God's Superior Power Pt. 4 • Exodus 13

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Last time together we looked at the 10th and final plague in Egypt, the Death of the Firstborn…   

As well as 2 of the 7 feasts in Judaism…       Passover & Unleavened Bread…  

We saw how both of these feasts point to and speak of Jesus Christ…

We also saw that the Children of Israel had left Egypt after 430 years of captivity to begin their journey in the Wilderness…

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now in chps.13 we’ll be looking 2 things as it pertains to God’s Superior Power:

1. God’s Sanctification Vs. 1-16

2 God’s Guidance Vs. 17-22

1. the Feast of Unleavened Bread: vs.3-10.          

2. the Firstborn is Sanctified:  vs.1-2,  vs.11-16.

3.  Pharaoh lets the People Go:  vs.17-22.

1. God’s Sanctification Vs. 1-16

1.1  the Feast of Unleavened Bread Vs. 3-10

First & Second Feasts Vs. 3-4 - Moses mentions the 2nd Major Feast…  Unleavened Bread…

The 1st feast, Passover is on the 14th day of the first month, Abib or Nisan…  it’s a one-day feast commemorating the passing over of the death angel, because of the blood of the lamb…    

Pointing to Jesus Christ:    

1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

John 1:29 NKJV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The 2nd feast was Unleavened Bread beginning on the 15th day of Abib or Nisan continuing for 7 days to the 21st day…        

It commemorated the urgency the Children of Israel left Egypt…

Pointing to Jesus Christ:  because leaven is a type of sin & Jesus was sinless, 

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 John 3:5 NKJV

5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Vs. 5-10 - in vs.9 this feast shall be sign to them on their hands & between their eyes or forehead…

In Israel you’ll see the orthodox Jews their phylacteries, these leather boxes tied to their left wrist and to their foreheads containing the Law of God…  you’ll see them at the times of prayer at Western Wall… 

Today God’s put His law in our Hearts:  613 laws, 365 don’ts & 248 do’s.  

But to us this has been summarized to One Law: Love,

Galatians 5:14 NKJV

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1.2  the Firstborn is Sanctified Vs. 1-2 & 11-16

Vs. 1-2 - The Lord just saved the firstborn from death thus giving them life…  

So they are to be sanctified, consecrated or set apart for Him…    because   they belong to Him…

Same with us, Jesus Christ has saved us from eternal death & has given us life.

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Therefore we belong to Him…   

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

APPLICATION: Since we belong to Him we should be set apart for Him…   which involve our bodies & minds…

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

Vs. 11-16 - so every first born must be redeemed or purchased back from the Lord even the donkeys…

Galatians 3:13 NKJV

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law…   He purchased us with His Blood, the Blood of the Lamb…

1 Peter 1:18 NKJV

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

2.  God’s Guidance Vs. 17-22

2.1 Vs.17-18

The closest route to the Promised Land was the Via Maris or the way of the sea…  

But there were Egyptian outposts on the Via Maris and the children of Israel would have encountered war…     interestingly enough in Jappa there are ruins of an Egyptian Gate with inscriptions…

So according to vs.18a   God lead them by the way of the Wilderness….

Even though the Wilderness is the long way…   the hard…  dry way…     it was the Lord who was leading them…

APPLICATION: As long it is the Lord who is leading us, its all good…   whether it is by the sea & in the wilderness… 

 its not about the journey      its about the One leading us on the journey…

Psalm 37:23 NKJV

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.

Note also in vs.18b,  they went up in orderly ranks… 

In Ex.12:37 there were 600,000 men plus women & children…  about 2 million people all in order.

Through out the scriptures we see that God is a God of Order…   

1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

APPLICATION: So while all things are to be done… they should be done decently & in order…  that’s why we try to keep the distractions to a minimum during services…  coming in & out… children.

2.2 Vs.19

in Gen.50:24 when Joseph was ready to die in Egypt he told his brothers that God would take them out of Egypt into the Promise Land… 

Genesis 50:24 NKJV

24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Heb.11:22 Joseph spoke these words by Faith…   so Joseph had faith that God would answer his prayers and He did…         but        is was 360 years later…        I hate that…

Hebrews 11:22 NKJV

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

APPLICATION: God is going to do things in His timing not ours…   that should bless us all, because tells us that God is total control…      and He’s going to deal with things according to His perfect timing…

2.3 Vs.20-22   2 things to note here:  

God was Leading Them:   guiding them, directing them…          we think wow wouldn’t that be great to have something so big…      so clear…    so obvious guiding our lives… 

But they still had to walk by faith…     because   they had to follow the pillar of cloud & fire…   

APPLICATION: So too it is with us, we have the Holy Spirit leading, guiding & directing us,

Romans 8:14 NKJV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 5:18 NKJV

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

So we have a choice to make…     are we going to follow the direction of the Spirit or not…

We like the Children of Israel still have to walk by faith…  2 Cor.5:7.

God was With Them:  vs.22 He did not take away the pillar from the people...

APPLICATION: God was with them the whole time…     what a blessing that should be for all of us…

Because no matter where our journey in life is taking us…      the Lord is with us…

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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