NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Exodus 12:21-32
Discussion Questions:
- What are some things that might hinder us from hearing God’s instructions?
- How does knowing God is faithful to fulfill His promises affect your faith?
- Which of God’s promises are most meaningful to you today?
- Why is it important for older generations to share God’s truth with younger generations?
Food for thought:
Most people observe Christmas traditions. Some exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, others on Christmas morning. Some families have an artificial tree, while others prefer a real tree. Families differ. Most of us participate in the traditions because they are, well, traditions. Even if it has always been that way and we aren’t sure why, it’s still what we do. Those traditions matter.
At the burning bush, God told Moses that He would perform powerful deeds that would motivate Pharaoh to set Israel free (Exodus 3:19-21). To fulfill that, He sent a series of plagues against the Egyptians (7:14-10:29). The final plague would be the worst: every firstborn son in Egypt would die in a single night. To escape this plague, the Hebrews were to select a 1-year-old lamb or goat without defect and slaughter it at twilight. They were to spread its blood on their door frames and stay inside the covered home.
God would move throughout Egypt that night. Where He saw the blood, He would pass over the house. This underscores that God was personally involved in the process of protecting the Israelites’ firstborn sons.
The Jews never had to wonder how the Passover began. When God first gave instructions about the ceremony, He included detailed instructions that underscored the solemnity of the annual observance (12:14-20). God’s people were to observe Passover in their new homeland. This meant Passover was to be a lasting observance recalling how God had fulfilled His promises.
The Jews understood the importance of sharing their faith with the next generation. They used rituals as opportunities to teach those truths. Observing Passover annually would give parents multiple opportunities to reinforce a faith foundation for the next generation.
No Egyptian residence was exempt from the plague. It affected those in the palace, the prison and everywhere in between. Even Pharaoh was not immune. The deaths produced “anguish and wailing” among the Egyptians. This is the same Hebrew term used to describe Israel’s earlier cries to God (3:7,9). This time though, the Egyptians were wailing.
Pharaoh’s message to Moses revealed that his heart was no longer hardened. He was broken and defeated. The arrogant king who previously would not allow Israel to leave did exactly what God had said he would do.
The truths found in this passage apply to us today. We will be blessed when we follow God’s instruction. As Christians, we are called to tell others of the things God has done. And finally, we can trust that God will do what He says He will do. God delivers His people from bondage!
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible.
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