Exodus 13 is only twenty-two verses, which is rather short compared to the other chapters in Exodus. However, two themes are stressed multiple times over the course of the twenty-two verses.
The first is a call for Israel to remember how they were able to get out of slavery in Egypt.
Remember...for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. (v.3)
And it shall be to you as a sign...For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. (v.9)
...you shall to say him, By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. (v.14)
It shall be as a mark...for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt. (v.16)
The second is a call for Israel to trust and know who was going before them into the Promise Land.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land... (v.17)
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea...(v.18)
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light... (v.21)
The pillar of cloud...and the pillar of fire did not depart from before the people. (v.22)
For us on this side of the crucifixion, these verses hold the same value. First, we are to remember the strong hand of God, which redeemed us from the house of slavery. Christ's death and resurrection was the display of God's power (Ephesians 1). We should be reminding ourselves and one another of this truth every single day.
Additionally, we are to remember God is the one leading us into the Promise Land. Like Israel, God has not left us to ourselves. Instead of a pillar of cloud and fire, we have been given the indwelling Spirit of God. He is the one who goes before us and leads us to our final home in the city of God. We should be daily submitting ourselves to His guidance and faithfully following His leading.
For just as He did with Israel, God has led us out by His strong arm, and He will lead us in with that same strong arm.
The first is a call for Israel to remember how they were able to get out of slavery in Egypt.
Remember...for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. (v.3)
And it shall be to you as a sign...For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. (v.9)
...you shall to say him, By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. (v.14)
It shall be as a mark...for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt. (v.16)
The second is a call for Israel to trust and know who was going before them into the Promise Land.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land... (v.17)
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea...(v.18)
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light... (v.21)
The pillar of cloud...and the pillar of fire did not depart from before the people. (v.22)
For us on this side of the crucifixion, these verses hold the same value. First, we are to remember the strong hand of God, which redeemed us from the house of slavery. Christ's death and resurrection was the display of God's power (Ephesians 1). We should be reminding ourselves and one another of this truth every single day.
Additionally, we are to remember God is the one leading us into the Promise Land. Like Israel, God has not left us to ourselves. Instead of a pillar of cloud and fire, we have been given the indwelling Spirit of God. He is the one who goes before us and leads us to our final home in the city of God. We should be daily submitting ourselves to His guidance and faithfully following His leading.
For just as He did with Israel, God has led us out by His strong arm, and He will lead us in with that same strong arm.
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