In this particular portion of Scripture we see Israel between two highly significant events: the Passover and their attempted entry into the Promised Land. These chapters take us with Israel from Egypt to Sinai, from the world to an encounter with God, from being an escaping bunch of slaves to becoming a special nation.

In the months leading up to the Passover they, perhaps, only vaguely realised what God was doing through Moses. Yes, they knew disasters were hitting Egypt one after another, but they had known so little of the Lord in their four hundred years in Egypt , that it probably took a long while to fully realise that these were acts of Almighty God, being brought with the express purpose of delivering them from slavery.

When, finally, they were virtually thrust out of their "homeland" in Egypt , they probably could hardly believe what was happening. When they were caught with the Sea in front and an enraged pursuing Pharaoh behind, they probably could hardly realise that this also was part of God's plan. When, after a miraculous deliverance they are following an equally miraculous pillar of cloud or fire, they find provision of food and water running out, they find it difficult to believe that God can be in all this. They appear unable to be able to consider these things as tests (see James 1:2,3) which they fail badly!

At this stage their knowledge of God is very limited and so His reaction to their grumbling is very gentle. The turning point in all this comes once the Lord reveals Himself to them at Sinai. Thereafter, once they turn away from Him, the response is swift and severe, for no longer do they have an excuse. The lesson is very clear: revelation brings responsibility! For us who have so much revelation the challenge is also very clear.

These chapters bring greater and greater revelation of God. First He is the God of MIGHTY DELIVERANCE, then the God of BOUNTIFUL PROVISION, then the God of AWESOME HOLINESS, then the God who PROVIDES LAWS, then the God of RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT and finally the God of PERSONAL COMMUNION. In these Studies we have much, therefore, to learn.

Introduction to 'Release & Relationship'

Past History :

In the previous set of studies in this Series we saw the Lord take Moses and use him as His mouthpiece to speak to Pharaoh in the process of delivering Israel out of Egypt . We left Israel as they were departing from their allocated area in Egypt after the devastation of the Lord's plagues culminating in the death of all the first born in Egypt . After the night of death, the Egyptians had almost pushed Israel out of their sight, bribing them with possessions and wealth to go.

These Studies :

As we follow Israel on their way out of Egypt we will observe the following divisions:

1. Release from Egypt (Chapters 13 and 14)

- leaving Egypt & being pursued by Pharaoh

- the Lord taking them through the Red Sea

- the Lord destroying the Egyptian pursuers

2. In the wilderness (Chapters 15 to 18)

- rejoicing in triumph

- grumbling at difficulties

- provided for by God

- fighting an enemy

- help from father-in-law

3. Meeting God at Sinai (Chapters 19 and 20)

- coming to Sinai

- preparing to meet God

- receiving the Ten Commandments

4. Failure at Sinai (Chapter 32 to 34)

- making the golden calf

- Moses return

- the judgement of God

- Moses talk with God

Yet again we will see the foolishness of man, in the form of grumbling, faithless Israel , the holiness and power of God, and a man who takes the load of leadership. Not a very glorious episode in Israel 's history but one filled with many lessons. Right, let's read on and see:

Part 1: The "Release from Egypt " ( Ch. 13 & 14)

Chapter: Exodus 13

Passage: Exodus 13:1-16

A. Find Out:

1. Who were to be consecrated? v.1

2. What were they to commemorate? v.3

3. When were they to observe the ceremony in the future? v.5

4. What were they to eat for 7 days? v.6,7

5. What would it do for them each year? v.8,9

6. Who were they to redeem (or buy back)? v.13

7. Of what was that to remind them? v.14-16

B. Think :

1. Summarise what the nation of Israel is to remember in the years to

come.

2. What two ways were they to do this?

3. Why do you think the Lord was instigating these things?

C. Comment :

As Moses leads Israel out of Egypt the Lord instructs him to consecrate or set apart as special, all the first born children and animals in their midst. It is as if He is saying "Remember they all owe their lives to me", for in Egypt that night there had been dead bodies in every family, either a child in the homes of the Egyptians or a lamb in the homes of the Israelites. Jesus is our "lamb" (John 1:29 / Revelation 5:6-10), who died in our place so that God's hand of judgement would "Pass-over" us without harming us. Thus we who believe in him, do not have to fear his judgement.

