Read to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Exodus 13-15
Exodus 13:8
And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
Consider this, the Passover and the release of Israel from Egypt was a national event. The whole nation of Israel, perhaps more than 2 million, left Egypt in the Exodus. Some debate that number, setting it much lower. Even if the number was 50,000 or 500,000 or 2 million it doesn’t matter. It’s a lot of people. But just as is mentioned in Exodus 10:2, God indicates there is a personal aspect of His national deliverance.
Clearly in today’s verse every Israelite that had a part in the Exodus was to take it personally. God did it for them individually. Yes, He rescued the nation, however a nation is made up of individuals. Men, women, boys, girls, aged and young alike; God freed them all from the bondage of Egypt. Let’s break it down.
And thou shalt… Every individual is a “thou.” It would be one thing for the preacher to tell of the great things God has done. However, it is another thing altogether for a dad, a mom, or a spouse to share with others the great things God has done for them. To this someone may say “God has not done anything great for me!” If you are going to Heaven, He did! He saved you from the bondage of sin and the world entanglements. This is no less a miracle than that of the Exodus.
…shew thy son in that day… Parents are to tell their children of the great things God has done for them. How He saved them. What kind of person they were before salvation. How He has answered their prayers. How He has directed them, safeguarded them, protected them, and changed them. The greatest role model a child has are their parents. Because of this God told Israel, through Moses, this about teaching children. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
Then there is the phrase: This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. Please do not pass by this too quickly. God makes it personal to every Israelite. …that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth… Yes, the Lord did this for a nation but only by doing it for individuals. Sometimes we rejoice in that which God did for a church, or the pastor and his family, but know this, if God did something great for a church, He did it for every person in that church body. Let others know of the great things that God has done for you.
The lesson here is to not lose sight of the great things the Lord does for you personally. For example, when you came out of Egypt, meaning you were born again into the family of God through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, consider all the great things the Lord performed for you. Victory over sin. Strengthen your marriage. Answered your prayers. Cleaned up your life. Blessed you on the job. Caused some crop failure from those bad seeds of sin you once sowed. Surely, He’s done this and much more. So, let others know. For if the Lord is not personally involved in your life, well that would be a sad existence for a Christian no doubt, actually impossible. After all, Ephesians 3:20 gives every believer this promise. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,.
William T. Howe Ph.D.
Comments