12:43-51 The Lord gave Moses regulations for the Passover meal. No foreigner, temporary resident or hired worker may eat it but their slaves may eat it after they are circumcised. Notice that the Lord did not prohibit the Israelites from owning slaves. The lamb must be eaten in one house and none of its bones may be broken. The whole community must celebrate Passover. An alien who lives among them may eat it after all the males in his household are circumcised. No uncircumcised men may eat it. "All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron." The first Passover meal was on the same day the Lord brought them out of Egypt.

13:1-10 The Lord told Moses to consecrate every firstborn male (man or animal) to Him. Moses told the people to observe the days of unleavened bread to commemorate the day the Lord brought them out of Egypt. For seven days in the month of Abib they must get rid of all the yeast they have and eat unleavened bread. They are to tell future generations that they are doing this in remembrance of what the Lord did for them when He brought them out of Egypt. It's "like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips."

v. 11-16 After they enter Canaan they will continue to consecrate every firstborn male to the Lord. The firstborn sons are to be redeemed with an animal sacrifice but the firstborn livestock are to be sacrificed to the Lord. A donkey may be redeemed by sacrificing a lamb in its place. Again it is said that this practice will be "like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt."

v. 17-22 God knew that the Israelites were not ready for battle with the Philistines even though they left Egypt "armed for battle." So instead of traveling the shortest route to Canaan He led them on the desert road toward the Red Sea. Moses took the bones of Joseph with them because Joseph made his brothers swear to carry his bones back to Canaan when the Lord came to their rescue (Genesis 50:24-25). As they traveled, the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire that gave them light at night. This way they could travel by day or by night.

14:1-4 The Lord told Moses to have the people turn back toward Egypt and make camp near the sea. Pharaoh would think they are confused and the Lord would harden his heart so he would pursue them. This would give the Lord an opportunity to gain glory for Himself so all the Egyptians would know that He is the Lord. Why did the Lord care if the Egyptians knew who He was? We'll find out in the next chapter.

v. 5-18 Pharaoh pursued the Israelites with chariots, horsemen and troops and overtook them where they were camped near the sea. The Israelites were terrified when they saw the Egyptians coming and thought they were all going to die. They complained to Moses that he should have left them in Egypt rather than bringing them out to the desert to die. Moses told them not to be afraid because the Lord would fight for them. They would never see these Egyptians again. The Lord told Moses to raise his staff over the sea and divide the water so that the Israelites could cross on dry land. Once again the Lord would harden their hearts and they would go in after the Israelites and be destroyed. "The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

v. 19-31 The angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved from in front and stood behind the Israelites, separating them from the Egyptians so that neither side could see each other all night. The cloud was light on the Israelite side and dark on the Egyptian side. All that night there was a strong east wind that divided the sea and more than one million Israelites walked across on dry land. But when the Egyptians pursued them the Lord threw them into confusion and made their chariot wheels fall off. They tried to flee because they could see that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites but Moses stretched out his hand again and the water came over them-- drowning all of them. The Lord miraculously saved Israel. When they saw His great power they feared Him and put their trust in Him and in Moses, His servant.

15:1-12 Moses and the people celebrated by singing and praising the Lord. In class we talked about how their song is different than the ones we typically sing in a church service. Our songs rarely mention the Lord's anger. But Moses' song praises the Lord for being a great warrior who hurled an entire army into the sea and killed them. The song goes on to say how the Lord "unleashed His burning anger," piled up the waters with "the blast of His nostrils," and drowned men when He "blew with His breath." The Lord is like no other god. He is "majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders."

v. 13-21 The previous verses of the song told what the Lord had already done for them. The rest of the song looks forward to what He will do. It's interesting that after describing the Lord's anger Moses immediately speaks of His "unfailing love." We discussed in class how it's possible for the Lord to demonstrate anger and love at the same time. In His "unfailing love" the Lord will lead the Israelites and guide them to His "holy dwelling." Other nations "will hear and tremble." The people of the land of the Philistines, and those living in Edom, Moab and Canaan "will be still as a stone until your people pass by." Moses is saying that because of what the Lord did to the Egyptians the current inhabitants of the Promised Land will be terrified when the Israelites come to take possession of it. The Lord Himself will bring His people into Canaan and "plant them on the mountain," the place the Lord made for His dwelling and the sanctuary He established. "The Lord will reign forever and ever." Miriam, Moses' older sister, picked up a tambourine and led the women in praising the Lord for killing the Egyptian army.

v. 22-27 Next they traveled to the Desert of Shur. Three days later they came to Marah where the water was too bitter to drink. The people grumbled against Moses. The Lord told Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water to make it sweet. The Lord made "a decree and a law" for them and He tested them there. He told them that if they listen to His voice and do what is right in His eyes, keeping all His decrees, then He would not bring upon them the diseases He brought on the Egyptians. He is the Lord who heals them. They came to Elim and camped near 12 springs and 70 palm trees. Notice the numbers 12 and 70. There were 12 tribes of Israel and 70 descendants of Jacob who moved from Canaan to Egypt when Joseph was ruler (Genesis 46:27).

This is just the beginning of their time of testing. Next time we will read much more about what the Lord expects of them.