Before obtaining freedom, the bondmen must show their faith in the great deliverance about to be accomplished. The token of blood must be placed upon their houses, and they must separate themselves and their families from the Egyptians, and gather within their own dwellings. Had the Israelites disregarded in any particular the directions given them, had they neglected to separate their children from the Egyptians, had they slain the lamb, but failed to strike the doorpost with blood, or had any gone out of their houses, they would not have been secure. They might have honestly believed that they had done all that was necessary, but their sincerity would not have saved them. All who failed to heed the Lord's directions would lose their first-born by the hand of the destroyer. 279

Inden trællene kunne opnå friheden, måtte de vise deres tro på den forestående befrielse. Blodets tegn skulle anbringes på deres huse og både de selv og deres familier skulle skille sig ud fra ægypterne og samles i deres egne boliger. Hvis israelitterne på noget punkt havde tilsidesat den vejledning, de havde fået, f. eks. ved at undlade at skille deres børn ud fra ægypterne, ved ikke at stryge blodet på dørstolperne, når de havde slagtet lammet eller ved at gå ud af deres huse, ville de ikke være blevet reddet. Det kunne godt tænkes, at nogle ærligt mente at de havde gjort alt, hvad der var nødvendigt; men deres oprigtighed ville ikke have frelst dem. Alle, der ikke fulgte Herrens vejledning, ville miste deres førstefødte, når ødelæggeren kom.