Exodus 13 Devotional Bible Study

Exodus 13 Chapter Summary

After the Passover in which God spared the firstborn of the Israelites, He said every firstborn male among the Israelites, human or animal, belonged to Him. They could redeem a donkey (keep from sacrificing it) if they sacrificed a lamb in its place. They were also to redeem their firstborn sons in this way.

“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.”

- Exodus 13:16

 

As the Israelites came out of Egypt, God did not lead them into Philistine country, though that would have been the shorter route back to Canaan. Instead, He took them toward the Red Sea. He said that if they faced war with the Philistines, they might change their minds and go back to Egypt. The Israelites did come out of Egypt ready for battle.

 

Moses took Joseph’s bones with the Israelites when they left, as Joseph made his brothers promise to do.

 

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.

Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night

left its place in front of the people.

- Exodus 13:21-22

 

Saved = Consecrated

Exodus 13:1-2

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

Why were the firstborn males consecrated to the Lord? Because they were the ones spared when God killed the firstborns in Egypt but Passed Over the Israelite houses. The firstborns of the Israelites were saved, so they are the ones to be consecrated. To be consecrated means to be dedicated to and set apart for the Lord.

Under the New Covenant in Jesus, God has saved us all, and He’s called us all to be consecrated to Him, hasn’t He? Once we’re saved, we understand that we must live devoted to the Lord. If you’re not devoted to the Lord, you will not be saved. Instead, Jesus will say, “I never knew you. Away from me.”

Will you spend some time in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit, “Am I living a consecrated life?”

 

Like a Sign

Exodus 13:14-16

“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. 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.’ 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.”

Read that last part again: “And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead.” In Revelation, we’re told that those who align themselves with the Anti-Christ will take his mark on their right hands or on their foreheads. But here, the Israelites are symbolically taking a mark when they celebrate the Passover.

Taking the Mark of the Beast will show you’re aligning with him. Remembering and celebrating and sharing what the Lord has done for you is the sign that you’re aligning with Him. How can you show your mark today?

 

Not the Shortest, but Not the Most Difficult Either

Exodus 13:17-18

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.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Aren’t you glad that our Heavenly Father doesn’t take us on the most difficult route in life?

Sometimes, it seems like He is taking us on the hardest path, but that’s only because we have no idea what would have happened if He had led us a different way. Sometimes, we get impatient and wish the Lord would hurry up and get us to where we’re going – but it could be that the shorter route is more difficult, and the loving Father is sparing us that increased hardship.

If the Israelites had taken the shortest route, they would have had to do battle. They may have given up, and some of those whom the Lord had just rescued from Egypt could have been killed. No, it was much better to go the route the Lord chose for them.

Let’s keep on the path our Father sets for us, and trust it’s the best one. It might not be the shortest route, but it’s not the most difficult either.

 

Different, Depending On Your Need

Exodus 13:20-22

After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

I wonder if we expect our God to always deal with us the same way all the time, and then get confused when He doesn’t do what He did before or communicate in the same way He did before. The Israelites could have been thrown off track if they became rigid in their thinking and thought, “God appears as a cloud, so He can’t be this pillar of fire.”

But they understood that God was in both, didn’t they? He changed His form based on their need. He Himself was consistent – He was still leading them – but how He did it was a little different.

What I want you to understand from this is that God will not always deal with you or speak to you or answer your prayers in the same way, but He will always lead you in whatever way you most need at the moment. He doesn’t change in His personality or goals, but His method changes based on your need.

So, how do you need God to be right now? Do you recognize the different form He’s taking in your life?