We will begin this lesson in Exodus 13:1 “And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying,” Exodus 13:2 “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn,
whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of
man and of beast: it [is] mine.”
Here, we see an unusual statement about the firstborn being
sanctified (set aside) for the Lord. This, probably, meant the first
male child although the word translated “man”, here, means mankind. We
know that the firstborn in Egypt were killed as the tenth plague
against Egypt by God. We, also, know that this was not limited to
people, but to animals, as well. Here, again, we see the firstborn of
animals set aside for God, as well. We will see, when the law was given
on the way to the Holy Land, where God sets up the Levitical tribe to
take the place of the firstborn of every family.
Exodus 13:3 “And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day,
in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by
strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this [place]: there
shall no leavened bread be eaten.”
Moses was God’s spokesman to these people. The messages that Moses
gave them was from God. This, probably, was said at the end of the first
day’s journey. He was saying, “Now that we are on our way, don’t forget
that it was God that brought you out.” Moses wanted them to be thankful
to God alone for their deliverance. Indirectly, Moses was reminding them
to lay the gods of Egypt down, and be true to the one true God that
overcame all of the false religions, and brought them out with power.
This eating of unleavened bread, to me, means “clean your life up, and
stay free from sin”. “Leaven” is symbolic of sin. God was trying to
impress them not to have sin in their lives.
Exodus 13:4 “This day came ye out in the month Abib.”
“Abib” means tender, young, green, or tender green ears of corn.
This is just telling us what time of year this was. Abib would be the
first month on the Jewish Calendar. It would be in early spring. Our
month of April is the same month.
Exodus 13:5 “And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into
the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and
the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to
give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep
this service in this month.”
Here, we see a reassurance that God was going to remove the families
in this promised land, and that the Israelites would truly inherit this
land, and that it would be a productive land of milk and honey.
Exodus 13:6 “Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in
the seventh day [shall be] a feast to the LORD.”
“Seven”, as we have mentioned so many times before, seems to show
spiritual completeness. Here we see, again, that, that was truly what it
indicated. This seventh day was like a very special holiday of no work,
only worship. The first and the seventh day of this time was to be an
especially holy day.
Exodus 13:7 “Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there
shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be
leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.”
Some believe that every word of the Bible must be taken literally
and that we should not attempt to see into the spiritual, but I
believe if we look at the spiritual, we will find a hidden treasure.
This was spoken, again, to emphasize the importance of these people of
God not having leaven inside of them, or not to even find leaven in
their homes. Here, again, the seven days, I believe, just show that, if
we are to please God, we will keep sin (leaven) out of our personal life
and we will even keep it out of our homes. Jesus is coming back for a
chaste virgin without spot or wrinkle. Jesus is not coming back for
those who are practicing sin as a way of life, and I believe that is
the spiritual message we are to receive, not only in this verse, but in
this whole chapter. It was repeated, because it was important.
Exodus 13:8 “And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying,
[This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I
came forth out of Egypt.”
We see that it was the obligation of the father to tell his son about
God. This should be passed from one generation to the next. Not only
were they to teach the next generation to observe this feast, but they
were to teach them why they were observing this time. Unless parents
take the time to teach the next generation, the feast would be
overlooked, and it would greatly displease God.
Exodus 13:9 “And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine
hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may
be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out
of Egypt.”
Many believe that this was speaking of the Phylacteries (little
box of Scriptures) that the Hebrews wore on their forehead, or on their
arm. I really believe that it means, to keep it in your mind, and before
you at all times. If it is in your mind and heart, it will be in your
mouth. Phylacteries were strips of parchments with Scriptures written
on them and carried in little boxes in the center of the foreheads and
the left arms. The benediction used when putting these on is, “Blessed
art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us
with the commandments and enjoined us to put on phylacteries”. You
see, if you are looking at the Bible from the literal standpoint, we
might even do this today. I believe what is being said in this, is keep
the teachings of God in your mind and in your heart, or constantly
before you. God delivered the Israelites (nothing they did brought
them out). God delivers the Christians through grace, nothing we do
saves us.
