Each time the pharaoh refused, He sent another plague. . The humidity from the rain and the subsequent hail would have created optimal conditions for locusts to thrive. Our attitude toward sin is very much shaped by our own perspectives and experiences. In the context of this chapter in First Corinthians, Paul has been speaking of a Christian who was living with the wife of his father (5:1). The purpose: to demonstrate to Pharaoh that God is more powerful than the local deities. An action chain of ecological disaster: the Nile becomes stuffed with algae (red tide), which causes the frogs to leap from the waters, die on dry land, with lice attacking the frog corpses, etc. Those who did not refrain from eating leavened bread were to be banned from the congregation of Israel, whether or not he was a native Israelite (cf. The Bible foretells unprecedented plagues,and God warned us with the will to save us. 12:5), just as the Lord Jesus was without blemish (1 Peter 1:19). The Journey Continues: The Mayan Haggadah, produced by the womens program of the Jewish Community Center of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, offers the following meditation on the plagues: As we ate our Pascal lambs that last night in Egypt the darkness was pierced with screams. So that our freedom leaves no one orphaned, childless, gasping for air. (Tamara Cohen, ed., The Journey Continues, 70). For then there will begreat distress,unequaledfrom the beginning of the world until nowand never to be equaled again. Microbiologist Siro Trevisanato, author of The Plagues of Egypt: Archaeology, History and Science Look at the Bible, argues that ancient Egyptian medical texts support this idea. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The 10 plagues are a pivotal part of the Seder and include blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, cattle disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the slaying of the firstborn. [1] Priscilla Shirer, One in a Million (Nashville: B&H, 2010 . However, Neril as the co-founder and executive director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development does say that science has a key role to play in how the story of the plagues is told and received today. This blood was to serve as a sign, which would protect the Israelites from the death angel (12:13, 23). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. While only some of those Israelites who were in Egypt were firstborn, and thus in need of being redeemed, all of us who have trusted in Christ belong to Him. There are ten pieces here, each hand painted with a design depicting one of the plagues, in a fun, approachable way. The Passover meal was largely provided by the Passover sacrifice. On the other hand, the meal was a family matter. The initial Passover meal was the first of endless annual celebrations (12:14, 17, 24; 13:10). There have been many Egypts. On these (two) days, no work was to be done, other than cooking. Rather than justify the plagues, some modern-day commentators instead try to sharpen our awareness of the suffering caused by these plagues in order to help us empathize with others who are oppressed. 13:14, 16; 3:20). It is my prayer that you will, even at this moment, accept the salvation which God offers to you through the sacrifice of His Son, who has been raised from the dead and who will return to the earth to execute judgment on all those who have rejected His sacrifice (cf. The paper argued that the lice could have been a type of insect called culicoides, which can carry two diseases that could explain the livestock deaths: African horse sickness and Bluetongue. Thus, Gods punishment of the Egyptians was justified. The second wave, brought plagues of flies, diseased livestock, and boils. The disparity between rich and poor is growing, and opportunities for upward mobility are limited. We also have theprophetic messageas something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it. This year, as these drops spread across our plates, let us turn our hearts toward the millions of people around the world suffering today's plagues of hatred, prejudice, baseless violence and war. Fossil fuels, in the past 150 years, have replaced slave labor as the key driver of human society. 130 There is considerable discussion and disagreement over the precise time at which the Passover sacrifice was to be slain. Since He had spared their lives, He possessed them. In 2008, after the global financial crisis broke out, Queen Elizabeth asked the economists at the London School of Economics why they could not predict it. Thus, verses 1 and 9 of chapter 11 begin, the Lord had said to Moses. Note: The following review of the pattern of the plagues accompanied Hallel Fellowship's Passover remembrance in 2012. Every child of God belongs to God, and must live in the light of belonging to Him. In linking the redemption of the Israelites from slavery with the ultimate redemption of the world, the midrash implicitly justifies any violence as a necessary means of reaching an unambiguously-positive end. Let us heed His commandments well, for we belong to Him. (3) The Passover and the plague of the firstborn was proof of Gods possession of Israel. The Cross And Christs Substitution (Gal. God has put Hisseal on Jesus. The Gateways Haggadah welcomes families with children of all abilities and disabilities