This annual festival will be a visible sign
to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you
always to recite this teaching of the LORD: 'With a strong hand, the LORD
rescued you from Egypt.' So observe the decree of this festival at the
appointed time each year. "This is what you must do when the LORD fulfills
the promise he swore to you and to your ancestors. When he gives you the land
where the Canaanites now live, you must present all firstborn sons and
firstborn male animals to the LORD, for they belong to him. A firstborn donkey
may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its
place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you
must buy back every firstborn son. "And in the future, your children will
ask you, 'What does all this mean?' Then you will tell them, 'With the power of
his mighty hand, the LORD brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.
Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the LORD killed all the firstborn
males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now
sacrifice all the firstborn males to the LORD--except that the firstborn sons
are always bought back.' This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand
or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the LORD's mighty hand
brought us out of Egypt." When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did
not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even
though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the
people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to
Egypt." So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward
the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle. Exodus
13:9-18
Passover…What does all this mean? It
is a reminder that the power of the LORD's mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.
 |
| Wilderness Route - Like the Road from Jericho to Jerusalem |
Let my people go! And Pharaoh finally did.
Now God leads them out into the wilderness to avoid taking the Israelites into
battle when they’ve just left a horrible situation of slavery. They were worn
out and burned out…not ready for a battle. But it says… Thus the Israelites left Egypt
like an army ready for battle. God had a plan and a promise. He was
going to take His chosen people to the Promised Land.
Do you trust God that as a believer in His
Son, you are a chosen one, and that He will take you to His Promised Land? The way
I see it we are headed to Heaven one day…as part of God’s adopted family. God
is not leading us directly to that heavenly Promised Land—we’re taking a
roundabout way to gather up some more people. Who has God put in your pathway that
needs to know about God and His plan?
Prayer
~ Lord God, continue to remind us that it is Your power that has brought us out
of slavery—slavery to sin. Remind us that You have saved us for a purpose—not just
for ourselves to be cared for and comfortable. Thank you for caring about us…and
about caring for others around us who are part of Your eternal plan…and they
just don’t know it yet.
Daily
Bible Reading: February 11 – Exodus 36-38
©
2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted
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