Read: Exodus 13-16
Today’s reading in Exodus 13–16 shows us something deeper than just God bringing His people out of Egypt. Yes, He rescues them, but He doesn’t just leave them there. He stays with them, leads them, provides for them, and begins to shape them into people who actually follow Him. God is making His name known, and He is looking for followers who are all in.
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light…” -Exodus 13:21
God did not depart from His people. Not in the wilderness, not in the unknown, not in the waiting. And that’s still true for us. God doesn’t just save you and send you on your way. Salvation is just the start, but following Him is the lifelong journey, and that journey will require trust in moments that do not make sense.
“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today … The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” -Exodus 14:13–14
This is what it looks like to begin trusting God, not when everything feels clear, but when it doesn’t, when you feel surrounded, when you feel stuck, when the only way forward is Him, and He makes a way. The response should be worship, just like we see from Moses and the people.
“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted … The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation … Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power … Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders … The Lord reigns for ever and ever.” -Exodus 15:1–2, 6, 11, 18
What stands out is how quickly worship can turn into wandering hearts. Right after this, they are in the wilderness, and it doesn’t take long before testing begins, and that testing exposes what is already in their hearts.
“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water …” -Exodus 15:22
“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” -Exodus 15:27
God provides, He always provides, even in seasons that feel dry or lacking. Unfortunately, the Israelites complained and longed for what was comfortable instead of trusting in God who just delivered them.
“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron … ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted …’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you … In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’” -Exodus 16:2–4
They were free, but still craving what was familiar, and if we are honest, we do the same thing. We say we want freedom, but we still reach for what is comfortable. We say that we trust God, but when things feel uncertain, we start looking back instead of moving forward in obedience.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you … On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.’” -Exodus 16:4–5
“Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.” -Exodus 16:27
God was teaching them daily dependence, obedience, and rest; not partial obedience, not when it was convenient, but full trust in Him, because being all in for God means letting go of control and trusting that God actually knows what you need and will provide.
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” -1 Corinthians 10:6
We are not the people of Israel, but we are meant to learn from them, because following God has always been the invitation; not just belief but surrender and action.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said … -Matthew 4:19
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” -Luke 9:23
This has always been about following, and even in Exodus, God is pointing forward to Jesus, showing us that provision, dependence, and trust are all leading somewhere greater.
“After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’” -John 6:14
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life …” -John 6:27
The Israelites remembered what God had done for them, but they missed what He was doing right in front of them at that moment. We can do the same thing when we focus more on temporary provision than eternal relationship.
“The Lord answered Moses, ‘Go out in front of the people … Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ … As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning …” -Exodus 17:5,8
Victory comes through dependence, through prayer, through keeping your eyes on God instead of your situation. God is not just trying to get you through something; He is trying to grow something in you.
“And do not grumble, as some of them did …” -1 Corinthians 10:10
He is teaching His people how to be His people, drawing them not just out of something, but into relationship with Him. That is still the invitation today: not just to believe, but to follow, not just to receive, but to surrender, not just to start, but to be all in.
Discussion Questions
- Are you truly following Jesus daily, or just believing in Him?
- What would it look like for you to be all in right now in your relationship with the Lord?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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