安息日下午 7月26日
记忆经文：
“你们的儿女若问你们说：‘你们行这礼是什么意思？’你们就说：‘这是耶和华逾越节的祭物，当他击杀埃及人，越过以色列人住的房屋，救了我们各家的时候所献的。’于是百姓低头下拜。” ——出埃及记 12:26-27
Memory Text: “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” KJV — Exodus 12:26, 27
“当以色列人第一次向埃及王提出释放请求时，最可怕的灾祸就已被警告。摩西奉命对法老说：‘耶和华这样说：“以色列是我的儿子，我的长子。我对你说过，让我的儿子去，好侍奉我。你若不肯放他走，我就要杀你的儿子，就是你的长子。”’（出埃及记 4:22-23）尽管以色列人被埃及人鄙视，但上帝却尊荣他们，拣选他们为祂律法的托付者。祂赐给他们特别的祝福和特权，使他们在列国中居于首位，如同长子在兄弟中一样。”（《先祖与先知》273.1）
“埃及起初所受到的警告，现在成为最后要降下的审判。上帝有丰富的怜悯，也满有忍耐。他温柔地看顾着按祂形象造的人类。如果庄稼和牲畜的损失能使埃及悔改，那么孩子们就不会遭殃；但这个国家顽固地抗拒神的命令，如今最后的打击就要降临了。”（《先祖与先知》273.2）
“When the demand for Israel's release had been first presented to the king of Egypt, the warning of the most terrible of the plagues had been given. Moses was directed to say to Pharaoh, “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My first-born: and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.” Exodus 4:22, 23. Though despised by the Egyptians, the Israelites had been honored by God, in that they were singled out to be the depositaries of His law. In the special blessings and privileges accorded them, they had pre-eminence among the nations, as the first-born son had among brothers. PP 273.1
“The judgment of which Egypt had first been warned, was to be the last visited. God is long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. He has a tender care for the beings formed in His image. If the loss of their harvests and their flocks and herds had brought Egypt to repentance, the children would not have been smitten; but the nation had stubbornly resisted the divine command, and now the final blow was about to fall.” PP 273.2
星期日，7月27日
再有一灾
阅读出埃及记11:1-10。上帝在执行对埃及的审判之前发出了什么警告？
Read Exodus 11:1–10. What warning did God give before executing judgment upon Egypt?
“摩西已被严令不可再到法老面前，否则必被处死；但上帝还要给这悖逆的君王最后一次信息，于是摩西再次来到他面前，严肃地宣告：‘耶和华如此说：约到半夜，我必出去巡行埃及遍地。凡在埃及地，从坐宝座的法老的长子，到推磨的婢女的长子，以及一切头生的牲畜，都必死亡。埃及遍地必有大哀号，从来没有这样的，也不会再有。但以色列人中，连狗也不敢向人或牲畜吠叫，使你们知道耶和华使埃及人和以色列人有分别。这一切你的臣仆都要来就我，俯伏在我面前说：“你和跟随你的百姓都去吧！”之后我才离开。’”（《先祖与先知》273.3）
“当摩西对法老宣告这将降临的灾祸时，说这是比任何以往降临在埃及的灾祸更可怕的，这将使法老所有的谋士都屈膝于摩西面前，恳求以色列人离开埃及，法老非常愤怒。他因无法威吓摩西，使其在王权面前战栗而感到恼怒。但摩西依靠的力量比世上任何君王的权柄都更强大。”（《属灵的恩赐》卷三，222.1）
“当摩西向以色列人讲述上帝为他们预备的拯救之时，‘百姓就低头下拜’。对自由的喜乐盼望、对压迫者将遭审判的惊恐认知、以及即将出发所带来的重重事务，在那一刻全都被对慈爱救主的感恩所淹没。许多埃及人也承认希伯来人的神才是真神，他们如今请求在那灭命天使巡行之时，能得进入以色列人的家中躲避灾祸。以色列人欣然接纳了他们，这些人也立志从此侍奉雅各的神，并与祂的百姓一同离开埃及。”（《先祖与先知》279.2）
“Moses had been forbidden, on pain of death, to appear again in Pharaoh's presence; but a last message from God was to be delivered to the rebellious monarch, and again Moses came before him, with the terrible announcement: ‘Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out.’” PP 273.3
“As Moses told the king of the plague which would come upon them, more dreadful than any that had yet visited Egypt, which would cause all his great counselors to bow down before him, and entreat the Israelites to leave Egypt, the king was exceedingly angry. He was enraged because he could not intimidate Moses, and make him tremble before his kingly authority. But Moses leaned for support upon a mightier arm than that of any earthly monarch.” 3SG 222.1
“As Moses rehearsed to Israel the provisions of God for their deliverance, “the people bowed the head and worshiped.” The glad hope of freedom, the awful knowledge of the impending judgment upon their oppressors, the cares and labors incident to their speedy departure—all were for the time swallowed up in gratitude to their gracious Deliverer. Many of the Egyptians had been led to acknowledge the God of the Hebrews as the only true God, and these now begged to be permitted to find shelter in the homes of Israel when the destroying angel should pass through the land. They were gladly welcomed, and they pledged themselves henceforth to serve the God of Jacob and to go forth from Egypt with His people.” PP 279.2
星期一，7月28日
逾越节
阅读出埃及记12:1–20。上帝在以色列人离开埃及前，给摩西和亚伦什么特别指示？
Read Exodus 12:1–20. What specific instructions does God give to Moses and Aaron before Israel leaves Egypt?