Exodus 13:10 “Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his
season from year to year.”
This was not something to take casually. It must be remembered
every year.
Exodus 13:11 “And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee
into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy
fathers, and shall give it thee,” Exodus 13:12 “That thou shalt set
apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling
that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males [shall be] the
LORD’S.”
We see here, again, that the firstborn male child and animal were
to be set aside for the Lord. This would be the responsibility of the
father of the family, to see that this was done.
Exodus 13:13 “And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem
with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his
neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou
redeem.”
We see the beast of burden (ass) was to be redeemed, so it could
carry their goods. The lamb here, too, was the sacrifice. A firstborn
son, later on would be redeemed with five shekels of the sanctuary. If
the ass was not redeemed for use as a beast of burden, then it was to
be killed. The owner was not to profit from the firstborn ass. Killing
him cost the owner.
Exodus 13:14 “And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time
to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By
strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of
bondage:”
When their sons asked why they keep this? All they were to say was,
“Give God the glory for it all”.
Exodus 13:15 “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let
us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both
the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I
sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but
all the firstborn of my children I redeem.”
Here, we see the entire reason for sacrificing the firstborn of
all the animals to God was in remembrance of God sparing the firstborn
of the Israelites on the night all the firstborn of Egypt were slain.
The reason the Hebrew firstborn children were to be redeemed (bought
back) was because they, too, belonged to God. God did not require the
Hebrews to sacrifice the firstborn children, but to redeem them from
the law.
Jesus is the firstborn of God, Jesus redeemed us from the curse
of the law.
Exodus 13:16 “And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and
for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD
brought us forth out of Egypt.
One more time, they were told to keep reminding themselves that
God brought them out. They must keep the remembrance in their minds and
hearts.
Exodus 13:17 “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the
people go, that God led them not [through] the way of the land of the
Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, Lest peradventure
the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:”
God knew the Philistines would put up a fight, and He knew these
people were so whipped down from their bondage in Egypt, that they were
not ready to fight a battle, so He sent them the long way. Egypt was
bad, but they were not ready for war. They might have given up, and gone
back to Egypt. Their fight was gone.
Exodus 13:18 “But God led the people about, [through] the way of
the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up
harnessed out of the land of Egypt.”
Every Christian on the way to the promised land must cross the
wilderness first. This would be a time of real testing. A time to get
them separated into the true followers of God from those who were
following for what they could get. Even though God brought them the
long way, it was still less dangerous than open war with the
Philistines. God brought them out this way to teach them His ways.
“Harnessed” just means that they moved out orderly in five smaller
groups as an army would move. The smaller groups, they would have to
overcome in the desert, would be conditioning them.
Exodus 13:19 “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he
had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely
visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”
We remember that, Joseph took Jacob’s body and buried it in the
cave of Machpelah. Both Jacob and Joseph never stopped believing that
their ancestors would receive the promised land, as God had promised.
Their faith in this, caused Joseph to make them swear to take his
bones, so that he, too, might receive the promised land.
Exodus 13:20 “And they took their journey from Succoth, and
encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.”
These were wilderness areas passed through by the Israelites.
Exodus 13:21 “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of
a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to
give them light; to go by day and night:”
We saw earlier in this chapter, that God, Himself, would lead them.
God was their Commander and Chief. Probably, because of the heat of the
desert, and probably, because of their rush to get out of Egypt, they
moved by day and night.
This “cloud” and this “fire” were the presence of God. God is a
consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 “For our God [is] a consuming fire.”
Somehow, in this pillar of a cloud and pillar of fire dwelt the
presence of Jehovah. They were to look to Him, and no other for where
to go and what to do, and so are we to look to Him. This presence for
the Christians is spoken of in Isaiah 4:5 “And the LORD will create
upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a
cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night:
for upon all the glory [shall be] a defence.” Mount Zion is the
church. God is the Protector and Director of the church.
Exodus 13:22 “He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor
the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people.”
God never leaves us. We may leave Him, but He never leaves us.
God will lead us and guide us,as long as we follow Him. I believe this
is the indication here.