— by Victor Fawole
Welcome back to our “No Bible, No Breakfast” spiritual exercise. Last time out, we read of how God instituted the feast of Passover and delivered the Israelites from Egypt. In this chapter, we continue reading God’s commands for celebrating the deliverance of the Israelites from the tyranny of Pharaoh in Egypt. The festivals we read here are for celebrating this deliverance, and they all foreshadowed Christ (Col. 2:16-17). God delivered the Jews from physical captivity, and Christ delivered us from spiritual captivity (Luke 4:18). Their journey to the Promised Land also foreshadows our journey to our eternal home.
1. DEDICATION OF FIRSTBORNS
Exo. 13:1-2 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.”
After striking the firstborns of Egypt dead (both humans and animals), God set apart the firstborns of Israel (both humans and animals) to Himself. Israel itself was God’s firstborn (Exo. 4:22), and this instruction practically shows that. Also, firstborns were thought to be the “best”, and the “best” should be given to God. Looking at it more closely, the dedication of firstborns will serve as a reminder of how God redeemed Israel from Egypt, even to all generations of Israel. This law was to be activated once they entered the promised land.
Notice the:
- Presentation of Firstborns:
that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb
The firstborn of both humans and animals are to be presented to God, consecrating them as a sign of God’s deliverance. The firstborn animals were to be sacrificed, while the firstborn humans were to be consecrated to God.
- Redemption of Firstborns:
But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb…And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
God commanded firstborn donkeys to be redeemed because donkeys were considered unclean animals. They were to be redeemed by the blood of a lamb; else, the donkey’s neck was to be broken – making it unfit for sacrifice. Also, they were to redeem (buy back) their firstborn humans at a price, which was later fixed at five shekels per male (Num. 18:16, Num. 3:46-47). As for us, Christ has redeemed us by His precious blood (1Pet. 1:18–19). I’m aware that in some Christian circles, parents are required to pay some certain amount of money in order to redeem their firstborns. That is wrong. Believers are not under such laws. Our redemption is in Christ, not in cash. Our redemption in Christmas is complete and cost-free. We pay nothing to be redeemed, for He has paid with His precious blood. Hallelujah!
- Consecration of Firstborns:
Consecrate to Me all the firstborn…
Christ is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29), and by virtue of our union with Him, all believers are accounted as firstborn. And we are consecrated to God (Heb. 12:23).
- Education of Children:
when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’
This practice was both a memorial and a symbol. As long as they kept it as a memorial, it symbolised something greater. And knowing that their children might ask questions, God gave the perfect answer template for all their generations. They were slaves that had no power against the most powerful nation in the world, but God wrought a deliverance for them. They were delivered from the house of slavery and bondage. This deliverance was 100% God’s work and God’s power. For us today, we rejoice in the reality that our God’s strong hand reaches down to where we are. Our God’s strong hand is mightier than our mightiest enemies.
- Articulation of Event:
when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…
I chose to add this point as a caution against the trending doctrine that “God cannot kill”. There are some preachers on social media who are really pushing this dangerous doctrine. They mutilate bible verses, rip them out of context, accuse God’s angels, disparage God’s prophets, and attack writers of the Bible in their bid to push their agenda. Here is the word of God to Moses. God is teaching the Israelites how to answer their children. God took full responsibility for the death of firstborns in Egypt. God said: “Tell your children that I killed them!” It is “the Lord”, not “the devil”, not “demons”, not “disease”, not “Moses”, not “anything else”. He was the One who authorised the angels to carry out the assignment (Psa. 78:49). Please let us avoid teachers and teachings that paint a “god” different from the God of the Bible. We are not called to do “damage control” on behalf of our sovereignly unquestionable God.
Before we move on, let us consider how the New Testament clearly connects Jesus Christ as the “Firstborn”:
- Jesus was the firstborn of Mary (Luke 2:7)
- Jesus was the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5)
- Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29)
- Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15)
- Jesus is the firstborn Who is returning (Heb. 1:6)
- All of us in Jesus are now also firstborn (Heb. 12:23)
2. DEVOTION BY FEASTING
Every nation celebrates their independence. The feast of unleavened bread is one of the ways the Israelites are to celebrate their freedom and redemption from Egypt.
Notice the:
- Powerful Proclamation:
Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage…
The Israelites were to always remember that Egypt meant bondage and oppression. Their remembrance was not to evoke a gravitation to go back, but a gratitude for freedom and obedience. In application to our Christian life, Apostle Paul said: “…but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…” (Phil. 3:13-14)
- Powerful Preservation:
…for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place.