Moses also instructed that they remember each year, this departure by a week of eating bread without yeast (yeast being a picture in the Bible of sin or disobedience to God). We need reminders constantly of God's redemption through Jesus. We are prone to forget so easily! That is why Jesus instigated Communion (eg. Luke 22:15-20) to remind us of his death that delivers us from sin and from Satan's dominion (Colossians 1:13 ).

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord Jesus that he died in your place to take your sin, guilt,

shame and punishment.

2. Thank Him for the freedom that gives you today!

Chapter: Exodus 13

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

A. Find Out:

1. Why didn't the Lord lead them through Philistine country? v.17

2. So which way did they go? v.18

3. Why did Moses take Joseph's bones with him? v.19

4. How did God lead them in the day time? v.21a

5. How did He lead them at night? v.21b

6. Where were the signs of his leading? v.22

B. Think :

1. What does this passage teach us about the Lord?

2. What does it teach us about Moses?

3. Why was it apparently necessary to have guidance after dark?

C. Comment :

We see, in this passage, the Lord leading His people like a shepherd, and like a shepherd He understands His sheep and knows that if they come against opposition too early they will simply turn round and go back! The Lord UNDERSTANDS us. Therefore, as a shepherd, He leads them by the safer, longer route to the Promised Land. That may involve some natural difficulties, as we'll see, but they can be more easily overcome. We need to remember that in the chapters ahead!

Moses, in his righteousness, remembers the oath his fathers had sworn to Joseph and so does what they promised with his bones and takes them along. As they travel, the Lord gives very clear and distinct signs to follow, a PILLAR OF CLOUD and FIRE. It appears that there would be times when they would want to continue on after dark, presumably when the Lord knew that a few miles on would be water or a resting place. With such obvious signs for guidance, it is surprising that they should ever doubt - but they did! Perhaps we, with all our helps, who also fail in faith, should not throw the first stone!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that we have the Bible and His Holy Spirit to guide us

today.

2. Thank the Lord that He knows what He has for us ahead (Ephesians

2:10b). Rest in that knowledge.

Chapter: Exodus 14

Passage: Exodus 14:1-9

A. Find Out:

1. Who told Moses to camp by the sea? v.1,2

2. What would Pharaoh think? v.3

3. What will the Lord achieve by what follows? v.4

4. What did Pharaoh and his officials do? v.5

5. Who did he take with him? v.7

6. What had the Lord done? v.4a,8

B. Think :

1. What picture does a "hard" heart conjure up?

2. How, from this passage, had the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart?

3. What sort of position, humanly speaking, were the Israelites in?

C. Comment :

The Lord instructs Moses to take his people (probably well over a million people) and camp near the Red Sea . This meant they were in a position where they had nowhere to escape to if pursued. When Pharaoh heard that Israel were leaving but were appearing to wander around, apparently hemmed in by natural boundaries, the same evil resolve that had been there previously, rose up again. Being presented with an opportunity to get these Israelites before they finally got out of his reach, he grabbed at it. What Pharaoh didn't realise was that God had set him up! He didn't have to come into the place of judgement and destruction chasing the Israelites, but that was the choice of his evil heart. No, don't think, "He should have learnt from the plagues" because Sin blinds the unbeliever and creates foolishness in him.

When God "hardens" a man's heart, He gives him something that He knows his (already) evil heart will respond to, so that he will resolve to take a wrong course of action and come into a place of judgement. In this there is no unfairness on God's part; He is merely exposing to view the state of that man's heart by providing circumstances he will surely respond to.

