Exodus chapter 13
Sanctifying the Firstborn
The Spirit of God omits no aspect as He unfolds the glories of Christ. This fascinating portion appears, at first, to be no more than a Jewish ritual to structure religious life. The principle of firstborn was established when God slew the firstborn of Egypt to finally bring them to their knees before Him. The firstborn represented all that the family would be in the future. It was against this background God set apart the firstborn of Israel for Himself. This applied to man and beast, and so all the firstborn was set apart for His service. This was the first action after their release from slavery, and becomes the primary focus of all the redeemed.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is mine"-13v1-2.
"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: 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 of 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. 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 out of Egypt", 13v 14-16.
And so the principle of the firstborn is established. God comes first in all their service. The term firstborn, which is later applied to Christ many times, and also to His people, presents the thought of service to God, and the strength of God supplied in that service. He demands the service, and He supplies the strength. Other portions of scripture bring this out such as:
Genesis 4v4 "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof" not only the first but also the best.
Leviticus 27v26 "Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it, whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord's"
Numbers 3v2-3 "And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to serve in the priest's office."
Deuteronomy 15v19-21 "All the firstling males of thine herd. and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God. Thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God year by year in the place which the Lord shall choose, thou and thy household. And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the Lord thy God."
Thus the importance of the firstborn in Israel is clear. The firstborn is associated with strength and vitality-Genesis 49v3 "Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power"; Psalm 78v51"...the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the land of Ham".
The title of firstborn is accorded to Jesus, and sets Him apart from all others. Set apart for God, strength, dignity, power, spotlessness, excellence, and sacrifice; all these point to the Redeemer, Jesus, who served God in perfection on our behalf. The main thought of firstborn is not of first in time, but rather first in rank. We can carry this all the way through.
Psalm 89v27 "I will make Him, my firstborn higher than the kings of the earth".
Luke 2v7-14 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger...unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour. which is Christ the Lord...and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men".
Romans 8v29 "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren".
What humility and grace! that the Son of God should call believers His brethren! This should empty us of pride as we trace the privilege that God has brought to the humblest believer, that He looks on us as brethren. This amazing fact, first appears in Psalm 22v22 following His suffering on the cross, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee". On resurrection ground, our Lord said to Mary Magdalene Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God". In Hebrews 2v11, just prior to quoting the text of Psalm 22, "...both He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, ARE ALL OF ONE: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." Jesus is our brother, and He is the firstborn among us. To all of us He is our big brother!!
Colossians 1v15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation"-most versions. He is first in rank in the created universe, whether of man, material. or angel In every sphere of creation, HE is number 1. The extent of this is awesome.
Three Greek prepositions are used to present Christ's role in creation. He is ARCHITECT of the universe 1v16 "For by Him (en-in Him) were all things created, that are in heaven , and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities. or powers..."-that is He is the architect. the designer of the universe in every aspect (all things is ta panta-everything without exception); the things seen and the things unseen, He designed them all, and therefore in the material creation, including everything, He is supreme.
He is the AGENT of the universe, "All things were created by Him..." (Greek ek-through, by means of)-He is the agent, the constructor of all things. He built it all!
He is the AIM of the universe, "All things were created for Him..." (Greek eis-toward, unto, for His possession), He is the aim, the very purpose of the existence of the universe.
He is the ANTECEDENT of the universe, 1v17 "And He is before all things..."-He existed before creation of all things, a fact which is repeated throughout scripture.
He is the ADHESIVE of the universe, 1v17 "And by Him all things consist. That is what He created, He maintains, He holds together. He is the glue that holds everything together, without which the whole would disintegrate. This universe will disintegrate one day, but it will be at His command, and He will make all things anew (Revelation 20v11 and 21v1-6). As firstborn of all creation, He rules supreme, He depends on no one, we all depend on Him.
Colossians 1v18 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead." In the material realm He is supreme, and now in the spiritual realm He is absolutely supreme. Once again the aspect of the firstborn as ruler is emphasised, He is Head of the Church. That church which arose from spiritual death to live in Christ is subservient to Him in every way, its membership. its leadership, all depend on Him and answer to Him. In the end all the dead will be resurrected, "some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt"-Daniel 12v2. He will decide the eternal destiny of all, He holds the keys of Hell and death-Revelation 1v18. A similar scripture is found in Revelation 1v5, "Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth."
He is supreme in the spiritual realm of the church, and over the rulers of the world.
Hebrews 1v6 "And again when He bringeth the first begotten into the world, He saith, and let all the angels of God worship Him."
The title "first begotten" is prototokos which means preeminent, supreme, the very essence of the biblical meaning of firstborn. This is one of seven quotations from the Messianic scriptures-Psalm 97v7, and is quoted from the Septuagint version of the Psalm. The context is of the reign of Christ on earth and is referring to the second advent of Christ who will return to earth in supreme power. There are two similar expressions used of Christ, "the only begotten"-monogenes, and refers to His 1st advent. The idea is that He is unique among many sons of God, and, indeed there is none like Him. The second is "first begotten"- prototokos, and refers to His 2nd advent when He comes to reign. As first begotten there will be many more in His image among whom He is supreme. At His 1st advent multitudes of the heavenly host sang praises to Him-Luke 2v13-14. At His 2nd advent God commands all the angels to worship the glorified Man who will reign supreme.
Some practical issues springing from this; the principle of firstborn is that we give the first and best to the Lord. This was perfectly illustrated by Christ whilst here, and also now in heaven. We note that the early church devoted the first of every week in worship to Him. They gave Him the first and the best-His due for the sacrifice He made for us. How much is He the first in our lives, and do we give of our best? He is preeminent in all things, and in every sphere, and our testimony of Him is that He is preeminent in our lives and in our churches.
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