What does Exodus 12:1 mean?
This begins a series of instructions which prepare Israel for the moment when God strikes all the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 4:21–23; 11:4–6; 12:29–32). Israelite homes who follow instructions about sacrificing a lamb will be spared (Exodus 11:7). The wrath of the Lord will "pass over" them peacefully (Exodus 12:13). This will be the last and most catastrophic plague (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23) on Egypt. After this, Egypt's king will finally agree to release the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:8–14).Moses and Aaron have been God's line of communication to the Egyptian regime (Exodus 4:14–16; 5:1). They are also how the Lord explains His will to the people of Israel. The nation will cooperate with these new instructions (Exodus 12:50) and leave Egyptian captivity in a single massive group (Exodus 12:51).