"TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT," MOSES SAID, "GOD WILL SEND AN ANGEL THROUGH THE LAND. THE ANGEL WILL ENTER EVERY HOUSE THAT DOES NOT HAVE BLOOD ON THE DOOR. THE OLDEST CHILD IN THAT HOME WILL DIE."
MOSES TOLD THE ISRAELITES TO KILL A LAMB FOR EACH FAMILY AND SPRINKLE THEIR DOORFRAMES WITH BLOOD. "THEN ROAST THE LAMB AND COOK VEGETABLES WITH IT FOR A MIDNIGHT SUPPER. WHEN THE DEATH ANGEL PASSES OVER THE LAND, YOU MUST BE DRESSED AND READY TO START ON YOUR JOURNEY. EAT SUPPER STANDING AROUND THE TABLE."
NO WONDER EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN GOSHEN WAS VERY BUSY. INSTEAD OF GETTING READY FOR BED, EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD WAS WIDE-AWAKE AND EXCITED. ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS HELPED GATHER THE CATTLE FROM THE PASTURE LANDS OR RAN ERRANDS FOR THEIR PARENTS. EVERY FATHER KILLED A LAMB AND SPRINKLED BLOOD ON THE DOORFRAME OF HIS HOUSE. EVERY MOTHER PREPARED VEGETABLES TO COOK FOR THE MIDNIGHT SUPPER.
THE MIDNIGHT SUPPER WAS CALLED "PASSOVER" BECAUSE THE ANGEL PASSED OVER THE HOUSES OF THOSE WHO OBEYED THE COMMAND GOD GAVE MOSES. TO REMIND THEM OF THIS NIGHT WHEN GOD SAVED THEM FROM DEATH, GOD COMMANDED THE ISRAELITES TO EAT SUCH A SUPPER EACH YEAR AT THIS TIME.
THE EGYPTIANS HAD NOT SPRINKLED BLOOD ON THEIR DOORFRAMES OR PREPARED A MIDNIGHT MEAL. EVERYONE OF THEM HAD GONE TO BED AS USUAL, EXPECTING TO SLEEP ALL NIGHT. BUT AT MIDNIGHT ALL WERE AWAKENED, EVEN PHARAOH. HE HURRIED TO THE BEDSIDE OF HIS OLDEST SON AND FOUND HIM DEAD. PHARAOH CRIED ALOUD. IN EVERY EGYPTIAN HOME THERE WAS THE SAME SAD CRY.
AT ONCE PHARAOH SENT A SWIFT MESSENGER TO MOSES AND AARON AT GOSHEN. THERE ALL WERE AWAKE AND READY TO START ON THEIR JOURNEY. "PHARAOH WANTS ALL OF YOU TO LEAVE GOSHEN AT ONCE." THE MESSENGER SAID. DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND."
AND THE ISRAELITES STARTED OUT OF GOSHEN. LIKE A GREAT
ARMY, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN WITH THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN MARCHED
OUT OF EGYPT. WITH THEM WERE THEIR FLOCKS AND HERDS.
