Exodus 12:1-14, New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The First Passover Sacrifice

1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. ²He said, “From now on, this month will be your first month. Each of your years will begin with it. ³Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them that on the tenth day of this month each man must get a lamb from his flock. A lamb should be chosen for each family and home. ⁴Suppose there are not enough people in your family to eat a whole lamb. Then you must share some of it with your nearest neighbor. You must add up the total number of people there are. You must decide how much lamb is needed for each person. ⁵The animals you choose must be males that are a year old. They must not have any flaws. You may choose either sheep or goats. ⁶Take care of them until the 14th day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel must kill them when the sun goes down. ⁷Take some of the blood. Put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where you eat the lambs. ⁸That same night eat the meat cooked over a fire. Also eat bitter plants. And eat bread made without yeast. ⁹Do not eat the meat when it is raw. Don’t boil it in water. Instead, cook it over a fire. Cook the head, legs and inside parts. ¹⁰Do not leave any of it until morning. If some is left over until morning, burn it up. ¹¹Eat the meat while your coat is tucked into your belt. Put your sandals on your feet. Take your walking stick in your hand. Eat the food quickly. It is the Lord’s Passover.

¹²“That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down all those born first among the people and animals. And I will judge all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. ¹³The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

¹⁴“Always remember this day. You and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast to honor the Lord. You must do this for all time to come. It is a law that will last forever.

Children’s Message

Supplies:

God saved the Hebrew people from the terrible plagues that came to the land of Egypt. The firstborn child in each family would die. But God promised that the Hebrew children would not die. Each family would eat specially prepared lamb and put blood on the doors of homes. The houses with this marker would be passed over, and the children in the homes would not die.

Jewish people celebrate the Festival of Passover each year to this day. They eat the same foods and do some of the same things that the Hebrews did many years ago. The Festival of the Passover is a way of remembering God’s saving action. Even those who do not celebrate the Festival of the Passover can remember how God’s people were saved. Remembering how God passed over the Jewish people helps us to love and trust God today. Can you remember a time when you trusted God? Can you think of another time in Scripture when God was faithful?

Use the door hanger to decorate with images from this story. Either re-read the story or have someone read it to you while you decorate the door hanger. Make the artwork suggest celebration and the faithfulness of God.

Prayer: God, thank you for rescuing your people from death and setting them free. Help me to remember your saving action and grace from the past. And help me to look for your saving action now and tomorrow. Amen.