Forever in God’s Family – Exodus 13-14

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.’” Exodus 13:1-2

The Lord struck dead the firstborns among people and animals of the Egyptians but preserved the firstborns of the Israelites, so in this sense, their living firstborns belonged to God.

Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Moses registered the firstborn who survived the night of death in Egypt. Jesus registered the firstborn when He obliterated the power of death.

In Matthew 27:50-53, after Jesus yielded up His spirit: the temple veil split in two, the earth quaked, rocks were split, graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. They came out of their graves after His resurrection and appeared to many in the holy city... perhaps referring to the heavenly Jerusalem – firstborn from the dead.

In Luke 23:43, while on the cross, Jesus said to the believer in Him next to Him, “Assuredly, I say to you, TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise.”

“And Moses said to the people: ‘Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, this is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt. It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.” Exodus 13:3-10

I repeat a comment here from my Exodus 11-12 article about unleavened bread. In Matthew 16:6 and Mark 8:15, Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of the leaven” of the Pharisees, Sadducees and of Herod. According to Jesus in Matthew 16:12, the leaven was false doctrine. God instituted the annual commemoration of Passover to keep their faith in Him pure.

The celebration of Passover was like a wedding ring between God and his people. A sign that they were in a committed relationship with each other. The celebration of Passover also served as an opportunity to teach their children the history of God’s relationship with them. The annual celebration of Passover was their own holiday. They did not need to join pagan festivals!

“And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So, it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, what is this? that you shall say to him, by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed 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 males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:11-16

The firstlings of their cattle were to be dedicated to God. Those of clean beasts — calves, lambs, and kids — if males, were to be sacrificed. The firstborn of their children were to be redeemed, and by no means sacrificed, as the Gentiles sacrificed their children to Moloch. The price of the redemption of the firstborn was fixed by the law (Numbers 18:16) at five shekels. We are redeemed were by the blood of Christ we, that we may be joined to the church of the firstborn. [Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary]

“Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’ So, God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.’ So, they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” Exodus 13:17-22

Matthew Henry Commentary says that the journey to the Promised Land would have only taken about 5-days if they had taken the main road from Egypt through the land of the Philistines, but they were slaves, freshly out of Egypt, and not ready for battle. The Philistines were fierce warriors. In the past, they had taken wells from their forefather Isaac. God knew what was best for them. Also, in Exodus 3:12, the Lord had told Moses to bring the people back to the mountain where he first saw the burning bush. It was a three day journey. Moses obeyed.

In Genesis 50:25-26, Joseph had commanded that his bones should be taken with God’s people when they left Egypt to eventually be buried in the Promised Land. His remains being with them was a visual reminder that he prophesied about this event, and God brought it to pass.

God gave the people a visible sign of His presence with them by day and night. He used the pillar to lead them. Both wind and fire are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

I thank God for the Holy Spirit in my life. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” The Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is God’s down payment on our salvation. He is the guarantee of our inheritance. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” I need this blessed assurance.

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are bewildered by the land. The wilderness has closed them in. Then, I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.’ And they did so.” Exodus 14:1-4

The Lord let Moses know ahead of time that he had not seen the last of Pharaoh.

A common experience to new believers in Christ is that the enemy will soon attack them in some shape or form to sabotage their faith in God. It is important for new believers to get in the Word and strengthen their faith. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Just as our body needs food and water to survive, our soul needs Word and Spirit to thrive. The Holy Spirit fellowships with us as we read the Word, pray and obey His guidance.

“Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?’ So, he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took 600 choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.” Exodus 14:5-8

It is a wonder that anyone would still follow this crazy king. Egypt was devastated. His 600 elite chariots were no match for God. Gambler Pharaoh wanted to bet the last of his chips on a win.

“So, the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So, they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then, they said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’” Exodus 14:9-14

Do congregations depend on the faith of their leader too much? Each Israelite should have had faith in God by now. God brought plagues on the Egyptians but spared them. The Egyptians had darkness for three days while the Hebrews had light. The Egyptians had fire and hail while the Hebrews had none. The crops and livestock of the Egyptians were decimated while the Hebrews lost none. The Egyptians lost their firstborns. Death did not strike the Hebrews with blood on their doorposts. God had been leading the Israelites by a cloud by day and by a fire by night. Why were they afraid? Why did they turn against Moses?

In any case, Moses calmed them down with words from God. Don’t be afraid. Stand still. See the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you. Hold your peace.

Once, after we felt authorities in China had made a serious move against us, we debated about leaving for safety’s sake. I asked the Lord to give me a Scripture to direct me. He gave me Exodus 14:13-14, saying that the enemy we saw that day, we would see no more. God fought for us. We stayed another 10 years and all was well.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So, I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then, the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.’” Exodus 14:15-18

The Lord said, “Go forward.” He lifted up his shepherd’s rod toward the sea.

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So, it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus, it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.” Exodus 14:19-20

The Lord closed the gate behind them with a pillar of a cloud. The Egyptians were in the dark again while the Hebrews enjoyed the light.

“Then, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So, the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty. And the Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.’ Then, the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.’ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So, the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. So, the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus, Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so, the people feared the Lord and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.” Exodus 14:21-31

The Red Sea slowly parted overnight as a wind blew on it. The Lord dried up the ground before His people as though rolling out the red carpet for them. Not so, for the Egyptians. He took off their chariot wheels. Then, He buried them at sea. Not one remained. The Israelites saw many of their dead bodies wash up along the seashore. Now, they feared and believed the Lord!

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Paul wrote, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Did the people realize these mighty miracles were meant to assure them that God counted them as His children?

Baptism symbolizes new birth. Just as a baby is born physically after the mother’s water breaks, so a new believer in Christ is seen to be reborn spiritually via his or her baptism ceremony.

God was saying to Israel that they no longer belonged to their former evil master. Egypt’s king objectified them. He treated them like objects to satisfy his demented behavior. Pharaoh symbolizes Satan. God set them free from him. God treated them as newborns into His family.

What about you and me? Have we considered all that God has done for us as clear indications that He loves us and has made us members of His family? That eventually, we too, will enter with others who have gone before us to be with our Heavenly Father?

In John 14:1-3, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

“Yes, Lord Jesus, I always want to be where You are. Amen! Thank You for making it happen!”