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Summary

Exodus 13:1–10 – Consecrate the firstborn and remember with unleavened bread

What happens: God claims every firstborn of Israel as His. Moses ties this to the yearly Feast of Unleavened Bread and commands parents to explain the meaning to their children.

What it means: Redemption creates rightful claim. God owns His people, and remembrance guards hearts from forgetting His mercy.


Exodus 13:11–16 – Redeem the firstborn as a sign

What happens: When Israel enters the land, they must redeem every firstborn son and unclean animal. These practices are a sign on hand and forehead, a living reminder that God brought them out by strength.

What it means: Godly habits mark identity and purpose. Signs and disciplines keep a redeemed people aligned with God’s mighty acts.


Exodus 13:17–19 – God leads the long way, Joseph’s bones carried

What happens: God does not lead them by the Philistine road but by the wilderness to avoid fear of war. Moses takes Joseph’s bones as promised.

What it means: God’s wisdom directs safer paths we might not choose. Promise-keeping across generations displays God’s faithfulness and calls for ours.


Exodus 13:20–22 – Pillar of cloud and fire

What happens: The Lord goes before them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night to guide them without stopping.

What it means: God’s presence guides and protects. He is near, faithful, and sufficient for every step.


Application

  • Set patterns that remind you daily you belong to God.
  • Trust God’s longer route when it protects your faith.
  • Follow God’s presence instead of your own impulses.
  • Keep promises that honor God’s past faithfulness.

Bible

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

3And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

4This day came ye out in the month Abib.

5And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

7Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

8And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

11And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

12That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.

13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

14And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

15And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew 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 that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

17And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

20And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

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