Many times we miss them. I am not sure why we do, but we do. Maybe it’s because we are too busy, maybe it’s because we don’t want to take the time to discuss it all, or maybe we don’t even really know, but we miss our defining moments with others that God has placed inour circle. When I taught eighth grade, I began my classes with what I called the “Defining Moment.” This was our bell-ringer for the day and it could include quotes to reflect on, essential vocabulary to learn, or reflection from previous classes or assignments. Also, during my classes I would look for “teaching moments.” These were moments that sometimes had nothing to do with the content being covered that day, but could teach some type of character lesson or life lesson.
In Exodus, God sent plagues to encourage Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave their captivity. The final plague was to be the death of the firstborn. God informed the Israelites of the instructions to protect them from this plague as He instituted the first Passover. In Exodus 12:24-27, Moses is telling the elders what God has instructed and how they are to continue to observe this yearly.
“‘Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 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.’ When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.”
The first Passover was an amazing display of God’s grace and really a foretelling of the ultimate Passover Lamb. Moses knew, though, that these people would need to spend time explaining to their children what this event stood for and what it represented. The children would see the ritual in the future, but they wouldn’t know the intensity of that first Passover night. These children would need to hear from their parents’ lips of the grace, faithfulness, and provision of God through this Passover.
As Christians, when we go through the motions without explanation, our lives can become a ritual or religion and the relationship is lost. It is our responsibility to take the time for these “defining moments” where we can explain the reason behind the ritual. I am as guilty as anyone of not taking the time to sit down and explain the true meaning behind things or taking advantage of those teaching moments. Don’t assume that others will understand the importance of why you do what you do. Throughout the Old Testament, it is commanded over and over again, whether during the Passover, the 12 stones, or the instructions in Deuteronomy, that parents are responsible for providing the knowledge and reasoning behind the rituals. Take advantage of that next moment and make conversation intentional regarding your faith.
Last Updated on September 2, 2024
Thank you for sharing.