Firstborn Recognition of Adam’s Seed

Firstborn Recognition of Adam’s Seed

Exodus 13:¹ 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.”

 

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GOD spoke to Moses telling him to “consecrate” the firstborn. To consecrate means to officially make something holy or to dedicate it entirely to a sacred purpose. Whether it was an animal or male, the firstborn was supposed to be dedicated to GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Adam’s seed passes down the curse of GOD, therefore no human is worthy of opening up the scrolls mentioned in Revelation.
• GOD is setting up a ceremonial redemption by having the firstborn males remember they need GOD.
• As a reminder of the curse, GOD told Moses to have every family set aside the firstborn male, making him surrender to following HIM.

 

Women are off the hook when it came to the consecration of the firstborn. When Adam refused to follow GOD’s statement of not eating from the Tree of Knowledge, GOD placed a curse on his seed. BUT GOD also made a way to redeem humans.

 

JESUS volunteered to become the human who would be perfect. Instead of the seed coming from a man, an immaculate conception would be needed. Meanwhile, the men had to symbolically recognize the need for redemption. All firstborn males would need to point to the first human, namely Adam. GOD would not be forgotten.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS conversation concerning the firstborn males?
• How often do you ponder the need for GOD’s salvation?
• Are you willing to throw away belief and remembrance of JESUS for any limiting belief that opposes HIM?

Commitment

Commitment

Exodus 12: ⁴³ And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. ⁴⁴ But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. ⁴⁵ A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. ⁴⁶ In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. ⁴⁷ All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. ⁴⁸ And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. ⁴⁹ One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”

 

⁵⁰ Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. ⁵¹ And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.

 

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GOD prophesied that JESUS would become the sacrificial lamb during the Passover. Now HE gives the commitment level for HIS people to follow.

 

My Observations:

• GOD first told Abraham to become circumcised.
• Circumcision was important to GOD, so HE made sure it was clear that HE wanted this for HIS people.
• GOD was separating HIS people from everyone else.

 

If anyone challenged GOD’s statement with “But what if” statements, GOD provided an answer that was clear. “But what if a stranger comes?” or “Should I force my employee to eat the Passover?” Many other questions could arise about the Passover feast, BUT GOD gave clear instruction about who should eat the meal.

 

Just like telling Moses to remove his sandals as he stood on Holy ground, GOD again, mentions circumcision as a sacred act HE desired for HIS people. Before the children of Israel could leave, GOD needed a commitment, namely circumcision of all males who were HIS followers They obeyed.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the need for circumcision to eat the Passover meal?
• Have you ever asked GOD for stuff but never considered what commitment HE wants from you?
• What are you doing to show GOD that you are committed to HIS cause?

Freed From Complacency

 Freed From Complacency

Exodus 12: ⁴⁰ Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. ⁴¹ And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. ⁴² It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

 

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Joseph wanted to see his family do well, even though they plotted evil against him. Joseph was placed over all of Egypt during the severe famine caused by GOD. Joseph gave his father Israel, and his brothers, the land of Goshen. Thing seem to go well while Joseph was alive. But joseph died and new Pharaoh’s rose up. The children of Israel were treated worse than ever before. They cried out to GOD and HE tore down the mindsets of the Egyptians. They left on the same day they moved into Egypt.

 

My Observations:

• GOD used the same day the Israelites moved into Egypt to move them out.
• GOD watched the complacency of the Israelites and forced them out of a place that was harmful to them.
• GOD was watching over the people, but was keeping HIS promise to protect humans so JESUS could be born to save the world.

 

We all want heaven on earth. This means no conflict, no problems and a peaceful existence until we die. BUT GOD knew there would be people who wanted to rob, steal and kill others of their peace.

 

The Israelites just wanted peace, but it came with a price. Joseph believed in following GOD with all his heart. But his brothers would follow the easiest route to worldly success. This mindset was passed down for generations. Eventually, the children of Israel were complacent in being slaves. They even complained when Moses upset their slave processes by confronting Pharaoh. When they lost their straw to make bricks, they turned on Moses.

 

But some time later, GOD destroyed Egypt one plague at a time. HE set them free. The children of Israel stayed in captivity for four hundred thirty years. They say a frog will sit in a pot of water if you turn the heat up slowly. It won’t move and get boiled to death. The children of Israel gave a lesson for you and me. GOD does not want us to become complacent with where we are.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the time and day of the Exodus of the children of Israel?
• Have you become complacent by seeking a meager peaceful existence when GOD wants you to exit to serve HIM in the wilderness?
• Has complacency blinded you to the once powerful view you used to have in GOD?

Response to Death of Firstborn – Surrender (Part 2)

Response to Death of Firstborn – Surrender (Part 2)

Exodus 12: ³⁷ Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. ³⁸ A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. ³⁹ And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

 

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The children of Israel barely had tome to prepare. They made unleavened bread as instructed because right after the plague of the death of the firstborn, all the Egyptians told them to leave.

