2025 Exodus 13, God Sees More Than We See
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2025-02-02 16:55
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God Sees More Than We See
Exodus 13
God emancipated Israel from the slavery of Egypt. Finally, the Israelites left Egypt. It is compared to a new life through faith in Jesus. Egypt represents the land of slavery to sin and death. Every human being is born in the land of slavery and they need emancipation. How? Not through mediation or good deeds or any religious activities but by faith in the blood of Jesus only. Now, the Israelites were free. They started a new life toward God’s Promised Land. Then what is the core value from now on?
First, offer God the first and best
Verse 2 says, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.” God spared the first born from death. Now, the firstborn belongs to God. Later on, the first fruit, crop, animal you grow or raise belong to the Lord. Here is the principle God says, “I am God. I redeemed you. Offer your firstborn and offer your best to Me.”
All the firstborn males and animals of every household in Egypt died. However, the firstborn of the house that had the blood of the lamb were saved from death. They could have thought that this was the end. However, God educated them. “I saved your firstborns who were to die. Now offer the firstborn to me.” It was not because God wanted sacrifice from them, but because they might know and remember where their salvation came from. “Yes, my salvation came from God. Now I offer the firstborn to God.” By offering the firstborn to God, they honor God. They are trained to be thankful for God’s grace and worship Him. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
The firstborn means the most precious. God accepted when Abel offered the firstborn of his flock. God is the owner of all things. Nevertheless, He says that the firstborn is particularly His. The firstborn represents all things that will come next. Therefore, we Christians offer the first hour of the day, the first day after creation, the Sabbath day, and the tithe of our wages. This is to remember and be thankful that God is our Creator and Savior. Verse 12, 13b says, “You are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.”
Today, Jewish fathers pay five shekels ($ 2) to redeem their first born son based on Numbers 18:15. A Levi or priest asks a simple question, “Do you want to keep money or your son?” And the fathers answer, “I want my son, I am willing to pay money.” This is redemption of son.
All the firstborn animals must be offered to God but there is an exception, donkey. Verse 13a says, “Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.”
According to Leviticus 11, a donkey is an unclean animal. Therefore, the Israelites are not to offer a firstborn donkey to God. Then, a donkey could be redeemed by substituting a lamb in its place. Now, people recognize that the firstborn donkey is alive because a lamb has died instead.
Here, the donkey symbolizes sinners. Though we are unclean and defiled because of sins, we worship God and have a hope for God’s kingdom. This is because there is a lamb that died in our place. That lamb is Jesus who shed his blood and died on the cross to wash away our sins.
Originally, a donkey was unclean and could not be used for God. However, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Samson killed 1,000 enemies with the jawbone of a donkey. The unclean donkey was used as God’s tool. That donkey is you and me. You and I were unclean and defiled because of our sins, but we have been cleansed and used by God through the death of the lamb, Jesus.
What a wonderful grace it is for us to be used by God on this earth! Whenever I come to church, whenever I give an offering and whenever I invite people to church, I am thankful to God because I was someone whose neck should be broken, but how thankful I am to be used by God in this precious way! May God bless you to offer your first and best to Him. May God also use you for his eternal purpose.
Second, eat bread without yeast.
The bread without yeast is dry and tasteless. Eat unleavened bread means to remember your past suffering and keep you holy. Look at verse 3. “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.” The life in Egypt was slave life. Egypt was slavery land. There, the Israelites labored all days meaninglessly. There, they were harassed verbally, physically and spiritually. There, they shed lots of tears. But out of God’s mighty hand and unfathomable mercy, they were rescued. Now God wants them to remember their past sufferings and God’s grace by eating unleavened bread. It is a train to keep them pure and deny secular desires.
In the New Testament, Babylon is like Egypt that is a symbol of the world; wealth, pleasure and power. Revelation 18:2-4 says, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit. Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” Our Lord Jesus taught his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It means their hypocritical and secular pleasure seeking teachings and life styles. That is Babylon.
Babylon is filled with immorality and luxury. Immorality is satisfaction without God. “You can be satisfied without God.” This is the world’s philosophy. “Then, are we satisfied and filled from the world?” No! So, man seeks luxury, “more, more and gather, gather.” Then man falls into addiction and perversion. The world likes bread with yeast.
However, we God’s people live on unleavened bread. We know true joy, satisfaction and fullness are not in the world but in God. So we do not seek luxury and excessiveness. We do not put the yeast in our life.
Live a simple life. God will fill you up. Chasing more and gather more is bread with yeast. Pursuing high class and high end clothes, restaurant, car and house is bread with yeast. Living simply is the spirit of unleavened bread. At that time, God will fill you up with what you need. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
If you seek luxury, you are in Babylon. On the other hand, if you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus, you will have no fear. You will live as if you have everything. This is the spirit of unleavened bread.