to a Passover celebration that is accessible for the whole family. In fact, the plagues progressed from existing in roots in the ground, to the water, to the sky, and finally to the soul. As I understand the sequence of events in chapters 10 and 11, Pharaoh had just demanded that Moses leave his presence, and warned that to return would mean death (10:28). The second is the instructions given to the Israelites regarding the Passover, which is Gods means of protecting His people from the plague. Thats because he sees another lesson in it, one for the era of man-made climate change. If the past constantly impacts . Be Nice. The firstborn of all the Egyptians were smitten, while those of the Israelites were spared. A number of rabbinic sources describe the plagues as retribution for Pharaohs rejection of God and for the Egyptians idol worshipping practices. By the annual observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God not only reminded His people of His mighty deeds in the past, but also taught them concerning the future. The 10 plagues recited in the Passover seder, Friday Night Shabbat dinners gaining momentum, Man who allegedly attacked Nancy Pelosis husband had spread conspiracy theories about Jews, J. Verses 9 and 10 are also a parenthetical explanation of why Pharaoh stubbornly refused to heed the warning of the plagues. (4) The participants of the Passover. The boils on humans could have been caused by glanders, an airborne bacterial disease spread by flies or tainted meat. (2) The Passover lamb (12:3-8, 21-23). A battle of the network gods each plague attacking, in turn, one of the gods of ancient Egypt. Exod. The Haggadah reminds us: In every generation, there are those who would rise up against us and oppress us. The us means the Jews, but it goes beyond the Jews. Keep it Clean. Josh. At the same time, none of Israels firstborn, whether man or beast, was smitten. Trevisanato also found an ancient Egyptian account of the children of aristocrats lying dead in public and archaeological data matching the account. (4) The Passover (Passion) of our Lord is a pattern for Christians regarding suffering. Get a branch of a hyssop plant. The Lord Jesus, as the Passover lamb, is the pattern for Christian suffering, and the way it should be dealt with. or anything. 5:6ff.). Be Truthful. Exod. Because the sparing of the Israelite firstborn was not a matter of merit, but of grace, God owned them. Let us each ask God to prepare our hearts to take the lesson of this incident seriously. Use the 'Report' link on 6:19-20). We seek ways to modernize our Seder rituals and appropriately so. 12:14, etc.). So, too, Pharaoh. The sequence can be summarised as follows: From the time of Moses, Jews have celebrated the Passover in the same way. At midnight, the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, from the king of Egypt to its cattle, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh to that of the prisoner. This was likely not immediately perceived, but there are several similarities between the Passover lamb and the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. A Passover Seder plate with wine and matzo. The solution to this apparent discrepancy is to observe the way this text (as well as others in Exodus) is structured. The institution of the Lords Table (communion) serves the same purposes. When Pharaoh continued to refuse to liberate the children of Israel, Moses and Aaron warned him that Gd would punish both him and his people. Let us learn to value and to practice those times of remembrance and anticipation which God has established and commanded us to do. As we rejoice at our deliverance from slavery, we acknowledge that our freedom was hard-earned. We spill a drop of wine to represent each plague as we recite them outloud, giving up a bit of sweetness with each drop. Kline says her own parents, both in. (4) The Passover and the plague of the firstborn was an act of grace, as well as an act of judgment. Enter All City Candy's Top 10 Plague Bucket. The Passover animal was to be a male yearling, either a goat or a sheep (12:5). (4) The Passover was another evidence of the grace of God in the lives of His people. "You worship frogs," said God in effect, "now see what it's like to have frogs everywhere." In a short time, the Egyptians were sick of frogs. A number of commemorations were held, ranging from memorial services for those killed or injured to demonstrations protesting the use of nuclear weapons. This is entirely untrue. Miles Wolfs latest exhibition opens at Skirball, GOP groups stay quiet on Pennsylvania governor race after Mastriano adviser questions whether Josh Shapiro is Jewish, Lula da Silva defeats Bolsonaro, earning cheers and boos from divided Brazilian Jewish community, Romanias ornate and sometimes crumbling synagogues get new access via virtual tours, Ben Shapiro says Kanye West is spouting anti-Semitism that resembles Nazi propaganda, Caf Almas Scratch Kitchen, Israeli Roots Draw Patrons, New JCRC leadership ready to go, maintain programs and create new initiatives, Simple Changes Help Nontraditional Employees Reach Their Potential, November is Clean Speech Month in Cincinnati, Creating Lifelong Connections in the Mayerson JCC Young Adult Program. (1) The redemption of the firstborn (Exod. 7:14-12:30.) This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. On this first and last of the seven days, a sacred assembly is held (12:16). