Purposes

"I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem," Exodus 13:15.

A little Bible history lesson. A Hebrew father spoke these words to his son who might ask why his father killed all those animals. The father would explain that the killing of the first-born male animals stood as a reminder of the great cost of their freedom from Egyptian slavery. God's mighty power had killed all the first-born males (including people) of Egypt. And why did God act so? Because the king of Egypt refused to let their Hebrew slaves worship God. So, by divine will, all first-born Hebrew males belonged to God and not to their families. They belonged for God's own purposes. However. The Hebrews must not kill children in sacrifice. Never, ever. Instead, they must pay a redemption price for first-born baby boys. So, throughout the following centuries uncountable hundreds of thousands of animals had to pay the price as a reminder for the cost of freedom. Jesus was the first-born male to open Mary's womb. Lamb of God.

As we consider the cost of freedom from sin with a brother or sister today, we kneel at the pierced feet of Jesus. And, together, we marvel in thanksgiving for the price of our redemption.