The pharaoh of Egypt had used up his chances. The Lord was going to take drastic measures to set His people free. He gave Moses instructions for the “passover,” including specific directions about how to eat the meal: “And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste” (Exodus 12:11).
Why did the Lord tell the Israelites to eat like they were in a hurry, even though there was time for a normal meal?
- Practically speaking, this was the evening before the destroying angel would kill the firstborn of every Egyptian family. Perhaps the Lord was helping His people get in the mindset of leaving soon. (See Doctrine and Covenants 12:51.)
- Symbolically speaking, the Lord often encourages us to “gird up [our] loins” (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:15, for example). It means being prepared. We never know when the Lord is going to need us, so we should try to be ready whenever the call comes.
Remember what the Lord said hundreds of years later about His Second Coming? “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). There are both physical and spiritual things we can do to prepare! Like the Israelites, we can get ready to follow our prophet anytime, anywhere.