Exodus 13

From Theologica

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (13:1 - 13:10) Observation - 13:1-2 - Speaking to MOses, God says, "Sanctify (set apart) to Me every firstborn." - The firstborn of every womb among the sons of Isarel - Both man and beast 13:3 - Speaking to the people, Moses says - Remember this day (passover) - It is the day you went out from Egypt - Out of slavery - The Lord brought you out - Nothing leavened shall be eaten 13:4 - On this day (14th [12:18]) in the month of Abib (the 1st month [called Nisan after Babylon]) - You are going forth on this day 13:5 - When the Lord brings you into the promised land - The promised land is host to the following peoples (Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Hivite, Jebusite) - God swore this land to your fathers to give to you [the people of Israel] - This land is a land rich with wealth and is very fertile - You are to observe this rite when you have taken the promised land. 13:6 - the people are to eat unleavened bread for seven days (beginning on the 14th [technically 15th]) - on the seventh day there is to be a feast to the Lord 13:7 - For all seven days, only unleavened bread is to be eaten - Nothing leavened is to even be seen among you - Not even within the borders of the people 13:8 - on that day (what day? passover) you are to teach your son (children) - We celebrate this day because of what the Lord did for Israel when He brought them out of Egypt 13:9 - It (Passover) is to serve as a sign to you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead - So that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth 13:10 - You shall keep this ordinance, yearly, at its appointed time

Interpretation - - Are they supposed to observe the rite between the time of exodus and entrance into the promised land? - Key verse 13:9 - Passover is to serve as a sign - It is to be a sign which is always before you (I think the hand and forehead reference is just a figure of speach) - Why? So that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth (continually be spoken of) - The continual and repeated focus on passover (12:1-12:28; 12:42-12:50; 13:1-13:10) - Passover is to be celebrated for the purpose of remembrance; like a memorial - Being mindful of what God has done - in this case remembering how He freed Israel - should lead to speaking about Him and although its not explicitly stated, drawing a person closer to Him in their relationship with Him.

Application - - What has God done in my life that I should be mindful of and remember to bring me closer to Him? - Salvation - My children - My wife - My career - My stuff - My knowledge of Him - and on and on and on

Consecration of Firstborns (13:11 - 13:16) Observation - 13:11 - When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanite - Not if, but when - When He does this, He will be fulfilling His promise to your fathers. - When He does this, He is giving you the land 13:12 - When you come into the land, you are to devote to the Lord every firstborn - Both of man and animal - The males belong to the Lord 13:13 - Firstborn of donkeys are to be redeemed with a lamb - If the donkey is not redeemed it is to have its neck broken - Every firstborn of man is also to be redeemed with a lamb 13:14 - Why? - When your sons/children ask why this is being done - the response is to be... - It is because the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt - He did it with power - He delivered Israel from slavery 13:15 - When Pharaoh was stubborn about freeing Israel - The Lord slew every firstborn (man and beast) of Egypt - Therefore, the firstborns are to be devoted to the Lord - The firstborn of men are to be redeemed 13:16 - The consecration of the firstborn is to serve as a sign; to always be before you - To bring to remembrance the fact that God brought Israel out of Egypt with great power

Interpretation - - Why redeem donkeys? - What is the value of the firstborn? - Why do the firstborn of men need to be redeemed? - Jesus was redeemed - Heh. The redeemer was redeemed - So the purpose of this is discovered in v. 16: it is to serve as a sign - Is this a permanent statute? - Animals are sacrificed, but men are redeemed - Is this to bring into remembrance both the life and the death that were experienced on the first Passover? - How does this play with Jesus? - We still commemorate his death with communion - Why not continual sacrifices?

Application -

God Leads Israel (13:17 - 13:22) Observation - 13:17 - After Pharaoh had let the people go - God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines - That way was nearer - God's reasoning: The people might change their minds when they see war 13:18 - God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea - Israel left Egypt in "Martial Array" (soldierly, warlike) arrangement 13:19 - Moses made sure to bring Joseph's remains with them - Joseph made the sons of Israel swear to carry "[his] bones" our of Egypt 13:20 - They set out from Succoth - They camped at Etham which is on the edge of the wilderness 13:21 - The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. - He did this to lead them in the direction they were to go. - It allowed them to travel both day and night. 13:22 - The pillars, both of cloud and fire, were not taken away - They were always before the people

Interpretation - - what is "the way of the land of the Philistines"? - It looks like it may be/have been a path which went along the Mediterranean - God let Israel in a way they could handle. He pushed them, but did not push too hard. - 13:18 = What is "the way of the wilderness"?

Application -