# Exodus Chapter 13
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## Summarrium
God commands that every firstborn male, human and animal, be set apart as holy to him to serve as a reminder of Gods sparing Israel whilst striking down Egypt. Moses reiterated the command to observe the feast of unlevavened bread introduced in an earlier chapter which is to serve as a memorial of the haste with which Israel left Egypt as an example of Gods deliverance.

Firstborn sons must be redeemed by sacrifice symbolic of Israels dependence on the grace of God. All this again to serve as a reminder of how God delivered Israel from slavery. Instead of taking a shorter path through the Philistine territory the Lord takes Israel on a longer journey to avoid the prospect of immediate war. Israelites leave Egypt fully argued and with the bones of Joseph in fulfilment of his request[^1]

## Meditatio

It is interesting in this book the significance of memory. There are repeated calls to remember the saving acts of the Lord. There is clear instruction to also teach this to future generations. It is clearly indicative of the reality that human beings easily forget. Thinking about our own times the significance of remembrance Sunday which has continued to pale in memory. Whilst the ritual and solemnity still carry meaning will this be the same in 100 years? 1000?

Human beings leak. We forget things, they pass out of our focal awareness. This is perhaps why  verse 9 talks about it being a sign on your hand and a memorial to your eyes. Our remembrance should alter both the work of our hands and our perceptions. The redemptive works of the Lord in our own lives are stories that require retelling time and again.

We also note here the consecration of the first born. Israel was to be the archetype. It was the fist born of promise which later through Christ we would see more 'born again' as new creations set apart for good works. Israel also here is not abandoned by the Lord. He does not simply free them and leave them to fend for themselves. Instead there is personal responsibility taken for leading them.

[^1]: See [Genesis 50:25](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2050%3A25&version=ESV)