The Faithful Passover & The Final Plague

Sermon 27 in Series

Exodus 12:21-32
[21] Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. [22] Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. [23] For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. [24] You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. [25] And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. [26] And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ [27] you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

[28] Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

[29] At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. [30] And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. [31] Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. [32] Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does this section of Exodus on the Ten Plagues show us God’s top priority? How do we need to reprioritize our lives accordingly?
2.   What are Moses’ four main instructions that he gives the Israelites? How should we understand the significance of the blood?
3.   Regardless of how we identify “the destroyer,” how does the text make clear that Yahweh is the one doing the passing over and the striking?
4.   Why was it so important for Israel to keep observing the Passover as a memorial? How does constant remembering of the gospel protect us from idolatry?
5.   How does this passage emphasize the role of parents? In what ways does it convict and challenge you to instruct your children/grandchildren?
6.   How has Israel’s response changed since chapter 6? What does this passage and others in Exodus teach us about the importance of obedience?
7.   How does Pharaoh’s response to the tenth plague demonstrate that God’s various purposes have been accomplished?

References: Exodus 7:5; 9:16; Romans 1:5; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 78:49; Hebrews 11:12; Genesis 18:19; Deut 11:19; Ephesians 6:4; Exodus 6:9; 4:31; 22-23; 13:12-13; Luke 13:28.