God's instructions to Israel
Sanctify the firstborn unto God
Exo 13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
When the death angel came to kill the firstborn of all the Egyptians and their livestock, the people of Israel; who put the blood of the lamb around their door entrance were spared. God wants the firstborn, the best to be his. He would give his best, the firstborn son as the redeemer for all who believe in him. The LORD wants the first part of our best. The children of Israel were called the firstborn son of God. He saved them unto himself and this was to be remembered. Those who are sanctified unto the LORD belong to him. They are set aside. Apart from the LORD they die.
Exo 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exo 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Feast of unleavened bread
Exo 13:3 And 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.
Leaven represented sin. The feast of unleavened bread followed after the Passover lamb was slain. Being made pure by the blood we eat the bread of the word of God and live in his will for us.
Exo 13:4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.
Exo 13:5 And 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.
Exo 13:6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
Exo 13:7 Unleavened 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.
Explain to your son why these things are done
Exo 13:8 And 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.
The seven days of eating unleavened bread began and ended with a feast. The walk of purity is a joyful walk. From my experience when believers get together to feast, it is a joyful time of fellowship.
Exo 13:9 And 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.
Exo 13:10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
Later, the Hebrews began to wear phylacteries, boxes on their forehead or on their hand with scriptures in them. The Pharisees would enlarge their phylacteries to appear to be more spiritual. Jesus saw this as false pride.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
In the end times satan would use the forehead or the hand to put the mark of the beast, the 666 for buying or selling. Satan is deceiver, imitating the things of God for his evil.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
How and why to give the firstborn to the LORD
Exo 13:11 And 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,
Exo 13:12 That 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.
The sanctification of the firstborn of man and beast will become the law when the Jews enter the promised land.
Exo 13:13 And 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.
Exo 13:14 And 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:
Exo 13:15 And 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.
It was the firstborn that belonged to God that was saved. This would be a continuous law for the Hebrews.
Exo 13:16 And 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.
It is to always be remembered and obeyed how the children of God were delivered out of Egypt. Jesus is the deliverer that would come for all who would receive him.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
We remember his deliverance and salvation by taking communion.
Journey out of Egypt by way of the wilderness
Exo 13:17 And 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:
Exo 13:18 But 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.
Sometimes the newly saved turn back into Egypt (the world) when they face hardships. The LORD led them into the wilderness for a longer journey to prove them. They were harnessed, equipped for battle.
Promise to Joseph; bones taken with them
Exo 13:19 And 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.
Gen 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Gen 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Joseph wanted to be buried in the promise land with his people. I suppose this is symbolic of our being delivered from our graves to the kingdom of God at the return of Jesus. Not our bones, but our new resurrected bodies that would not experience the second death. Perhaps Joseph was one who was resurrected after Jesus died on the cross?
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The LORD would lead his people and be with them.
Led by cloud by day, fire by night
Exo 13:20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
Exo 13:21 And 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:
Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
The LORD showed his presence throughout their journey; a cloud by day and a fire by night.
Psa 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psa 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
He made himself known to them in this special way. They had his presence. We in Christ have his presence within us by the Holy Spirit. As I walk in his creation I see his glory and the spirit brings the word of God to my remembrance to comfort and to guide me. Blessed are the children of God, for God goes with them.
Exodus 14
Exodus 12
Exodus 1
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