 

My Observations:

• GOD orchestrated the hasty exit out of Egypt.
• The children of Israel wanted to leave but were not prepared to do so.
• Some Egyptians left with the children of Israel.

 

With no slaves, dead bodies, dead livestock and burned fields, some of the Egyptians gave up their citizenship to become servants of the children of Israel. They became part of the “mixed multitude” that left Egypt.

 

GOD mentions the lack of leaven again, which shows they purely needed to trust in GOD without limiting beliefs. There was no time to think. There was no political vote or an Egyptian priest guiding their thoughts. They had to leave right then and there. They were literally running out of Egypt with the Egyptian silver, gold, clothes and the livestock that was stolen from them. Pharaoh surrendered. GOD freed the children of Israel.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the hasty exit out of Egypt?
• Have you surrendered your life to move to GOD’s winning side?
• Is GOD setting you up for a successful, yet hasty move into your next phase of HIS plan?

Response to Death of Firstborn – Surrender (Part 1)

Response to Death of Firstborn – Surrender (Part 1)

Exodus 12: ³¹ Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. ³² Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

³³ And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” ³⁴ So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. ³⁵ Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. ³⁶ And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

 

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Unfortunately for the Egyptians, the worst happened. Death of the firstborn came, just as GOD said. Pharaoh responded by calling for Moses and Aaron by night. He told them to leave and take the flocks and herds with them. All of Pharaoh’s servants urged them as well. The children of Israel left in haste, but they were prepared.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh finally surrendered after many people died.
• GOD’s prophecy of the children of Israel plundering Egypt came true.
• The children of Israel left in haste just as GOD prophesied.

 

“Bless me also,” were the words of a broken Pharaoh. Pride could no longer be the focus because death was on everyone’s mind. Frightened that it would happen to them, the Egyptians urged the people to leave, whether Pharaoh agreed or not.

 

Pharaoh’s response was too late. A lot of people could have been spared, but pride got in the way. GOD dismantled the mindset that humans could e gods. Egypt was broken, beat up and devastated. No group would look at them as the mighty nation that broke the wills of humans. They lost all of their stuff, just as GOD said.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the death of the firstborn?
• Has GOD prepared you for a successful exit on the way to your promised land?
• Are you sitting and waiting on the LORD or are you preparing and believing in HIS return?

Tenth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Tenth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 12: ²⁹ And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. ³⁰ So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

 

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After warning the children of Israel to remember the Passover, GOD did what HE said HE would do. HE struck all the firstborn of the people in the land of Egypt who did not put blood on their doorposts. No matter where a person was, the plague still happened.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave nine opportunities for Pharaoh and his servants to change their minds.
• GOD was dismantling a mindset that a human can be a god.
• GOD used the values of the Egyptians to demonstrate HIS power over their beliefs.

 

Not only was GOD addressing a mindset within the Egyptians, HE was also addressing the same mindset within the children of Israel. It was never okay to place a human above GOD. Free will had gone too far. Humans placed their own thoughts above GOD’s ways. This made slavery a good idea.

 

A group of people could be looked at as servants while others remained superior. GOD saw this and was appalled. Harmony with humanity was disrupted by cruel behavior and abuse of power. GOD ended with a final plague that would break the Egyptians and those who did not put blood on the doorposts. GOD introduced HIS plan of salvation during the tenth plague. JESUS would become the sacrificial Lamb that would save humanity. HIS grace is available to you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS action of killing the firstborn in Egypt?
• Have you delayed having a relationship with GOD because of how someone present HIM or perhaps a misunderstanding of the grace HE has shown you?
• Are you ready to surrender your mindset and allow GOD to direct your path?

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 4 (Blood on Doorposts)

 

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 4 (Blood on Doorposts)

Exodus 12:²¹ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. ²³ For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. ²⁴ And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. ²⁵ It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. ²⁶ And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. ²⁸ Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

 

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GOD provided very specific instructions to Moses about what was about to happen. Moses collected the elders of Israel and told them what to do. They had to place the blood of an unblemished lamb specifically on the top and two sides of the door posts. They obeyed.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was announcing the need for JESUS to die on the cross.
• GOD made a distinction between the Egyptians and the children of Israel during the plagues, but this time HE needed an outward showing of blood in three spots.
• JESUS would proceed through the streets and look at the mark of belief and HE would not allow the angel of death to enter that household.

 

Anyone who believed would place the blood on the door and the LORD would declare that household saved from the plague of death. “Belief” is the everlasting ordinance. Our belief in JESUS as LORD and Savior gives us a Passover from eternal death.

 

The markings include the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT and the arrangement on the doorposts represent the outstretched hands of JESUS on the cross. This symbolic gesture would save an entire family from tremendous grief.

 

Moses could not tell everyone himself. He had to enlist people to spread the word. GOD does the same with you and me. HE wants you too tell people that JESUS not only saves, but guides people who believe in wisdom and knowledge and understanding.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the placement of the blood on the doorposts?
• Is there a symbolic gesture you can do that publicly declares you belong to GOD?
• What public declaration can you make to show the world you believe you need JESUS daily?