Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem because of an order from the Roman emperor that a census, or record, of all people be taken in their hometown. After traveling on a donkey for several days, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and were told there were no places to stay. The inns were full. Seeing that Mary was due to give birth at any moment, an inn owner told Joseph they could stay in his stable. Mary went into labour, and Jesus was born in the stable. The only place for the sleeping baby to rest was most likely in the animals’ trough, known as the manger. During this time, an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. The angel told them the good news of the birth of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. The shepherds immediately went to find baby Jesus, who the angels told them they would find sleeping in the manger. Then they ran off to share the good news with everyone.
God sent Moses to Pharaoh to command him to set God’s people free. Pharaoh opposed God’s request and so God sent 10 plagues of increasing severity to convince Pharaoh. The plagues were: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of the firstborn sons of every household. It is only after the last plague that Pharaoh agrees to set the Israelites free. During the final plague, God gave the Israelites very specific instructions about what they needed to do so that the angel of death would ‘pass over’ their houses and their babies wouldn’t die. Ever since, the Jewish people have celebrated the Passover, when the blood of a lamb smeared on their doors saved them from death. After this Pharoah releases the Israelites and an estimated two million men, women and children cross the Red Sea into the Sinai Peninsula.
Bible story resource about the prophet Jonah being sent to Nineveh.