Moses told the Israelites that in time to come their children would ask them about the Passover: “What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses” (Exodus 12:26-27).

But by the time that happened, Moses and all the people listening to him would be dead. Across the centuries, children would ask about the Passover, and would be told “God spared ‘our’ houses – not ‘our ancestors’ houses,’ not ‘our great-great-grandparents’ houses’ – our houses. We can see generational thinking expressed this way throughout the Old Testament. It acknowledges that whatever the situation we happen to find ourselves in, it’s never just about those of us who happen to be here right now – and it’s certainly not just about me. Instead, it includes people long ago, and also children who have not yet been born, just as much as anyone else. Years from now – generations from now – “You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever” (12:24).

And when you do this, many generations from now, you will be telling your children about how the Lord spared “our” houses. In one sense, that’s a pretty odd way to talk: those might have been our great-great-great … grandparents’ houses, but we ourselves weren’t there in Egypt at the time of the Passover, we wouldn’t even be born till many generations later. We need to let ourselves feel the oddness of talking as if those were “our” houses that were spared.

And at the same time, we need to let ourselves feel the rightness of that word “our,” as it captures the reality quite clearly: we are all part of this great extended family, the children of God, unlimited by time or place. At the Passover God spared the houses of our people. It was our family, the text insists: it happened to “us.” We were slaves in Egypt, and then God worked this miracle to set us free. Though we today would not be born for more than thirty centuries, we were nevertheless part of that experience. This is the story of how God freed us from our bondage.

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“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also” (John 10:16).

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Old and young, near and far, we are all part of this great family, O Lord. We are so grateful that, despite all our shortcomings, you passed over our sins and claimed us for your own. Help us teach our children, from generation to generation, of your astonishing mercy and grace.

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