“在执行这审判之前，耶和华借着摩西指示以色列人有关他们出埃及的安排，尤其是为了保护他们免遭即将到来的灾难。每个家庭，或几个家庭联合在一起，要宰一只‘无残疾’的羊羔或山羊，并用牛膝草把血涂在房屋‘左右的门框和门楣’上，这样当灭命的天使午夜经过时，就不会进入那个房子。他们要在晚上吃烤的羊肉，配上无酵饼和苦菜，如摩西所说：“要束上腰，穿上鞋，手里拿杖，急忙吃；这是耶和华的逾越节。”（《先祖与先知》274.1）
“耶和华宣告说：‘今夜我要巡行埃及遍地，把埃及地一切头生的，无论是人是牲畜都击杀；又要败坏埃及一切的神……这血要在你们所住的房屋上作记号，我一见这血，就越过你们去，我击打埃及地的时候，灾殃必不临到你们身上毁灭你们。’”（《先祖与先知》274.2）
阅读出埃及记12:13, 14。当最后的灾祸来临时，主要为他们做什么？这一切象征着什么？
“Before the execution of this sentence the Lord through Moses gave direction to the children of Israel concerning their departure from Egypt, and especially for their preservation from the coming judgment. Each family, alone or in connection with others, was to slay a lamb or a kid “without blemish,” and with a bunch of hyssop sprinkle its blood on “the two side posts and on the upper doorpost” of the house, that the destroying angel, coming at midnight, might not enter that dwelling. They were to eat the flesh roasted, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, at night, as Moses said, “with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover.” PP 274.1
“The Lord declared: ‘I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.... And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’” PP 274.2
阅读出埃及记12:13, 14。当最后的灾祸来临时，主要为他们做什么？这一切象征着什么？
Read Exodus 12:13, 14. What was the Lord going to do for them when the final plague came? What does all this symbolize?
“此外，无论是人是牲畜，凡头生的都要归耶和华，只有凭赎价才能赎回，以此承认当埃及的头生子被击杀时，以色列的头生子虽然蒙恩得保全，其实也同样该当死亡，只因有赎罪的祭才得以幸免。‘凡头生的都是我的，’耶和华宣告说，‘因为我在击杀埃及地一切头生之日，将以色列中无论是人是牲畜的头生分别为圣归我；他们要归我。’（民数记3:13）在设立会幕制度后，耶和华拣选利未支派代替百姓中所有头生的来服侍圣所。祂说：‘他们从以色列人中全然归我；我取他们代替以色列人一切头生的。’（民数记8:16）不过，以色列百姓仍需承认神的怜悯，为他们的头生儿子付出赎价。（民数记18:15-16）”（《先祖与先知》274.4）
“Furthermore, the first-born of both man and beast were to be the Lord's, to be bought back only by a ransom, in acknowledgment that when the first-born in Egypt perished, that of Israel, though graciously preserved, had been justly exposed to the same doom but for the atoning sacrifice. “All the first-born are Mine,” the Lord declared; “for on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto Me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast: Mine they shall be,” Numbers 3:13. After the institution of the tabernacle service the Lord chose unto Himself the tribe of Levi for the work of the sanctuary, instead of the first-born of the people. “They are wholly given unto Me from among the children of Israel,” He said. “Instead of the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto Me.” Numbers 8:16. All the people were, however, still required, in acknowledgment of God's mercy, to pay a redemption price for the first-born son. Numbers 18:15, 16. PP 274.4
星期二，7月29日
越过
阅读出埃及记7:14–8:19；12:17–23。血在这个新节期的庆祝中起了什么作用？
Read Exodus 12:17–23. What role does blood play in the celebration of this new festival?
