Scripture Reading : Ex 13
Theme : The God who Guides
Remembering.
God wanted Israel to remember what His hand had done for them (vv. 3, 9, 14, 16), lest in the future they forget to trust Him and serve Him. The setting apart of the firstborn would remind them that the firstborn sons of Israel had been redeemed by the Lord. The annual Passover would remind them to keep their lives pure. When you consider that Jesus Christ has redeemed us by His blood, surely we should give ourselves to Him and obey His Word.
Instructing.
The younger generation cannot know the works of the Lord unless the older generation tells them. The Word of God must control our lips (v. 9), our eyes, and our hands (v. 16), and we must share it with others. The Jews took this literally and wore portions of the Law on the forehead and hand, but the Lord was surely speaking in a metaphorical way.
Following.
God frees us from bondage, and He also guides us to the inheritance He has prepared for us. His Word is like that pillar of cloud and fire and He will show us the way if we will trust Him.
Praying the Scripture
- We usually call this event “the Jewish Passover,” but the Bible calls it “the Lord’s Passover” (vv. 11, 27; Lev. 23:5; Num. 28:16). The observance was more than a celebration, because the feast was kept “unto the Lord” (Ex. 12:48; Num. 9:10, 14). “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover” (Ex. 12:27). The focus of attention is on the Lord because what occurred that special night was because of Him. At least seventeen times in Exodus 12 “the Lord” is mentioned because He was the one in charge. Let’s pray our familiarity does not breed contempt especially to the Lord our Savior.
- When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” (Ex 13:17) Israel’s exodus from Egypt wasn’t the end of their experience with God; it was the new beginning. Morrison said, “It took one night to take Israel out of Egypt, but forty years to take Egypt out of Israel.” The person who trusts Jesus Christ is born again into the family of God, but that’s just the beginning of an exciting new adventure that should lead to growth and conquest in sanctification. Let’s pray that we continue to grow and learn to trust Him as the Lord of our pilgrimage.
经文：出13 章
主题：指引的神
记住
神要以色列记得祂为他们做的一切（vv.39，14，16），以免将来他们忘了相信和事奉祂。把长子分别出来是为要提醒他们，以色列的长子已由主赎回。每年的逾越节将提醒他们必须保持圣洁的生活。当你认为耶稣基督已经用他的血救赎自己，那你肯定会要献上自己，听从祂的话语吧。
指示
年轻的一代是无法知道主的作为，上一代的人必须告诉他们。神的话语必须管理我们的嘴唇（9节）、我们的眼睛、我们的手（16节），我们必须与他人分享。犹太人从字面上去理解并在额头和手上穿戴一部分的法律，但是主是用一个隐喻的方式来表达祂的意思。
跟随
神使我们摆脱束缚，祂还带领我们到祂为我们所预备的基业。祂的话语就像是云和火柱，如果我们相信祂，祂必定指引我们的道路。
用经文祷告
- 我们通常称逾越节为“犹太人的逾越节”，但“圣经”称这为“耶和华的逾越节”（11, 27；利23:5；民28:16）。遵守这节日不仅是为了庆祝，因为这节日是“献给耶和华”的（出12:48；民9:10，14）。 “这是献给耶和华逾越节的祭”（出12:27）。这里的主角是主，因为那特殊的夜晚所发生的一切都是因为祂。在出埃及记12，提到“耶和华” 至少有17次，因为这一切都是因为祂。让我们祈祷我们的熟悉不会变成蔑视，尤其是对耶和华我们的救主。
- 当法老容百姓去的时候，非利士地的道路虽近，神却不领他们从那里走；因为神说：“恐怕百姓遇见打仗，就后悔而回埃及去。”（出13:17）以色列人从埃及出来并不是他们经历神的结束，而是开始。莫里森说，“使以色列从埃及出来只花了一晚，但使埃及从以色列出去却花了40年的时间”。一个相信耶稣基督重生进入神家的人，只刚开始了一个激动人心的新冒险，这旅途应该导致这个人的成长和成圣。让我们祈祷，我们将继续成长并学会信任我们旅居之行的主。
