Having delivered Israel from the hands of Pharaoh, the LORD set them on a journey—both spiritual and physical—where they would not only rediscover the land of their forefathers, the land that God had promised them but also restore their lost relationship with Him. It was during this journey that God established rules of conduct and governance for their newly forming nation, even in its current nomadic existence.
Dedicate Your Firstborn
The LORD instructed Moses to consecrate every firstborn male, both human and animal, to Him, as they belonged to God. Moses told the Israelites to commemorate the day they left Egypt, eating only unleavened bread to remember how the LORD brought them out with a mighty hand. They were to observe this ceremony for seven days, during which no yeast should be present in their homes. On the seventh day, they were to hold a festival to the LORD. This observance was to serve as a sign and reminder of the LORD’s power, to be passed down to future generations.
Once the Israelites entered the promised land, they were to dedicate the firstborn of every womb to the LORD. They were also to redeem the firstborn of their livestock, offering a lamb in place of a firstborn donkey. If not redeemed, the donkey was to be killed. Moses instructed the people to explain the significance of these rituals to their children, telling them it was to remember how the LORD delivered them from slavery in Egypt. This practice was to be a lasting sign on their hands and a symbol on their foreheads, a reminder that the LORD brought them out of Egypt with His mighty hand.
The plague struck all firstborns, but the firstborns of the Israelites were spared. These same firstborns are now being consecrated to the LORD. To redeem them, they were to be dedicated to God, set apart for His purposes. Today, many people dedicate their children to God, especially when they are born after a long wait or recover from a life-threatening illness. Yet, they often struggle to fully surrender their children to God and partly blame their offspring for not wanting to serve the LORD.
This struggle occurs because they often focus on teaching their children to fear God rather than showing them His love. As a result, children grow up fearing the LORD and keeping Him at arm’s length. They fear that if they disobey or even come close to Him, He will smite them at the slightest mistake. David instilled a similar fear in his son, and Solomon, instead of loving and having a personal relationship with God, learned to fear Him and keep Him at a distance.
For Solomon, God was not his LORD but the God of his father, David. Solomon merely tried to emulate his father’s experiences rather than create his own with God. We must help the next generation develop a personal relationship with God by instilling the lessons of His love and grace. Otherwise, they may grow distant from Him, never experiencing His love firsthand.
The Long Road Home
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.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. – Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the shorter road through the Philistine country. Instead, He took them by the desert road toward the Red Sea. God knew that if they encountered war, their faith was not strong enough, and they might turn back to Egypt. God is always aware of our stance, understanding the strength of our faith and leading us in ways that protect us, even when we may not fully comprehend His plan.
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.” – Exodus 13:19 (NIV)
Moses took Joseph’s bones with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath, saying, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” This act occurred before the Ark of the Covenant, making Joseph’s bones a kind of idol for the people. Despite being in a rush and not having time to break the Passover lamb’s bones, they took the time to dig up Joseph’s bones, prioritizing a man’s request over other instructions from God. This act reveals how the people placed significance on Joseph’s bones, almost as if they had become an object of reverence, rather than solely focusing on God’s direct commands.
The Guiding Light
The Israelites journeyed from Sukkoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. Throughout their travels, the LORD visibly guided and protected them, appearing as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This constant presence ensured they could travel safely at any time, day or night. The LORD remained in front of them, leading the way and preventing them from straying or abandoning their path.
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. – Exodus 13:22 (NIV)
In our lives, God desires to lead us in a similar way. Whether in the light of day or the depths of the darkest nights, He never leaves our side. It is we who fail to see Him when we allow ourselves to be consumed by the worries of the world. Even in the midst of our darkest days, we can find Him leading us—if only we look up, we will see Him guiding us with His gentle love. We have a choice: to hold His hand and move forward or to return to the problems we left behind.
Unfortunately, more often than not, we choose to return to our own “Egypt,” lacking trust in God when the challenges seem insurmountable. It is for this reason that the story of the Israelites’ journey in the desert serves to reaffirm our own journey with the LORD, reminding us to trust in our LORD and pass the baton of His love to everyone we encounter during our journey towards Him.
Discussion Questions
- Why was the consecration of the firstborn important before the Israelites made their forty-year journey into the wilderness?
- How did the Israelites not have time to finish their meal but had time to dig up Joseph’s bones?
- Why did God lead the Israelites in the form of a pillar of cloud and fire?
The Jordan Valley 
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