Anticpation of the Resurrection: Day 3 Bondage and Slavery

When the cry goes up, God comes down!

On day three of your Anticipation of Resurrection Sunday, give the definition of bondage and read the story from Exodus of the slavery of the children of Israel:

BONDAGE (dictionary.com):
1. Slavery or involuntary servitude
2. The state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control.
3. The state or practice of being physically restrained, as by being tied up, chained, or put in handcuffs

Exodus 5:6-19
So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. "But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words."

So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.' "

So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?"

Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? "There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people."

But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks."

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After reading the story of the enslaved Israelites, eat the Charoset you have prepared in advance as a reminder of the mortar used for the bricks. (Chunky applesauce could be used in place of this traditional symbolic food).

Hopefully, your family has chosen to give up something as a reminder of the pain of bondage and suffering under the control of someone or something else. Another great way to help children understand bondage would be to hand-cuff them for a portion of the day. They will think this is fun for a few minutes, but then will cry out for freedom.

In addition to giving up something, you were encouraged to pray for those in captivity. Take time to share with each other how it felt to go without:

 Were you tempted to give in?

 Did you find that what you gave up has more control over your life than you realized?

Pray as a family to those in bondage. If you are imprisoned yourself, may the Lord begin a work of deliverance in your only life that could only come from Him.

God desires to set His people free:

PAST:
“I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” Exodus 6:5-6

PRESENT:
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

FUTURE:
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-10

Preparation for Day Four: The Plague of the Blood

'Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.
"The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile.'""

After your children go to bed or before they awake in the morning, color the water in your toilets (or just one in case it doesn’t flush out as you hope!), put Swedish fish on the table to remind them of the fish that died because of God’s judgment. Serve red drinks all day as the water was turned to blood.

Prepare Maror to eat as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery.  Maror is Romaine lettuce dipped in horseradish.

The outline for the remaining days of anticipation:

Day 4: Plague One – blood
Day 5: Plague Two – frogs
Day 6: Plague Three – gnats
Day 7: Plague Four – flies
Day 8: Plague Five – Disease of Livestock
Day 9: Plague Six – Boils
Day 10: Plague Seven – Hail
Day 11: Plague Eight – Locusts
Day 12: Plague Nine – Darkness
Day 13: Plague Ten – Death of the First Born

Followed by: Simple Seder Suggestions for a time to remember the Passover story with your family. Instructions will be given on the symbolic foods eaten as well as the questions asked.

I would love your comments after you have experienced this devotion time with your families!