Four times, God said for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. This truth is worth repeating! God made it clear that it was not through their clever strategy, or Moses’ brilliance or eloquence, or their courage, or because of their goodness. It was by God’s powerful hand that they came out of Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart was strong, but God’s hand was stronger. For us, although sin was strong, we were freed from sin by God’s stronger hand (Rom. 6:17-18).
- Permanent Possession:
…when the Lord brings you into the land…which He swore to your fathers to give you…
Remember how God spelt out one of His “job descriptions” to Moses: So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land… (Exo. 3:8) God did not only deliver them, He also conveyed them to the land of prosperity. Just as God rescued us from the domain of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:13). But there was a tendency to forget God in times of prosperity, because prosperity often deafens man’s ears against God. A man who forgets his redemption will not live as he should live for the Lord.
- Practical Purity:
Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days.
I wrote on the significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the review of chapter 12. And as I mentioned, “leaven” represents sin / corruption / defilement in the Bible. The Israelites were to present themselves “pure” during this feast. No leaven / yeast was to be found in their community. As believers, we are not to welcome and romance sin in our lives. We should also not ignore sin, else it will rise. And like yeast, sin comes in many forms. Let us not swallow the lie that purity is boring. No, it’s not. There is joy in purity. The Israelites were to have a party (feast) on the seventh day. A walk of purity in the Lord is not a joyless life.
- Perpetual Pattern:
You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
God commanded that they kept this feast every year. This will always help them to remember how God delivered them. Little wonder, in the Gospel of Grace Outreach, we are always bringing to our remembrance how God delivered us from the tyranny of sin and Satan, how God delivered us from the power of darkness, demons and death. Our spiritual growth and stability cannot be guaranteed if we forget these things! (2Pet. 1:9)
3. DEPARTITION BY FORCES
Exo. 13:17 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.”
Notice the:
- Providential Path:
As the Israelites travelled to the Promised Land, they had two options/routes: “the way of the land of the Philistines” or “the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea”. The first one was the fastest and shortest route to take to the Promised Land. It had good and easy roads, and it was a trade route where they could easily buy food and water. But God knows for sure – and we should also learn – that the easiest is not always the best! The dangers of that first route were too great. God anticipated dangers they could not see – challenges that could change their minds and back them slide back to Egypt. God leads His people in the way that is for their own good. He leads me in the paths of righteousness – the right path! We may not always understand the way He chooses, or even agree with it, but His way is always the right way. - Proper Procession:
The children of Israel left Egypt in an orderly manner. God ensured that they did not come out of Egypt like a mob, but in an organised way. In fact, some translations say that Israel went out of Egypt “equipped for battle” (ESV), “armed for battle” (NIV), “in battle formation” (CSB), “prepared for battle” (NET). They also carried Joseph’s bones out of Egypt, fulfilling an oath that Joseph swore with his brothers. - Protective Pillar:
God showed His presence to Israel in a dramatic way, giving them constant assurance with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This pillar was later associated with “the angel of God” and I believe this is another example of Theophany. God’s presence provided peace and comfort to them. He guided them, guarded them, and gave them light. For us, after our deliverance from the bondage of Satan and sin, God gave us His Spirit as our pillar. God is the Greatest Logistics Coordinator ever!
The last verse in this chapter sweetens my heart. God did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. If God could do this in the Old Testament, then I can rest assured of His permanent presence with me. He will NEVER take the Holy Spirit from me. He will NEVER LEAVE nor FORSAKE me.
Others may doubt it.
Others may debate it.
Others may deny it.
But I will enjoy it! Hallelujah!
Dear Gogolights, permit me to summarise how the Old Testament deliverance from Egyptian bondage points to our deliverance in Christ with the following points:
- All men are sinners who are enslaved in sin, unable to set themselves free. (Rom. 3:23, Eph. 2:1)
- God provided a Passover Lamb (Christ) as a way of deliverance from the slavery of sin. (1Cor. 5:7)
- When we placed our faith in Christ, He set us free from the penalty of sin, begins to set us free from the power of sin, and will definitely set us free from the presence of sin.
- Our freedom from sin and death is a call for us to live a new way of life, to minister in Christ’s name to others, to teach our children, and to bear witness to others.
- The Holy Spirit lives inside us to lead us and guide us in our journey through the wilderness of this world, which is filled with Satan’s snares and traps that continually seek to destroy our testimony and our usefulness for God.
Tag five people and tell them: God will never take the Holy Spirit from me!
God bless you for reading. We will continue tomorrow.
Grace to you, Church!
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