February 5: Exodus 13:1 – Exodus 15:27

Consecration of the First Born – Exodus 13

• God tells Moses that the Hebrew people must consecrate their male firstborns to Him, meaning that the firstborn of men and beasts will be His.
• Moses tells the people to remember the day they came out of slavery by the hand of the Lord, and to keep the service of unleavened bread when He takes them into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which He promised to them.

Pillars of Cloud and Fire

• The people of Israel move on from Succoth, carrying the bones of Joseph with them. The Lord goes before them, as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.

Crossing the Red Sea – Exodus 14

• God tells Moses to have the people turn back and camp between Migdol and the Red Sea, facing the sea, so Pharaoh will think they are wandering in the land and harden his heart again and pursue them.
• When Pharaoh learns that the Egyptians have fled, he changes his mind and has his army pursue them. The Hebrews see them coming and cry out to the Lord in fear. They believe God has brought them into the wilderness to die. Moses tells them not to fear, because they will see the salvation of the Lord.
• God tells Moses to move the people forward toward the sea, then lift his staff and divide it. Moses does, and God sends a strong east wind all night and dries the land. The Egyptians walk through with a sea wall on their left and right. The Egyptians pursue them.
• Once the Hebrews had crossed the sea, Moses lifts his hand and God returns the waters, drowning Pharaoh's army.
• The people of Israel see the Lord's great power, and they fear and believe in Him.

The Song of Moses – Exodus 15

• Moses sings a song to the Lord, proclaiming His greatness in delivering the Hebrew people from the Egyptians. His sister Miriam and the women take tambourines and dance.
• The Hebrew people set out from the Red Sea and journey to Shur. They go three days without water, then they came to Marah, but the water there is bitter. The people grumble against Moses, and he asks God what they should drink. God shows him a log and tells him to throw it into the water, and the water turns sweet.
• God tells the Hebrews that if they listen to His voice, do what is right in His eyes, and keep His commandments and statutes, He will not afflict them like He afflicted the Egyptians.
• The people of Israel reach Elim, and camp there, where there is twelve springs and seventy palm trees.