Exodus 13 - Remembrance

I don't understand what it is in our nature that hangs onto joy so loosely, quickly forgetting the blessings we have received, while clinging to bitterness so mightily that we might never let it free from our grasp. God must have known the nature of man when He instituted these practices of remembrance of His mighty power in delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt. 

I find great comfort when I  facing difficulty to go back to the Bible's historical record and consider how God responded to His people when they were faced with hardship. It also gives me courage to be a person of faith as they had been. So remembrance doesn't just honor the forefathers, it infuses us with strength for the moments we face. God knew we would need that help and so He instituted it and provided in advance of our need. 

Consider some qualities of the remembrance ceremonies God called Israel to practice:

Relevant:  the ceremonies were connected to the event. Consecration of the first born would be a reminder of how God slew the first born of Egypt on that terrifying night of death and how he saved the first born of Israel under the covering of blood. The festival of unleavened bread is a remembrance of the night when they were to leave the land quickly not leaving time for bread to rise. Sacrificing of first born male animal brings back the picture of the blood sacrifice offers to redeem their lives and how the first born in Egypt were killed. 

Repeated:  this remembrance was to be repeated. Each year they would celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They might not need the reinforcement just then, but regularly as they remembered the mighty acts of God they were preparing for the next event where their faith would be tried and they would depend on God's unchanging character and His love for the people. This was to teach new generations and to remind the old. 

Significant: these remembrances were not after thoughts. They were significant dedications required of the people. It wasn't just bowing your head at mealtime. It was yielding loved ones, your livelihood and your time. This was not a casual observance but a very solemn observation of Gods hand in redeeming His people.  

Redemption:  in verses 11-13 we see that God is establishing His story of redemption buying back of the first born through the blood sacrifice. This paints a picture of Jesus' finished work on the cross, but also of the future coming of The Lord to redeem His people out of the  world and establish His kingdom. It is not only a remembrance but also a foreshadow of the things to come. 

We would do well to establish remembrances of our own of the mighty work God has done in our lives. Can you remember when God did something amazing in your life?  Remember it and tell it over and over to future generations that they might know they have a God in Heaven who sees our struggles and remembers His people. 

If you are in a moment of time with hardships around you, consider all the ways God has sustained His people and the ways He has intervened in the Bible and in your own life. Cling to those stories and gain strength for you moment of need today. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.