One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 21
13Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H5592"Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me."H6942H1060H6363H7358H1121H3478H120H9293So Moses said to the people, "This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the LORD has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand. (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.)H4872H559H5971H2142H2088H3117H3318H4714H1004H5650H2392H3027H3068H3318H2557H3984On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free.H3117H3318H2320H245You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.)H3068H935H776H3669H2850H567H2340H2983H7650H1H5414H776H2100H2461H1706H5647H5656H23206For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the LORD.H7651H3117H398H4682H7637H3117H2282H30687Eat bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast bread or any yeast at all found within the borders of your land during this time.H4682H398H7651H3117H2557H7200H7603H7200H13668"On the seventh day you must explain to your children, 'I am celebrating what the LORD did for me when I left Egypt.'H5046H1121H3117H559H5668H2088H3068H6213H3318H47149This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the LORD: 'With a strong hand, the LORD rescued you from Egypt.'H226H3027H2146H5869H3068H8451H6310H2389H3027H3068H3318H471410So observe the decree of this festival at the appointed time each year.H8104H2708H4150H3117H311711"This is what you must do when the LORD fulfills the promise he swore to you and to your ancestors. When he gives you the land where the Canaanites now live,H3068H935H776H3669H7650H1H541412you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the LORD, for they belong to him.H5674H3068H6363H7358H6363H7698H929H2145H306813A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.H6363H2543H6299H7716H6299H6202H1060H120H1121H629914"And in the future, your children will ask you, 'What does all this mean?' Then you will tell them, 'With the power of his mighty hand, the LORD brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.H1121H7592H4279H559H559H2392H3027H3068H3318H4714H1004H565015Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the LORD killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the LORD—except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.'H6547H7185H7971H3068H2026H1060H776H4714H1060H120H1060H929H2076H3068H6363H7358H2145H1060H1121H629916This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the LORD's mighty hand brought us out of Egypt."H226H3027H2903H5869H2392H3027H3068H3318H471417When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."H6547H5971H7971H430H5148H1870H776H6430H3588H7138H430H559H5971H5162H7200H4421H7725H471418So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.H430H5437H5971H5437H1870H4057H5488H3220H1121H3478H5927H2571H776H471419Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, "God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place."H4872H3947H6106H3130H7650H7650H1121H3478H559H430H6485H6485H5927H6106H592720The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.H5265H5523H2583H864H7097H405721The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.H3068H1980H6440H3119H5982H6051H5148H1870H3915H5982H784H215H3212H3119H391522And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.H4185H5982H6051H3119H5982H784H3915H6440H5971
14Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses.H3068H1696H4872H5592"Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon.H1696H1121H3478H7725H2583H6440H6367H4024H3220H6440H1189H5226H2583H32203Then Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!'H6547H559H1121H3478H943H776H4057H54624And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told.H2388H6547H3820H7291H310H3513H6547H2428H4714H3045H3068H62135When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. "What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?" they asked.H5046H4428H4714H5971H1272H3824H6547H5650H2015H5971H559H6213H3478H7971H56476So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops.H631H7393H3947H59717He took with him 600 of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander.H3947H8337H3967H977H7393H7393H4714H79918The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.H3068H2388H3820H6547H4428H4714H7291H310H1121H3478H1121H3478H3318H7311H30279The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh's army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.H4714H7291H310H5483H7393H6547H6571H2428H5381H2583H3220H6367H6440H118910As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD,H6547H7126H1121H3478H5375H5869H4714H5265H310H3966H3372H1121H3478H6817H306811and they said to Moses, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?H559H4872H6913H4714H3947H4191H4057H2063H6213H3318H471412Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'"H1697H1696H4714H559H2308H5647H4714H2896H5647H4714H4191H405713But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.H4872H559H5971H3372H3320H7200H3444H3068H6213H3117H4714H7200H3117H7200H3254H5704H576914The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."H3068H3898H279015Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!H3068H559H4872H6817H1696H1121H3478H526516Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.H7311H4294H5186H3027H3220H1234H1121H3478H935H3004H8432H322017And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.H2388H3820H4714H935H310H3513H6547H2428H7393H657118When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the LORD!"H4714H3045H3068H3513H6547H7393H657119Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.H4397H430H1980H6440H4264H3478H5265H3212H310H5982H6051H5265H6440H5975H31020The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.H935H4264H4714H4264H3478H6051H2822H215H3915H7126H2088H391521Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.H4872H5186H3027H3220H3068H3220H3212H5794H6921H7307H3915H7760H3220H2724H4325H123422So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!H1121H3478H935H8432H3220H3004H4325H2346H3225H804023Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea.H4714H7291H935H310H8432H3220H6547H5483H7393H657124But just before dawn