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Nearing the end of World War II, before America detonated the two nuclear bombs which would later end the war, they dropped leaflets from airplanes, warning Japanese citizens of the impending calamity. He died for our sins; He bore the wrath of God, so that men could escape from the coming wrath of God, and could participate in His promised blessings (Isa. As we recite each plague, we spill a drop of wine in recognition, according to many interpretations, that the process of our liberation caused suffering to the Egyptian people. The . Since the Passover was the commencement of a new life, the month (of Abib129, cf. passover plagues stock illustrations As the Passover story tells it, after Pharaoh refuses Moses entreaties to let the enslaved Israelites go free, God sends a series of ten plagues to pressure the Egyptian ruler. (2) The Passover and the plague of the firstborn served as the final blow, which compelled the Egyptians to let the Israelites go (Exod. God therefore designed these celebrations as occasions for instruction. 12:46), so no bone of our Lord was broken (John 19:32-36). Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of theLords wrath. It would be hard not to; many modern haggadot contain such lists. 1 and 2; 7:14ff.). Be sure to take with you the staff that . As you retell the Passover story, have children knock down pins and say what corresponding plague matches the different . 5:6-8). Like the Egyptians, the Israelites were sinners, fully deserving of divine wrath. Discussion about the 10 plagues is one of the most important parts of the Seder and the story of the Exodus. The midrash further understands the hail to prefigure the punishment that, according to the Book of Ezekiel, God will bring on Gog and Magog in the war that will precede the coming of the messianic age. There is not one Egypt. The Ten Plagues Introduction Among Arabic-speaking Jews the home celebration of the Eve of Passover is ornamented by various compositions in Arabic, some of them being translations of Hebrew hymns, others being originally written in Arabic. Working in order of the plagues we . Paul told them he had already acted (5:3-4), and that they should do likewise, by putting this man out of the assembly. Instead, verses 4-8 are Moses final retort to Pharaoh, made immediately after his demand that Moses leave. The practice ignores or minimizes the role of the real plagues and their positioning in the Haggadah. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The slaughter of the Egyptians took place a long time ago, and thus we do not have the kind of emotional reaction to this account as we have seen to the bombing of Hiroshima or the Nazi death camps of Germany. Just as the Passover celebrations (including the redemption of the firstborn and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) provided an opportunity to instruct the children concerning Gods work in the past and its bearing on the present, so the Lords table and baptism provide us with teaching opportunities which we dare not neglect. 2 Thes. . After the Babylonian captivity, new calendar names were adopted and the ancient name Abib was changed to Nisan (cf. While acknowledging the ancient plagues, we invite you to also incorporate into your Seder an accounting of some of the "plagues" and injustices that afflict our present-day . Here I hasten to mention that the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, is in the plural form. 5:7). The first is the pronouncement to Pharaoh by Moses that this plague is about to come upon all of Egypt. In the 8th chapter of his epistle to the Romans, Paul writes of the victory which the Christian can have in suffering (8:31-35). It is a holy God whom we serve, and this text will remind us of that fact as we come to it with reverence and sincerity. A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you. 2:1; Esth. Today that core story, and its centuries of embellishments, is read, sung and discussed throughout the Passover seder (a ritual meal, literally . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. However, more often than not, we are still caught off guard. Updated: April 13, 2022 3:55 PM EDT | Originally published: April 18, 2019 4:00 PM EDT. The firstborn of Israel thus belonged to God as a result of the Passover, and all of Israel as a result of the exodus. It is the cup of plagues, drunk after the Passover story is told but before the meal. 7:14-24) 2 nd Plague: Frogs: Pharaoh was told in advance (Ex. Romans 9). In the final verses of chapter 10, Pharaoh angrily demands that Moses and Aaron leave his presence, threatening that to do so again will mean their death (v. 28). Luke 22:1-23). One of the most dramatic moments of the Passover seder comes with the recitation of the 10plagues that, the Bible says, God brought on the Egyptians to persuade Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery. 12:1). We need law and order. Paul also speaks of our suffering in Passover terms. All rights reserved. Gods promises, for pleasure or pain, of prosperity or peril, are certain. Volcanic eruptions could also explain the several days of darkness which means nine plagues are accounted for. