Exodus

Exodus 13:1-16

The Lord decreed the firstborn belonged to Him.  Consecration is the idea of setting something aside for a specific purpose, to render holy for God.  Consecration would later be associated with ritual purification; bathing, new clothing, and remaining undefiled by contact with unclean things.  The firstborn of every man and beast belonged to God.

The firstborn play an important role throughout the bible, a topic worthy of a study on its own.  They may have played the role of the priest of the family prior to the giving of the laws of Levitical priesthood.  The firstborn stand as a representative over the other offspring.  Christ is the firstborn of the dead, standing as representative to remaining offspring coming after Him.  All those born again fall under His Lordship. 

What right does God have to make this decree?  He is informing Pharaoh, Egypt and all the world of that very thing.  He is the sovereign over all of creation, every man, woman and child as well as the cattle on every hill.  His sovereignty is proven and exhibited by the work of His mighty hand.  This is not to be forgotten!

The command is to commemorate the day of Exodus.  They were to never forget what happened that day and why.  From the days of oppression, bondage and hopelessness they were delivered by the only source of hope.  They were redeemed, brought out and would be delivered to the promise in fulfillment of the covenant promise.  Attached to the Passover would be this Feast of Unleavened Bread.  When they celebrate this, they are to tell their children why.  The observance would be like a sign on their hand and a reminder on their forehead that this law was to be talked about.  The Jews took this very literally and put little boxes (phylacteries) on their hands and foreheads with scriptures in them.  There is a foretaste of the shema that we'll see in Deuteronomy 6.

When they came into the land and made their homes there, they were not to forget this precept.  They were to give over every firstborn.  That firstborn was to be offered or it could be redeemed with a lamb.  The firstborn of Egypt were killed, standing on their own righteousness, apart from God, yet still His possession.  The firstborn of Israel were redeemed by the blood of the Passover Lamb.  This same thought is carried into the land.  Every firstborn was consecrated to the Lord.  The firstborn sons were then redeemed (bought back).  This was to be taught to the children, again as a sign and symbol to remember God's mighty hand. 

Exodus 13:17-18

The Lord chose the way, not the way any person would choose it.  He knew they were not ready to face their Philistine enemies yet.  That day would come, however.  He took them another route.  They went out of Egypt ready for battle.

The exodus from the life of bondage to sin is very much like this.  It's an adventure in which we shouldn't choose our path but let the Lord choose the way in His wisdom.  Choosing our own way may bring us to a battle that would bring defeat, discouragement and a temptation to return.  Go the way the Lord chooses and go ready for battle.  These are battles fought in the spirit, on our knees in prayer.  These are times of training in righteousness and sanctification.  The Lord trains us as spiritual warriors to lead others out of sin.  Then, he'll bring us to our battles when they need fought, and not before. 

Exodus 13:19-22

Moses made sure the bones of Joseph left Egypt.  This was a fulfillment of Joseph's prophecy that his bones would go home to the Promised land (Genesis 50:25).  We'll see this completed in Joshua 24:32.  The Lord used Joseph to bring them to Egypt as a family and Joseph delivered a promise they would go home.

They left Sukkoth, still in Goshen and moved on toward Etham, on the edge of the desert.  It's exact location is lost in time.  This marks the beginning of their journey.  From there, the Lord led them with a pillar of cloud by day.  A shield from the harsh sun and a guide through a hostile environment.  He was The Way.  Likewise, He was a pillar of fire by night, heat and light along the way, but also a guard.  He was The Light.  The pillar of cloud or fire was always there in front of the people.  It is His presence, informing them He would never leave them or forsake them. 

The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is the presence of God in our life.  He shows us the way and is our light.  The same pillar of fire and cloud are present in us.  The fire is a light in the darkness of this world and protection from our enemy.  He is the pillar of cloud to shade us and protect us in the harshness of the day.  He will never leave you or forsake you.

Exodus 14:1-4

This chapter is the transition from being in bondage as a people to being established as a nation.  The Israelites were to turn back, to give the impression they were wandering without direction and hemmed in.  The exact locations have been lost to time.  There are three speculative routes of the exodus.  Pi Hahairoth means 'mouth of canal' while Migdol means tower or fortress.  They were to encamp near by the sea across from Baal Zephon. 

