“In the future, your children will ask why you do this. They will say, ‘What does all this mean?’ And you will answer, ‘The Lord used his great power to save us from Egypt. We were slaves in that place. But the Lord led us out and brought us here.
This is like a string tied on your hand. And it is like a sign in front of your eyes. [89] It helps you remember that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his great power.”
Pharaoh made the people leave Egypt. The Lord did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road {by the sea} is the shortest way, but the Lord said, “{If the people go that way} they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.”
Moses said to the people, “Remember this day. You were slaves in Egypt. But on this day the Lord used his great power and made you free. You must not eat bread with yeast.
“This holiday will help you remember—it will be like a string tied on your hand. It will be like a sign before your eyes. [83] This holiday will help you remember the Lord’s teachings. It will help you remember that the Lord used his great power to take you out of Egypt.