Exodus 13:11-22 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 13:11-22. Let’s go!
Exodus 13:11-16 (NIV)
11 “After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers,
12 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.
13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’
16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
On verses 11-16: Here the LORD reiterates that every firstborn belongs to Him, whether it’s a firstborn child or the firstborn male among one’s livestock. To get that firstborn back, an Israelite would need to redeem (i.e. buy back) that firstborn by sacrificing something in the firstborn’s place. This system of redeeming (buying back) the firstborn was to be an obvious reminder (“like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead”) of how the Lord saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt with the death of Egypt’s firstborn. But this system of redeeming (buying back) the firstborn with the life of something else was also pointing forward to the day that God would redeem us by giving up His Son Jesus Christ. That is why Paul would later say to the Christians in Corinth: “you are not your own; were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a). It is because you and I have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb.
Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
On verses 17-18: The LORD did not lead the Israelites on the road through Philistine country, even though it was shorter, because He knew the Israelites would be tempted to go back to Egypt if they faced the Philistines in battle.
What can we learn from this? The shortest route is not always the best route, especially when that shorter route is full of unnecessary dangers and temptations. Also, God is our shepherd who goes out of His way to lead us out of and away from situations that He knows we cannot handle.
Exodus 13:19 (NIV)
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
On verse 19: As the Israelites leave Egypt, Moses honours a wish which Joseph made centuries ago: he takes Joseph’s bones with him. Imagine that scene. The man of God who first led the Israelites into Egypt (Joseph) is being carried by the man of God who is now leading the Israelites out of Egypt (Moses).
What can we learn from this? No matter where God takes you, like Moses, remember to honour your God-given leaders. Whether we know it or not, every day our faith stands on the shoulders of leaders who with God’s help blazed a trail years, decades or even centuries before us so that we could know God and experience His blessing in our lives. One day, if you have the opportunity to return the favour and carry your God-given leaders on your back, do it and honour them that way.
Exodus 13:20-22 (NIV)
20 After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
On verses 20-22: The LORD uses a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide the Israelites. That pillar, whether of cloud or of fire, never left its place in front of the people (v22). Likewise, you’ll never go to any place that God is not already at. Day and night the LORD is committed to going ahead of you and leading the way for you. Day and night you can depend on His presence.
Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming me, for buying me back with the blood of the Lamb, Your Son Jesus. Thank You for always leading me in the way I should go and protecting me from situations I would not be able to handle. Thank You that day and night I can depend on Your presence. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