D. Application?

1. The Lord in His wisdom exposes the sinfulness of men for all to see.

2. God set up Israel 's circumstances, remember that!

Chapter: Exodus 14

Passage: Exodus 14:10-18

A. Find Out:

1. What did Israel feel when they saw the Egyptians? v.10

2. What did they express to Moses? v.12b

3. What 2 things did he say they needed to do? v.13

4. Why? v.14

5. What did the Lord tell Moses to do? v.15,16

6. What did He say He would do to Pharaoh? v.17,18

B. Think :

1. How would you describe the way the Israelites spoke to Moses?

2. How would you describe Moses' answer?

3. Why was he able to answer like that?

C. Comment :

When Pharaoh's army appear over the horizon, Israel are somewhat naturally disturbed! They may have been through the plagues of God in Egypt but they, like us so often, are rather slow to realise that when God says He will deliver, then He means it! They wish they could have been back in "the good old days" of slavery. Faith IS a bit disturbing at times, but Moses is moving in faith and he believes the Lord. It's all right, he says, just watch the Lord deal with them, and he so he turns and calls on the Lord.

The Lord's reply is interesting: He indicates that He expects Moses to understand His heart, even if He hasn't expressed it yet. Why are you crying out to me, you know my will surely? Moses, you have authority! Take your people through the Red Sea . When Pharaoh sees your method of escape he won't be able to resist the temptation to follow you, and that will be his undoing. He is so set in his heart on getting you that he will take any risky opportunity of revenge, but your means of escape will be his means of death. He doesn't have to move into the place of death but he will choose it himself.

D. Application?

1. Someone has said "faith is spelt R-I-S-K" and of course that means it's

uncomfortable.

2. Hebrews 11:6 says "Without faith it is impossible to please God".

Hmmm....!

Chapter: Exodus 14

Passage: Exodus 14:19-31

A. Find Out:

1. How did God protect Israel ? v.19,20

2. How was the Red Sea divided? v.21,22

3. How were the pursuing Egyptians upset? v.24,25

4. What did the Lord tell Moses to do then? v.26,27

5. What was the result for the Egyptians? v.28

6. What was the result in the Israelites? v.31

B. Think :

1. What 4 things are attributed to the Lord here?

2. What had Moses to DO?

3. Why was what happened not "just a natural phenomena"?

C. Comment :

A "scholar" explained that the Red or Reed Sea would only be very shallow at this point so the miracle couldn't have happened as the Bible account gave it. "Oh", said a little old lady who was a firm believer, "how wonderful, an even greater miracle! The Lord drowned an entire army in a few inches of water!" Whatever liberal unbelieving scholars may try to say, the Biblical account is quite clear! God intervened and delivered His people and destroyed the enemy.

First, the Lord PROTECTED His people over night by a wall of cloud that kept back the Egyptians.

Second, He PROVIDED a path of deliverance for His people through the sea.

Third, he PLUNDERED the Egyptians and caused their total upset.

Finally, He PUNISHED them by destroying them. God could have destroyed Pharaoh at any time previously and, let's admit it, he deserved it for the way he led his nation in demonic idol worship. But God held off His judgement until this point when Pharaoh put himself in a place where only the mercy of God (holding back the water) could preserve him. Mercy comes when people call on God for His salvation. Pharaoh didn't call! Oh yes, that was nothing to stop him except his own foolish pride!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He protects and provides for His people.

2. Thank Him for His mercy that you have received.

RECAP - "Release from Egypt" - Exodus Chapters 13 & 14

SUMMARY :

In these 5 studies we have seen:

- the Lord

- establishing future reminders of this great event in their

history

- leading them by fire and cloud

- leading them to camp by the sea

- Israel being fearful of the coming Egyptians

- the Lord

- holding back the Egyptians

- opening up the sea for Israel

- destroying Egypt as they followed Israel

COMMENT :

God was clearly overseeing this departure of His people in such a way that He would deal with Pharaoh before He has finished. He sets Israel up in an "impossible" situation and tempts Pharaoh with them. When the Red Sea opens up and Israel passes through, Pharaoh is so full of vindictive hatred he follows without a thought and places himself where only God's grace and mercy can save him IF he asks for it. He didn't, and he died!

LESSONS :

1. We need reminding that we owe our lives to Jesus, our sacrifice

2. God does guide us, even in circumstances that don't seem good

3. Faith is risky

4. The Lord protects and provides for His people but punishes the unbeliever.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for His daily guidance, that we may or may not be aware of.

PART 2 : In the Wilderness

Watch, in this next Part, for the fickleness of human nature that praises one minute and grumbles the next. Watch for the grace and mercy of God who knows His people