The Book of Exodus gives the entire story, beginning with the oppression of the Israelites, the birth of Moses, and his exile to the wilderness of Midian. After serving his father-in-law as a shepherd for 40 years, God called Moses at the age of 80 to lead the people out of slavery. Moses reluctantly accepted the responsibility. Moses and his brother, Aaron, met with Pharaoh to request their exodus. When Pharaoh refused to let the children of Israel go,10 plagues followed.

God prepared the Israelites for the last plague (the plague on the firstborn). They were to kill a lamb and put the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their houses. When the death angel would “pass over” the home and see the blood, the firstborn in that house would not be killed. Exodus 12:30 says, “There was not a house in Egypt without someone dead.” No one, however, in the houses of the Israelites died. That night, more than 600,000 people walked out of Egypt to freedom.

God then commanded the people to celebrate this deliverance every year.

From that day (sometime in the early 1400s B.C.) until now, Jews have celebrated Passover every spring to commemorate their great deliverance. Regardless of where the Jews have lived or how they have been oppressed, they celebrated Passover.

Since I love to cook and experiment with recipes from other cultures, I thought you’d enjoy a recipe for matzah ball soup, which is generally one of the meals served during the last two days of Passover (Yom Tov). https://toriavey.com/perfect-chicken-soup/

Before Solomon built the temple, the people gathered as families to kill a lamb and eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. After the temple was built the lamb was killed and the celebration was held in Jerusalem. This is why the Jews say “next year in Jerusalem” at the end of each Seder meal.

We may not be Jews, but we have a direct connection to Passover because Jesus died during Passover and became our Passover Lamb. Through the shedding of His blood, we have salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin.