A Little Project: Jesse Tree Week 2 Day 2

Ornament: Lamb

The Pharaoh had not given the Israelites their day of worship in the desert. The Lord had sent Moses to him directly many times telling the Pharaoh about plagues - that means really bad situations for everyone in the country - and each time the Pharaoh laughed at Moses' God. He had his magicians do similar tricks in the palace to prove that the Lord of the Hebrews was not special. However whatever the tricksters could do in a small place the Lord created all over the land of Egypt. 

The Lord told Moses to warn Pharaoh of the last plague that he would send: every first born son in the land would be taken by death in the night. The Pharaoh had a son whom he loved, but he was also angry and jealous of Moses, and because of the pride that he had in his own power  he did not free the Israelites.

The Lord had told Moses to warn the Hebrews: if they wanted to save the firstborn boys in their families they would have to use the blood of a lamb and paint it over the doorway of their house. Then they could eat the lamb with special bread that has no yeast. The Hebrews did this, and on the night that the Lord had told Moses, death swept through the land of Egypt and took the firstborn of every household - except for those who had followed Moses' instructions. This event was called Passover.

Even Pharaoh's son was taken and in his fear and pain he ordered that the Hebrews be released and sent them out of Egypt.  Then after the Hebrews began to leave, the Pharaoh changed his mind because he was afraid to lose the workers he didn't have to pay to build his enormous buildings. So he sent his army out after the Hebrews, who were just about to cross a small sea into their family's homeland. Moses and the Hebrews knew that they could not outrun the armies of the Pharaohs who were riding horses and chariots, while they were walking with small children and slow moving wagons filled with their belongings and food for the desert.

The Lord was still with Moses. He told him to use his walking stick - his staff, and to hold it over the water of the Sea. As Moses did this, the Hebrews watched as the water from the Sea was parted, and a dry pathway was created in front of them. They were scared and amazed - but the army they saw behind them helped overcome their fear of drowning, and they marched through the sea passage.

The Hebrew people took their time and arrived at the opposite shore safely just when the Egyptians army arrived. They hesitated, also afraid of what they were seeing before them, remembering what the God of the Hebrews had done in their home country. But the Pharaoh ordered them to follow the Hebrews and they did. When they were about to catch up to Moses and his people, the Lord told Moses to remove his staff from over the water. The ea flooded back in, and swept up all of the Egyptian army as it did.

Connection & Reflection: Even though it seemed at first that the Lord would not be able to help the Hebrews, in the end he was able to protect them from the plagues he sent to the Egyptians and free them from their life of slavery. Today we have a lamb as our ornament because it represents the protection that God the Father gave not only the Hebrew children, but also what he gives us through Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice that frees us from lives of slavery to sin. We ask you to help us prepare for your coming as a baby and to remember the reason that you were born. Please help us to grow close to you so that we too can cross the seas of our life in safety. 

Conclude with your favorite family prayer or an Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be.