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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Exodus 13-15 God's people need him to guide them

From Exodus 13-15




Overview
Ex 13.1-2 Law; The LORD commands Moses to consecrate all the firstborn. The firstborn are the LORDs
Ex 13.3-10 Law; Festival of unleavened bread to commemorate coming out of Egypt
Ex 13.11-16 Law; Consecration of the firstborn as a sign and remembrance of their deliverance from slavery
Ex 13.17-22 Story; The LORD guides Israel as a Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Ex 14.1-9 Story; Pharaoh pursues Israel
Ex 14.10-14 Story; Israel fears Pharaoh and regrets leaving Egypt
Ex 14.15-31 Story; The LORD saved Israel passing through the red sea and destroys Pharaoh
Ex 15.1-21 Story; The song of Moses about the LORD's victory and salvation
Ex 15.22-27 Story; Bitter water made sweet, the LORD commands the people to listen and obey with a promise

Passage and Comments
Its quite clear that Israel, God's firstborn son (Ex 4.22) needs the LORD to guide them. One of the more colourful passages in Exodus is;

[21] 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, that they might travel by day and by night. [22] The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)

I have a picture of Charlton Heston's 'The Ten Commandments' with a twister (tornado) leading the people forth. Maybe the same sort of thing, but with fire at night. How close was it? What would it look like? We can only imagine. Seeing that would give hope to the new nation of God's people.

Story of Israel
Once Israel settled in the promised land God did not need to lead them around in the same way. In a sense the priests and prophets mediated God's leadership through the law and through the word of God.

Story of Jesus
What about us? Do we desire to be lead by God? Jesus sends his Spirit into his people and we can know what he said through the gospel. So yes he guides us. Perhaps it is not always automatic though. And God desires us to ask him for guidance. God wants us to speak to him. Speak to him now and ask for guidance in whatever stage of life you are in.