Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 28 October 2023

Message: “The LORD went before them” Exodus 13:21

Text: Exodus 13:1-22

INTRODUCTION

1. Important Reminders

a) Many events had taken place

b) Significant things are to be remembered

2. Two things were highlighted

a) The Consecration of the Firstborn

b) The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

THE CONSECRATION OF THE FIRSTBORN

1Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

Exodus 13:1-2

1. A Command from the LORD

2. The Consecration of the Firstborn

THE FEAST OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD

3 And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.
4 On this day you are going out, in the month Abib.
5 And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.
7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters.
8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.’
9 It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

Exodus 13:3-10

1. This Feast was to be kept perpetually

2. Unleavened Bread was to be eaten for a whole week

3. This was to be explained to all the children

4. Things never to be forgotten

a) Redemption from the house of bondage

b) The strength of the Lord manifested

c) With a strong hand God led Israel

i) Out of bondage in Egypt

ii) To a land flowing with milk and honey (Canaan)

EXPLANATION OF THE LAW OF THE FIRSTBORN

11 “And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,
12 that you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD’s.
13 But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

Exodus 13:11-16

1. All firstborn males are to be consecrated (set apart) for the LORD

a) Male baby

b) Male animal

2. Firstborn donkey

a) It may be redeemed with a lamb

b) Or it must be killed

3. To be taught to the children

a) All firstborn males to be consecrated

b) To remember how God passed over the children of Israel

c) All were spared from death

d) This is never to be forgotten

THE LEADING OF THE LORD

17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”
20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness.
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Exodus 13:17-22

1. God’s leading was of paramount significance

a) Where He does not lead

i) The way of the land of the Philistines

ii) It was nearer

iii) If the people saw war, they might want to return to Egypt

b) The way of the Wilderness

i) It was longer

ii) It was more difficult

iii) God’s leading was of vital importance

2. Leaving Egypt

a) The command of Joseph was to have his bones taken to Canaan

Moses took the bones of Joseph and fulfilled his word

b) Marching out of Egypt in an orderly manner

3. The Presence of God

a) The LORD went before the people

i) A Pillar of Cloud by day

ii) A Pillar of Fire by night to give light

b) The Presence of the Two Pillars

i) That stood with the children of Israel every day

ii) His leading was a permanent and visible one

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

1. The Fulfilment of the LORD’s word to Abraham

a) That the children of Israel would be in Egypt

b) That they would leave Egypt for Canaan

2. The Faithfulness of the LORD

a) His Power manifested

b) His Presence evidenced

3. The Following of the LORD

a) With faith

b) With faithfulness