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Exodus 12:43–51 “Why the Bones Were Not to Be Broken”

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3–5 minutes

Exodus 12:43-51 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

Verses 43 to 49 provide additional instructions regarding Passover. The first set of instructions concerns who is permitted to eat the Passover meal. Every Israelite must participate in the meal (v. 47), but foreigners are excluded (v. 43), since Passover is a festival commemorating Israel’s liberation. However, any foreign slave who has received circumcision may eat the Passover meal (vv. 44, 48) because circumcision integrates them into the descendants of Israel. Other foreigners who are not part of Israel may not join in the Passover table (vv. 45, 49).

The second set of instructions concerns how the Passover lamb or goat will be slaughtered and eaten. When the Passover lamb is killed, not a single bone is to be broken, and the meat must be eaten only inside the house (v. 46).

Verse 50 explains the day when the Israelites left Egypt. They did everything just as Moses and Aaron had instructed, and they finally escaped Egypt (v. 51).

Meditation:

The reason why the Israelites were instructed not to break any of the lamb’s bones during the Passover sacrifice is not explicitly stated. It may be related to the command in verse 11: “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste.” Just as there was no time to leaven the dough, perhaps there was no time to pick apart every bone for meat. It may also have been a sign of reverence for the Passover lamb sacrificed for Israel’s deliverance—breaking its bones would be considered desecration of a body.

Whatever the original intent may have been, this instruction takes on new significance in the sacrifice of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the bodies removed before the Sabbath began, believing it inappropriate to leave them hanging during the Sabbath, especially during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Following Pilate’s orders, the soldiers went and broke the legs of the other two men crucified with Jesus to hasten their deaths and take them down. However, when they came to Jesus, they found He was already dead, so they did not break His bones (John 19:31–33).

Though the soldiers acted without intent, their actions fulfilled the Scripture and testified that Jesus is the eternal Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb delivered the Israelites from death, the blood of Jesus Christ, our eternal Passover Lamb, delivers us from the fate of eternal death.

Prayer:

Lord, our eternal Passover Lamb, we thank You for setting us free from the bondage of sin and granting us eternal life through Your sacrifice. We praise and worship You for Your grace. Renew us daily by Your Holy Spirit so we may live lives of love. We acknowledge with gratitude that even this prayer can only be offered by relying on Your grace. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus is our eternal Passover Lamb. Just like the Israelites were saved from death through the lamb’s blood, we are saved from sin and eternal death through the sacrifice of Jesus. His bones were not broken, fulfilling God’s promise and showing how deeply God loves and protects us.

  • For Preschool-Elementary
    • What does it mean that Jesus is the “Passover Lamb”?
    • Why do you think God didn’t want the lamb’s bones to be broken?
    • How can we thank Jesus for giving His life for us?
  • For Youth
    • The Israelites were told to eat the lamb quickly, ready to leave Egypt. What does that teach us about trusting and following God’s timing?
    • Why do you think it was important that Jesus’ bones weren’t broken on the cross?
    • In what ways can we live each day to show that we are set free by Jesus, our Passover Lamb?

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