Exodus 12 & 13 Remembrance
The people have just left Egypt and God immediately sets up a time of remembrance for them. God watched over them that night. Now they will honor him in return.
Even under Egyptian rule the children of Israel continued the practice of circumcision. Moses had neglected to circumcise at least one of his sons, but this was remedied by his wife when his life was in danger by an angel. All those coming out of Egypt were circumcised. But this was a “mixed multitude” who followed Moses out. I don’t know the state of every male that accompanied them, but I suspect those that aligned with Israel also followed their practices; even those who were of mixed blood.
The instructions the Lord is giving Moses today are for future generations. This generation had already partaken of the Passover meal. These instructions would not be applied until Israel founded their new home in the Promised Land. While in the wilderness they lived on manna from Heaven and none of the children were circumcised until after crossing the Jordan.
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Moses and Aaron are enjoying the meal of unleavened bread with the rest of the children of Israel. Moses feels a Spiritual tap on his shoulder and turns to Aaron. “I need to step away for a private talk with the Lord. I’m going over to those boulders. See to it that no one follows me. I will fill you in on what the Lord shares with me when I return.”
Aaron nods his head and watches as Moses walks away. A few people notice Moses retreat and make ready as if to follow him. “Please stay where you are” Aaron directs. “The Lord has need of Moses.”
Those who were readying to follow him settle back into their places, but their eyes still followed Moses. They wonder what the Lord is planning on sharing now. They are also praying that it is good news instead of bad.
Moses reaches a cleft in a group of boulders and settles in to wait for the Lord to speak. He has learned not to rush Him. His patience is quickly rewarded.
“Moses.”
“Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.”
“I am going to set some boundaries for the Passover feasts that you and the children of Israel will be observing from now on.”
“Are these the same ones You gave me earlier about the sacrifice and the leaven?”
“No. Those are specifically for the preparation and order of the meal. These new statutes govern who may participate in this celebration of remembrance.”
“What do You mean Lord? We were always taught to be hospitable to all people. Are you changing this custom?”
“No. You are to continue to show hospitality to the travelers and those around you. But this remembrance is for those that are MY children; those who have made a commitment to me. ‘This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.’” (Exodus 12:43-49)
“I understand Lord.”
“There is one more area regarding the sacrifice itself I want to address.”
“I’m listening Lord and will obey.”
“One thing I want to impress upon you is that this meal is a remembrance celebration TO ME. DO NOT turn the sacrificial animal into an idol. As you take part in this celebration, reflect on what I did to redeem My children for My own. There is One sacrifice to come that WILL be worshiped, but that is for another time.”
Moses sat still and thought about what the Lord had said. He wanted to take the Lord’s words deep into his soul. The Lord’s words gave this sacrifice even more meaning to him than on the night it was first performed.
Moses didn’t feel a release in his spirit. This indicated that the Lord had more He wanted to share with him, so he patiently waited. Soon, the Lord spoke again.
“Moses.”
“Yes Lord. Your servant is still waiting.”
“Israel is my firstborn. He is special to me. I want Israel to respect that special position by consecrating all the firstborn to me. ‘Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast is mine.’” (Exodus 13:2)
Moses and the Lord talk for a while longer to make sure that Moses knows ALL the requirements set forth. When the Lord is satisfied that Moses fully understands, He releases Moses to rejoin the people. Moses shares with Aaron first all that the Lord has shared with him. Now it is time to pass ALL of the words of the Lord onto the people. This is a very important time for the people and their redemption is fresh in their minds and hearts. THIS is the time to share with them the gravity of this day, and how it will impact them from now on.
Moses calls the people to listen. He will share the Lord’s first words for them, outside of slavery. These words will mark the beginning of their new relationship with the Lord.
“Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.
“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:3 -16
As Moses shares the words of the Lord with the people, a cloud begins to form in front of their eyes. It is like no other cloud ever seen. It is not dissipated by the wind. It doesn’t change form once it has completed its formation. It is in the shape of a pillar. The people all plainly see that this is the hand of the Lord. Moses points to the cloud and announces instructions.
“This is our guiding hand from the Lord. Where HE leads, we will follow.”
The Lord looks around at the mixed multitude. They are “equipped for battle” (Exodus 13:18b), but He knows that they are not yet ready to truly fight. They look like children dressed up to play. He will NOT lead them anywhere where they would have to face battle. But their journey would NOT be free of peril. Their first ‘growing up session’ would soon arrive. God would lead them personally by the cloud pillar during the day and by a pillar of fire at night.
(to be continued)
Father God, it is amazing how You take me through things that I don’t really grasp until I’m on the other side of it. I see Your hand in action but don’t realize the gravity of the miracle You performed until all the pieces are finally in place. My move to Portland was one of those miracles. The fact that You brought the ability for me to afford housing WITHOUT the large chunk of finances I had been holding. When that money was given to another and never returned, YOU still cared for me! You brought me back to reliance on YOU instead of myself. As I sit here today thinking about it, I see even more how it was Your hand in action.
How I wish I could have learned that reliance on You lesson better in those days. I wish it was deeper even now. Thank You for watching over us every day!
