Children Reminded of God's 'Strong Hand'

For more detail, search Exodus 13.

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine" (Exodus 13:1,2).

Moses reminded the children of Israel of God's 'strength of hand' that brought them out of the bondage in Egypt during the month of Abib. Moses said, "...[T]here shall no leavened bread be eaten" (Exodus 13:3,4). "Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters" (Exodus 13:6,7).

Even when the children arrive at God's promised land, "...a land flowing with milk and honey...", they were to keep the ordinance in the month of Abib every year (Exodus 13:5,10).

"And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt" (Exodus 13:8,9).

"And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the [womb], and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of many among thy children shalt thou redeem. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew 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 that openeth the [womb], being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt" (Exodus 13:11-16).

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest [perhaps] the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 13:17,18).

"And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you" (Exodus 13:19).

The children of Israel journeyed from Succoth to Etham where they set up camp 'in the edge of the wilderness' (Exodus 13:20).

"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people" (Exodus 13:21,22).

God's Hand in the Matter: The strength of God's hand is mentioned throughout this chapter. The children of Israel were reminded that God had used His 'strong hand' in releasing them from the oppressive living conditions in Egypt.

God's 'strong hand' had given way to His loving hand when He led the children on their journey. God took the long way around to their destination to avoid a war in the Philistines' land in order to keep the children from returning to Egypt.