Exodus 13:1 - Meaning and Application

Care is taken here to keep this memory alive.

First, Israel was to remember how God spared their firstborn when he struck down the firstborn of Egypt. In gratitude for that special mercy, the firstborn in every generation were to be set apart for God as his own (Exodus 13:2), and later redeemed, or bought back, from him (Exodus 13:13). God, who already owns all creatures because he made them, claims Israel’s firstborn in a special way because he protected them: “Set apart to me all the firstborn.” Parents were not to think of their firstborn as belonging to them in a full sense until they had first formally given them to God, acknowledged his right to them, and then received them back at a set price.

We should notice three things here. First, any special mercy that has spared us should lead us to give God special honor. At the least, we should show thankful devotion through acts of worship and mercy when our own lives, or our children’s lives, have been saved. Second, God is first and best, so he deserves the first and best from us. We should surrender what is dearest to us to the one who deserves our deepest love. The firstborn were the joy and hope of the family, so God says, “They shall be mine.” We show that we love God most, as we should, when we are willing to part with what we love most in this world.

Third, this points to the church of the firstborn, those set apart to God (Hebrews 12:23). Christ is the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29), and through union with him, all who are born again, born from above, are counted as firstborn too. They share in honor and authority, and if they are children, then they are also heirs.

Second, they were to keep alive the memory of their coming out of Egypt: “Remember this day” (Exodus 13:3). They were to mark it as the most memorable day of their lives, like the birth of their nation, or the day they came of age and were no longer under slavery. In the same way, the day of Christ’s resurrection is to be remembered, because in him we were raised from death’s prison house. Scripture does not tell us plainly what day of the year Christ rose, as Moses told Israel what day of the year they came out of Egypt, so they could remember it each year. But it does tell us very clearly what day of the week it was, showing that this greater deliverance should be remembered each week. “Remember it, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out.” The more clearly God’s power appears in any rescue, the more worthy that rescue is of remembrance.

To keep that memory fresh, they had to keep the feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 13:5-7). It was not enough to remember the event in their minds, they had to celebrate it in the way God had appointed. So under the gospel, we must not only remember Christ, but also “do this in remembrance of me.” Notice how strict the ban on leaven was (Exodus 13:7). They were not only to eat no leaven, but to have none visible anywhere in their homes. The Jews later followed this by clearing every bit of leavened bread out before Passover. They burned it, buried it, broke it up and scattered it, and searched every corner with lit candles to make sure nothing remained. This careful and strict rule had two purposes. It made the feast more solemn, so their children would notice and ask why so much effort was made. It also teaches us how carefully we should put away all sin (1 Corinthians 5:7).

They also had to teach their children the meaning of the feast and tell them the story of their rescue from Egypt (Exodus 13:8). We learn here that children should be taught early about God. This is an ancient command for catechizing, that is, giving children clear instruction in the faith. It is also very useful to make children familiar with the stories of Scripture from an early age. We owe it to God’s honor, and to our children’s good, to tell them about the great works God has done for his church, both what we have seen in our own day and what we have heard from our fathers. “You shall tell your son on that day,” that is, on the feast day, “these things.” When they were keeping the ordinance, they were to explain it. Everything is beautiful in its time.

The Passover was given as a sign and a memorial, so that the Lord’s law might stay on their lips. We must hold on to the memory of God’s works so that we stay under the influence of God’s law. Those who have God’s law in their hearts should also have it in their mouths, speaking of it often to strengthen themselves and to teach others.