Exodus 16:1 says, And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.  The people of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, but they were going through the wilderness first.  After we come to know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are on the way to our Promised Land, Heaven, but we will be in the wilderness of this world until we die or Christ returns.  Verse two states, And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:  It didn't take long for the mummering to resume.  We too often murmur against God when things aren't going exactly as we feel they should.  Verse three adds, And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.  The people of Israel told Moses and Aaron that they were better off with plenty to eat as slaves in Egypt than they were dying of hunger in the wilderness.  God's chosen people had once again neglected to look to God for the meeting of their needs.  When we, as followers of Christ, neglect to look to God for answers to our needs, we too may be murmuring in the wilderness of sin.  Verse four declares, Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.  Though the people complained to Moses, God heard them.  God said He would rain down bread from Heaven, in a certain way, to see if the people would walk in His law.  We are not promised that God will give us everything we need for the ret of our life, but that if we put our faith in Him, He will give us our daily bread.  Verse five adds, And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.  On the sixth day, the people were to gather twice as much.  This was to keep the Sabbath Day holy.  We today observe the Lord's Day instead of the Sabbath, but do we really do enough to keep it holy unto the Lord.  Verse six says, And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:  Moses and Aaron told the people that they would soon see proof that God had brought them out of the land of Egypt, since they had evidently already forgotten all that God had done so far.  We should never forget what God did for us when Christ died for us on the cross, and we should never have to ask for further proof of our redemption.  Verse seven states, And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?   Moses and Aaron told the people that they would see the glory of the LORD in the morning, and asked why they were murmuring against God and them.  If we are really living by faith in God, then there is never a need to murmur against Him or those He has called to do His work.  Verse eight adds, And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.  Moses said that God was going to meet their needs, in His way and time, and that their murmuring was not against Moses and  Aaron, but against God.  If we today begin to murmur against preachers and teachers that God has put in position, then we are really murmuring against God.  Verse nine states, And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.  Like the people of Israel, if we want our needs met, instead of murmuring against God, we need to come close to Him.  Verse ten declares, And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.  While Aaron was speaking to the people, they looked toward the wilderness and the glory of the LORD appeared in a cloud.  I believe that the only way we are really going to see the glory of the LORD is if we look ahead in faith, and not by looking back in doubt.  The glory of the LORD did not appear looking back toward Egypt, but looking ahead to the wilderness, which may have seemed rather bleak by comparison.  Verse eleven proclaims, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Then verse twelve adds, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.  God again told Moses that He had heard the murmurings of the people of Israel and that He would meet their needs so that they could see His glory.  When God meets our needs today, we should always be quick to give Him the glory.

Exodus 15:20  says, And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.  Miriam, referred to as Aarons sister, began to play music and lead the women to play music as well.  Music and singing have always been a part of worshipping God, though some people today believe that music has no place in the church.  Verse twenty-one states, And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.  Miriam told the women to sing to the LORD as well because of His great triumph over the Egyptians.  All Christians, both women and men, should sing praises to God today, especially when the evil of the world seems to be winning.  Verse twenty-two declares, So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  Moses lead the people of Israel three days into the wilderness from the Red Sea, and they had found no water.  They were going where God was leading them, but it seemed that He was not providing for them.  They had not only the people but the cattle to be concerned about.  Even if we look around and it seems that conditions in life are hopeless, if we are following God's leadership, we do not need to be concerned.  God will always provide for our needs.  Verse twenty-three says, And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  When the people got to water at Marah, they could not drink it because it was bitter.  To find water that they could not drink would have probably seemed even worse.  I believe that this would be like our finding what looks like an answer to a problem today, relying on our own ability and not God's guidance, and realizing that what we thought was the answer wouldn't work.  Verse twenty-four adds, And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  It didn't take the people of Israel long to begin to murmur and question Moses.  After their deliverance from Egypt by the power of God, we would think it would take more than three days for them to begin to doubt Moses, and more importantly, God.  We should never murmur against and doubt God, and we certainly should not do so almost immediately after experiencing His work in our lives.  Verse twenty-five declares, And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,  Moses cried out to the LORD, and He answered.  We really don't have any record of Moses calling out to God in the three days that they had traveled.  If we constantly seek God's guidance, we might not have to call out to Him in distress.  Verse twenty-six adds, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.  Moses was called on to put his faith in God, and I believe this applied to all the people of Israel.  If we, as followers of Christ, want to be victorious in the world today, then we must put our faith in God no matter what.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.  God, through Moses, lead the people to a place with plenty of water.  Christ today provides us with plenty of spiritual water to sustain us in life, if we will only keep our faith in Him.  We should never have a reason to murmur aginst or doubt God.

