Monday, January 01, 2018

Getting Things In Perspective Early in the Year

Happy New Year 2018. Yesterday I finished my last year's devotional book that someone had given me and since I didn't get a new one for Christmas, I thought I would pick-up again my study of Scripture that I had set aside recently.  Interestingly, today's short has a lot to say to us at the beginning of a new year.  Here's the passage and below it, you will find some of my thoughts. 


Exodus 34:18-20

"You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.
"The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep.
"And you shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck.  You shall redeem all the first-born of your sons. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed."

Thoughts on the Passage

The Israelites were to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.  We just finished a celebration of Christmas and New Year's that lasted well over seven days for many of us. But while we could taste any foods we wanted to during our celebration, the Israelites had to eat "unleavened bread".  For an explanation of what unleavened bread is and its significance in the Bible, I would recommend this reference -- unleavened bread.  [I do want to point out that at least in this passage, the text does not say they were to "only" eat unleavened bread -- but rather it suggests that when they ate bread, it had to be unleavened. Whether they were allowed anything else or not, would require additional study.]

And the Israelites had to do this during a specific month -- a month which had significance for them as it that time of the year that they had been freed from their bondage and slavery in Egypt. To a certain extent, when we celebrate Christmas (regardless of the debate as to when exactly that should be done), we are celebrating the start of the process of our delivery from bondage and slavery to sin.  We are celebrating the coming to earth of our Savior Jesus Christ -- the Messiah who would free us from sin and death.

But for the Israelites, it was not just about celebrating and eating unleavened bread for a week. We are told here that God also demanded the first offspring from every womb, and it specifically names those coming from cattle and sheep. The first offspring from a donkey could be redeemed with a lamb. The Israelites could also redeem the first-born of any sons they had in a similar way, one assumes.  The whole idea was that since they all belonged to God, the Israelites couldn't just take them without a redemption price being paid.  In particular, though, we need to remember that the first-born son always used to be the priest for the family or household, thus he belonged to God.  But now, God had established the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood source and so one could redeem their first-born from God.

We note that the redemption was to be "via a lamb". We too are redeemed through the blood of the Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb -- Jesus Christ, whose birth we just celebrated a few days ago.  We cannot go to God empty-handed and only the sacrificial lamb will suffice as a redemption.

Finally, I found the phrase "and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck"most interesting.  Granted God was speaking about the first-born of a donkey, but the significance for us is there if we want it to be.  God was saying if you don't allow a sacrificial lamb to redeem this first-born, then its neck has to be broken.  Total destruction.  No sacrifice leads to no redemption leads to death.

As we begin this new year, may each of us be aware of what God expects from us in terms of knowing to Whom we belong, and what it takes to be redeemed.

I would value your thoughts and input.  Happy New Year.

Ken.


It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

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