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These small group studies of Exodus 13 contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Exodus 13 Inductive Bible Study – The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Outline

I. Consecrate the firstborn males (1-2)
II. Reminder to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread (3-10)
III. Details for consecrating the firstborn male (11-16)
IV. Leaving the Land of Egypt (17-22)

I. Consecrate the Firstborn Males (1-2)

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to consecrate?
• Why did these belong to God?
• What about the rest of them?
• Why the animals?
o 1. To consecrate is to clean something or set apart something for the purpose of dedicating it to the Lord. This practice of dedicating the firstborn son is something like the believers’ practice of dedicating babies to the Lord. Do you know what baby dedication is? What is the purpose? Why do parents do it?
o 2. They were to consecrate their firstborn sons because these belonged to God. It doesn’t mean that the rest didn’t belong to God, but these belonged to God in a special way. They were spared judgment and saved because of God’s mercy. Also, there is a general biblical principle that people are to give the first and best to the Lord. See Proverbs 3:9-10. We will discuss more about this consecration starting in verse 11.

II. Reminder to Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread (3-10)

• Why should they remember this time of suffering?
• What kind of effect do you think remembering their time of slavery could have on them?
• As Christians, what should we remember?
• What kind of effect might it have on us if we remember God saving us from our former lives of sin?
• Who remembers what is leaven and why they weren’t allowed to eat it?
• What does it mean that the land would be flowing with milk and honey?
• Why do you think God repeats so many times to teach their sons about what has happened?
• Did the Israelites do this?
• What application can we get from this?
• What does verse 9 mean “sign on your hand and reminder on your forehead”?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. These verses are yet another reminder to them to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a memorial for all generations. Remember that when they were leaving Egypt, the bread didn’t have time to ferment/leaven, so this festival was a way to recall their thoughts back to the Exodus. They celebrated the feast not actually by feasting, but by essentially fasting from the better food. This was a way to focus their thoughts on what God had done for them.

2. God brought them out by His strength. This is very clearly illustrated with the plagues. The Israelites didn’t do anything. They didn’t fight. They didn’t struggle. They didn’t run away. They didn’t even vote. Moses and Aaron were spokesmen who raised the staff and pronounced warnings and judgments, but it was God’s strength that brought about victory.

God could have chosen any number of ways to save them from Egypt, including war. But He chose this way; one likely reason is that this way they would be more humble and more grateful. If it was because of their great numbers winning a military victory, they may have become more boastful. We should always remember that no matter what successes come in our lives, they are due to God’s strength. Man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps. Sometimes this is not as obvious as it was in Exodus, but it is always just as true.

3. The land would be a land flowing with milk and honey. This is clearly figurative language and not literal. They didn’t have to wade through honey or swim in milk when they got to the land. The milk would spoil and the honey would attract bees.

4. Here is yet another mention of teaching one’s sons about this festival. The things we see again and again in Scripture are important. God repeated this point multiple times because He wanted them to do it.

5. The Israelites took verses like verse 9 quite literally, and they did and do things like binding Scripture onto their heads, wrists, and doorways. This kind of thing ended up turning into empty rituals for many, where they honored God on the outside, but didn’t honor Him with their hearts (“they honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”).

Proverbs 3:3-4 – Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

We might think it is funny to do things like that, but Christians may have a lot of empty rituals too. I don’t know about you, but I know sometimes I do something out of habit, but my heart is not in it. Any examples? For me, I notice sometimes when I pray before I eat a meal, I catch myself reciting the same prayer every time and reciting it quickly so that I can start eating! To truly honor God before a meal from my heart, I should slow down and, instead of reciting something (like the Pharisees), speak to God from my heart with gratitude about what He has done for me and provided for me.

6. This festival wasn’t something they were to do once and then forget. It was to be repeated every year. This section of Scripture is a good support for Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, Good Friday, etc., which we celebrate every year to remember what Christ has done for us. But we should also remember to be serious and sincere when we celebrate and not turn these holidays into merely secular entertainment and parties.

III. Details for consecrating the firstborn male (11-16)

Discussion Questions

• Who did God swear to that He would give this land to the Israelites? Where can you find these promises?
• How to present to the Lord every firstborn male?
• What does the word redeem mean?
• Why was it necessary to redeem animals and the sons?
• What was to be done to the animal if not redeemed?
• Can we find any New Testament parallel to this?
• So who did the redeemed belong to?
• Who do we belong to? Why?
• How do you think knowing that they could have died, but were saved by God, affected the lives of those who were redeemed?
• How should the knowledge that God has redeemed us, allowing us to live, affect us?
• How can we be consecrated to the Lord?
• What word similar to consecrated is often used in the New Testament?
• How can we pass on this knowledge to the people around us and the younger generation?”

