What practical steps can we take to teach children about God's deliverance? Grounding Our Lesson in Exodus 12:27 “ ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Why This Matters Today • Children need concrete reminders that the God who rescued Israel still rescues. • The Passover points forward to Jesus, “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Teaching this story shapes their worldview: God saves, judges evil, and keeps covenant. Practical Steps for Passing the Story On • Tell the narrative often – Read Exodus 12 aloud at the dinner table. – Emphasize God’s actions, not Israel’s merit. • Use symbols they can see and touch – Unleavened bread: explain haste and purity. – A doorframe marked with red paper or ribbon: illustrate the blood covering. • Reenact the night of deliverance – Dim the lights, eat standing up with walking sticks (Exodus 12:11) to help them feel the urgency. • Connect it to everyday life – When a door opens, remind them of the blood-marked doors that opened to freedom. – At every mealtime, recall that God provided a lamb so His people could live. • Memorize key verses together – Exodus 12:27; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Psalm 78:4. • Sing songs of deliverance – “When I See the Blood” or a simple chorus based on Exodus 15:2, “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.” • Encourage artistic expression – Have them draw the angel passing over, then hang it where the family sees it daily. • Celebrate an annual family “mini-Passover” – Roast lamb, break unleavened bread, share grape juice, and end by reading Luke 22:14-20 to show how Jesus fulfilled the feast. • Practice testimony time – Share recent ways God “passed over” danger or provided escape; invite children to tell theirs. • Tie obedience to remembrance – Explain that Israel bowed and worshiped (Exodus 12:27b); model immediate, joyful obedience when God speaks. Linking the Passover to Christ’s Deliverance • John 1:29—Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” • Hebrews 9:22—“without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” • Ephesians 1:7—“In Him we have redemption through His blood.” Show children that the first Passover and the cross share the same pattern: substitutionary blood, divine judgment satisfied, people set free. Keeping the Memory Alive in Daily Life • Morning reminder: place a small red ribbon on the breakfast table—ask, “Why red?” • Car rides: play audio Scripture or hymns about the Lamb. • Bedtime: retell a deliverance story (Daniel 6, Jonah 2) to reinforce the theme. • Serve together: visit someone in need and say, “Just as God delivered us, we help others experience His rescue.” • Journal answers to prayer: compile a “family book of deliverance” echoing Israel’s record of God’s mighty acts. When children repeatedly see, hear, taste, touch, and act out the truth that God delivers, Exodus 12:27 moves from history to living hope, preparing them to trust the Lamb who still saves. |
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