God Led Them by Day and by Night (Exodus 13)

After Passover, God led the Israelites out of Egypt where they had been in slavery for 430 years. They had to leave Egypt in a hurry, so they took their dough before the yeast was added and carried it out on kneading boards wrapped in clothing. The Egyptians begged them to hurry to appease the wrath of God and spare them from more plagues or death. They did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver, gold and for clothing; this was God's plan for them to be provided for at the mercy of the Egyptians.

The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. All the divisions of the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. There were about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people came with them, as well as large amounts of livestock.

A map showing the Exodus from Egypt on the way to the Promised Land.

The story in Exodus 13:17 describes God as leading the Israelites on a path through the desert instead of a quicker route through the Philistine country. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him to fulfill a promise made to Joseph. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place" (Ex. 13:19).

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, 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 in front of the people (v. 20).

"Cloud by Day and Fire by Night" Stained Glass by Edie Martin

EXODUS 13:20

Exodus 12: The Passover

In Exodus 12, the Lord God gives the Israelites instructions on how to be saved and brought out of Egypt. They were given instructions to follow which would mark a new moment in the Jewish history, one of salvation and redemption. This story of the Passover also parallels the New Testament story of Calvary (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7). (Note: Scripture passages within this blog may be in the English NIV version, while the online links are NASB). 

In the Old Testament, God required a sacrifice of an innocent animal to atone, or pay for, the sins of the people. The act of shedding blood to find resolution for guilt has been seen in all cultures and traditions in history, as gruesome and barbarious as it is. God eventually put an end to this need for sacrifice through the shedding of His own son's blood on the Cross of Calvary.

Returing to Exodus 12, the Lord told Moses before the final plague that this moment in time would be for them the first month of their new calendar year, and from now on, they were to do this ceremony annually as a reminder of how the Israelites were saved and brought out of Egypt.

They were supposed to take a lamb without defect, a one-year old male lamb, and take care of it until the 14^th day of the month. Then they were told to slaughter it at twilight, put some of the blood over their doorposts, the frame and sides. That same night, they were to roast the lamb over fire and eat it with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast (Exodus 12:11).

On that same night, the Lord would pass through Egypt and strike down every first born male, both men and animals, and by doing so would bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, “I am the Lord” (Exodus 12:12).

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13-14)

Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and explained to them what the Lord had instructed. Small households that didn’t require a whole lamb could share with their neighbors. They could take branches of hyssop to use to apply the blood to the doorframes. They were told to not go outside their doors until morning. All of these instructions had to be obeyed so they would be protected, and this would become a lasting ordinance between the Israelites and the Lord as a reminder of their salvation at the Exodus.

“When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the tops and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (Exodus 12:23).

At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn males of Egypt, whether royal official, prisoner, or livestock, it didn’t matter. There was loud wailing and not one house without someone dead. The Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said:

“Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” (Exodus 12:31-32).

Pharaoh, who had been previously feared and thought a king with divine authority and sovereignty over Egypt now seemed to be in astonishment and contrition. He even asked Moses and Aaron to bless him, maybe in an attempt to find favor with this God of the Hebrews who had shown such judgment and authority over Egypt.
 

Communion in the Christian church is a time for remembering
what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for all creation.

The Contest with Pharaoh (Exodus 5-11)

When reading through this story, my first thoughts are, “How does this apply to me in real life?!” Does God still cause plagues or perform supernatural signs and wonders anyway? This post will help explain the how and why of the Exodus with a practical application for today.

In Exodus 4, Moses and Aaron obeyed the Lord and made plans to travel to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. They first met with the elders of Israel and explained how the Lord wanted to deliver the Israelites out of their 430 years of slavery in Egypt. The elders were greatly moved when they heard that God had heard their cries for help and was concerned with them. The elders bowed down and worshipped the Lord.

