Dawn at the edge of the wilderness: green fields and a line of date palms end abruptly in pale sand and gravel, and a faint track runs out toward low bare ridges under a clear pale sky.

The Book of

Exodus 13

Out of Egypt at last, and the first thing God gives is a way to remember. Then He leads them, not by the short road, but in a pillar of cloud and fire.

22 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
7–13The plaguesThe LORD against PharaohChapter 13
14–18Through the seaRescued and led
19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the glory

The Dedication of the Firstborn

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

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So Moses told the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.

Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the land He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you shall keep this service in this month.

Moses

Reflect

Remember this day

Moses’ first words to a free people were “Remember this day.” Every year a father would say, “This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.” What has the LORD done for you that you never want to forget? Write it down as you would tell it to someone younger, and think of one person you could tell it to this week.

And after the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as He swore to you and your fathers, you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

At dusk, an old man and a small boy sit on a rock seen from behind, above a wide desert camp of dark tents; the boy points out across the plain.

In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

0:32

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

The Pillars of Cloud and Fire

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The long way round

From Rameses the people went to Succoth and then to Etham, “on the edge of the wilderness.” The coast road through the land of the Philistines ran north-east to Canaan and was much shorter, but God led them south-east, toward the sea. Rameses, Succoth and Etham are all uncertain sites (Rameses is probably near Qantir in the eastern Nile delta); the dashed line is one proposed route.

So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.”

Question

Quick question

As Israel left Egypt, Moses carried something that had waited four hundred years for this day.

Whose bones did Moses take with him out of Egypt?

They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.

And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.

Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night

Exodus 13:21

Pray

Day and night

God chose the long road for His people, and He went before them on every step of it: a pillar of cloud “to guide their way by day,” a pillar of fire “to give them light by night.” Thank Him that He has not left you to find your own way. Bring Him the road you are on now, even if it seems longer than it should be, and ask Him to lead you by day and give you light by night.

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Exodus 13

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A verse to carry with you

And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.

Exodus 13:21

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