Exodus 15:1 says, Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.  Moses and the people of Israel sang praises to God for His deliverance.  We today should praise God the same way if we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, individually and collectively.  Verse two states, The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  Just as with the Israelites God is our salvation, and the only way to salvation.  He is also our source of strength.  Verse three adds, The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  When it comes to defeating evil, God does go to war for us.  Verse four continues, Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  The people of Israel and Moses had just witnessed God's power to deliver, and when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we witness the same thing.  Verse five states, The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.  This is just a continuation of recalling God's deliverance.  Verse six declares, Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand,  Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.  Just like with the plagues of Egypt, we should always remember the power of God.  Verse seven says, And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.  When God sends His judgment, we are like stubble, or powerless, to stand before Him.  Verse eight adds, And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.  The people or Israel and Moses were continuing to declare the overpowering power of God from what they had just witnessed.  Verse nine says, The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.  Just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh sought to destroy the Egyptians, there are many, many people who are attempting to destroy Christians today.  Verse ten states, Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.  God destroyed the mighty Egyptian army with water and wind, so we should never doubt His ability to defeat any enemy we face today.  Verse eleven asks, Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?  This is a question we should all ask today, and the answer now as it was then is no one.  God is indeed glorious in His holiness.  Verse twelve says, Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.  I believe this was just another way of stating that the seas swallowed the Egyptians.  Verse thirteen proclaims, Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.  The people of Israel acknowledged that God's mercy was what saved them, just as it is by His mercy we are saved today.  Verse fourteen adds, The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.  The Israelites also acknowledge that God would give them victory over others who heard about His power.  Not everyone that we encounter today is going to be afraid of or respect God, but we can still be sure that He is and always will be victorious over the world.  Verse fifteen adds,Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.  The people of Israel were still proclaiming their faith in God giving them the victory over all those around them.  Yet, they would too soon start to complain.  We know that we have victory through our faith in Christ, yet we too often complain about our situation.  Verse sixteen continues, Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.  We should make that same claim today.  God has insured us victory if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventeen states, Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.  Just like with the Israelites then,  God has a place prepared for us today and He will bring us safely to it, if not in our lifetime on earth, then in the everlasting life that we have through our faith in Christ.  Verse eighteen says,The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.  This has not changed and will not change.  God always has and always will be the ruler of the universe.  Verse nineteen concludes, For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.  Much of the faith of the people of Israel was based on what they had seen God do, and when they didn't see His mighty works, they began to doubt, as we will see.  We must put our faith in God even when we do not see physical evidence that He is at work in a particular situation.

Exodus 14:23 says,  And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.  All of the Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the middle of the sea in pursuit of the Israelites.  Pharaoh was determined to get them back and show that he was greater than God.  Had he not felt this way, he certainly would have acknowledged God's superiority by now.  People today will fight to the very end to keep from acknowledging God, because they refuse to believe in His superiority over all else.  Verse twenty-four states, And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,  In the morning, God looked down through the pillar of fire and the cloud and troubled the Egyptians.  Things that keep us from seeing clearly are not an obstacle to God.  God can always see clearly through all the things that may cause us confusion, and if we do not look to Him for guidance, we may remain in our confusion.  Verse twenty-five adds, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.  God caused the wheels to fall off the chariots of the Egyptians, and they began to say that they should flee because God fought for the Israelites.  It is always good for people to realize when God is behind someone that they may be against.  Verse twenty-six declares, And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.  God told Moses to stretch out his hands so that the waters would close up on the Egyptians.  Once more, God didn't need Moses to do this to cause it to happen, just as He doesn't really need us today to accomplish His will.  God did this for this for the benefit of the Israelites and Moses, to show them that He was the cause off what happened, just as He allows us today to serve Him for the benefit of those around us and for ourselves.  Verse twenty-seven states, And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.  When Moses did what God told him to do, the Egyptians attempted to flee, but the sea closed in over them.  Those who want to say that the sea really didn't part and that the Israelites simply went through a marshy area now have to acknowledge that if that is the case that God drowned an army in a marsh that the Israelites could walk through.  We might wonder why God did not simply allow the Egyptians to escape, but there comes a point in life where redemption is no longer possible.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.  All those who were chasing the Israelites died in the sea.  God will still deliver us from all our enemies today, if not in this life, then in the one to come.  Like the Israelites, we may be tempted to grumble and complain, but if we truly put our faith in God, then we will not.  Verse twenty-nine continues, But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.  The people of Israel continued to walk through the sea, which like a like a wall of water on both sides.  No matter what is all around us, if we keep our faith in God, He will lead us through whatever we face.  Verse thirty proclaims, Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.  Just as God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, He delivers us from the penalty of sin today if we put our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty one adds, And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.  The people of Israel saw the work of God and feared Him and His servant Moses.  When people see what can only be explained as the work of God today, they should stand in awe of Him.

