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God is Setting All Things Right. So I am Blogging Through the Bible in a Year.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

February 3 - Exodus 13-15: The Exodus from Egypt

Today’s Reading: Exodus 13-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is now showing his power and might to the Israelites.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God required the firstborn of every animal to be killed in remembrance of the pass-over and the Exodus (children and donkeys could have a lamb substitute). During Passover they could not have leaven in their land.
God guided the Israelites into the wilderness. They brought the bones of Joseph.
Pharaoh gave chase, thinking the Israelites were wondering lost in the wilderness. The people, frightened, yelled at Moses. God opened the Red Sea and they all crossed on dry land. While Pharaoh gave chase, God closed the Red Sea over them, killing every person. The women sang songs of their victory.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God required the firstborn of all animals to be His.

This would serve two functions: help the people remember the great price God required the Egyptians to pay for their freedom and, in the case of their own children, provide the means by which the story would be passed down from generation to generation. In an oral culture, having a dedicated story-teller is the same as a librarian. The great things God has done for his people must be passed down from generation to generation.

God takes the Israelites down into the wilderness to protect his people.

The entire reason God brought them down the south road instead of directly across the straight into Canaan was to prevent war with the Philistines. As we will see later, the Philistines become a major enemy of the Israelites. God wanted to keep his Chosen Nation—fresh out of bondage—free of war.

The people have horrible short-term memories.

God had just given the Egyptians 10 plagues which almost wiped them out. He had killed the firstborn of every family in Egypt. Yet when they saw Pharaoh in chase the Israelites cried out to Moses. Unfortunately, this will be a continual problem with Israel. And this explains why God requires physical representations of His covenant—circumcision, festivals, and baptism. When God's people lose physical connection with God's community (for Jews—circumcision, for Christians—baptism and church fellowship) they forget their Covenant with God.

God proved His goodness—and his judgment—when he brought the waters down on Pharaoh and his chariots.

God proved His goodness to the Jews when he forever liberated them from Egyptian rule and his judgment when he punished Pharaoh for his stubbornness in both enslaving the Jews and not letting them go.

What did you see reading this passage? Questions? Comments? Leave a comment in the section below or on the Sonoma Mountain Parkway Church of Christ Facebook page.

If you missed a reading or want to go to a specific date, type the link as follows: http://grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html That will take you to the reading for that day. Enjoy!

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