The Jewish father not only had to redeem his first born child if it were a male child, but he also had to give to the Lord, the firstborn of cattle, or more clearly said, to the priesthood. This included every animal except a donkey. The lowly donkey was the only Israelite animal that was non-kosher. Kosher is Hebrew for “fit” or “appropriate” and describes the food that is suitable for a Jew to eat, and therefore was unfit for the sacrifice. Donkey’s and Pigs are very non-Kosher. Bringing a donkey to sacrifice would be like bringing a pig for sacrifice. Even though the donkey was unfit for the sacrifice don’t think that they got away without paying any dues. Actually, if a male colt of a Donkey is the firstborn it must be redeemed with a sheep. Now if that owner of the colt does not give the priest a sheep, it is ordered that the colt’s neck must be broken to kill that male baby donkey.
Then Scripture turns the subject back to God’s people, the Israelites. Yes, God is all knowing and He is all wise. He is aware that when these people, who were so happy to be freed from their slavery, could very easily change their minds about freedom when they were faced with war. Men who have been enslaved for generations are not usually willing to fight for a freedom they never knew. For this reason God led the people roundabout into the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Moses had taken with him the bones of Joseph. That had been Joseph’s instructions and Moses was assured God would take notice. They set out from Succoth, and camped at Ethan that was at the edge of the wilderness. And then we are told that God did not leave them to their own devices.
The Lord led them by way of a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. That way they could travel both in daylight and also at night. With the Egyptians in pursuit the Lord changed the direction of the Israelites so the Pharaoh will think they have lost their way. God wants the Israelites to camp facing the sea. He then plans to stiffen Pharaoh’s heart so He, Pharaoh and his army will pursue the Israelites. God’s plan is to gain glory through Pharaoh and his host. When God inflicts just revenge on evildoers His name is glorified. Or said another way, God gains glory by rewarding good and punishing evil. And then and only then will the Egyptians come to know that the Israelites God is the Lord. God’s plan of turning the Israelites back gave the King of Egypt confidence to pursue the Israelites and put them back into slavery.
Pharaoh was so excited about the prospect that he hitched his own chariot rather than wait for anyone to do it for him. At this time a chariot was regarded as the most advanced military weapon. This gave Pharaoh an extreme advantage over the Israelites, or so he thought. He took six hundred of his picked chariots and also the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in every one of them, The Israelites caught sight of the Egyptians advancing upon them and they were greatly frightened. Their freight make them cry out to the Lord.
Think about the situation of the Israelites. They had been in captivity for 400 years, 200 of which they spent as subjective slaves. Having been slaves for so long they did not have the mentality that they were capable of freeing themselves. This could be why God allowed, or planed, for them to be in the wilderness long enough for them all to die leaving a completely new generation to take over and be in charge. Freedom requires responsibility and they had not learned or understood the responsibility to be free. Or even learned how to be responsible or self-reliant. They did not have the attitude to defend themselves. Their fear caused them to question Moses intention for taking them out of Egypt. They reminded Moses that they never really wanted to leave Egypt but instead were willing to be slaves all along. They would much rather do that than die in the wilderness.
We have heard similar complaints in our own country. Patrick Henry buoyed the spirits during the American War of Independence when his hue and cry was, “Give me liberty or Give me death.” In contrast we have all heard the term “Better Red than dead.” Thankfully that was countered with “Better Dead than Red” The Israelites statement made it clear to Moses that they would put up with anything, including the death of their first born sons, in order to be taken care of. We, in our country should understand this attitude because we have people who will allow their lives to be dictated by unethical politicians for the advantage of being taken care of from the cradle to the grave.
We know when Scripture talks about freedom it is to be free from the law that enslaves us. But the apostle Paul does tell us, “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath mad us free, and be not entangle again with the yoke of bondage.”
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