“逾越节既是纪念性的也是预表性的，它不仅回顾以色列人从埃及得救的历史，也预示基督将要为祂的子民从罪的捆绑中带来更大的拯救。那只献上的羊羔代表‘上帝的羔羊’，在祂里面我们有唯一的救恩希望。使徒说：‘因为我们逾越节的羊羔基督已经被杀献祭了。’（哥林多前书5:7）只是宰杀羊羔还不够，它的血必须洒在门框上；同样，基督宝血的功劳也必须应用到我们心灵上。我们必须相信，祂不仅为世人而死，也为我们个人而死。我们必须接受祂赎罪牺牲的能力作为我们自己的。”（《先祖与先知》277.1）
“洒血所用的牛膝草象征洁净，在洁净麻风病人及接触过尸体的人时也会使用。在诗人的祷告中也体现出这种意义：‘求你用牛膝草洁净我，我就干净；求你洗涤我，我就比雪更白。’（诗篇51:7）”（《先祖与先知》277.2）
“羊羔必须整只烹制，不能折断它的骨头；同样，神的羔羊为我们而死时，祂的一根骨头也不能折断。（约翰福音19:36）这也象征基督献身的完全。”（《先祖与先知》277.3）
“这肉必须被吃下。光是相信基督赦罪是不够的；我们必须凭信心不断从祂的话语中接受属灵的力量和滋养。基督说：‘你们若不吃人子的肉，不喝祂的血，就没有生命在你们里面。吃我肉、喝我血的人就有永生。’（约翰福音6:53, 54）为了解释祂的意思，祂又说：‘我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。’（第63节）耶稣接受祂父的律法，将律法的原则活出来，彰显律法的精神，并显明律法在心中所带来的福祉。约翰说：‘道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典有真理。我们也见过祂的荣耀，正是父独生子的荣耀。’（约翰福音1:14）基督的跟随者必须分享祂的经验。他们必须接受并吸收神的话，使之成为生命与行动的动力。他们必须借着基督的能力变成祂的样式，反映出神的属性。他们必须吃神儿子的肉，喝祂的血，否则他们里面就没有生命。基督的灵和作为必须成为祂门徒的灵和作为。”（《先祖与先知》277.4）
“羊羔要和苦菜一同吃，这象征以色列人在埃及为奴之苦。同样地，当我们领受基督时，也应怀着因自己罪而忧伤悔改的心。使用无酵饼也具有深远意义。律法中明确规定逾越节期间不可有酵，在犹太人的做法中也严格遵守此规，不可在节期中家中找到任何酵。这正象征凡愿从基督得生命和滋养的人，必须除去罪的酵。保罗也写信给哥林多教会说：‘你们既是无酵的面，应当把旧酵除净，好成为新团……因为我们逾越节的羔羊基督已经被杀献祭了。所以我们守这节，不可用旧酵，也不可用恶毒邪恶的酵，只用诚实真正的无酵饼。’（哥林多前书5:7-8）”（《先祖与先知》278.1）
“The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of sin. The sacrificial lamb represents “the Lamb of God,” in whom is our only hope of salvation. Says the apostle, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7. It was not enough that the paschal lamb be slain; its blood must be sprinkled upon the doorposts; so the merits of Christ's blood must be applied to the soul. We must believe, not only that He died for the world, but that He died for us individually. We must appropriate to ourselves the virtue of the atoning sacrifice. PP 277.1
“The hyssop used in sprinkling the blood was the symbol of purification, being thus employed in the cleansing of the leper and of those defiled by contact with the dead. In the psalmist's prayer also its significance is seen: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7. PP 277.2
“The lamb was to be prepared whole, not a bone of it being broken: so not a bone was to be broken of the Lamb of God, who was to die for us. John 19:36. Thus was also represented the completeness of Christ's sacrifice. PP 277.3
“The flesh was to be eaten. It is not enough even that we believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin; we must by faith be constantly receiving spiritual strength and nourishment from Him through His word. Said Christ, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life.” John 6:53, 54. And to explain His meaning He said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Verse 63. Jesus accepted His Father's law, wrought out its principles in His life, manifested its spirit, and showed its beneficent power in the heart. Says John, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must receive and assimilate the word of God so that it shall become the motive power of life and action. By the power of Christ they must be changed into His likeness, and reflect the divine attributes. They must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, or there is no life in them. The spirit and work of Christ must become the spirit and work of His disciples. PP 277.4
“The lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs, as pointing back to the bitterness of the bondage in Egypt. So when we feed upon Christ, it should be with contrition of heart, because of our sins. The use of unleavened bread also was significant. It was expressly enjoined in the law of the Passover, and as strictly observed by the Jews in their practice, that no leaven should be found in their houses during the feast. In like manner the leaven of sin must be put away from all who would receive life and nourishment from Christ. So Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump.... For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8.” PP 278.1
星期三，7月30日
传承火炬
阅读出埃及记12:24–28。这段经文强调了什么重要的信息？
Read Exodus 12:24–28. What important point was being made here?