EXO14:15 says, And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:  God asked Moses why he was crying out to, or I believe we could say doubting, Him.  God may ask us the same question at times.  When God calls us to do something, we don't need to question nor complaint to Him.  God told Moses to tell the people of Israel to go forward, and so must we when God tells us to go today.  Verse sixteen adds, But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.  God instructed Moses to lift his rod and stretch his hand out over the sea and the people of Israel would walk through on dry ground.  Some people today want to say that the people of Israel really didn't pass through the sea, but escaped through the marsh land.  This is not what God's word teaches us, since it declares the sea would part and they would pass through on dry, not even muddy, ground.  Verse seventeen adds, And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  God additionally told Moses that Pharaoh would follow him, but that God would honor Himself by what would happen to Pharaoh and his army.  God had given Pharaoh plenty of opportunities to believe in Him and His power, and he continually refused to, so he was about to reap the rewards of his continued disobedience.  I personally don't believe that God was going to do this just to show His power, just as He doesn't send anyone to hell just to show His power.  Just like Pharaoh, every person is given an opportunity to follow God, but when he or she won't, then God will judge that person for his or her sins.  God cannot overlook sin, so we either accept forgiveness through faith in Christ, or we pay the penalty.  Verse eighteen continues, And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  God said all of Egypt would know that He was God, because of what He was going to do to Pharaoh and his army.  God did not say that they would accept Him as their God, but that they would know that He was God.  There are people today who believe that there is a God, but they do not accept Him as their personal Savior.  Verse nineteen declares, And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:  The angel of the LORD which had been going ahead of the people of Israel moved behind them, as did the pillar of cloud.  This was not to lead them back, but to stand between the people and Pharaoh.  The pillar of cloud was a visual sign of the presence of God.  Today, we need to realize that God protects us from any harm coming to us from where we were when living a sinful life, and we need to never turn back to where we were before we accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty states, And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.  The pillar of cloud was darkness to the Egyptians, but was a light to the people of Israel.  Today, Jesus is the dividing point between people.  We either accept Him as a light to our lives, or we continue to live in the darkness of sin.  Verse twenty-one states, And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  When Moses stretched forth hs rod, God parted the sea.  We sometimes hear of Moses parting the sea, but he didn't do it.  God parted the sea.  He didn't really need Moses to stretch out the rod, but this was just a sign of Moses belief and obedience to God.  We should never take credit for what God does in the world today, and we should never need signs of His presence.  Verse twenty-two declares, And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.  The people of Israel passed through on dry ground with a wall of water on each side, which hardly describes a marsh.  When we find ourselves in a seemingly unwinnable situation, like the people of Israel, we too often complain instead of believing that God will provide the answer.  We need to always simply live by faith in God, no matter our situation.