Third, go through the desert road
Finally, they left Egypt. Now, there are two roads before them. Look at verse 17. “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.” The Philistine road is wide and flat along the coast, easy and safe to walk. It is shorter that they could get to the Promised Land in a week.
On the other hand, the desert road is rough taking much more time, eventually 40 years. Which road would you choose? God led them to a narrow and rough road to His Promised Land.
They say that success in early age is one of three dangers in man’s life. Most young people dream of success, earning a lot of money, buying a house and being recognized as early as possible. How about you? But early success is dangerous. Why? It is because there is no training or trials. We need period of disciplining or trials to grow and mature to gain insight and wisdom. If you receive too much in your early age without trainings or trials, such success could be a curse to you. Therefore, God led His people not through wide and shorter road but through rough desert road.
A poor woman did sewing at a shabby rented room heard unusual and strange sound while raining. She went out and dug up the place of sound. She found a big box of lots of gold and silver. She could have bought a big house and educated her son in a good school. However, she buried the box again and quickly moved out to another place. She raised her son doing sewing continually . Long time later, her son became the Prime Minister. When she was going to die, she told her people about the box story. Everyone was surprised and asked her, “Why did you bury it again?” While smiling, she answered that money earned quickly without blood, toil, sweat and tears makes people lazy, greedy and less motivated. “I did not want to guide my son to that road.” People respected the woman deeply.
What would you do if you were the woman finding a jewelry box? Would you be happy thinking it is a blessing from God? However, success earned quickly without training or trial or tears of toil could be a curse.
King Saul became king without training. He achieved early success. The problem? He couldn’t even solve a simple problem. He suffered all his life from jealousy due to a single song, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7) He should have matured as time went by, but instead, when he was in a crisis, he visited a fortuneteller. He was destroyed.
On the other hand, David who met God in his teens received intense trainings and trials in the desert until he became king at 30. In the desert, he learned worship and prayer. He understood suffering people’s agony and served them. That desert period was blessing to him.
Therefore, the desert road is actually a safe road. Whenever I see young people who plan and go their own road seemingly easy or successful without spiritual training, I am concerned, “Oh, it’s dangerous…” Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a road that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
God leads us through desert road because he knows us and he has higher purpose. Therefore, when you are going on desert road, be thankful. It is a time for you to grow and mature to become a giant.
Look at verse 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.” Israel had not yet experienced war. They were not yet trained. When they meet the Philistines, hostile, well trained armed with iron weapons, they would be defeated. Indeed the seemingly safe and easy road was the road of failure and death.
Some argue and complain, “I come to church. I follow Jesus. Then why is the road I walk on so rough and narrow?” If you don’t know the answer, simply trust that God is wiser than you. He is perfect and good. He knows you and your weakness. He loves you. So, He guides you to the best road.
I do not know which road is the best. Some are sick. Some are financially hard. Some suffer because of relationship problem. Now, Canada faces a crisis. They say this crisis is bigger than that of Covid. They blame that guy. They complain, “Why is God leading us to this rough and hard road?” Do you know why? But one thing is clear. When you have faith in Jesus and when there are worship, prayer and gospel work in your life, the road you are walking on now is the best. He is strengthening you through that desert road. He is helping you to realize that every glittering things of the world is like a grass that withers soon. (I want many Canadians to realize it.) And he is blessing you to win.
Fourth, have God’s promise
Look at verse 19. “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” Joseph was the second most powerful man in Egypt. He was very successful when he was at 30. Even then, he held on to God's promise. He looked forward to God’s Promised Land. Before and after his success, he was same in his faith and worship and life attitude.
Some people come to church regularly and greet others politely. However, when they get a job and make some money, their attitude is changed. They easily miss worship service or do not come any more. And their gestures and attitude change.
But Joseph was different. He was so blessed, but he was unchanging. He worshiped God, served people and put his hope in God’s promised land. I hope we may have his attitude too. No matter how blessed we are, I pray that we may not be distracted by things of the world but keep our hope in the kingdom of God.
This world we live is temporary. We are like travelers heading toward our hometown, the kingdom of God. So, we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7” If you live by the word of God, you will not be buried in this fleeing world. You will be victorious.
Fifth, be led by the Holy Spirit
Look at verses 21, 22. “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.” God protected them from scorching heat by a pillar of cloud and cold weather by a pillar of fire. Moreover God went ahead of them like a good shepherd for his sheep. Jesus says, “I will give you the Comforter, my Holy Spirit, who will dwell in you. So we look to God and we pray, God lead on. Help us not to wander from you into temptation and sin. God help us to be pure and holy. Help us to walk in obedience to you, your word, your commands. When you just follow the Holy Spirit as you worship God and pray and follow Jesus daily, you make tremendous progress. Psalm 48:14 “God is our God forever; he will guide us even until death.” May God bless you have new values in Jesus that you may offer your best to Him and be led by the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 13
God emancipated Israel from the slavery of Egypt. Finally, the Israelites left Egypt. It is compared to a new life through faith in Jesus. Egypt represents the land of slavery to sin and death. Every human being is born in the land of slavery and they need emancipation. How? Not through mediation or good deeds or any religious activities but by faith in the blood of Jesus only. Now, the Israelites were free. They started a new life toward God’s Promised Land. Then what is the core value from now on?
