the cross
• Episode 74: Digging into the Passover: It’s all blood, lambs and unleavened bread in this episode but God is about to deliver his people.
• Episode 75: The final episode on the Passover

OT2 2B

God Delivers His People at the Red Sea — Exodus 13:18-15:2

Context

Israel has finally left Egypt, but their enemy, although weakened, still lived and wanted to reclaim them. As God is apt to do, he set the stage leaving Israel to seem vulnerable and hopeless in the face of the enemy so that his might may be proclaimed among the nations for all time.

The pictures of baptism saturate this portion. As you study the text watch for parallels and allusions that connect this final part of Israel’s rescue to the miracles that take place in baptism.

Big Ideas

Not through the Philistine Country (Exodus 13:17-18)

The Father of Israel knew his child well. The slave nation was still fragile and weak. It was not yet time to fight battles with God alongside them. They still needed him to fight the battle for them. God considered the best route for their exit. And, of course, God doesn’t just pick an easier path, he has to choose the path that doesn’t even exist! The Creator of all specifically chose the uncreated path and would use it to create new life for Israel.

Sometimes our life paths do not make sense to us either. God may allow trials so that our prayers change from “God give me strength,” to “God, I can’t! You have to fight this for me.”

Conversation Starters:

• Can you name other Bible stories where God sent his people on an unexpected path?
• Share times when your prayers have changed from “God give me strength,” to “God, I can’t! You have to fight this for me.” Many of mine involve my sins of unforgiveness and perpetual worry.

The LORD presence (Exodus 13:21)

God gives his children his presence in the visible form of a cloud by day and fire by night. He stayed with them like this throughout the whole time they wandered in the wilderness. The fire/cloud served as a compass, as shelter, as protection, and as a visible reminder of God’s majesty.

Isaiah 4:5-6 references the fire/cloud and uses it to paint a picture of heaven.

Conversation Starters:

• Recall promises God has made to us about being with us.
• What tangible reminders of his presence has he given to us?

Do not fear (Exodus 14:10-14)

Didn’t we just see God decimate Israel’s enemy with ten apocalyptic plagues? How is Israel still unable to trust God after witnessing such might and commitment? But, this is the condition of the human heart. It is so easy to forget what God has done for us in the past, even though he has more than proved his love and commitment to us through Jesus. Doubt can quickly move back into our hearts and manifest itself in worry, anxiety, fear, or selfishness.

There are over 300 commands in the Bible about not being afraid, worrying and the like! God is not surprised when we struggle with fear and is highly interested in calming our hearts. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

Doubt in God is a reoccurring theme for the Israelites in the wilderness. Watch how God responds along the way.

Conversation Starters:

• What fears take up residence in your heart?
• What helps you when you feel this way?

The miracle of the Red Sea

From this point forward, the Israelites refer back to this event over and over again throughout scripture. This isn’t just another display of God’s might, but on this day, God gave his children a new identity. The Israelites crossed over from death to life, slavery to freedom, fear to peace, and from unbelief to belief. No longer could their enemy pursue them, taunt them, claim them, or own them. The enemy had been stripped of all power and control, drowned, and thoroughly defeated. God’s adoption of Israel was complete!

Conversation Starter:

• How do the miracles in Baptism compare to the miracle of the Red Sea?

The Song of the Redeemed (Exodus 15:1-21)

Some lessons do not include the song. Don’t skip it though. The descriptions are rich and poetic full of faith and confidence in God. Try reading it out loud. It will give your children an opportunity to praise God with unique words.

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

40 Minutes in the Old testament

• Episode 76: Grab the bones of Joseph it’s time to leave Egypt! A pillar of cloud and fire, a pursuing angry army and a God who says “Be still and watch this!”
• Episode 77: This episode is soaking wet! It’s all about crossing the red sea, the violence, and peace of baptism and the theme of seas in the Bible.