This is a cute Passover animation that would be great to share with friends and family. In it you can hear various perspectives about what the holiday is about and why certain traditions are meaningful. You might be tempted to ask why it is so important to remember the Passover after so many years. A lot of people would say the history of slavery is something people should just get over and stop thinking about if they are free, or at least doing much better than their ancestors have in the past. But that is not what God thinks.
“’When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. Then your children will ask, “What does this ceremony mean?” And you will reply, “It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.” …’” Exodus 12:25-27 It is hard to understand the present without having a firm grasp on the historical context that led up to the current situation. And it is harder to avoid falling into old destructive patterns if we forget the hard lessons learned from those who already tried such things.
One of the reasons God wanted Israel to remember what happened was not simply so they could pat themselves on the back and be grateful that God saved them, but for them to remember how God feels about exploitation in general. “When you release a male servant, do not send him away empty-handed. Give him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you! That is why I am giving you this command.” Deuteronomy 15:13-15 God is not just upset when we are mistreated or not paid fairly. God cares about others too and we should as well. So keep this in mind as you celebrate this Passover and learn more from this video.