the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion.H1242H821H3068H8259H4264H4714H5982H784H6051H2000H4264H471425He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. "Let's get out of here—away from these Israelites!" the Egyptians shouted. "The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!"H5493H4818H212H5090H3517H4714H559H5127H6440H3478H3068H3898H471426When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers."H3068H559H4872H5186H3027H3220H4325H7725H4714H7393H657127So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea.H4872H5186H3027H3220H3220H7725H386H1242H6437H4714H5127H7125H3068H5287H4714H8432H322028Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.H4325H7725H3680H7393H6571H2428H6547H935H3220H310H7604H5704H25929But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.H1121H3478H1980H3004H8432H3220H4325H2346H3225H804030That is how the LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore.H3068H3467H3478H3117H3027H4714H3478H7200H4714H4191H3220H819331When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.H3478H7200H1419H3027H3068H6213H4714H5971H3372H3068H539H3068H5650H4872
15Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.H7891H4872H1121H3478H7892H3068H559H559H7891H3068H1342H1342H5483H7392H7411H3220 2The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father's God, and I will exalt him!H3050H5797H2176H3444H2088H410H5115H1H430H7311 3The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!H3068H376H4421H3068H8034 4Pharaoh's chariots and army he has hurled into the sea. The finest of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea.H6547H4818H2428H3384H3220H4005H7991H2883H5488H3220 5The deep waters gushed over them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.H8415H3680H3381H4688H3644H68 6"Your right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power. Your right hand, O LORD, smashes the enemy.H3225H3068H142H3581H3225H3068H7492H341 7In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you. You unleash your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw.H7230H1347H2040H6965H7971H2740H398H7179 8At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.H7307H639H4325H6192H5140H5324H5067H8415H7087H3820H3220 9"The enemy boasted, 'I will chase them and catch up with them. I will plunder them and consume them. I will flash my sword; my powerful hand will destroy them.'H341H559H7291H5381H2505H7998H5315H4390H7324H2719H3027H3423 10But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.H5398H7307H3220H3680H6749H5777H117H4325 11"Who is like you among the gods, O LORD—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?H3068H410H142H6944H3372H8416H6213H6382 12You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies.H5186H3225H776H1104 13"With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.H2617H5148H5971H2098H1350H5095H5797H6944H5116 14The peoples hear and tremble; anguish grips those who live in Philistia.H5971H8085H7264H2427H270H3427H6429 15The leaders of Edom are terrified; the nobles of Moab tremble. All who live in Canaan melt away;H227H441H123H926H352H4124H7461H270H3427H3667H4127 16terror and dread fall upon them. The power of your arm makes them lifeless as stone until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you purchased pass by.H367H6343H5307H1419H2220H1826H68H5971H5674H3068H5971H5674H2098H7069 17You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—the place, O LORD, reserved for your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.H935H5193H2022H5159H4349H3068H6466H3427H4720H136H3027H3559 18The LORD will reign forever and ever!"H3068H4427H5769H5703 19When Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the LORD brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground!H5483H6547H935H7393H6571H3220H3068H7725H4325H3220H1121H3478H1980H3004H8432H3220 20Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced.H4813H5031H269H175H3947H8596H3027H802H3318H310H8596H4246 21And Miriam sang this song: "Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea."H4813H6030H7891H3068H1342H1342H5483H7392H7411H3220 22Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water.H4872H5265H3478H5488H3220H3318H4057H7793H3212H7969H3117H4057H4672H4325 23When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means "bitter").H935H4785H3201H8354H4325H4785H4751H8034H7121H4785 24Then the people complained and turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded.H5971H3885H4872H559H8354 25So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him.H6817H3068H3068H3384H6086H7993H4325H4325H4985H7760H2706H4941H5254 26He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you."H559H8085H8085H6963H3068H430H6213H3477H5869H238H4687H8104H2706H7760H4245H7760H4714H3068H7495 27After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.H935H362H8147H6240H5869H4325H7657H8558H2583H4325
21[For the choir director: A psalm of David.] How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory.H5329H4210H1732H4428H8055H5797H3068H3444H3966H1523 2For you have given him his heart's desire; you have withheld nothing he requested. InterludeH5414H3820H8378H4513H782H8193H5542 3You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.H6923H1293H2896H7896H5850H6337H7218 4He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.H7592H2416H5414H753H3117H5769H5703 5Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.H3519H1419H3444H1935H1926H7737 6You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.H7896H1293H5703H2302H8057H6440 7For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.H4428H982H3068H2617H5945H4131 8You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.H3027H4672H341H3225H4672H8130 9You will throw them in a flaming furnace when you appear. The LORD will consume them in his anger; fire will devour them.H7896H784H8574H6256H6440H3068H1104H639H784H398 10You will wipe their children from the face of the earth; they will never have descendants.H6529H6H776H2233H1121H120 11Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed.H5186H7451H2803H4209H3201 12For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them.H7896H7926H3559H4340H6440 13Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.H7311H3068H5797H7891H2167H1369
Unknown
, you have been set free.H3117