According to my textbook, the story of the Exodus (exiting) of Egypt is one of great struggle between Yahweh, “God of the Hebrews,” and Pharaoh, “King of Egypt.” God’s command of “Let my people go,” is said repeatedly, and so is the king’s refusal, “I will not let Israel go.” In addition to not knowing anything about this “God of the Hebrews,” Pharaoh was a king and had economic reasons to cause him to not want the Israelite slaves to leave; it would mean less productivity and maintenance of the social and economic system of Egypt at the time. Likewise, God did not want a half-hearted partial surrender of the Israelites; God wanted Pharaoh to choose to drive them out of his land entirely to ensure that future generations would know they are free.

Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh 10 times, and each time Pharaoh responds.

Exodus Chapter & Verse	Sign or Plague	Meaning in Story	What Happened Next
7:8-13	Snake or sea monster	God unleashes chaos over which God is sovereign; he controls.	Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign. God’s snake swallows up their snake.
7:14-25	Blood in all water	God has power over water, the source of life.	Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign so Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
8:1-15	Frogs in Nile, houses, bedrooms, kitchens, everywhere!	God has power over the sacred Nile River.	Pharaoh acknowledges the power of God and asks Moses to pray for God to stop. Moses prays. When the plague stops, Pharaoh hardens his heart again.
8:16-19	Dust of the ground turns into gnats.	This is a reminder that mankind one day returns to the dust.	Pharaoh’s magicians cannot replicate this sign.
8:20-32	Flies cover the land and ruin the crops, except not in Goshen, where the Israelites are living.	God has power over all the land. God makes a distinction between “my people and your people.”	Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron they can leave for 3 days to offer sacrifices to their God in the desert.
9:1-7	Diseased livestock	God has power over animal life.	Pharaoh sent men to investigate; none of the Israelites animals were diseased. Pharaoh still remained unyielding.
9:8-12	Boils on men and animals	God has power over human well-being.	Pharaoh’s magicians are covered in boils.
9:13-35	Hail, “the worst storm in the land of Egypt’s history”	God has power over plant life.	Some of Pharaoh’s officials by now fear God; Pharaoh admits he has sinned.
10:1-20	Locusts now destroy any remaining crops.	God has power over all creation.	Pharaoh’s officials now plead with Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh almost allows the men to leave but not the women and children.
10:21-29	Darkness (except not in Goshen)	Judgment against God’s enemies	Pharaoh will now allow all slaves to go, just not the livestock. Moses explains, “not a hoof is to be left behind.” Pharaoh: “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
11:1-10; 12:29-30	Death of the firstborn male and firstborn cattle of all Egyptians.	God claims Egypt’s future.	The firstborn of all Israelites are protected (Passover). Pharaoh commands the Israelites to leave.

Pharaoh learned that this God of the Israelites is “beyond his control.” Egypt was not autonomous and all powerful as Pharaoh willed. The plagues were acts of judgment to demonstrate God’s sovereign rule over Egypt and over Pharaoh’s heart (i.e., his will or disposition). It is worth noting that before each plague, Pharaoh was warned a day in advance so he could take action or change his mind.

The signs and wonders that God performed through Moses and Aaron (through the staff that God supplied them) are obviously supernatural and cannot be explained exactly. To believe these supernatural occurrences is a willingness to believe that there is a God over Creation and this God often uses nature (and science in nature) to accomplish his exact purposes.

The plagues are a type of “reversal of creation” in that there was contamination of water and land, affliction of humans and animals, destruction of plants, and removal of light. The act of darkness was in response to the Egyptian’s worship of the sun god Re (or Ra). The Nile had also been associated with several Egyptian deities: Hapi, Isis, and Khnum. With each plague, the Israelites in Goshen were spared because God said he was making a distinction between “my people” and Pharaoh’s land.

Eventually, Pharaoh receives mercy in the form of the Israelites leaving Egypt.

Application:

1. God intends to separate “His people” from those who do not worship Him.
2. God hears our prayers and answers but not always in the timing or way we imagine.
3. God’s nature shows compassion and mercy, as well as judgment and discipline.
4. God makes a distinction between those who are called “His own” and those who are indifferent to serving and obeying Him. This is a theme that runs throughout the Bible.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ (John 1:12)

Exodus 3-4: The Calling of Moses

Exodus chapter 3 begins with the "calling" of Moses on Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, "the mountain of God." Moses encounters three mysterious events: the appearance of an Angel of the Lord, a burning bush that is not being consumed by the fire, and the voice of God sounding from the fiery bush. When Moses hears the voice of God calling his name, "Moses! Moses!" he says, "Here I am." But when God answers Moses and demonstrates his presence and power, Moses hides his face because he is afraid to look at God.

