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174
The Beginning of the End
The Israelites obeyed the directions God had given. Their fami-
lies were gathered, the Passover lamb killed, the flesh roasted with
fire, the unleavened bread and bitter herbs prepared. The father and
priest of the household sprinkled the blood on the doorpost. The
people ate the Passover lamb quickly and in silence. Fathers and
mothers clasped their loved firstborn in their arms, as they thought of
the fearful stroke that was to fall that night. The sign of blood—the
sign of a Savior’s protection—was on their doors, and the destroyer
did not enter.
At midnight “there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a
house where there was not one dead.” All the firstborn in the land,
“from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn
of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of
livestock,” had been struck. The pride of every household had been
brought down. Shrieks and wails filled the air. King and officers
trembled at the overwhelming horror. With his Heaven-daring pride
humbled in the dust, Pharaoh “called for Moses and Aaron by night,
and said, ‘Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the
children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. ... Be
gone, and bless me also.’.”
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