提要
上帝擊殺了所有埃及人的長子並贖回以色列人（那些有被殺之羔羊遮蓋的人家）的長子後，就要求以色列人的長子要分別為聖歸給祂，也就是說他們要被獻給上帝，專門來服事祂。這要作為以色列人永久的提醒，同時也是他們向上帝表達感謝的方式，因上帝的恩典，他們的長子得以在災難中存活。上帝是對一群用血贖回的百姓說話，他們都必須分別出來成為上帝的子民；從罪和世界中被分別出來奉獻給上帝，並藉著與上帝相交享受得贖的生命。上帝也呼召主耶穌的信徒，「諸長子之會所」（來12：23），過一種與祂有深厚關係的新生活。祂呼召我們從世上的罪中出來，過討祂喜悅的聖潔生活。
吃無酵餅提醒以色列人他們離開埃及時的匆忙（12：34），因為他們甚至沒有時間等酵使麵團發起來。在聖經裡，酵是罪和墮落的象徵（太13：33；16：6；林前5：6~8），必須將它從生命裡除去，讓上帝的拯救之工可以完成。
上帝還命他們要將這個故事講給他們世世代代的子孫知道，好使祂用大能的手拯救以色列的事蹟在以色列國中被永誌不忘，甚至要在手上作記號，在額上作紀念（或提醒）（13：9）。今天正統的猶太教徒仍照著經文字面的意義遵守這個命令，他們經常在禱告時就真的將存有律法書的經文匣綁在他們的手臂或額上。然而，這些是比喻的說法，意思是要他們謹記在心，就像同一節中「使耶和華的律法常在你口中」，是要他們在交談中總不忘上帝的律法一樣。
上帝不只救他們，也與他們同在。白天當他們行路時，上帝藉雲柱引導、保護他們；晚上又用火柱表達對他們的照顧和關切。由於上帝的智慧和對以色列人的瞭解，祂領以色列人循曠野之路走，而不取道較近且可直達迦南的非利士，因那裡的非利士人恨他們。當以色列人都預備好了，他們就會在上帝最佳的時刻裡進入上帝所應許的迦南地。然而，他們一直在曠野漂流了四十年之後才終於預備好進入應許之地。經過曠野的試驗，以色列人學會了謙卑、紀律、忍受艱苦、及信任上帝，守祂的命令（參申8：2~4）。上帝從未離棄他們，也因上帝與以色列人同在，因此沒有任何勢力能敵擋他們。
約瑟在大約三百五十年前預言上帝一定會來幫助以色列人，領他們出埃及（創50：24、25），如今摩西按照約瑟的要求，帶著他的骸骨離開，我們再次看見出埃及記與創世記是聯貫的。逾越節是上帝的計畫，也是祂拯救以色列人脫離奴役的方式。今天我們依舊能看到上帝如何信實的將我們從罪中救出來、信實的履行祂的應許、也信實的看顧祂的百姓──教會。
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Overview
After the Lord struck down all the first-born Egypt and redeemed the first-born of the Israelites (those covered by the blood of the sacrificial lamb), He asked that they be sanctified unto Him, meaning they were to be consecrated, or set apart for His service. The Israelites were to do this as a constant reminder and also as an act of gratitude to God for having had their first-born preserved by Him in His act of grace. God is speaking to a people redeemed by the blood, so they all must be set apart for Him; set apart from sin and the world to be dedicated to the Lord and to enjoy the life of redemption by fellowship with Him. God has called us, as believers in the Lord Jesus and the “church of the first-born (Hebrews 12:23) to a life with a deeper relationship with Him. He calls us to be sanctified and separated from the sin of the world to live a more consecrated and holy life, which is pleasing to Him.
The unleavened bread was also to serve as a reminder of the haste in which they left Egypt (12:34), for they did not have time to let the yeast work so the bread would rise. In the Bible yeast came to be a symbol for sin, and a corrupting influence (Matthew 13:33; 16:6; 1 Cor. 5:6-8) which must be removed from one’s life to see the deliverance of the Lord accomplished.
The Lord commanded them to teach their children from generation to generation so that His mighty hand in delivering them would always be remembered even as a sign on the hand and a memorial (or a reminder) on the forehead (13:9). The religious orthodox Jews of today have taken this part of the verse literally and so often in prayer they actually tie segments of the Law in little boxes around their hand and on their forehead, however, these are figurative expressions meaning to keep it in remembrance, just as the figurative expression in the same verse, “the Lord’s law may be in your mouth” means to always keep it in conversation.
The Lord not only saved them, but also stayed with them. His presence was among them to guide and protect on their journey by the pillar of cloud in the day. In the night this same pillar was seen as fire, expressing His kindness and care toward them. In His wisdom and understanding, God led them in the way of the wilderness, rather than through the hostile territory of the Philistines which was the closer and more direct way to Canaan. When the people were ready, and all in God’s timing, they would enter the land of Canaan as He promised them. However it was not until after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness that they were finally ready to enter their Promised Land. After this time of testing and being humbled, they learned discipline, patience in hardships, and adherence to God’s commandments as they trusted in Him (see Deuteronomy 8:24). The Lord never forsook them, and since He was with them no power could stand against them.
We see again that this story is linked with Genesis, when Moses took Joseph’s bones in fulfillment of his request given about 350 years before when he prophesied that God would surely come and help them out of Egypt (Genesis 50:24,25). The Passover was in the plan of God and the means by which He delivered them out of bondage. Today we continue to see that the Lord is faithful in delivering us from sin, in keeping His promises and in taking care of His people, the Church.
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