First, offer God the first and best
Verse 2 says, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.” God spared the first born from death. Now, the firstborn belongs to God. Later on, the first fruit, crop, animal you grow or raise belong to the Lord. Here is the principle God says, “I am God. I redeemed you. Offer your firstborn and offer your best to Me.”
All the firstborn males and animals of every household in Egypt died. However, the firstborn of the house that had the blood of the lamb were saved from death. They could have thought that this was the end. However, God educated them. “I saved your firstborns who were to die. Now offer the firstborn to me.” It was not because God wanted sacrifice from them, but because they might know and remember where their salvation came from. “Yes, my salvation came from God. Now I offer the firstborn to God.” By offering the firstborn to God, they honor God. They are trained to be thankful for God’s grace and worship Him. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
The firstborn means the most precious. God accepted when Abel offered the firstborn of his flock. God is the owner of all things. Nevertheless, He says that the firstborn is particularly His. The firstborn represents all things that will come next. Therefore, we Christians offer the first hour of the day, the first day after creation, the Sabbath day, and the tithe of our wages. This is to remember and be thankful that God is our Creator and Savior. Verse 12, 13b says, “You are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.”
Today, Jewish fathers pay five shekels ($ 2) to redeem their first born son based on Numbers 18:15. A Levi or priest asks a simple question, “Do you want to keep money or your son?” And the fathers answer, “I want my son, I am willing to pay money.” This is redemption of son.
All the firstborn animals must be offered to God but there is an exception, donkey. Verse 13a says, “Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.”
According to Leviticus 11, a donkey is an unclean animal. Therefore, the Israelites are not to offer a firstborn donkey to God. Then, a donkey could be redeemed by substituting a lamb in its place. Now, people recognize that the firstborn donkey is alive because a lamb has died instead.
Here, the donkey symbolizes sinners. Though we are unclean and defiled because of sins, we worship God and have a hope for God’s kingdom. This is because there is a lamb that died in our place. That lamb is Jesus who shed his blood and died on the cross to wash away our sins.
Originally, a donkey was unclean and could not be used for God. However, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Samson killed 1,000 enemies with the jawbone of a donkey. The unclean donkey was used as God’s tool. That donkey is you and me. You and I were unclean and defiled because of our sins, but we have been cleansed and used by God through the death of the lamb, Jesus.
What a wonderful grace it is for us to be used by God on this earth! Whenever I come to church, whenever I give an offering and whenever I invite people to church, I am thankful to God because I was someone whose neck should be broken, but how thankful I am to be used by God in this precious way! May God bless you to offer your first and best to Him. May God also use you for his eternal purpose.
Second, eat bread without yeast.
The bread without yeast is dry and tasteless. Eat unleavened bread means to remember your past suffering and keep you holy. Look at verse 3. “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.” The life in Egypt was slave life. Egypt was slavery land. There, the Israelites labored all days meaninglessly. There, they were harassed verbally, physically and spiritually. There, they shed lots of tears. But out of God’s mighty hand and unfathomable mercy, they were rescued. Now God wants them to remember their past sufferings and God’s grace by eating unleavened bread. It is a train to keep them pure and deny secular desires.
In the New Testament, Babylon is like Egypt that is a symbol of the world; wealth, pleasure and power. Revelation 18:2-4 says, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit. Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” Our Lord Jesus taught his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It means their hypocritical and secular pleasure seeking teachings and life styles. That is Babylon.
Babylon is filled with immorality and luxury. Immorality is satisfaction without God. “You can be satisfied without God.” This is the world’s philosophy. “Then, are we satisfied and filled from the world?” No! So, man seeks luxury, “more, more and gather, gather.” Then man falls into addiction and perversion. The world likes bread with yeast.
However, we God’s people live on unleavened bread. We know true joy, satisfaction and fullness are not in the world but in God. So we do not seek luxury and excessiveness. We do not put the yeast in our life.
Live a simple life. God will fill you up. Chasing more and gather more is bread with yeast. Pursuing high class and high end clothes, restaurant, car and house is bread with yeast. Living simply is the spirit of unleavened bread. At that time, God will fill you up with what you need. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
If you seek luxury, you are in Babylon. On the other hand, if you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus, you will have no fear. You will live as if you have everything. This is the spirit of unleavened bread.
