The Full Significance Of "The Consecration Of The Firstborn"

[Mr. M]

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.

Here Is A Spiritual Theological Challenge.
Beginning at the time of the Exodus, look backwards toward
Creation, and look forward to the Son of God proclaimed,
to identify the spiritual significance of instances where a
firstborn motif is found in the narrative.
Beginning with the ordinances of the Law.
The Law of the Firstborn
Exodus 13:
11 And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as
He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,
12 that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every
firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.
13 But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your
sons you shall redeem.
14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying,
‘What is this?' that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought
us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
15 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
firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the
womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as front-lets between your eyes, for
by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.

Note that the expression "by strength of hand" is linked directly to the night
of the first Passover, when the destroyer passed through the land.
The destruction of the Egyptian firstborn leads directly the consecration of the
firstborn of Israel. They now belong to the Lord, and they must be redeemed.
This links the consecration to the Memorial of Passover.
Exodus 12:
26 And it shall be, when your children say ask, ‘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.

By understanding that the purpose of a Memorial is to enable the passing on of
vital spiritual heritages from one generation to the next, we can easily recognize
the Memorial significance when the narrative states:"when your children ask"..
The Passover Memorial, by directing attention to the firstborn male, points to
Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God.

 

[SkyWriting]

Exodus 13:2
“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Cross References (12 Verses)

Luke 2:23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)

Numbers 3:13
for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 15:19
“All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the Lord your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

Exodus 22:29-30
“You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

Numbers 18:15
Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Numbers 8:16-17
For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself,

Leviticus 27:26
“But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the Lord, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's.

Exodus 13:12-15
you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

Exodus 34:19-20
All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.

Exodus 4:22
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

Hebrews 12:23
and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Exodus 23:19
“The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Ex 13:2 Cross References (12 Verses)

 

[Mr. M]

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.

Was Moses a Messianic figure? If so, was he established by the consecration of the firstborn?
Moses was not the firstborn of Amram (exalted people), Aaron was the firstborn.
Moses can be seen as a Messianic figure in his relationship to Aaron.
Exodus 4:
14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you.
When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.
16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.

This dynamic reflects the relation of Father to Son in the doctrine of Christ.
John 3:
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth.
He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit
by measure.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

 

[Clare73]

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.

Here Is A Spiritual Theological Challenge.
Beginning at the time of the Exodus, look backwards toward
Creation, and look forward to the Son of God proclaimed,
to identify the spiritual significance of instances where a
firstborn motif is found in the narrative.
Beginning with the ordinances of the Law.
The Law of the Firstborn
Exodus 13:
11 And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as
He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,
12 that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every
firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.

13 Redeem every first-born donkey (unclean animal) with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. . .
14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying,
‘What is this?' that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought
us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

15 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
firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the
womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as front-lets between your eyes, for
by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.

Note that the expression "by strength of hand" is linked directly to the night
of the first Passover, when the destroyer passed through the land.
The destruction of the Egyptian firstborn leads directly the consecration of the
firstborn of Israel. They now belong to the Lord, and they must be redeemed.
This links the consecration to the Memorial of Passover.
Exodus 12:
26 And it shall be, when your children say ask, ‘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.

By understanding that the purpose of a Memorial is to enable the passing on of
vital spiritual heritages from one generation to the next, we can easily recognize
the Memorial significance when the narrative states:"when your children ask"..

The Passover Memorial, by directing attention to the firstborn male, points to
Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God.

There's a little boot-strapping going on there, from first-born male. . .to Passover. . .to Christ,
to establish Passover is about Christ.
That could use a little more unpacking.

The substitution of the Levites for the firstborn males of Israel in Exodus 13:13 and Exodus 13:15 was a foreshadow of the two pillars of the NT gospel.

1) v. 15 - pointing to the NT (church of the) firstborn (Hebrews 12:23),
who have been delivered from the destroying angel (Satan, 1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10)
and bought back (ransomed/purchased) from eternal death (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13)
by Christ our priest/Levite who was substituted for us, Matthew 20:28 (the church of the firstborn, as the Levites were substituted for the firstborn of Israel, Numbers 3:11-13),
to which NT firstborn God has exclusive right by purchase (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; Acts 20:28b;
1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:9, 14:4)--they do not have right to themselves,
and who, therefore, are to be consecrated to the Lord (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Pillar #1: As were the Levites, NT believers must be consecrated (faithful) to the Lord.

2) v. 13 - pointing to the destruction of all the unclean (i.e., unbelievers) who are not redeemed/consecrated (John 3:18; John 3:36; Hebrews 12:4) because of their unbelief.

Pillar #2 - "Whoever does not believe in the Son stands condemned already," "the wrath of God remaining on him." (John 3:18, John 3:36).

Exodus 13:13-15 is pure Gospel.

 

[Mr. M]

That could use a little more unpacking.

What the thread could use less of is this kind of talk.

