“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.”
Context:Exodus 13 is part of the narrative of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. After experiencing the ten plagues and the Passover, the Israelites were finally set free from slavery in Egypt. In this verse, Moses is instructing the people to remember the day they were delivered from bondage and emphasising the prohibition against eating leavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Remembering the Deliverance:Moses emphasises the significance of the day the Israelites were liberated from Egypt. It was a momentous event that marked the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land. Remembering this day served multiple purposes: to acknowledge God’s deliverance, to instil gratitude, and to pass down the memory to future generations.
Liberation from Bondage:The phrase “out of the house of bondage” underscores the Israelites’ condition as slaves in Egypt. They were subjected to harsh labour and oppression. By God’s strength and mighty hand, they were liberated from their oppressive circumstances. This liberation foreshadows the greater spiritual deliverance believers experience through Jesus Christ from the bondage of sin and the dominion of Satan.
Prohibition against Leavened Bread:The second part of the verse states, “there shall no leavened bread be eaten.” This instruction is in reference to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which followed the Passover. During this feast, the Israelites were commanded to remove all leaven (yeast) from their households and to eat only unleavened bread for a specific period. The absence of leaven symbolised the removal of sin and corruption from their lives.
Spiritual Application:As Christians, we are called to remember and celebrate our deliverance from sin and bondage through Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites were delivered from physical slavery, we have been set free from the power of sin and death through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. The prohibition against leavened bread reminds us to live lives free from the influence of sin, corruption, and worldly desires.
In summary, Exodus 13:3 emphasises the importance of remembering the day of deliverance from bondage and the significance of removing leavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This verse encourages us to remember and celebrate our spiritual deliverance through Jesus Christ and to live lives that are free from the influence of sin.
