Imagine waking up one night and finding your big brother was dead in his bed!  Then you hear cries from your neighbors’ houses, where they are finding the same thing:  their oldest sons were dead too!  How terrible that must have been!  Even in the Pharaoh’s palace, the Pharaoh’s oldest son lay dead.  Even in Pharaoh’s dungeon, first born sons lay dead!

No wonder Pharaoh finally gave in.  He called Moses and Aaron in the night and told them to get the heck out of Egypt.  And hurry!

The people of Israel packed up their children and their animals and their things.  They didn’t even take time to let their bread rise.  And a bunch of Egyptians went with them.  It was a night that God kept watch over them.

It was on this day that God told Moses to pledge all the firstborn males, the eldest, to God.   All the children, all the donkeys, all the lambs.  Remember this day, God said, when God brought you out of Egypt, to a land flowing with milk and honey.

Food for Thought

Why do you think God only commanded that males be dedicated to God?