Exodus 13

• 1. Then the LORD said to Moses,
• 2. "Dedicate to me all the firstborn sons of Israel and every firstborn male animal. They are mine."
• 3. So Moses said to the people, "This is a day to remember forever--the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. For the LORD has brought you out by his mighty power. (Remember, you are not to use any yeast.)
• 4. This day in early spring will be the anniversary of your exodus.
• 5. You must celebrate this day when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. This is the land he swore to give your ancestors--a land flowing with milk and honey.
• 6. For seven days you will eat only bread without yeast. Then on the seventh day, you will celebrate a great feast to the LORD.
• 7. Eat only bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast in your homes or anywhere within the borders of your land during this time.
• 8. "During these festival days each year, you must explain to your children why you are celebrating. Say to them, `This is a celebration of what the LORD did for us when we left Egypt.'
• 9. This annual festival will be a visible reminder to you, like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. Let it remind you always to keep the LORD's instructions in your minds and on your lips. After all, it was the LORD who rescued you from Egypt with great power.
• 10. "So celebrate this festival at the appointed time each year.
• 11. And remember these instructions when the LORD brings you into the land he swore to give your ancestors long ago, the land where the Canaanites are now living.
• 12. All firstborn sons and firstborn male animals must be presented to the LORD.
• 13. A firstborn male donkey may be redeemed from the LORD by presenting a lamb in its place. But if you decide not to make the exchange, the donkey must be killed by breaking its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn son.
• 14. "And in the future, your children will ask you, `What does all this mean?' Then you will tell them, `With mighty power the LORD brought us out of Egypt from our slavery.
• 15. Pharaoh 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 we now offer all the firstborn males to the LORD--except that the firstborn sons are always redeemed.'
• 16. Again I say, this ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. It is a visible reminder that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt with great power."
• 17. When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."
• 18. So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army.
• 19. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear that they would take his bones with them when God led them out of Egypt--as he was sure God would.
• 20. Leaving Succoth, they camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
• 21. The LORD guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. That way they could travel whether it was day or night.
• 22. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from their sight.

Exodus 14

• 1. Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses:
• 2. "Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon.
• 3. Then Pharaoh will think, `Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!'
• 4. And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told.
• 5. When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. "What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked.
• 6. So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot.
• 7. He took with him six hundred of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with a commander.
• 8. The LORD continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantly.
• 9. All the forces in Pharaoh's army--all his horses, chariots, and charioteers--were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
• 10. As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help.
• 11. Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave?
• 12. Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"
• 13. But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again.
• 14. The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!"
• 15. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
• 16. Use your shepherd's staff--hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground.
• 17. Yet I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow the Israelites into the sea. Then I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies, chariots, and charioteers.
• 18. When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the LORD!"
• 19. Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them.
• 20. The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites.
• 21. Then 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.
• 22. So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
• 23. Then the Egyptians--all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers--followed them across the bottom of the sea.
• 24. But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion.
• 25. Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. "Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. "The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!"
• 26. When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers."
• 27. So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents.
• 28. The waters 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.
• 29. The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.
• 30. This was how the LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites could see the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore.
• 31. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.

Exodus 15

• 1. Then 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 thrown both horse and rider into the sea.
• 2. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him!
• 3. The LORD is a warrior; yes, the LORD is his name!
• 4. Pharaoh's chariots and armies, he has thrown into the sea. The very best of Pharaoh's officers have been drowned in the Red Sea.
• 5. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.
• 6. "Your right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power. Your right hand, O LORD, dashes the enemy to pieces.
• 7. In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrew those who rose against you. Your anger flashed forth; it consumed them as fire burns straw.
• 8. At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the middle of the sea the waters became hard.
• 9. "The enemy said, `I will chase them, catch up with them, and destroy them. I will divide the plunder, avenging myself against them. I will unsheath my sword; my power will destroy them.'
• 10. But with a blast of your breath, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
• 11. "Who else among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is glorious in holiness like you--so awesome in splendor, performing such wonders?
• 12. You raised up your hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies.
• 13. "With unfailing love you will lead this people whom you have ransomed. You will guide them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells.
• 14. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
• 15. The leaders of Edom will be terrified; the nobles of Moab will tremble. All the people of Canaan will melt with fear;
• 16. terror and dread will overcome them. Because of your great power, they will be silent like a stone, until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people whom you purchased pass by.
• 17. You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain--the place you have made as your home, O LORD, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have made.
• 18. The LORD will reign forever and ever!"
• 19. When 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 on dry land!
• 20. Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance.
• 21. And Miriam sang this song: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea."
• 22. Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this desert for three days without water.
• 23. When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means "bitter.")
• 24. Then the people turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded.
• 25. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch. Moses took the branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him:
• 26. "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 laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you."
• 27. After leaving Marah, they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the springs.

New Living Translation: 22 of 324 days.