What is this hardening the Lord would do?  If Pharaoh sees them wandering, is it possible he thought they weren't going to worship as they said.  However it was done, the Lord stoked Pharaoh's anger to change his mind and pursue them.  He would become convinced they were confused.  No one would have even considered the crossing of the sea.  The idea of being 'hemmed in by the desert' is the thought that the desert slammed the door of escape closed on them. 

Exodus 14:5-9

The news of Israel leaving shook Pharaoh and the officials back to the matter at hand.  They changed their minds, wondering what they were thinking letting them go like that.  They had lost their service.  Suddenly, the land was short a few million workers in a culture that looked down on manual labor.  Pharaoh took the best 600 chariots and then took all the others.  The chariots were like the tanks of that day, the officials were the generals to command the tank ware.  The hardhearted Pharaoh took the best with him and pursued them as the marched out 'boldly'.  The word boldly means in defiance or confidence.  It's usually associated with pride and sin. 

The passage builds tension; Pharaoh angry and in pursuit of the defiant Israelites.  They caught up with them as they camped by the sea.

Exodus 14:10-12

The tension builds in the text as Pharaoh approaches and the Israelites see him.  Suddenly, the boldness and defiance are replaced by fear.  In fear, they turned on Moses.  He was the one that led them here, full of promises.  Life back in Egypt didn't seem all that bad to them from their position of fear.  They went from bold defiance to whimpering in fear and assuming they were going to die in no time at all.  These guys just saw 10 miracles in the plagues and now they don't believe God can deliver them from the army.  Its amazing how quickly they separated Moses from God.  They cry out to God and throw Moses under the bus.  They believe serving the Egyptians would be the right path.

Is living in bondage better than dying free?  In any crowd, there are those who embrace change and are adventurous and willing to take risk.  On the other end, there are those who would never risk anything.  All they want is safety and security.  The 50-60% in the middle can be swayed by leadership, either negatively or positively.  I think we see the negative leaders have their say at the first sign of trouble. 

Exodus 14:13-14

Look at Moses, the man who once said, I'm not a good speaker; the man who tried to talk God out of sending him.  Now, he stands boldly with Pharaoh coming, with no visible hope of escape.  Everything looks like they would die.  Moses stood before the people and encouraged them to lay aside any fear.  Fear is the absolute enemy of faith.  When fear sneaks in, it seems to dissolve our faith and resolve to do what God called us to do. 

Moses instructs them to stand firm.  They weren't to waiver in the confidence in the Lord.  He was about to bring salvation to them.  This is the confidence of Moses, a changed man.  He believed God was good to His word.  Moses held to that knowing God didn't bring them to that place to die, He brought them there to show Himself mighty and the deliverer of His people.  He brough them there to move them towards home.  Sometimes the trip to the promise land doesn't look the same was what we anticipate, but we shouldn't let it shake us.  It is a great adventure.  All they had to do was be still.

Exodus 14:15-18

The Lord indicates to them that there is no time for re-evaluation of the plan.  There is no opportunity to review and challenge God's ways and debate with Him.  There was no time for lengthy prayers of crying out.  It was time to go!  They were to 'move on' and Moses would raise his staff and stretch his hand over the sea.  The water would divide exposing dry land for them to walk upon.  This is like the parting of death for them to walk through safely.  No reasonable person would walk away from this and give credit or credence to any explanation other than God delivered them. 

Moses, obedient, lifts the stand and raises his hand before the water.  The Lord didn't need Moses to do this to make something happen.  He used this man, it's a testimony to the way God works to glorify Himself through people who make themselves available to Him.  Anyone who has ever felt incapable of serving God or incompetent in any way ought to see Moses is their example.  If he could do this, so could you.  We are all to make our self-available to His leading.  Too often God's people find comfort in the anonymous crowd paralyzed by fear of what God may ask of them.

Exodus 14:19-20

The angel was traveling in front of Israel in the midst of Yahweh's leading.  The angel went behind.  One angel, apparently that's all it took.  The pillar of cloud also went behind; God shows Himself as our fore guard and rearguard.  He came between the Israelites and their enemy.  God was their defense.  This appears to have started during the day and moved into the night.  The cloud was likely the pillar of fire at night, providing light and protection. 

Exodus 14:21-25

Moses stretched out his hand and the Lord drove the sea back.  The Lord could have done this without Moses, but He chose to work through this man.  Over and over, and by doing so, he is built up and prepared for the next phase of the adventure. 

