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From Eternity Past
the household sprinkled the blood upon the doorpost. In haste and
silence the paschal lamb was eaten. Fathers and mothers clasped in
their arms their loved firstborn, as they thought of the fearful stroke
that was to fall that night. The sign of blood—the sign of a Saviour’s
protection—was on their doors, and the destroyer entered not.
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 that sat on his throne unto the firstborn
of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle”
had been smitten. The pride of every household had been laid low.
Shrieks and wails filled the air. King and courtiers, trembling, stood
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aghast at the overmastering horror. His heaven-daring pride humbled
in the dust, Pharaoh “called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said,
Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the
children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said... . Be gone;
and bless me also.”
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