Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Exodus Chapter 13
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 13:1-2
13:1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 13:2Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 13:3-10
13:3And 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 Jehovah brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 13:4This day ye go forth in the month Abib. 13:5And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 13:6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Jehovah. 13:7Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders. 13:8And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, It is because of that which Jehovah did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. 13:9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt. 13:10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 13:11-16
13:11And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 13:12that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah's. 13:13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem. 13:14And 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 Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 13:15and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem. 13:16And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt.
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 13:17-22
13:17And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by 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: 13:18but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 13:19And 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. 13:20And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 13:21And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 13:22the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
August 1, 1926: Exodus 13:17-22
What is the spiritual meaning of the freeing of Israel from bondage to the Egyptians? When our spiritual aspirations have endured the oppressions of materiality until in our anguish we cry out for freedom, then the freeing process begins.
What is the meaning of the “wilderness by the Red Sea?” The Red Sea represents the race thought of life, which is a vast sea of ignorance and undeveloped resources.
Why must man be led of God through this wilderness before he can enter the Promised Land? Man must, through contact with his undisciplined natural resources, develop a certain understanding and a strength of character before he can be given the greater things of Spirit.
What is the meaning of the phrase, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him”? Joseph represents the imaging power of the mind. The fact that Moses took the bones of Joseph with him signifies that, though illuminating spiritual ideals received by us may seem to die and be lost to our conscious minds, yet they continue working subconsciously.
What is the symbolical meaning of Jehovah's going before the Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire? When man determines to follow his spiritual leadings he looks up and away from earthly things and expects to receive light from a higher source, even though the source be apparently clouded or obscured. When darkness (the night) seems to enfold us, we look aloft and see the burning energy that is the symbol of a law diviner [more divine] than the material, and regardless of appearances we are assured that we are in the right.
August 1, 1937: Exodus 13:17-22
In this lesson we have the beginning of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan. Of what is this beginning a symbol? The beginning of the journey symbolizes the first halting, uncertain steps that we take when we escape from the hold of sense consciousness and try to become spiritually minded.
When Pharaoh let the people go, they were led “by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea,” and “not by the way of the land of the Philistines.” What do we see in this statement? When we put away the belief that the body is ruled by material forces, we must not center our faith in the psychic palm or in forces not truly of the Spirit. To do this would bring us back into bondage to the unawakened subjective or Egypt consciousness. Because we are at first untrained in spiritual ways, we encounter a multitude of undisciplined and uncultivated thoughts (a wilderness) as we try consciously to use the universal life force that moves upon the universal substance (the Red Sea).
What is indicated by the statement that “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him”? Moses represents the law; Joseph, our high ideal of Truth. The bones of Joseph represent the substance or enduring part of Truth that abides under the law, when the form is lost to sight.
What is meant by the reference to Succoth and Etham? Succoth means booths, which are mere temporary abiding places compared with permanent houses. The name refers to the temporary, material organism of man. Abandoning the idea of this organism as the real man, we keep our attention fixed on God, Spirit. Otherwise our high ideals (Israelites) will not prevent us from falling into a negative phase of consciousness (encamping in Etham, “desolation”).
August 8, 1943: Exodus 13:17-22
What is the Truth significance of the Children of Israel's being led to avoid the land of the Philistines on their journey from Egypt? The Philistines represent forces that are in violent opposition to Spirit. Rebirth into spiritual consciousness cannot take place, so long as discord, strife, and warring influences in general prevail.
What is symbolized by the Children of Israel's going by way of the wilderness that skirted the Red Sea? The Red Sea represents the race mind or psychic realm, and many who give up sense for Spirit stop for a time in this realm, drawn to it by its strangeness and the consequent freshness of its appeal.
In metaphysical language what is the “wilderness”? It is the subconsciousness or the vast realm of untried and often unsuspected forces in the inner life.
With what do we arm the spiritual side of our nature (go up armed out of Egypt)? With such constructive qualities as faith, courage, and purposefulness.
What is represented by Succoth and Etham? Succoth (booths) represents the abiding places occupied by the soul in making the transition from the lower to the higher allegiance. Etham (desolation) typifies the despair that overcomes those who are disappointed in not gaining immediate results.
What do the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud denote? They denote the unmistakable guidance of understanding, a state that permits one to “see” by night as well as by day.
January 13, 1946: Exodus 13:17-22
What is gained by avoiding the way of the Philistines? The name Philistines (“deviating from a true course”) represents forces that are foreign to Spirit. We gain nothing by skirting the boundaries of the sense realm, but do better to strike out across the wilderness of the race consciousness (the Red Sea), which must be crossed in any case.
Are we ever justified in despairing of divine guidance? No. In the night of uncertainty as well as in the clear light of understanding we may seek and receive the help that we need. The pillar of fire by night is as definite a landmark as the pillar of cloud by day.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-03-2014
