What role does family play in the observance of Passover in Exodus 12:3? Setting the Context Exodus 12 describes the first Passover, the pivotal night when God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. Verse 3 introduces the instructions: “Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household.” Family-Centered Worship in Exodus 12:3 • The LORD’s command is addressed to “each man” but immediately directs attention to “his family.” • The primary unit responsible for selecting and sacrificing the lamb is “one per household,” emphasizing that covenant obedience begins in the home. • By rooting the observance in the family, God ensures every generation experiences the redemption story firsthand (cf. Exodus 12:26–27: “When your children ask you…”). Three Key Roles the Family Plays 1. Shelter and Salvation • The blood of the lamb is applied to the doorposts of the house (Exodus 12:7). • Everyone under that roof—parents, children, servants—receives protection. • The act physically illustrates that salvation is communal, yet entered through individual families. 2. Instruction and Testimony • Parents explain the meaning of the lamb and the meal (Exodus 12:26–27). • Passover becomes an annual classroom where children hear and see redemption enacted. • Deuteronomy 6:6–7 echoes this pattern: “Impress them on your children…”—linking Passover to the broader mandate of family discipleship. 3. Identity Formation • Sharing the roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread around the table marks Israel as God’s people (Exodus 12:11). • Every bite eaten in unity reinforces a collective memory and identity that transcends time (Joshua 4:21–24). Practical Implications for Today • Worship begins at home: God still expects parents to lead their households in remembering His salvation (Ephesians 6:4). • Redemption is relayed relationally: Faith stories stick when shared in the context of shared meals and family rhythms. • The family table foreshadows a greater feast: The Passover points to Christ, “our Passover Lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7), whose sacrifice gathers believers—often first within families—into God’s eternal household. Summary Exodus 12:3 places the family at the heart of Passover so that deliverance, instruction, and identity formation happen where life is most personal—around the household table. |
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