This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Exodus 12:1-20, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
One day, God spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt and told them that He had a plan to rescue the Israelites from their slavery. He wanted to free them and take them to a new land that He had promised to their ancestors.
To begin the plan, God instructed the Israelites to celebrate a special feast called the Passover. It was a way to remember how God had saved them from their enemies and to show their trust in Him for the future.
God told Moses and Aaron that they needed to choose a perfect lamb, without any blemishes, and keep it in their homes for four days. Then on the 14th day of the month, they were to kill the lamb and use its blood to mark the doorposts of their houses.
God also gave them specific instructions for how to cook and eat the lamb. They were to roast it and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were not allowed to eat it raw or boiled in water, only roasted. They were to eat it quickly, with their belts fastened, their sandals on their feet, and their staffs in their hands, ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
On that same night, God was going to pass through Egypt and punish the Egyptians by taking the life of every firstborn son and animal. But when God saw the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses, He “passed over” them and they were safe. That’s why it’s called the Passover.
God told the Israelites to remember the Passover every year to celebrate how He had saved them from their enemies. They were to do it in the same way that God had instructed them, so that they would never forget the powerful way that God had rescued them.
Biblical Lessons
- God is powerful and can save His people from any problem.
- We should always be thankful for the things that God does for us.
- Remembering important events in our lives is a good way to show gratitude and stay connected to our past.
Related Stories
Must-Read Christian Books
The Pursuit of God
A heartfelt call to pursue God Himself above all else, with a strong emphasis on holiness and devotion.
View on Amazon
The Knowledge of the Holy
Short, powerful meditations on the attributes of God that lift the reader into a bigger, more biblical view of who He is.
View on Amazon
Faith Alone
Defends justification by faith alone as the heart of the biblical gospel and Reformation.
View on Amazon
Respectable Sins
Exposes the "ordinary" sins Christians often tolerate and calls us to gospel-driven holiness.
View on Amazon
Living the Cross-Centered Life
A call to keep Christ's cross at the center of our thinking, worship, and daily living.
View on Amazon
Future Grace
Argues that faith in God's future grace frees believers from the enslaving power of sin.
View on Amazon
Concise Theology
Short, Scripture-filled summaries of key doctrines, written with clarity and warmth.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Summarizes key doctrines of Scripture in concise questions and answers.
View on Amazon
Christian Beliefs
A shorter, accessible overview of 20 basic Christian doctrines for everyday believers.
View on Amazon
Preaching and Preachers
Classic lectures on the nature and power of biblical preaching.
View on Amazon
Worship Matters
Helps worship leaders and churches keep the gospel central in congregational worship.
View on Amazon
Total Truth
Equips believers to see all of life through a biblical worldview and challenge secular thinking.
View on Amazon
God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment
Argues that God's glory in salvation through judgment is the central theme of Scripture.
View on Amazon
This Momentary Marriage
Shows how marriage is designed to display the covenant love of Christ and His church.
View on Amazon