Eugene Pluchart (French painter, 1809-1880), "God Appears to Moses
in Burning Bush" (1848), St. Isaac of Dalmatia Cathedral, St. Petersburg.

The idea of "calling" someone seems so commonplace and ordinary in vernacular English. From reading online definitions of "call," the general meaning is "to call [out for someone], to command, to request, to summon." This reminds me of a parent calling out for a child to come home, or to come for dinner. The parent knows where the child is (most likely), but it requires a tone of authority or urgency to get the child to answer in obedience. In this story, it requires creativity and a dramatic burning bush to get Moses to leave his daily task of tending to his father-in-law's flock (Exodus 3:3).

In Exodus 3:4 through 4:17, we read there is a conversation between Moses and God. We learn from this conversation a little bit about the nature of God. The setting here is that the Israelites are enslaved by the Egyptians, and God has come to answer their cries for help and rescue them from their misery. God asks for Moses to help! Moses must go to Pharaoh and speak with authority and bring God's people out of bondage. In a bold (yet honest) move, Moses objects by giving 5 reasons!

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (4:13).

From these answers, we can identify with how Moses feels. He already has survived a complicated life. By decree of the king of Egypt, all Hebrew boys were to be thrown in the Nile and only girls allowed to live. So even at birth, his life was in danger. His mother placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile to be found and spared. He was found by the Pharaoh's daughter who had compassion on him and raised him as an Egyptian in the royal household. She named him Moses, meaning, "I drew him out of the water." (Exodus 2).

Forty years later, Moses has fled Egypt, the tyranny of Pharaoh and his harsh oppression of the Israelites, and he is wandering in Midian. He comes upon the priest of Midian, Jethro, who gives him a wife (his daughter Zipporah) and a job. He is busy taking care of his father-in-law Jethro's flock, and he is married. He has a place in a family, a new identity and a purpose. But suddenly, God is calling him and summoning him to do something else?

Location of Ancient Midian.

Just as a reminder, here are his 5 objections:

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it" (4:13).

God answers:

1. God says he will be with Moses and assures him of his presence, "I will be with you" (3:11-12).
2. God reveals his name to Moses, which is a sign of authority, trust and a relationship with God. "I AM WHO I AM" (3:14-15).
3. God gives Moses three miraculous signs, which he can share with others to cause them to believe. (4:1-9). 
4. God assures Moses that he made man and his ability to speak and hear so even in Moses' weakness, God can use him as he determines (4:10-12).
5. God allows Moses to have Aaron as a helper to do the talking. At this point, God is angry with Moses' disobedience, but he is determined to still use Moses in his plan, "I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do" (4:15).

It is noteworthy that God has remained patient with Moses during his first four objections. After his fifth objection, it says, "the Lord's anger burned against Moses" because of his disobedience. Although Moses didn't feel like he was worthy to even be in God's presence, God had a plan for the Israelites and determined to include Moses in the plan. This communication with God was not easy, and Moses even argues with God. After Moses questions God, then God reveals even more about his nature to Moses: his name, his power and authority, his miracles, and his assurance of faith, knowledge and peace. The final word of advice from God to Moses is, "But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it" (4:17). Moses knows he is going out to do a risky mission and God knows he will face hardship, opposition, and will be in need of miracles. But God sends him and Aaron anyway, and Moses and Aaron go. (Wow!)

Application: Relationships require time and energy, open communication and honesty. When talking to God, it is okay to be truthful and disagree. In ourselves, we cannot do anything miraculous. We will have trials in this world. God knows what we are capable of doing when we turn to Him for wisdom, discernment, validation, power, and strength. God sends us helpers.

Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world" (John 16:33). And apostle John wrote to early church believers in his letter: "...everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).