“为了纪念这次伟大的拯救，以色列人要在往后的每一代中每年守一次节。“这日你们要记念，要守为耶和华的节，作为你们世世代代永远的定例。”在他们以后每年守节的时候，要向儿女述说这次伟大的救赎经历，正如摩西所吩咐的：‘你们要说，这是耶和华逾越节的祭，是因耶和华越过以色列人在埃及的房屋，击杀埃及人，救了我们的家。’”（《先祖与先知》274.3）
“摩西关于逾越节的吩咐意义深远，对今日时代的父母与儿女同样适用……（《论家庭》324.2）
“父亲要作为家庭的祭司；若父亲去世，则由家中长子执行这庄严的洒血仪式。这象征了每个家庭都应做的工作。父母应把儿女聚集在家中，把基督呈现在他们面前，作为他们的逾越节。父亲应将家中每一个成员奉献给上帝，履行那象征逾越节意义的职责。把这项神圣的责任交给别人是极其危险的。”（《论家庭》324.3）
“让基督徒父母下定决心忠于上帝，把儿女带到家中，与他们一同在门框上洒血，象征唯有基督能遮蔽并拯救，使那毁灭的天使越过这被珍视的家庭圈。让世人看到，有一种超越人类的力量正在家庭中运行。让父母与上帝保持活泼的联系，站在基督一边，并借着祂的恩典表明，父母的影响力可以成就多么大的善事。”（《论家庭》324.4）
“In commemoration of this great deliverance a feast was to be observed yearly by the people of Israel in all future generations. “This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.” As they should keep the feast in future years, they were to repeat to their children the story of this great deliverance, as Moses bade them: ‘Ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.’ PP 274.3
“The directions that Moses gave concerning the Passover feast are full of significance, and have an application to parents and children in this age of the world.... AH 324.2
“The father was to act as the priest of the household, and if the father was dead, the eldest son living was to perform this solemn act of sprinkling the doorpost with blood. This is a symbol of the work to be done in every family. Parents are to gather their children into the home and to present Christ before them as their Passover. The father is to dedicate every inmate of his home to God and to do a work that is represented by the feast of the Passover. It is perilous to leave this solemn duty in the hands of others.33 AH 324.3
“Let Christian parents resolve that they will be loyal to God, and let them gather their children into their homes with them and strike the doorpost with blood, representing Christ as the only One who can shield and save, that the destroying angel may pass over the cherished circle of the household. Let the world see that a more than human influence is at work in the home. Let parents maintain a vital connection with God, set themselves on Christ's side, and show by His grace what great good may be accomplished through parental agency.34” AH 324.4
星期四，7月31日
神圣的审判
阅读出埃及记12:29–30，上帝如何击杀埃及地所有头生的？上帝为什么特别针对“头生的”？（另见希伯来书11:28）
Read Exodus 12:29, 30 on how God struck down the firstborn in Egypt. Why did God focus on the firstborn? (See also Heb. 11:28.)
