In Exodus chapter 13, God begins to reveal Himself to the Israelites again, after their 430 years in captivity. He begins by telling Moses, “Consecrate for me the first-born male. The first-born offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, whether man or animal“. To consecrate means to set it apart for God’s purposes. The first-born implies a preciousness, there are no others and may be none to follow. God does not desire the leftovers in our lives, but the best part; this includes our time, our talent and even our finances. Moses then tells the people to, “commemorate this day, the day when you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord bought you out with a mighty hand“. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you should be able to point to a moment in time when you made that decision. We too are to “tell our sons” how God delivered us. It is to be “like a sign on your head” to help direct others. Our children will not know if we do not teach them, our society no longer holds to a Judeo-Christian world view. Moses explains that once they enter the Promised Land they must annually conduct the ceremony of the unleavened bread. Moses tells them, “when your sons ask ‘what does this mean?’, tell them.” 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to “always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence“. This is why we continue to study the Word of God.
Next, we are told that when the Israelites left Egypt, they did not go the most direct way. It would take them through the land of the Philistines and they were not yet strong enough to withstand attack; “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt“. “So God lead them around by the desert road toward the Red Sea“. How often we wonder why God is taking us in an unexpected direction. Even though they were “armed for battle” outwardly, their hearts were not yet ready. This is exactly what happens to us when we are new believers, we try to make all these outward changes, but until we are armed with the knowledge of truth, we are vulnerable. But our merciful God protects us; 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, “God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able“. This is why it is so important to find a church home where you can be taught the Word of God and protected in the fellowship of believers. Hebrews 10:25 is adamant, “not forsaking our own assembling together… but encouraging one another all the more“. Old or new, there is a need to learn or encourage someone else in the body of believers.
The chapter ends with a promise being fulfilled, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath…you must carry my bones with you from this place.” Joseph knew that their home was in the land Abraham owned in Canaan. We are also told an amazing thing, God lead the nation, “by day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud… by night in a pillar of fire“. He did not leave His place before His people. Yet even with this supernatural assurance of His presence, the people would doubt. We too will falter and fail, but Hebrews 10:23 exhorts, “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is Faithful“. Amen.