DAY THIRTY EIGHT - PASSOVER
Passover... what does it mean? Many Christians don't know the story. Here's a simplified version of the Bible story to help you understand better.
Moses was a Hebrew man. He was adopted and brought up by an Egyptian princess under the rule of Pharaoh. He became close with Pharaoh over the years. However many Hebrews were slaves to the Egyptians and one day when Moses saw a Hebrew slave being beaten, he became so angry he killed the Egyptian. He then fled to Midian and became a shepherd.
One day while tending his flock, he came across a burning bush. He realised that God was in that bush telling him he'd chosen him to help free the Hebrew people from slavery. Moses' brother Aaron would help him be his spokesperson.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him that God had sent them to tell him to let the Hebrew people go. Pharaoh refused, and on two occasions Moses performed two miracles to try and convince him of God's power. He threw his staff onto the floor and it became a snake, and he used his staff to turn The Nile red with blood.
Because Pharaoh refused to listen, God sent 9 plagues. As soon as Pharaoh promised to let the people go, the plague would lift, but Pharaoh would go back on his word.
So then God sent one final plague. The Angel of Death - Moses warned the Hebrew people that God would kill every firstborn son in the land but would "passover" any household that had the special sign of blood splashed on their door. The next morning there was much wailing as they saw God's plan had come true. All the Egyptian families had lost their first born son - even Pharaoh, and in his grief, he told the Hebrew people to leave at once.
They were finally free! They had to pack their bags and leave Egypt as fast as they could, so they didn't have time to put leaven in their bread. This is also part of Jewish custom - to eat unleavened bread in memory of the "the Hebrew peoples' bondage to slavery as well as their quick escape from Egypt".
When Pharaoh realised they were gone he sent armies after them to recapture them, only to have his armies drowned in the Red Sea, yet the Hebrew people were safe and passed on dry land.
Then Moses led the people to Mount Sinai where God made a covenant with them and gave them the ten commandments.
Passover begins on the 15th and ends the 21st day of the Jewish month "Nisan" (which is in March or April) Leavened bread is not allowed during this time, so Matzo is eaten instead (a form of unleavened bread). On the first evening of passover, a special family meal is prepared called the seder - where you observe the scripture in Exodus 12 that says " When your children ask you, ‘Why are we doing this ceremony?’ 27 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."
THE SEDER MEAL
Moses was a Hebrew man. He was adopted and brought up by an Egyptian princess under the rule of Pharaoh. He became close with Pharaoh over the years. However many Hebrews were slaves to the Egyptians and one day when Moses saw a Hebrew slave being beaten, he became so angry he killed the Egyptian. He then fled to Midian and became a shepherd.
One day while tending his flock, he came across a burning bush. He realised that God was in that bush telling him he'd chosen him to help free the Hebrew people from slavery. Moses' brother Aaron would help him be his spokesperson.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him that God had sent them to tell him to let the Hebrew people go. Pharaoh refused, and on two occasions Moses performed two miracles to try and convince him of God's power. He threw his staff onto the floor and it became a snake, and he used his staff to turn The Nile red with blood.
Because Pharaoh refused to listen, God sent 9 plagues. As soon as Pharaoh promised to let the people go, the plague would lift, but Pharaoh would go back on his word.
So then God sent one final plague. The Angel of Death - Moses warned the Hebrew people that God would kill every firstborn son in the land but would "passover" any household that had the special sign of blood splashed on their door. The next morning there was much wailing as they saw God's plan had come true. All the Egyptian families had lost their first born son - even Pharaoh, and in his grief, he told the Hebrew people to leave at once.
They were finally free! They had to pack their bags and leave Egypt as fast as they could, so they didn't have time to put leaven in their bread. This is also part of Jewish custom - to eat unleavened bread in memory of the "the Hebrew peoples' bondage to slavery as well as their quick escape from Egypt".
When Pharaoh realised they were gone he sent armies after them to recapture them, only to have his armies drowned in the Red Sea, yet the Hebrew people were safe and passed on dry land.
Then Moses led the people to Mount Sinai where God made a covenant with them and gave them the ten commandments.
Passover begins on the 15th and ends the 21st day of the Jewish month "Nisan" (which is in March or April) Leavened bread is not allowed during this time, so Matzo is eaten instead (a form of unleavened bread). On the first evening of passover, a special family meal is prepared called the seder - where you observe the scripture in Exodus 12 that says " When your children ask you, ‘Why are we doing this ceremony?’ 27 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."
THE SEDER MEAL
- Maror (Bitter herbs) symbolise the years of slavery in Egypt
- Charoset (figs, apples, dates, nuts, cinnamon, wine) represent the mortar they used during the endless builiding projects
- Beitzah - (hard boiled egg) renewal of life and eternal life
- Karpas - (parsley in salt water) to remember all the tears that were shed
- Zeroah - (lamb shankbone or lamb) to symbolise the traditional sacrificial offering
- Wine - 4 glasses consumed throughout the meal at various parts
Comments