The Church of The Firstborn

Church of the Firstborn. Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16. Firstborn seems to always get all the perks. I was second born. He got the big cup, got to choose first, I had to wait for my turn, do things. 

Today we’re talking about what it means to be the first born. 

1. Explain the Scripture

• Why the Firstborn
• 13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”
• God tells Moses, as Israel is coming out of the bondage to the Egyptians, that they will consecrate to Him all their firstborn- Consecrate– make or declare something sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.
• To consecrate is take that what you have, your first born and make it holy for God- separate
• Something that is holy means- set apart- “this does not belong to me, but to him”
• holy means is it is sacred and set apart for God. It is now his possession (we all own stuff)
• God says- I brought you out of Egypt, spared your first born, but btw, now they are mine
• The demand to give God the firstborn children and beast directly connects to Passover
• Passover is a constant remembrance and action- so is the first born- constant. Always. 
• First born- Remember- God doesn’t change. The principle of the firstborn is eternal
• Redemption and Sacrifice: “firstborn” is associated with the idea of redemption through sacrifice. firstborn animals could be offered to God or redeemed through a substitute offering.
• like today- The Israelites were instructed to redeem their firstborn sons and animals as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 13:11-15).
• Birth Order: born first in a family. special privileges and responsibilities in ancient cultures.
• Cain is referred to as the “firstborn” of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1).
• Inheritance/Blessing:  receive double portion of the father’s inheritance and special blessings.
• Esau was the firstborn of Isaac, and he was entitled to the birthright, which included a double portion of inheritance (Genesis 25:29-34).
• Spiritual Significance: sometimes used to indicate a person or nation’s spiritual significance and chosen status by God.
• Israel is referred to as God’s “firstborn” among the nations, signifying their special relationship with Him (Exodus 4:22).
• Typological Meaning used symbolically to foreshadow or represent something greater to come.
• Jesus Christ is referred to as the “firstborn” of all creation (Colossians 1:15). This doesn’t mean He was created; rather, it signifies His preeminence and role as the Creator.
• Prophetic and Messianic Significance: used prophetically to point to the coming Messiah.
• Psalm 89:27, the Lord declares that He will make David’s firstborn, the Messiah, the highest of the kings of the earth.
• READ 11-16 READ- this is how you apply the consecrate the firstborn- 
• Set Apart Firstborn Animals: set apart means that every firstborn male animal belongs to the Lord (verse 12). You set it aside. This belongs to God- this belongs to me. 
• Redeem Firstborn Donkeys: firstborn donkey, redeem it by offering a lamb. If you choose not to redeem it, then you should break its neck (verse 13). If you want the donkey, offer a lamb
• Redeem Firstborn Sons: Likewise, redeem all the firstborn sons among your children (verse 13).
• Explain the Significance: When your children ask you about this practice in the future, explain to them that it symbolizes how the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 
• when Pharaoh was stubborn, the Lord killed all the firstborn in Egypt, both human and animal, as a sign of His power. Therefore, you sacrifice all male firstborn animals and redeem your sons as a reminder of this event (verses 14-15). NEVER FORGET WHAT GOD HAS DONE
• Symbolize the Significance: Keep this practice as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes. This signifies that it’s a constant reminder of how the Lord delivered you from Egypt 
• Jews still do this today- The teffilin- The passages are written by a scribe with special ink on parchment scrolls (klaf). These are: “Sanctify to me …” (Exodus 13:1–10); “When YHWH brings you …” (Exodus 13:11–16); “Hear, O Israel …” (Deuteronomy 6:4–9); and “If you observe My Commandments …” (Deuteronomy 11:13-21 READ- This is what they prayed every day
• As soon as the man wakes in the morning, he attaches the tefillin to his arm and forehead as an act of reverence and respect for the word of God. At the beginning of the prayer, he wraps the leather straps of the tefillin above his elbow three times, resting the box above the elbow so that it is closer to his heart. He then proceeds to wrap the straps below his elbow seven times, signifying the seven days of the week. The user pauses, and places a second box on his forehead between his eyes. At this time, the user says a special blessing and proceeds to wrap the remainder of the straps on his arm around his middle finger. A prayer is said, and the ritual is complete.
• https://www.kansan.com/news/tefillin-an-important-ritual-for-jewish-men/article_5c2fa526-53d8-5c54-8e94-d990d8ec52d2.html#:~:text=At%20the%20beginning%20of%20the,seven%20days%20of%20the%20week.
• They don’t ever allow themselves to forget that it was God that redeemed them. They remember every day what God did for them. 
• Christians aren’t nearly as disciplined because we don’t put any disciplines on people because we’re under “grace”. Why do I need to do it? Reading, prayer, church, etc.