Our Father Speaks to Moses
Every firstborn belongs to our Father, redeemed by a substitute, because he took Egypt's firstborn to free his son. The feast and the sign on hand and forehead exist so a child's question gets an answer. He leads them the desert way, ahead of them in cloud and fire.
13 1 Our Father spoke to Moses:
2 "Dedicate to me every firstborn. The first to open every womb among the Israelites is mine, whether human or animal." a a v2 Our Father claims every firstborn as his own — a claim that reaches its fullness in Jesus, the firstborn whom the Father gave for us.
3 Moses told the people, "Remember this day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for with a mighty hand our Father brought you out of this place. Eat no bread made with yeast." 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 When our Father brings you into Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Hivite, and Jebusite country — the land he promised your ancestors to give you, flowing with milk and honey — keep this observance this month. 6 Seven days you are to eat bread without yeast, and on the seventh day a feast to our Father. 7 Eat bread without yeast the seven days. No bread with yeast may be found among you, no yeast in all your borders. 8 That day tell your son, "This is because of what our Father did for me when I came out of Egypt." 9 It will be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead, so our Father's instruction is on your lips; for with a mighty hand our Father brought you out of Egypt. 10 So you are to keep this statute at its appointed time, year after year.
11 When our Father brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and to your ancestors, 12 set apart for our Father every first to open the womb; every firstborn male of your livestock belongs to our Father. 13 Redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you don't, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. 14 When your son later asks, "What does this mean?" tell him, "With a mighty hand our Father brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." 15 "When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, our Father killed every firstborn in Egypt, from firstborn people to firstborn animals. So I sacrifice to our Father every male that first opens the womb, but redeem every firstborn son." 16 It will be a sign on your hand and a band on your forehead, for with a mighty hand our Father brought us out of Egypt.
A Safer Road
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, our Father did not lead them along the road through Philistine land, though it was near; for our Father said, "If they face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt."
18 So our Father led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up from Egypt dressed for battle. b b v18 Hebrew: Yam Suf, "Sea of Reeds." 19 Moses took Joseph's bones, for Joseph had made Israel's sons swear, "Our Father will surely come for you, and you must carry my bones up from here with you." 20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And our Father went ahead of them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel day and night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place before the people.
