Monday 21 January 2008
- Bible Book:
- Exodus
"And when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this observance?' you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians, but spared our houses'". (v.26)
Background
In this passage the people of Israel are enslaved in the land ofEgypt. Moses and Aaron seek to persuade Pharaoh to let the peoplego free. In the
As we read these verses we get a sense of the importance and thecentrality of these events to the people's continuingself-understanding. Not only is the Passover event itself describedtogether with all the preparations that lead up to it, but also therituals surrounding the perpetual observance as a day ofremembrance of these events through time.
The importance of this event is emphasised by the fact that theHebrew calendar is measured from this event (verse 2). The exodus,in general, and within it the experience of Passover, is the keyevent of the Old Testament - here is God acting in time to saveGod's chosen people, to free them from slavery and lead them to anew beginning in a new land. This event defines a people and makesthem a nation.
We may be disturbed by the picture of a vengeful God, passingthrough the land and killing the firstborn that some aspects ofthis story portray. Yet the emphasis throughout is on the God whoacts to save.
To Ponder
How do you answer questions like, "Why does Godlet this happen?" when there's great suffering?
Look back at the events in your life. Which onesdo you think have made you the person that you are today?
What is your picture of God?