“以色列人遵守了上帝所给的指示。他们迅速而秘密地为离开作好准备。家人聚集在一起，宰杀逾越节的羊羔，用火烤熟，准备好无酵饼和苦菜。家庭的父亲和祭司在门框上洒上血，然后带着全家进入屋内。他们在急促而寂静中吃了逾越节的羊羔。人们心怀敬畏地祷告和守夜，从壮年长子到年幼孩童，心中都因莫名的惧怕而怦怦直跳。父母紧抱着他们所爱的头生子，想着这晚将要降下的可怕打击。但以色列人的住处没有一户被死亡的使者拜访。血的记号——即救主保护的标记——在他们门上，灭命者就没有进入。”（《先祖与先知》279.3）
“到了半夜，‘埃及遍地都有大哀号，因为没有一家不死一个人的。’那地所有的头生者，“从坐宝座的法老的长子，到囚在监里的人的长子，以及一切头生的牲畜”都被灭命者击杀。在整个埃及疆域，每个家庭引以为傲的头生者都被击倒了。哀哭与痛号的声音充满空气。王与朝臣们脸色惨白、四肢颤抖，面对这难以抵挡的恐怖景象都惊呆了。法老想起自己曾大言不惭地说：‘耶和华是谁，使我听他的话，容以色列人去？我不认识耶和华，也不容以色列人去。’如今，他那向天挑战的骄傲被压在尘埃中。他‘夜间召了摩西、亚伦来，说：“起来！连你们带以色列人，从我民中出去，照你们所说的去事奉耶和华吧！也要带着你们的羊群牛群，照你们所说的都带去……并要为我祝福。”’王的臣仆和埃及百姓也请求以色列人赶紧离开这地，因为他们说：“我们都要死了。”（《先祖与先知》279.4）
“The Israelites obeyed the directions that God had given. Swiftly and secretly they made their preparations for departure. Their families were gathered, the paschal lamb slain, the flesh roasted with fire, the unleavened bread and bitter herbs prepared. The father and priest of the household sprinkled the blood upon the doorpost, and joined his family within the dwelling. In haste and silence the paschal lamb was eaten. In awe the people prayed and watched, the heart of the eldest born, from the strong man down to the little child, throbbing with indefinable dread. Fathers and mothers clasped in their arms their loved first-born as they thought of the fearful stroke that was to fall that night. But no dwelling of Israel was visited by the death-dealing angel. The sign of blood—the sign of a Saviour's protection—was on their doors, and the destroyer entered not. PP 279.3
“At midnight “there was a great cry in Egypt: for there was not a house where there was not one dead.” All the first-born in the land, “from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle” had been smitten by the destroyer. Throughout the vast realm of Egypt the pride of every household had been laid low. The shrieks and wails of the mourners filled the air. King and courtiers, with blanched faces and trembling limbs, stood aghast at the overmastering horror. Pharaoh remembered how he had once exclaimed, “Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.” Now, his heaven-daring pride humbled in the dust, he “called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said.... And be gone; and bless me also.” The royal counselors also and the people entreated the Israelites to depart ‘out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.’” PP 279.4
“When the demand for Israel's release had been first presented to the king of Egypt, the warning of the most terrible of the plagues had been given. Moses was directed to say to Pharaoh, “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My first-born: and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.” Exodus 4:22, 23. Though despised by the Egyptians, the Israelites had been honored by God, in that they were singled out to be the depositaries of His law. In the special blessings and privileges accorded them, they had pre-eminence among the nations, as the first-born son had among brothers. PP 273.1
星期五，8月1日
进一步思考
“埃及最初所受到的审判警告，如今成为最后要降下的灾祸。上帝满有忍耐，也充满怜悯。他温柔地看顾照祂形象所造的人类。倘若他们失去庄稼、牛羊时就悔改，那么孩子们就不会遭灾。但这个国家顽固地抵挡神的命令，如今终极一击即将落下。”（《先祖与先知》273.2）
“当上帝即将击杀埃及所有头生之人时，祂吩咐以色列人把他们的儿女从埃及人中间带进自己的家中，并把门框上涂上血，好使灭命的天使看见血迹，就越过他们的房屋。这是父母的责任，要把儿女聚集归在家中。这就是你的责任，我的责任，也是每一位相信真理的母亲的责任。天使将要在所有远离罪恶与罪人的人额上作记号，而那灭命的天使要随后而至，无论老幼都将彻底被杀灭。”（《证言》卷五 505.2）
“The judgment of which Egypt had first been warned, was to be the last visited. God is long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. He has a tender care for the beings formed in His image. If the loss of their harvests and their flocks and herds had brought Egypt to repentance, the children would not have been smitten; but the nation had stubbornly resisted the divine command, and now the final blow was about to fall.” PP 273.2
“When God was about to smite the first-born of Egypt, He commanded the Israelites to gather their children from among the Egyptians into their own dwellings and strike their door posts with blood, that the destroying angel might see it and pass over their homes. It was the work of parents to gather in their children. This is your work, this is my work, and the work of every mother who believes the truth. The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” 5T 505.2