Third, go through the desert road
Finally, they left Egypt. Now, there are two roads before them. Look at verse 17. “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.” The Philistine road is wide and flat along the coast, easy and safe to walk. It is shorter that they could get to the Promised Land in a week.
On the other hand, the desert road is rough taking much more time, eventually 40 years. Which road would you choose? God led them to a narrow and rough road to His Promised Land.
They say that success in early age is one of three dangers in man’s life. Most young people dream of success, earning a lot of money, buying a house and being recognized as early as possible. How about you? But early success is dangerous. Why? It is because there is no training or trials. We need period of disciplining or trials to grow and mature to gain insight and wisdom. If you receive too much in your early age without trainings or trials, such success could be a curse to you. Therefore, God led His people not through wide and shorter road but through rough desert road.
A poor woman did sewing at a shabby rented room heard unusual and strange sound while raining. She went out and dug up the place of sound. She found a big box of lots of gold and silver. She could have bought a big house and educated her son in a good school. However, she buried the box again and quickly moved out to another place. She raised her son doing sewing continually . Long time later, her son became the Prime Minister. When she was going to die, she told her people about the box story. Everyone was surprised and asked her, “Why did you bury it again?” While smiling, she answered that money earned quickly without blood, toil, sweat and tears makes people lazy, greedy and less motivated. “I did not want to guide my son to that road.” People respected the woman deeply.
What would you do if you were the woman finding a jewelry box? Would you be happy thinking it is a blessing from God? However, success earned quickly without training or trial or tears of toil could be a curse.
King Saul became king without training. He achieved early success. The problem? He couldn’t even solve a simple problem. He suffered all his life from jealousy due to a single song, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7) He should have matured as time went by, but instead, when he was in a crisis, he visited a fortuneteller. He was destroyed.
On the other hand, David who met God in his teens received intense trainings and trials in the desert until he became king at 30. In the desert, he learned worship and prayer. He understood suffering people’s agony and served them. That desert period was blessing to him.
Therefore, the desert road is actually a safe road. Whenever I see young people who plan and go their own road seemingly easy or successful without spiritual training, I am concerned, “Oh, it’s dangerous…” Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a road that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
God leads us through desert road because he knows us and he has higher purpose. Therefore, when you are going on desert road, be thankful. It is a time for you to grow and mature to become a giant.
Look at verse 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.” Israel had not yet experienced war. They were not yet trained. When they meet the Philistines, hostile, well trained armed with iron weapons, they would be defeated. Indeed the seemingly safe and easy road was the road of failure and death.
Some argue and complain, “I come to church. I follow Jesus. Then why is the road I walk on so rough and narrow?” If you don’t know the answer, simply trust that God is wiser than you. He is perfect and good. He knows you and your weakness. He loves you. So, He guides you to the best road.
I do not know which road is the best. Some are sick. Some are financially hard. Some suffer because of relationship problem. Now, Canada faces a crisis. They say this crisis is bigger than that of Covid. They blame that guy. They complain, “Why is God leading us to this rough and hard road?” Do you know why? But one thing is clear. When you have faith in Jesus and when there are worship, prayer and gospel work in your life, the road you are walking on now is the best. He is strengthening you through that desert road. He is helping you to realize that every glittering things of the world is like a grass that withers soon. (I want many Canadians to realize it.) And he is blessing you to win.
Fourth, have God’s promise
Look at verse 19. “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” Joseph was the second most powerful man in Egypt. He was very successful when he was at 30. Even then, he held on to God's promise. He looked forward to God’s Promised Land. Before and after his success, he was same in his faith and worship and life attitude.
Some people come to church regularly and greet others politely. However, when they get a job and make some money, their attitude is changed. They easily miss worship service or do not come any more. And their gestures and attitude change.
But Joseph was different. He was so blessed, but he was unchanging. He worshiped God, served people and put his hope in God’s promised land. I hope we may have his attitude too. No matter how blessed we are, I pray that we may not be distracted by things of the world but keep our hope in the kingdom of God.
This world we live is temporary. We are like travelers heading toward our hometown, the kingdom of God. So, we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7” If you live by the word of God, you will not be buried in this fleeing world. You will be victorious.
Fifth, be led by the Holy Spirit
Look at verses 21, 22. “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.” God protected them from scorching heat by a pillar of cloud and cold weather by a pillar of fire. Moreover God went ahead of them like a good shepherd for his sheep. Jesus says, “I will give you the Comforter, my Holy Spirit, who will dwell in you. So we look to God and we pray, God lead on. Help us not to wander from you into temptation and sin. God help us to be pure and holy. Help us to walk in obedience to you, your word, your commands. When you just follow the Holy Spirit as you worship God and pray and follow Jesus daily, you make tremendous progress. Psalm 48:14 “God is our God forever; he will guide us even until death.” May God bless you have new values in Jesus that you may offer your best to Him and be led by the Holy Spirit.