The waters were divided and the Israelites were able to walk across on dry land with a wall of water on the right and left.  I can't help but wonder if you could walk right into the water from dry ground?  However, the sea was deep and dark and seen as death to these people.  They were passing through sure death from hopelessness to a new future.

Scholars are bothered by the timing of moving that many people through the sea overnight.  They say it is impossible.  However, they don't know the width of the dry ground or the distance across.  The Lord dried the ground one night, but was it the last watch the following night that the Egyptians were in the sea pursuing them?  It seems the text leaves that open.  Many attempt to explain this supernatural event with natural explanations, things we can wrap our mind around.  One theory of this was a shallow place for them to pass through.  The wind dried it up.  If that was the case then the entire Egyptian army, chariots and all drowned in 6-12" of water.  Ridiculous!   Regardless if it makes sense to us, the text says it, so I believe it. 

There was no way the Israelites could escape the chariots of Pharaoh on their own.  The Lord looked down and intervened.  He caused confusion and messed with their chariots.  The Masoretic text says He caused the wheels to come off.  The Egyptians caught on realizing the Lord was fighting for Israel.

Exodus 14:26-32

Moses lifted his hands at the command of the Lord, this leader the Lord created, a man who tried to back out and talk the Lord into sending someone else.  The sea flowed back and the entire army that pursued them was washed away.  Not one survived.  The Lord's defense was complete and final.  There was not doubt of the victor and no doubt left that the Lord delivered them.  The Lord displayed His grace and care for them and they put their trust in Him.  We could learn from that.

Exodus 15:1-6

The song was sung to the Lord, a song of His defeat of Israel's enemies.  They detail the events which impressed upon them that the Lord was might in strength to fight their battles.  Verse 2 uses the shortened name Yah to declare that He is their strength and defense bringing salvation.  They claim their fathers God as their own.

In verse 3 they declare the Lord was their divine warrior.  He took on the best of Pharaoh's army and they are at the bottom of the sea.  The 'deep waters' of the sea are the chaotic, primeval deep spoken of in Genesis 1:2.  This word is used repeated in scripture to reflect the frightening, uncontrollable and unknown chaos of the deep.  This word describes the deep Jonah experienced when thrown overboard.  Over and over God is displayed as being the only One who controls the dep.

The right hand of the Lord is the hand of power, authority and strength.  It is repeated in verse 6.  The 'shattered' hear could be a reference to the Egyptian practice of writing the names of their enemies on stones and then shattering them, symbolizing their defeat.  These are called execration texts. 

Exodus 15:7-11

The dramatic poetry displays God as he shatters, throws down, unleashes and consumes.  The enemy said 'I will' numerous times stating their intention, "But you blew" and they were conquered.

Verse 11 asks, who among the 'Els' is like Yahweh.  The Els is the plural of El.  It is used all over the bible to display the council of gods.  Psalm 82 shows the Lord ruling over the council of gods, supernatural beings loyal to the Lord and serving Him.  Not gods in the sense of competing with the Lord. 

Exodus 15:12-18

The earth swallowing the enemies is the idea of the underworld or the realm of the dead consuming them.  They envisioned 'the deep' below the surface, underground.  They linked the underworld to the deep. 

The 'chesed' of the Lord is the unfailing love, favor or grace of the Lord.  This love and strength of God leads them to the mountain of God, Sinai.  The nations, Philistia, Edom, Moab and Canaan are all put on notice.  These are all the future enemies.   The Lord's strength will force them to be still till they pass. 

Exodus 15:19-21

This is the first place that Miriam is named.  Interesting she is named as Aaron's sister and not Moses.  This may be due to her prophetic role in relation to his priestly role.  She joins in the praise of God.

Exodus 15:22-27

Three days in the wilderness without water wiped away the memory of the Almighty God who saved them from the Egyptians.  Suddenly they were sure they would die of thirst.  They came to Marah, meaning bitter.  The water was apparently not poisonous, but bitter to the taste.  The Lord prescribed a particular piece of wood to remove the bitterness. 

The event became a teaching moment for the Israelites.

If they would listen carefully, do what is right, pay attention to the commands, keep His decrees, the Lord promises no plagues would come on them.  He is the God who heals and He displayed it by healing the waters.

©2021 Doug Ford