Exodus 14:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Then verse two adds, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.  God told Moses to have the people of Israel to camp in Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, against Baalzephon.  These were pretty detailed instructions, and we can be just as certain that God will let us know where He want us today.  We may not have the detailed instructions, but I believe that we will know when we are where God wants us to be.  Verse three states, For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.  God said that they were to go there so that Pharaoh would think they were trapped.  Sometimes, what God tells us to do may not seem reasonable, but we need to simply trust Him and do what He tells us to do.  Verse four continues, And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.  God said He would harden Pharaoh's heart so that Pharaoh would chase after the people of Israel so that God would be honored by Pharaoh, but I don't believe that God ever causes anyone to reject Him, and that God just knew how Pharaoh would react.  If God causes people to reject His will so that He might be honored by what happens to them, then He is not an all loving God.  The people of Israel did as God instructed them to do.  Verse five declares,  And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?  Not only Pharaoh, but his servants as well, questioned why hey had let the people of Israel go.  They had evidently forgotten all the plagues that God had sent on them.  Some people today will not acknowledge God, no matter how much evidence He sends of His existence.  Verse six adds, And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:  Pharaoh got in his chariot and took his people to chase after the people of Israel.  Verse seven continues, And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.  Pharaoh basically took his whole army to chase the people of Israel.  If we are ever feeling overwhelmed by life today, we just need to remember that the people of Israel were certainly out numbered during the Exodus, but since God was with them it didn't matter.  Verse eight declares, And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. Then verse nine adds, But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.  Pharaoh and his army caught up with the children of Israel where they were camped.  God had led the people of Israel there, and He was still with them.  As long as we are where God wants us, we need never worry about being overpowered by the world.  The ultimate victory is ours through our faith in Christ, just as the people of Israel's victory was assured by God then.  Verse ten states, And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.  When the people of Israel saw the Egyptians coming, they were afraid and called out to God.  They had also evidently forgotten what God had done, and saw the army of Egypt instead of remembering the power of God.  When we seem to be surrounded by evil, we need to look to God and not at the evil all around us.  Verse eleven adds,  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?  The people of Israel began to complain to Moses, asking if there were not enough places to be buried in Egypt so he had brought them to where they were to die.  We don't need to be afraid and complain if we are where God leads us, but simply need to keep our focus on Him.  Verse twelve continues, Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.  The people of Israel told Moses that they had told him to leave them alone because it was better to be  servant in Egypt than to die in the wilderness.  We must never have the attitude that we are better off giving in to sin than standing firm for Christ, even if it seems to put us in a dangerous situation.  Verse thirteen declares,  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  Moses told the people not to worry, that after this they would see the Egyptians no more.  When we stand firm for God, we do not have to worry about the world overpowering us spiritually.  Verse fourteen adds, The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  Moses said God would fight for them and that they should remain at peace.  We should likewise live at peace in the world today when we are following God's direction for our life.

Exodus 13:11 says, And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,  God did not say if He brought the Israelites into Caanan, but when He did.  God does not say if He brings us into our heavenly home if we follow Christ, but when He does.  This promise had been made to Abraham, and it was a long time in being fulfilled, but it was always a certainty, because God had made the promise.  Verse twelve states, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.  All the first born males of the animals were to be set aside for God.  Verse thirteen adds, And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.  There was  provision to redeem an ass by sacrificing a lamb instead, but if it wasn't redeemed it was to be destroyed.  The first born baby boy of the family could likewise be redeemed.  We are redeemed by the death of Christ on the cross, but if we don't accept His gift of salvation, we will still suffer spiritual death.  Verse fourteen continues, And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:  God again told them to teach their children about the meaning of the feast, just as we today are to teach our children about the meaning of Christ's death on the cross.  Verse fifteen declares, And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.  This was the explanation of why the people of Israel celebrated the Passover.  It was not just some meaningless ceremony, but was based on God's saving grace to the people of Israel, just as our worship of God should not be just some meaningless ritual.  Verse sixteen states, And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.  This was to be something that they constantly remembered, not just something that came up once a year.  We should constantly remember what God has done for us through His gift of salvation, and not just when we are at church.  Verse seventeen declares,, And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:  God lead them peacefully through the land without going through the land of the Philistines, which would have been shorter, so that thy would not be tempted to return to Egypt.  We may not have peace in the world today after we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, but God will lead us safely to Heaven, our promised land, so we should never be tempted to try and return to where we were spiritually before we accepted Christ.  Verse eighteen declares, But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.  God lead them out with all their possessions by way of the Red Sea.  We cannot take our possessions when we go home to heaven, but God has promised that everything we need will already be there for us.  Vere nineteen states, And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.  Moses took the bones of Joseph with him out of Egypt, as had been promised to Joseph all those year before.  Verse twenty adds, And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.  They were finally on their way.  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are on our way to our promised heavenly home from then on.  Vere twenty-one continues, And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:  Then verse twenty-two concludes, He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.  God gave the people of Israel a physical sign of His presence with them day and night.  We today as followers of Christ do not have a physical sign of God's presence with us, but we have something much greater, and that is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.