Eden to Eternity Vol. 1, Exodus 13-18
Exodus: 2/66 | Author: Moses (assumed) | Old Testament | Pentateuch/Torah | 1805-1440 B.C. (estimated)
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13. Passover Instruction (continued) / The Route of the Exodus
God asked that every firstborn Israelite boy be dedicated to Him.
"Remember this daywhen you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of here by the strength of His hand" (Exodus 13:3, CSB).
Knowing the heart of His people, God directed the Israelites to take the longer route since they were likely to turn back to Pharaoh when faced with adversity.
Joseph's remains joined the Israelites in their relocation.
To guide the people, "the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night" (13:21).
14. The Egyptian Pursuit / Escape through the Red Sea
God instructed Moses to revert the Israelites back toward the sea. God knew that Pharaoh was still intent on capturing the people, so He positioned them for safety and Pharaoh for defeat. God just needed them to be still.
"Then I will recieve glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord" (14:4).
Pharaoh changed his mind and decided that he and his men would capture the Israelites. In verses 13 and 14 of Chapter 14, Moses tells the frantic crowds,
"Don't be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord's salvation that He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet."
God told Moses to use his staff to separate the Red Sea, forming an escape route for the Israelites. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of the Israelites to now guard them from the pursuing Egyptian men. The water parted like two tall walls for the crowd to utilize a single path that was not there before. When it came time for the Egyptians to take the same route, the waters violently returned and swallowed them.
"But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians" (14:29-30).
The people then showed respect and admiration for their Lord.
15. Israel's Song / Water Provided
The Israelites sang a song, praising God.
"Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? You stretched out your right hand, and the eart sallowed them. With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guidethem to your holy dwelling with your strength" (15:11-13).
The Israelites continued with their journey until they became desperate for water. After calling on God, they were led to a thriving location with fresh water. All God asked them was to be obedient so that they could be His people and He could tend to them.
16. Manna and Quail Provided
Sourcing water was not the only bump in the road for the Israelites. Reminiscing over the meals they had in enslavement made them bitter, so much so that they romanticized the idea of dying with the Egyptians instead of following God to their promised land.
Hearing this, God made it pour bread to go with the quail that appeared that night.
There weren't literal loaves of baked bread raining from the sky. Exodus 16:14 explains it as a fine substance after the morning dew vanished. It resembled white seeds and had hints of honey (16:31). Dew was thought to be a symbol of God's grace and generosity since this element is new every morning (Proverbs 19:12).
Everyone was to collect their portions until the Sabbath, when they were to worship God. However, on the Sabbath, some went against God's commands to search for food, which upset the Lord since all He requested was for His people to respect His commands.
Everyone was asked to preserve a specific amount of so their next of kin would see how God provided for them. Called manna, this food source was eaten throughout the 40 years of travel.
17. Water from the Rock / The Amalekites Attack
Moses continued to remind the people that when they complained, it wasn't against him or Aaron, but against God. So, the Lord told Moses to use his staff on a rock in Horeb; water poured out in front of some of the pessimists.
A group of people from the tribe of Amalek attempted to overtake the Israelite people. Using his anointed staff, Moses sat on the hilltop above them and kept it raised, ensuring the Israelites were victorious over their threat. Moses assembled an altar for God there.
18. Jethro's Visit
Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, met him in the wilderness after hearing about the many things God had done for him and his people. He gave Moses advice in his efforts to teach the people about God and His statutes, as well as how to delegate the workload. Moses implemented his recommendations and assigned men as leaders to the people.
Daily Grace Reflection Questions (p. 87 & 89):
What does it look like to be still in moments of fear and doubt?
What does it look like for you to to depend on the Lord daily?
How does Jethro's story encourage you to share your testimony with others?
I have recently felt urged to be still and silent in my own life. Specifically, I have prayed for clarification concerning certain people, places, and things, and it has been as if God was asking me to take a seat and be attentive to what He was opening my eyes to. In my silence, God made my world loud, unveiling revelations that demanded more prayer! Again and again, Exodus 14:14 found its way to me.
"The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet."
Sometimes, I talk too much. I share too much with the wrong crowds, giving the devil an opportunity to start a war. God sees what has been done and hears what has been said. Acknowledging my lack of authority over things and people, I stopped forcing control and surrendered more to God. He is ready to deliver justice and resolve conflict on behalf of us!
Ecclesiastes 3:7 says
"There is an occasion for everything... a time to be silent and a time to speak"
Similarly,
"The imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:4).
Navigating our volatile world requires complete dependence on the Lord. The air pumping through the lungs designed by God also derives directly from God! Our circumstances are no different. God orchestrates a time and a place, and sometimes characters in between, to help us find our way (His way). Anytime I feel fear, worry, stress, or anxiety creeping in, I know that I am overdue for a therapy session with God! It's that simple. A swift switch of perspective brings me the greatest peace. We might have free will, but we are not expected to conquer giants with it—we are expected to invite God in to deliver us, growing closer to Him and increasing His glory.
The power of Moses' relationship with God inspired Jethro, a man who struggled in his faith. His role in Exodus encourages me to be louder about my faith to connect more people to the great I AM. Our God, who delivers, redeems, renews, heals, and loves abundantly, is not a dictator who wants to rule over us; He wants us to be free of sin so that we can remain in His presence while also avoiding sins inevitable consequences.
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References
Book of Exodus Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E
Daniels, K., Dickerson, T., Dickson, K., Hess, A., & Turner, S. (2022). Eden to Eternity (Vol. 1). The Daily Grace Co.
Exodus Bible Timeline. Bible Hub. (n.d.). https://biblehub.com/timeline/exodus/1.htm
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible. Holman Bible Publishers.
