Exodus 13 reminds me of 7th grade. I was the lightest weight wrestler on the team, so when we burst out of the locker room into the gym for our match, I was in front. I remember being terrified that nobody was following me. Today’s lesson is that we need to be very careful who we follow. The chapter continues God’s instruction through Moses as the nation prepares to exit Egypt. The Lord repeats the critical details for Moses because Israel needs to learn a whole new pattern for life. Breaking free from bondage will not be easy for a people that have only known slavery. The first step was learning who is in charge: “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me.” To consecrate means to set apart for God’s purposes. This is an intentional act. We must choose to submit to God’s authority. Left to our own nature, our default is to seek selfish pleasure. The apostle Paul explains that the moment we accept Christ as Savior we change our allegiance: “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God… and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:22-23). The Lord told Moses: “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” In every sport we practice certain drills to teach muscle memory so we react without hesitation. Each component builds on the next. The Israelites must repeat the actions to make it stick: “When the Lord brings you into the land… He swore to your ancestors to give you… observe this ceremony… For seven days eat bread made without yeast.” Repetition is a teaching tool. “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips.” In the weight room there are often slogans on the walls to remind us that we are preparing for something greater ahead. We are building up for game day!
Athletes train for months before the season begins. This develops a discipline and regiment to carry over into the actual competition. Moses coached up the Israelites for endurance: “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites… as He promised on oath to you and your ancestors”. The Lord knows there will be many trials leading up to the Promised Land. He is focusing on the season after the wilderness. The goal is defeating the enemy. This will require trusting all the promises of God. “You are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.” Commitment always requires giving up something else of value. The first of everything holds great preciousness. The Lord adds a level of gravity to the command: “Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey… if you do not redeem it, break its neck.” Unclean animals were not fit for any sacrifice. He introduces the substitution of an acceptable sacrifice. Anyone unwilling to spar with a teammate to make them better is a jackass. Great teams do not need any useless members. From God’s perspective, the unredeemed have no place in the kingdom. Romans 12:1 makes it clear that because Jesus was an acceptable sacrifice and redeemed us: “In view of God’s mercy… offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”
The chapter closes with the essentials of team building. “God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.” They simply were not ready to fight together. Instead, God had them run laps by bringing them “around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.” They were given an example of trust: “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath.” Though Joseph was a great leader in Egypt, he was first a son of Israel. He was not left behind. Finally we see a tangible demonstration of God’s supernatural presence. “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them… and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” Experience is an excellent tutor. I think God knows we are easily turned away. His presence stood unchanging. The pillar never “left its place in front of the people.” Where are you on your spiritual journey? Even if your faith is weak please do not hesitate to gather together with teammates in Christ. He is faithful!