This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available for $7.50.
EXODUS
CHAPTER 13
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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 is a new requirement which God establishes for all Israelites.
The "sanctifying" of the first-born makes the Passover unforgettable.
Sanctify means to consecrate, or set aside; but also means to REDEEM.
From this time onward, each Jewish parent must pay a price for the
first-born of their children, and of their animals.
Why? The first-born is the hope and strength of the family. Thus,
God lays claim to that one so that the family must acknowledge that
all children are a gift from God, and that we are nothing without
God's help. The family is recognizing God by redeeming the first-born.
God is a loving God, and will not stand for murder of innocent human
beings. But God is a just and holy God, and we cannot birth holy children.
Therefore, we must pay the price for them, because they are naturally
polluted by sin. This redeeming, by the way, has not brought
salvation to the ones redeemed. It was simply a symbol of trust and
thanksgiving for God's redeeming grace.
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. 4 This day came ye out in the month Abib. 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. 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 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. 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. 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. 10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. 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,
Moses again instructs the Israelites to remember that they must ALWAYS
observe Passover and the week of unleavened bread. Notice in verses 8-9 the
reasons.
1. To witness to the next generations of God's salvation.
2. To be a "sign" - a sign tells what has been tested.
3. To be a "memorial" - to recall the love and power of God.
4. To be a "law in thy mouth" - when we speak what God has done, it is a
testimony of His truth.
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. 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. 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: 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. 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.
ALL the first-born of the animals had to be "redeemed," but the first-born
males were to be sacrificed. If the first-born male was of an "unclean" animal
it was to be redeemed - not sacrificed.
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: 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.
Now we come back to the story of their flight from Egypt.
Notice that God didn't allow them to go North by West, even though that
would have been the shorter route.
Notice also that they "went out harnessed." They were no longer
slaves in Egypt; but they were saved and freed by the miraculous intervention
of God. Now they are servants to Him!
Friend, we are saved to be free to SERVE God. Our sinful corruption would
not allow us to serve God otherwise. We are not saved simply to be free.
We are saved from sin and freed to serve God.
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. 20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
God honored Joseph's request to not be buried in Egypt. Though Joseph had lived
in Egypt about 90 years of his life, his hope was in a land that
was promised by God.
(Wouldn't it be wonderful if our conviction and faith in God were so strong that
we spoke from the grave FOUR HUNDRED YEARS LATER!)
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: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
God's presence is made known two ways during this special time.
He is shown by the "pillar of cloud," and by the "pillar of fire."
These are visible signs of God's presence to the Israelites as they
travel. They are also visible signs to other people during this time.
Think about that! Is God's presence visible in your life to other people?
His presence was shown to them to remind them of His closeness, and
that HE was leading them. His visible presence was also a sign to others
that God Himself was protecting and providing for His people.
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.