EXODUS 13
11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” – Exodus 13:11-16
EXODUS 13 REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of slavery
He wants his people to never forget this day of deliverance
God wanted all the firstborn males both animals and man as sacrifice
They must all be offered to him so they won’t forget God’s goodness
This was a condition to recall how God rescued them out of Egypt
It was a reminder how he saved his people from their cruelty.
Why was it important for God to require the Israelites the offering of the firstborn? It was a reminder for them how the Egyptians idolized their firstborns. This was why God killed all their firstborns. He didn’t want his own people to follow the idolatry practiced by the Egyptians. The Lord separated his people from them and they are not to follow the ways of the wicked. When they offer the firstborns to God, they will be reminded of the wonderful deeds that God brought about so they can be freed from the slavery of sin.
It is essential for all believers to never forget the miracles and how he punished evil ways of the Egyptians. Even in our present lives, it is important for us to remember how God has freed us from our flesh and sins through the perfect sacrifice of the firstborn, Jesus.
REFLECTION
- What happens when we don’t recall the wonderful deeds of God’s deliverance?