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. The firstborn males, human and animal, belonged to the Lord. Technically, everything belongs to the Lord, but as we mentioned earlier, these belonged to God in a special way. He spared them from the judgment that everyone deserved and which the Egyptians got. He spared them because of the belief and action of their families in sacrificing the Passover lambs. He could rightfully judge them for their sins unless something was sacrificed in their places. That was the Passover lamb. This was their substitute. And it was a reminder of God’s justice and the high cost of sin.

2. These firstborn sons were to be redeemed. Even after this, when parents had a firstborn son, they were to redeem them (I think with a sheep or a pair of birds if they were too poor to afford a sheep). This was a reminder to the parents that the child belonged to God and would be devoted to God. It was a reminder of the high cost of sin. It was a reminder of what God had done for the Israelites back in Egypt.

For the animals, there was an option to either redeem the animal with another animal or kill the animal. For their sons, they had to redeem all of them. What does this show? Firstly, it shows us that God values human lives more than animals. It wasn’t an option just to kill the sons and not redeem them. Secondly, it shows us God’s heart. He wanted to redeem them. He wanted to save them. He wanted to show them mercy. He did not desire to judge or kill them. He is a merciful God.

3. At that time, the firstborn sons were consecrated to the Lord and redeemed temporarily by a sheep or other sacrifice. Now God has redeemed us through His own Son. We are redeemed permanently. He has bought and paid for us. Just as the Israelites’ sons belonged to God, so we belong to God. Just as they were to consecrate themselves to the Lord and devote themselves to Him, so we are.

4. As believers, we are to be sanctified. This is the New Testament word similar to the Old Testament concept of consecration. Both have the concept of being set apart to the Lord. We are to be set apart to the Lord, to live our lives for Him in everything we do.

1 John 2:15 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Reflect – How can you be sanctified in your own life?

What can you do to be set apart to God?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

God has bought us. We belong to Him. We can never pay the debt back, but we can faithfully serve Him because of what He has done for us. We should not have forgetful memories, though. Many of the same Israelites who were saved by God from Egypt shortly afterward started complaining and doubting.

Cross-References

Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Colossians 1:14 – In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.

Romans 6:22 – But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Ephesians 5:7-9 – Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

2 Timothy 2:21 – Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

IV. Leaving the land of Egypt (17-22)

Discussion Questions

• Why did God not lead them directly to the Promised Land?
• What does this show us about His character?
• How about the Israelite’s character?
• What lessons can we learn from this about God’s plans for us? About God’s knowledge of us?
• What do you think the Israelites thought of this idea?
• Why did Joseph want his bones taken back?
• What did the fact that he made this request show about his understanding of Israel’s future?
• What was the purpose of the pillar of cloud? Fire?
• What was the cloud for?
• Why is fire often associated with God’s holiness?
• Can you think of any verses related to fire and holiness?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God knew the Israelites’ hearts –

Exodus 13:17 – When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

John 2:23-25 – Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew what was in man. God created us and knows what is in us. He knew the weakness of the Israelites. He knew their doubts and their shallow faith. He knew that at the first sign of war, they would want to flee back to the safety of Egypt. We saw that even after they were in the wilderness for a while, when Moses sent spies into the land, 10 of them came back afraid to go in and all the people sided with them. That was after God did even more miracles.

2. I think we can learn from this that God may not always lead us the easiest or quickest way, or the way that makes the most sense to us. I’m pretty sure a lot of Israelites were wondering where they were going. “Hey, Moses, need a map?” They would have been confused. Yet God had a purpose and a reason. Sometimes in our own lives, we might face similar situations. We might wonder why God doesn’t give us the job we want, the spouse we want, the kids we want, the house we want, or whatever when we want. Why not let me be successful the first time? God has His reasons. We don’t always know them. In this verse, we have a rare look into what God is thinking, an editorial commentary on the situation.

3. Moses followed the request Joseph made hundreds of years before to return his bones to the land of Canaan. This request showed great foresight by Joseph in understanding that they would return again. It also shows that his heart was in Israel, although his wealth and position were in Egypt. He realized that he was a sojourner in a foreign land for a time to complete a purpose God had for him. In a similar way, we are sojourners in a foreign land (earth) for a period of time to complete the purpose God has for us. Where is your heart? Here or in heaven with God?

4. God led them. God would not leave or abandon them. He didn’t just get them out of Egypt and then say, “Now you are on your own. Good luck.” God finishes what He starts. This applies to our salvation, His plans for our lives, and His creation of the world. He said that He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Start to follow Him. You will not be disappointed. Also, this is a physical example of the many promises in the Bible that tell us God will lead and guide us. He may not use a pillar of cloud or fire today, but the Bible and the Holy Spirit are even better.

5. The cloud was likely meant to cover God’s glory since His holiness would mean instant death for anyone who saw Him. This is a reminder about the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Fire is similar. Fire purifies and cleanses. At night it would act as a light to lead the people of Israel.

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