Chapter 13
When I was a little boy, it was Easter time, and my parents took me to a large Easter egg hunt. The organizers divided the children into age groups and led my group to an area to start our “hunt.” One of the leaders mentioned there was a special golden egg hidden, and whoever found it would receive a very special reward. We were each given a basket, and after they counted us off, we sprang into action as soon as the “Go!” signal was sounded.
I ran around, looking behind trees, stumps, and found all kinds of eggs (they used to hide real, dyed, boiled eggs back then). After a few minutes, everyone slowed down, focusing on finding that golden egg. I saw a few other kids gathered around a clump of trees and made my way over. I overheard an adult say, “Boys, I think you might be getting close…” He wasn’t talking to me, but to the others. Still, his words pushed me on. When I reached the next tree and looked around, there it was! The golden egg! I dropped my basket, scooped up the egg, and ran back to the starting point, holding it up high. I was so excited—I just knew the reward would be worth its weight in gold!
Everything else faded from my mind. Nothing else mattered. I had the best reward that could be found. And what was the reward? A snorkel mask. Well, in Houston, Texas, swimming season comes early, so I was happy with it.
A few years later, in California, I had a similar feeling when my family went panning for gold. The first time I saw little flakes of real gold sparkling through the powdered iron in the pan, I could hardly believe it. It felt like magic. There’s something special about the joy we feel when we search for something precious and finally find it.
That’s how I feel when I read this chapter. For years, I skimmed over it, thinking it was too ceremonial and religious. But when I began reading it with a focus on finding Jesus, that golden egg appeared. As I read on, more and more flakes of gold showed up. It’s amazing to see someone I know so well—my Savior—present long before He made His human appearance. It reaffirms for me that every word in the Bible is there for a reason, and every action has a purpose. In the Holy Bible, there are no accidents. This truly is the divine work of the Creator, and I can hold it in my hands any time I want. That realization gets me all fired up! I can’t wait for the next chapter!
Consecration of the Firstborn
1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Sanctify [“set apart” God is making a point to show that the firstborn has a significant position with Him – because of Jesus.] to me all the first-born, whatsoever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”
3 And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage. By strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from this place. There shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day you go forth in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your fathers to give you. A land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days [representing perfection] you shall eat unleavened bread [foreshadowing the sinless body of Jesus – The Last Supper], and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Jehovah. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen within in all your borders. 8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Jehovah did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.’ [Our testimony is similar: How Jesus rescued us from the world’s penalty.] 9 And it shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes [forehead], that the law of Jehovah may be in your mouth. [This symbolic gesture took on a literal practice with the Jews wearing the “phylacteries” – small boxes holding parchment with scriptures on them, held to their foreheads or hand with leather straps. The spiritual emphasis of what Moses was saying was to keep God in your hand (efforts and actions) and heart, thoughts, and mediations. Ironically, in the age to come, the great Imitator will require his mark of devotion on the hands and/or foreheads of his followers as well. (Revelation 13:160] With a strong hand has Jehovah brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
11 And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 that you shall set apart for Jehovah all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes of a beast, the males shall be Jehovah’s. 13 And every firstborn of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb. If you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. [the donkey or ass in Scripture refers to natural man in sin. Sinful man needs redemption by the lamb – Jesus.] All the first-born of man among your sons shall you redeem. [This “redemption” will be later revealed in the law as silver, which symbolized blood. Isn’t cool how all these small items seem to fit so perfectly when we understand what Jesus came to do?]
14 And it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ You shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 It came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah killed all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to Jehovah all that opens the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.’ 16 And it shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbol between your eyes. By strength of hand Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt.”
Crossing the Sea
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea. The children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. [The easiest and shortest path is not always the right path. God had other things yet planned, including the protection of his people.]
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. He had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away with you.”
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and camped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people. [Here again, we see another pattern of our faith. First, we had the lamb sacrificed—Jesus. Only after the lamb was sacrificed is the pillar of cloud first mentioned, to lead the people. This represents the Holy Spirit coming after the resurrection, guiding us in God’s will. Then, the pillar of fire represents the presence of God. Another amazing picture of the Trinity and the promises to come.]
