How can we apply the principle of redemption in Exodus 13:15 to our lives? The scene in Exodus 13:15 • “And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb, and I redeem the firstborn of my sons.” (Exodus 13:15) • Israel annually remembered two linked events: God judged Egypt’s firstborn, and He spared Israel by accepting a substitute. • Because every firstborn now belonged to Him, the people either sacrificed the first offspring of clean animals or paid a redemption price for their firstborn sons (Numbers 3:13; 18:15-16). The heart of the principle: costly redemption • Something (or Someone) innocent dies or is offered so the guilty can live. • A price is paid. Freedom is never free. • Gratitude is expressed by dedicating “the first and the best” back to God. How Christ fulfills the pattern • Jesus is “the Lamb of God” who takes away sin (John 1:29). • “In Him we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7). • “You were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) • Every believer becomes God’s “firstborn” family—set apart, purchased, and protected (Hebrews 12:23). Practical ways to walk in this principle Remember your rescue • Keep salvation fresh: regularly rehearse what Christ saved you from and what He saved you for (Colossians 1:13-14). • Observe Communion thoughtfully—God’s built-in memorial of the greater Passover. Offer God your first and best • Time: prioritize the Lord at the start of each day and week (Matthew 6:33). • Income: treat the first portion as His; generosity confesses He owns it all (Proverbs 3:9-10). • Talents: dedicate skills and energy for Kingdom purposes, not self-promotion (Romans 12:1). Live as those bought with a price • Purity: avoid compromise, because redeemed people “are not their own” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Zeal for good works: Christ “redeemed us… to purify… a people… zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). • Worship: respond daily with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 107:2). Teach the next generation • Explain the story of redemption plainly, just as Israel told their children why the firstborn were redeemed (Exodus 13:14). • Use family milestones—birthdays, graduations, answered prayers—to highlight God’s saving grace. Extend redemption’s hope to others • Share the gospel: God’s substitutionary rescue is meant to be proclaimed (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). • Practice restorative mercy: help redeem broken relationships, finances, and futures in Jesus’ name (Galatians 6:1-2). Bottom line Because the firstborn were redeemed in Exodus 13:15, Israel lived in continual remembrance, dedication, and proclamation. Christ’s greater redemption calls us to the same rhythm—remember the cost, dedicate the first and best, and invite others into the freedom His blood secured. |
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