Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 1 – 2

• It was the firstborn that God saved, and therefore, rightfully so, they are His! This would become an act of remembrance within the nation but notice, God doesn’t say, “From this time forward.”  He says right now and I like that.  If God had not provided a way, instituted the Passover, then they wouldn’t be there.  So it’s just obvious, they’re His!
• The firstborn is a picture of Adam and the Passover is a pointer to The pointer I’m making is this.  We belong to the Lord.  Why?  Because without Him we would have no way of escape, no life!  We would still be under the inheritance of Adam but because of God’s great love, mercy and grace, we are under the inheritance of Jesus!  And therefore, reasonable in all ways, we ought to be…all of us…in totality….consecrated to God. 
• That word in the Hebrew literally means to show oneself sacred. Do you know that you are SACRED to God?  What on earth is sacred?  Ha!  Another word we don’t use too often.  It means untouchably valuable!  Have you ever heard the term, “Sacred cows?”  Like when you start a job and you want to change some things but then you find out some things are just “sacred cows.”  In other words, hands off and if you try, get ready for a battle!
• That’s you…you sacred cow! Once you belong to God His heart towards you is that you are absolutely NOT to be defiled!  The word in the Hebrew also means that you are honored, treated as ultra-precious, observed as holy and kept that way…you need to know this…God, by the blood of Jesus has consecrated you unto all of eternity…and now, the only one that can spot you up, dirty you up, knock you down, trip you up…is you.  Oh I know very well about demonic influence and attack…but remember that God has consecrated you and you will be much more like Teflon then you are like a shooting range. 

Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 3 - 4

• Check this out…if they left the place of bondage…that’s what the Passover provided…then where have they been delivered to? Freedom!  Christian, if your heart isn’t free today…if you are yet captured by self-defeat or self-condemnation or the past or whatever…then know this…you’re living in freedom while not experiencing freedom.
• The grace of God is upon you! The former things have passed away, the cares and conditions of this world are not final and they are not primary…the way you look does not define you…the way you feel does not own you…you are free.  Free to live unto God and be filled with His joy and strength.  Remember the blood of Jesus…in which all of your sin met its master.  Remember that for your brothers and sister in the faith.  And live a little bit…loosen up, lighten up and look up!

Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 5 – 10

• The absolute lynch pin in a life that is lightened up…the foundation that is urgently important for us to know and to have joy and joy abundant AFTER we leave out of Egypt is the uninstalling of leaven. I like that…like you find the programs in your life and in your habits that are entirely of the flesh or entirely not of God and you simply uninstall them!  The fastest way to kill you joy and therefore your strength as a freedman or freedwoman is to go right back into bondage!
• The land flowing with milk and honey, the land sworn to you and to us through inheritance, notice the highway to get there…is to be furnished, nourished with unleavened bread! Unleavened bread speaks of   It speaks of the removal, refusal and rejection of sin!  Its sin, it’s the flesh that destroys a person’s life.  Creates in them and in their lives series of regrets and sub-standard/pathetic expectations of how and what this life is supposed to be.  Know this, you cannot arrive at God’s destination for you while you follow the devil. He’s not going to lead you there! 
• I do want you to see also that inheriting what God has secured for you doesn’t come until after the Passover. You will not be able to follow God on your own strength, you need deliverance from the flesh…not overpower the flesh…but deliverance!  That is to be found in a heart GIVEN over to God!  And then the feast of unleavened bread. 
• And did you hear that! What’s another name for a feast?  Golden Corral!  Just kidding…a party!  A walk of purity in the Lord is TRULY a walk through this life filled with joy, a super sense of some sort of inward security that manifests itself in integrity, confidence, and intrinsically seated / entirely untouchable purpose!
• And so where are the inroads that must be guarded? Says right here…, “A sign to you on your hand, your eyes, your mouth…”  These are the areas of greatest danger…so watch out for leaven…it’s all just a bunch of joy killers.

Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 11 – 16

• It is interesting that remembering alone isn’t enough. God knows us that if we don’t “do” something that over time, the meaning of a thing will be lost.  I wonder what you do for your faith.  I know you know and you believe and you’re here…but as achievers, as doers, as livers (HA), we have to do something about it or it WILL lose its significance.  The folks that serve the Lord through serving others, or the folks that serve the Lord by having a regimented disciplined study plan and cadence, these are they that not only remember the facts but remember the significance!
• And so the Lord says to the nation all of your first born are to be given to the Lord. The firstborn males of the animals are to be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord and the firstborn males of the men are to be redeemed unto the Lord.  In other words, money is to be given.  It’s interesting that there is mentioned here one that is unacceptable to the Lord.  The donkey.  I think God has a great sense of humor here.  The donkey becomes acceptable through the offering of the lamb.  Or, the donkey remains unacceptable and stands in the lambs place…
• The donkey is an interesting animal. I want to associate myself with a lion, or a tiger or a bear…but oh my…if I’m honest…well you probably know this already.  I’m definitely more like the donkey.  But that’s not so bad…, “Rejoice…behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey.”  God can even use me…
• This is the third time that we’ve heard God instruct the declaration, “By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” Why?  Because the revelation of God to man is in the Persons of the Trinity.  Even seen in the statement…where the Holy Spirit is the power, Jesus is the Christ (the hand) and the Lord speaks of God the Father…

Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 17 – 18

• The shortest, most direct, most convenient route from Egypt to the land of Canaan would also be the route that was armed, patrolled by both the armies of the Egypt and the armies of Canaan. No doubt the people would think, “Why aren’t we going that way?  It’s the fastest route,” …but God knew what was ahead on that route, that they were not ready or prepared or equipped to face what was there…so He takes them on a bit of a round about way.  Sound familiar?  I have seen this play out countless times in my own life. 
• Look man, I’m completely delivered…completely free…I can go my own way and do my own thing…but until this life runs out of batteries, I am happy to take the long way under the direct guidance and divine governance of God.

Exodus Chapter 13 Verse 19

• This is fulfillment of Genesis 50:25 where in a great act of faith Joseph instructed his bones to be taken with them when they left Egypt. And this is a wonderful picture of the resurrection.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, that when the trumpet blows and God pulls His church out of the world before pouring our His righteous judgment on a Christ rejecting planet, the dead in Christ shall be first to be resurrected.  The children that live will take the bones of the dead as well.

Exodus Chapter 13 Verses 20 – 22

• The Lord went before them…just as He does for you…for anyone that is that will follow Him. Humble themselves, trust Him over their natural GPS…your own heart…and allow Him to lead you.  A pillar of cloud by day…the soft comfort of a Father, giving shade and bringing refreshment when the sun in your life is at its hottest…and a pillar of fire by night…that when the days are dark and you cannot see ahead, He will provide the light to show you the way…or when folks are frigid and the world is cold, He will provide the warmth that you need to endure…and the greatest promise of all…He won’t take either away…no matter what.