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. Don't Threaten. (1) Because Christ is our Passover Lamb, we are Gods possession. The New Testament teaches a number of practical applications of the Passover for contemporary Christians. A summary of the ten plagues G-d wrought upon the Egyptians Blood, Frogs, Bugs, Wild Animals, Pestilence, Boils, Hail, Locust, Darkness, The Passover Sacrifice, Death of the First-Born 81 Comments Why Did G-d Smite the Firstborn? The ten plagues are no exception, and over the years scientists have been curious about whether the story of the plagues may have been based on some event that can be proved to have happened. But ask someone whos celebrating Passover, and theyre likely to say that the question of whether scientists can prove the plagues really happened in ancient history is irrelevant to the holiday. In verses 4-8, Moses declared the essence of this revelation to Pharaoh, as it related to him. People are saying this is the 11th plague. 128 This is expressed by a proverbial saying, A dog would not move his tongue against man or beast (v. 7). According to the biblical story, God forced the Egyptians to free the enslaved Israelites with the 10 Plagues, the list of which is shown in Figure 1. As the tenth and final plague, the smiting of the firstborn of Egypt conclusively proved that the gods of Egypt were powerless, non-existent, while the God of Israel was all-powerful. First Name When we list those plagues, it is a matter of "round up the usual suspects": racism, homophobia, global warming, economic injustice, guns, modern. Kids love acting out the plagues, and these finger puppets are just the thing to get them involved and learning more about the Passover story. Barad-Hail. All rights reserved. Give prizes for the team that assembles their questions in the correct order the fastest. The traditional number of ten plagues is not actually mentioned in Exodus, and other sources differ; Psalms 78 and 105 seem to list only seven or eight plagues and order them differently. 1. The striking of the firstborn of Egypt should cause us to rethink the matter of sin. that is degrading to another person. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Rite Lite 12 Elegant Glass Passover Seder Round Plate, $44 Target This seder plate is one piece, with divots labeled in both Hebrew and English to hold each element for the blessings during your. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. As mans Creator, God is absolutely justified in dealing with His creation as He sees fit (cf. We protest the proliferation of violence. The sacrificial lamb131 was to be without defect (Exod. Finally, there is a brief account given of the plague itself, just as God had said through Moses. Given the biblical assumption of Gods omnipotence, one might expect God to be able to whisk the Israelites out of Egypt without such dramatic measures. I fear that all too many presentations of the gospel do not inform people that when they come to faith in Christ, they cease to own themselves, and that they become Christs possession. Yah Shchinah [an appeal to God using a term associated with Gods feminine side]soften our hearts and the hearts of our enemies. Many Jews update the seder by supplementing the recitation of the biblical plagues with the mention of contemporary plagues such as war, hatred, and disease. (3) The Passover celebrations was a means of incorporating or excluding the Gentiles in the covenant of God to Abraham (Exod. Because God has spared us from His wrath by His mercy, we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godwhich is your spiritual worship (Rom. A Plague Passover Party: A hands-on experience including Passover plague stations and story time. 13:4) was to be viewed, from this time forward, as the first month of the year (Exod. Verses 1-3 are cited before the announcement of Moses to Pharaoh that the firstborn of Egypt will be slain. It may not be possible to determine with any degree of certainty, nor is it necessary that we do so. It was felt by many that it was inappropriate for our president to dignify the deaths of those involved in the mass slaughter of Jews, based solely on their race. The observance of the Lords Table reminds the Christian of the salvation which our Lord accomplished by His death, burial, and resurrection (cf. The Egyptians were very happy to have a free source of labor in the form of Israelite slaves. Hail. Take your time with them and prayerfully help them see the deep layers of this Bible story. 9:16). 7:25-8:15) 3 rd Plague: Gnats: Pharaoh was not warned (Ex. Little Jewish kids know by their 6th or 7th birthday that gelt is worthless fake "candy". #1: Lighting the Yom Tov (Holiday) Candles Before the official start of the seder, it is customary to light two candles in honor of the holiness of the day. Tzfardeiya-Frogs. In this theory the darkness is coincidentally caused by a sandstorm. We must acknowledge that God had the right (as He still does) to smite the firstborn of Egypt. Not too long before, there was a very strong reaction to the visit of President Reagan to a German cemetery, where some Nazi soldiers were buried. The 10 Modern Plagues. Though its one of the best known details of the Exodus story, the plague narrative raises a number of complicated questions. accounts, the history behind an article.

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