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Consecration of the Firstborn

Text: Exodus 13
14 April 2015

CONSECRATION OF THE FIRSTBORN

1. A Divine Command

a) Firstborn (male)
i) Man
ii) Beast
b) Divine claim
“It is Mine”   Exodus 13:1

2. The Law of the Firstborn

a) To be practised in the land of Canaan   (Exodus 13:11)
b) The firstborn to be “set apart to the LORD”   (Exodus 13:12)
i) Males
ii) Man
iii) Beast   (Exodus 13:12)

3. The law of Redemption

a) Firstborn of the donkey to be redeemed with a lamb   (Exodus 13:13)
b) If no redemption, the neck of the donkey shall be killed   (Exodus 13:13)

4. Explanation of the law of Redemption

a) Question by the next generation
What is this?   (Exodus 13:14)
b) Reply
i) By strength of hand
“By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt,
Out of the house of bondage.”   Exodus 13:14
ii) The slaying of the firstborn in Egypt (man and beast)
“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go,
That the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,
Both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast.”   Exodus 13:15
iii) Reason for redemption
“Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb,
But all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.”   Exodus 13:15  (Cf. Numbers 3:40-51)
iv) A sign
“It shall be a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes,
For by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”   Exodus 13:16

THE LAW OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD

Exodus 13:3-10

1. Remember this day   (Exodus 13:3)

a) Brought out of Egypt
b) By strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place

2. The month of Abib   (Exodus 13:4)

a) Unleavened Bread Feast to be observed in Canaan   (Exodus 13:5)
b) 7 days observance of partaking of Unleavened Bread   (Exodus 13:6-7)

3. Posterity

a) Sons
“You shall tell your son”   Exodus 13:8
b) A sign
“It shall be as a sign to you on your hand”   Exodus 13:9
c) A memorial
“And a memorial between your eyes”   Exodus 13:9
d) The Lord’s law
“That the LORD’s law may be in your mouth”   Exodus 13:9
e) Keeping of this ordinance
“You shall therefore keep this ordinance”   Exodus 13:10