Moses part 8 of 15

Exodus 11 to 12

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story Highlights:

* Plagues #10 - Death of the firstborn in Egypt

* The Israelites celebrated the first Passover on their last night in Egypt

* Pharaoh finally permitted Moses and Hebrew slaves to leave Egypt.

Bible role-play begins:

Google Quote on picture: “Passover commemorates the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and their ultimate exodus to freedom.”

Narrator #1: As this picture shows, the annual Jewish holiday called Passover observes and honors the day that the Hebrew slaves were finally freed from their 430 years of slavery in Egypt.

Narrator #2: In the 10th and final plague needed to finally convince Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves, all firstborn sons of the Egyptians were going to die.

Narrator #1: God had Moses warn Pharaoh so that this did not have to happen if only he would finally say "YES" instead of "NO" to the request to let the Hebrew slaves go free.

Narrator #2: But Pharaoh refused to listen. So sadly, at midnight, the angel of death spread throughout Egypt and killed all firstborn sons. That included Pharaoh's son, as well.

Narrator #1: God told Moses that the Hebrews would stay safe as long as each family sacrificed a blemish-free lamb and painted the top and upper sides of their doorways with its blood.

Narrator #2: In that manner, the angel of death would PASS OVER, bypass, skip their house, and move on to each doorway not painted with lamb's blood.

Narrator #1: In the same way, Easter Sunday, celebrated near to or sometimes on the same day as Passover, observes and honors the Sunday morning when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Narrator #2: As John the Baptist said at the River Jordan when he first saw Jesus, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" [John 1:29]

Narrator #1: To truly be SAVED from our sins so that we can go to Heaven instead of the other place, we need to honestly believe that Jesus was the one-and-only Messiah who sacrificed His life to provide us the opportunity to live in Heaven forever after we die.

Narrator #2: Not only that, but we need to believe that Jesus lived a sinless life, was crucified on the day we call Good Friday, and He spent 3 days in the tomb.

Narrator #1: Jesus was raised from the dead early on Sunday morning - the day we call Easter. In the following 40 days, over 500 people witnessed Jesus alive and well, and even eating on occasion.

Narrator #2: On the 40th day after coming back to life, Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit on the right-hand throne next to Father God.

Narrator #1: Ten days after that, on the day of Pentecost, 120 of Jesus' disciples and followers were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Narrator #2: The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in tongues, to baptize others in Jesus' Holy name, and to perform miracles by the power given to them by Jesus.

Narrator #1: Any Christian and Jew who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord, their Savior, and their King of all earthly kings, will be covered by the precious and saving blood that Jesus shed on the cross.

Narrator #2: In the moment they close their eyes as they take their last breath on earth, they will open their eyes and live an eternity in Heaven with God the Father and with Jesus.

Narrator #1: So, back to the Hebrews: they followed Moses' directions entirely: roast and eat the lamb, don't break any of its bones, and spend the evening wearing your traveling clothes and sandals.

Narrator #2: The Hebrews had to be ready for that fateful moment when Pharaoh would actually order them to leave Egypt as quickly as possible so that nobody else in his family and kingdom would be harmed or killed.

Narrator #1: That night at midnight, loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died, except for the houses of the Israelites who obeyed God’s command. None of them were harmed.

Narrator #2: Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. He ordered, "Get out! Leave my people - and take the rest of the Israelites with you!"

Narrator #1: All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible. They even gave them gold, silver, jewels, and fine clothing as part of their way to convince them to leave.

Narrator #2: So that night, about 600,000 men plus all the many women and children, plus their flocks and herds of livestock, all left Egypt. Some non-Hebrews joined them as well.

Narrator #1: The night they left Egypt was the last day of the 430th year of slavery. On this night, the Lord kept His promise to bring His people out of the land of Egypt.

Narrator #2: So this Passover night belongs to God. Each spring, for the last 3,500 years, it has been celebrated and honored by the Jewish people around the world.

Narrator #1: END OF SKIT. Let's give our volunteers a great big hand!