Old Testament Summary Lesson 13: “Bondage, Passover, & Exodus”

Extermination Order–Deliverer: Baby Moses being saved during an extermination order by the Pharaoh parallels the account of the baby Jesus being saved during an extermination order by King Herod. Moses becomes a “type” of the deliverer. Jesus is the real deliverer.
Jesus Was Born on Passover: According to the biblical calendar, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830. It was Passover that year! (Doctrine & Covenants 20:1) The Deliverer was born at the holiday celebrating the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and celebrating an expectation of an even greater deliverance. The two deliverances are linked by a journey of time through two millennia.

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Elijah Expected: At the Passover meal, a door is opened for Elijah, a seat is reserved for him and songs are sung in expectation of Elijah. During Passover, on April 3, 1836, while millions of Jews were going through the festive ritual of anticipating Elijah, he came to Joseph Smith the prophet in Kirtland, Ohio. (Doctrine & Covenants 110:13-16)
Wine and Bread Followed by Bread and Wine: At the Seder, the annual passover meal and celebration, The master of the house will pour and bless wine three different times. He sips first, and then everyone else may sip. After each occurrence of wine there is a breaking and blessing of unleavened bread three different times. Again, each time the master blesses and eats a broken piece, then everyone else eats a piece. The remarkable exception is that another piece was hidden for the children to find later in the Seder service. When it is found, that piece (fourth time bread is used) is blessed, broken, and the master eats the first part, then everyone follows his example. The fourth cup of wine is then poured full and the master instructs everyone to “drink all of it.” An explanation of the REAL deliverance is given.
Weekly Passover Reminder “Remembers” Israel’s Deliverance, “Anticipates” Future Deliverance: In a religious Jewish home, a weekly “Wine and Bread” prayer includes a “remembrance” of the first Passover, the exodus. Weekly, Latter-day saints take a “sacrament” of “Bread and Wine” (nowadays, water instead of wine). This is done in “remembrance” of the greater deliverance provided by the Savior’s atonement. It should be considered that symbolically, at the annual Passover Seder celebration, Jews take the “lost, and found” bread and wine in anticipation of a greater-than-the-first deliverance, Latter-day Saints take bread and wine in remembrance of that great deliverance . . . a chiasmas – with the Savior’ atonement in the middle.