Study Desk

The men can go worship the Lord . That is what you asked for in the beginning. But all of your people cannot go." Then Pharaoh sent Moses and Aaron away.

But the Lord caused Pharaoh to be stubborn again, and Pharaoh did not let the Israelites go.

None of the people could see each other, and no one got up to go any place for three days. But there was light in all the places where the Israelites lived.

Again Pharaoh called for Moses. He said, "Go and worship the Lord ! You can take your children with you. But you must leave your sheep and cattle here."

But none of the Israelites or their animals will be hurt—not even a dog will bark at them.' Then you will know that the Lord has treated Israel differently from Egypt.

But the blood on your houses will be a special sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over your house. I will cause bad things to happen to the people of Egypt. But none of these bad diseases will hurt you.

you will say, ‘This Passover is to honor the Lord , because when we were in Egypt, he passed over the houses of Israel. He killed the Egyptians, but he saved the people in our houses.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

A foreigner who is only a hired worker or is only staying in your country is not allowed to eat the meal. But if someone buys a slave and circumcises him, then the slave can eat the Passover meal.

If a foreigner living among you wants to share in the Lord 's Passover, he must be circumcised. Then he can share in the meal like any other citizen of Israel. But a man who is not circumcised cannot eat the Passover meal.

Moses said to the people, "Remember this day. You were slaves in Egypt, but on this day the Lord used his great power and made you free. You must not eat bread with yeast.

"The Lord will lead you into the land he promised to give you. The Canaanites live there now. But God promised your ancestors that he would give you this land. When that happens,

Every firstborn donkey can be bought back. You can offer a lamb and keep the donkey. If you don't want to buy back the donkey like this, then you must break its neck to kill it. But every firstborn baby boy must be bought back from the Lord.

"In the future, your children will ask why you do this. They will say, ‘What does all this mean?' And you will answer, ‘The Lord used his great power to save us from Egypt. We were slaves in that place, but he led us out and brought us here.

Pharaoh made the people leave Egypt. God did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road by the Mediterranean Sea is the shortest way, but God said, "If the people go that way they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt."

I will make Pharaoh brave, and he will chase you. But I will defeat Pharaoh and his army. This will bring honor to me. Then the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord ." So the Israelites did what he told them.

The Israelites were leaving with their arms raised in victory. But the Lord caused Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to become brave. And Pharaoh chased the Israelites.

But Moses answered, "Don't be afraid! Don't run away! Stand where you are and watch the Lord save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again.

You will not have to do anything but stay calm. The Lord will do the fighting for you."

I have made the Egyptians brave, so they will chase you. But I will show you that I am more powerful than Pharaoh and all of his horses and chariots.

In this way the cloud stood between the Egyptians and the Israelites. There was light for the Israelites. But there was darkness for the Egyptians. So the Egyptians did not come any closer to the Israelites that night.