Exodus 13 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Exodus 13:1-16

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.’

3 Then Moses said to the people, ‘Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4 Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. 5 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites – the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey – you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6 for seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. 7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8 On that day tell your son, “I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

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 ancestors, 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 the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. 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.’

A. Find Out:

1. Who were to be consecrated? v.1
2. What were they to commemorate? v.3
3. When were they to observe the ceremony in the future? v.5
4. What were they to eat for 7 days? v.6,7
5. What would it do for them each year? v.8,9
6. Who were they to redeem (or buy back)? v.13
7. Of what was that to remind them? v.14-16

B. Think:

1. Summarise what the nation of Israel is to remember in the years to come.
2. What two ways were they to do this?
3. Why do you think the Lord was instigating these things?

C. Comment:

      As Moses leads Israel out of Egypt the Lord instructs him to consecrate or set apart as special, all the first-born children and animals in their midst. It is as if He is saying “Remember they all owe their lives to me”, for in Egypt that night there had been dead bodies in every family, either a child in the homes of the Egyptians or a lamb in the homes of the Israelites. Jesus is our “lamb” (John 1:29 / Revelation 5:6-10), who died in our place so that God’s hand of judgement would “Pass-over” us without harming us. Thus we who believe in him, do not have to fear his judgement.

     Moses also instructed that they remember each year, this departure by a week of eating bread without yeast (yeast being a picture in the Bible of sin or disobedience to God). We need reminders constantly of God’s redemption through Jesus. We are prone to forget so easily! That is why Jesus instigated Communion (eg. Luke 22:15-20) to remind us of his death that delivers us from sin and from Satan’s dominion (Colossians 1:13).

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord Jesus that he died in your place to take your sin, guilt, shame and punishment.
2. Thank Him for the freedom that gives you today!

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

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 towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites 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.’

20 After leaving Sukkoth 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.

A. Find Out:    

1. Why didn’t the Lord lead them through Philistine country? v.17
2. So which way did they go? v.18
3. Why did Moses take Joseph’s bones with him? v.19
4. How did God lead them in the day time? v.21a
5. How did He lead them at night? v.21b
6. Where were the signs of his leading? v.22

B. Think:

1. What does this passage teach us about the Lord?
2. What does it teach us about Moses?
3. Why was it apparently necessary to have guidance after dark?

C. Comment:

     We see, in this passage, the Lord leading His people like a shepherd, and like a shepherd He understands His sheep and knows that if they come against opposition too early, they will simply turn round and go back! The Lord UNDERSTANDS us. Therefore, as a shepherd, He leads them by the safer, longer route to the Promised Land. That may involve some natural difficulties, as we’ll see, but they can be more easily overcome. We need to remember that in the chapters ahead!

      Moses, in his righteousness, remembers the oath his fathers had sworn to Joseph and so does what they promised with his bones and takes them along. As they travel, the Lord gives very clear and distinct signs to follow, a PILLAR OF CLOUD and FIRE. It appears that there would be times when they would want to continue on after dark, presumably when the Lord knew that a few miles on would be water or a resting place. With such obvious signs for guidance, it is surprising that they should ever doubt – but they did! Perhaps we, with all our helps, who also fail in faith, should not throw the first stone!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that we have the Bible and His Holy Spirit to guide us today.
2. Thank the Lord that He knows what He has for us ahead (Eph 2:10b). Rest in that knowledge.