A Life in Exile

In our previous look at the Old Testament in the New, we saw the connection between the blood of the Passover lamb in the exodus event and the blood of Christ, sacrificed on the cross at Passover, becoming The Lamb for our salvation. Today, we look at a corresponding command of the Lord to the Israelites.

Consecration of the Firstborn.

The blood of a lamb on a doorpost had saved the Israelites from losing their firstborn children and flocks to the angel of death. As they headed away from Egypt, God wanted them to understand the significance of this gracious act. The thirteenth chapter of Exodus reveals God’s plan.

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine.”

Exodus 13:1-2 CSB

What does consecrate mean? It’s to set apart something or someone for a sacred purpose. Thus, the firstborn of the Israelites were set apart for the Lord. Their lives, spared at the cost of the Passover lamb, were to be reminders to the people and surrounding nations of the power of their God and his protection over his people. Though the angel of death did not return year after year at Passover, the remembrance of that day would never cease to be commemorated, nor would first-born children fail to be consecrated to the Lord. This was made clear through Moses:

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, you are to present to the Lord every firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be the Lord’s. You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.”

Exodus 13:11-13

Consecrated to Remember.

The firstborn of flocks were sacrificed to the Lord, but firstborn sons were ransomed or redeemed by the sacrifice of an animal. It was symbolic, as no animal could equal the price of a son, but it reminded the people of that day when God paved the way for their salvation from Egypt.

“In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘By the strength of his hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of humans and the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord all the firstborn of the womb that are males, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ So let it be a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for the Lord brought us out of Egypt by the strength of his hand.”

Exodus 13:14-16

This tradition remains among the people of Israel, and when a very special child came into this world, his own parents did not neglect the Lord’s commands.

When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).

Luke 2:21-24

Consecrated to Redeem.

As the firstborn of Mary and Joseph, Jesus was consecrated and a sacrifice was offered for his redemption as per the Law. Though countless Jewish parents had done the same throughout the centuries since the Exodus, two elderly people grasped the significance of this consecrated child of Israel.

Simeon, a righteous and devout man, took the child and praised God by saying:

For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2:30-32

While Anna, a widow for eighty-four years, upon seeing the child also came up to the couple and “began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

These two saints of the faith recognized the one who was being consecrated was ultimately set apart to become the source of redemption for all mankind, not just Israel. Jesus would be the Passover Lamb of God for the salvation and restoration of all.

The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph to the Law of Moses paved the way for the circumcised, consecrated Son of God to fulfill all righteousness in accomplishing God’s plan of salvation.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Learning from the Past post, click HERE, or start the series from the BEGINNING.