CH 13: Dedication of the Firstborn. The Lord told Moses to have all the Israelites dedicate the firstborn among them, including their livestock, to the Lord. This was a ceremony to remember what God did at Passover. Because God spared the firstborn during the Passover, the dedication ceremony was a remembrance of His grace. So, the firstborn was "redeemed" during the ceremony.
God also reiterated that He would bring the children of Israel, His people, to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. And He let them know that other people inhabited this land but that He would clear it and give it to Israel.
Moses also remembered to take the bones of Joseph with them, as Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to this decades ago. So, as God told Moses to do, he led them in a round about way toward the Promised Land, avoiding the main road which went straight through Palestine territory, thus also avoiding a confrontation with the Philistines. During this time, the Lord led them during the day with a pillar of cloud (to shade them in the desert) and at night a pillar of fire for light.
CH 14: THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA. At this point the Lord told Moses to turn back a bit and camp by the sea shore near Baal-zephon, just within distance for Pharaoh to know they were there- and he did find out- and got 600 of his very best chariots, all the rest of his chariots, his horsemen and all his soldiers together and pursued the Israelites. He figured they must be confused and now was his time to kill some and bring the others back to Egypt as slaves again.
When the Israelites saw this huge overwhelming army of Egypt coming they panicked! Moses reassured the people not to be afraid, but to now watch what the Lord will do. Moses told them, the Lord Himself will fight for you! Just stay calm (vs14).
At this point, the angel of the Lord, the cloud, came in between the Israelites and the Egyptian army. As darkness fell, the cloud turned into the pillar of fire and gave them light- but the Egyptians and Israelites stayed at a distance that night from each other.
Then, Moses raised his hand over the sea and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong eastern wind. The wind blew all night and eventually there was a dry path. The people walked through on dry ground in between walls of water on each side! But the Egyptians saw this and pursued them through the sea, and just before dawn, the Lord saw this from the pillar of fire and brought confusion to the Egyptian army. He twisted the wheels of the chariots, and the army started yelling to turn back and get away from the Israelites. The Egyptians started yelling "The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!" (vs25)
When the Israelites had reached the other side safely, the Lord had Moses raise his hand over the sea again, and this time the waters rushed back and covered the Egyptians entirely. Not a single one survived. The Israelites witnessed this and were filled with awe of their God. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant, Moses.
CH 15: Moses and the Israelite people sang a beautiful song to the Lord. (Please see chapter 15 for this song verses 1-21.)
After this, the people went into the desert of Shur and after traveling for 3 days and finding no drinkable water at the oasis named Marah (it was too bitter), they started complaining to Moses. The Lord told them through Moses to remain faithful and follow His commands and He will not allow disease or sickness to come upon the people. Moses was then instructed to throw a piece of wood into the waters at Marah, and the water became good to drink. They then traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where there were 12 springs and palm trees, and camped there for a time.
God also reiterated that He would bring the children of Israel, His people, to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. And He let them know that other people inhabited this land but that He would clear it and give it to Israel.
Moses also remembered to take the bones of Joseph with them, as Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to this decades ago. So, as God told Moses to do, he led them in a round about way toward the Promised Land, avoiding the main road which went straight through Palestine territory, thus also avoiding a confrontation with the Philistines. During this time, the Lord led them during the day with a pillar of cloud (to shade them in the desert) and at night a pillar of fire for light.
CH 14: THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA. At this point the Lord told Moses to turn back a bit and camp by the sea shore near Baal-zephon, just within distance for Pharaoh to know they were there- and he did find out- and got 600 of his very best chariots, all the rest of his chariots, his horsemen and all his soldiers together and pursued the Israelites. He figured they must be confused and now was his time to kill some and bring the others back to Egypt as slaves again.
When the Israelites saw this huge overwhelming army of Egypt coming they panicked! Moses reassured the people not to be afraid, but to now watch what the Lord will do. Moses told them, the Lord Himself will fight for you! Just stay calm (vs14).
At this point, the angel of the Lord, the cloud, came in between the Israelites and the Egyptian army. As darkness fell, the cloud turned into the pillar of fire and gave them light- but the Egyptians and Israelites stayed at a distance that night from each other.
Then, Moses raised his hand over the sea and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong eastern wind. The wind blew all night and eventually there was a dry path. The people walked through on dry ground in between walls of water on each side! But the Egyptians saw this and pursued them through the sea, and just before dawn, the Lord saw this from the pillar of fire and brought confusion to the Egyptian army. He twisted the wheels of the chariots, and the army started yelling to turn back and get away from the Israelites. The Egyptians started yelling "The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!" (vs25)
When the Israelites had reached the other side safely, the Lord had Moses raise his hand over the sea again, and this time the waters rushed back and covered the Egyptians entirely. Not a single one survived. The Israelites witnessed this and were filled with awe of their God. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant, Moses.
CH 15: Moses and the Israelite people sang a beautiful song to the Lord. (Please see chapter 15 for this song verses 1-21.)
After this, the people went into the desert of Shur and after traveling for 3 days and finding no drinkable water at the oasis named Marah (it was too bitter), they started complaining to Moses. The Lord told them through Moses to remain faithful and follow His commands and He will not allow disease or sickness to come upon the people. Moses was then instructed to throw a piece of wood into the waters at Marah, and the water became good to drink. They then traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where there were 12 springs and palm trees, and camped there for a time.