There's a little boot-strapping going on there, from first-born male. . .to Passover. . .to Christ,

If you are going to offer a summation of what I posted, don't. You are inaccurate.
From Passover to Consecration of the firstborn POINTS TO Christ, as the firstborn
of creation, firstborn of the dead....etc which is the basis for much of the scriptures
you quote to "unpack" the scriptures. The OP is open to any reference to firstborn,
and whether this points to Messiah.

to establish Passover is about Christ.

That could use a little more unpacking.

With all the boot strapping and unpacking, you may have overlooked this:
1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump,
since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

 

[Mr. M]

The substitution of the Levites for the firstborn males of Israel in Exodus 13:13 and Exodus 13:15 was a foreshadow of the two pillars of the NT gospel.

Exodus 13 is not about the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn. You are getting
ahead of yourself. That occurs after the golden calf incident. Try to focus on one thing.
There are many references made in the narratives of scripture for you to comment on
and add to the discussion. Did you read the OP instructions?

Here Is A Spiritual Theological Challenge.
Beginning at the time of the Exodus, look backwards toward
Creation, and look forward to the Son of God proclaimed,
to identify the spiritual significance of instances where a
firstborn motif is found in the narrative.
Beginning with the ordinances of the Law.

Numbers 3:
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead
of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites
shall be Mine,
13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast.
They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.

 

[Clare73]

What the thread could use less of is this kind of talk.
If you are going to offer a summation of what I posted, don't. You are inaccurate.
From Passover to Consecration of the firstborn POINTS TO Christ, as the firstborn
of creation, firstborn of the dead....etc which is the basis for much of the scriptures

Actually, in Exodus 13:11-16, it does not.

It's about God purchasing the firstborn of Israel from the death angel by the blood of the Lamb, thereby giving him right of ownership by purchase, which points to the NT church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23) which he likewise owns by purchase of the blood of the Lamb.

[The substitution of the Levites for the firstborn males of Israel in (Exodus 13:15, correction to) Numbers 3:11-13 was a foreshadow of the substitution of Christ (the priest) for the firstborn of Israel (the people of God, who in the NT are the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).]

1) v. 15 - pointing to the NT (church of the) firstborn (Hebrews 12:23),
who have been delivered from the destroying angel (Satan, 1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10)
and bought back (ransomed/purchased) from eternal death (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13)
by Christ our priest/Levite who was substituted for us, Matthew 20:28 (the church of the firstborn, as the Levites were substituted for the firstborn of Israel, Numbers 3:11-13),
to which NT firstborn God has exclusive right by purchase (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; Acts 20:28b;
1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:9, 14:4)--they do not have right to themselves,
and who, therefore, are to be consecrated to the Lord (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Pillar #1: As were the Levites, NT believers must be consecrated (faithful) to the Lord.

you quote to "unpack" the scriptures.

The OP is open to any reference to firstborn, and whether this points to Messiah.

And I demonstrated whether it does or not; i.e.,
purchasing (redeeming) the firstborn sons of Israel from the angel of death points to the NT church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23)

With all the boot strapping and unpacking,

you may have overlooked this:

1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump,
since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

None of which I denied.

 

[Clare73]

Exodus 13 is not about the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn.

Agreed. . .

Redemption of the firstborn sons in Exodus 13 is the source of Hebrews 12:23, referring to the body of Christ as the church of the firstborn.

You are getting ahead of yourself.

That occurs after the golden calf incident.

Agreed. . .I handled them together, not usually making a distinction between the timing when I treat of them.

There are many references made in the narratives of scripture for you to comment on
and add to the discussion. Did you read the OP instructions?

Those instructions are: identify the spiritual significance of instances where a
firstborn motif is found in the narrative.

Is that not what I did. . .give the spiritual significance of the firstborn motif as the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23)?

Numbers 3:
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead
of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites
shall be Mine,
13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast.
They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.

 

[Clare73]

Exodus 13 is not about the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn. You are getting
ahead of yourself. That occurs after the golden calf incident. Try to focus on one thing.
There are many references made in the narratives of scripture for you to comment on
and add to the discussion. Did you read the OP instructions?

Numbers 3:
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead
of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites
shall be Mine,
13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast.
They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.

Yes, I used the wrong reference in my post. It should have been the above.

I was thinking more of the reference to redemption of the firstborn at that point than I was of substitution by the Levites in Numbers 3:11-13.

 

[Mr. M]

Yes, I used the wrong reference in my post. It should have been the above.

I was thinking more of the reference to redemption of the firstbornat that point than I was of substitution by the Levites in Numbers 3:11-13.

The fact that this found in Numbers 3 is highly relevant. The census was used to determine
the number of firstborn males in comparison to the number of Levites. The Levites were 273
men short, requiring the rest of the firstborn to be redeemed. This is what established the five
shekel redemption price for the firstborn. That is the reference to the redemption of the firstborn!
Numbers 3:40-51

 

[Clare73]

The fact that this found in Numbers 3 is highly relevant. The census was used to determine
the number of firstborn males in comparison to the number of Levites. The Levites were 273
men short, requiring the rest of the firstborn to be redeemed. This is what established the five
shekel redemption price for the firstborn.
That is the reference to the redemption of the firstborn!
Numbers 3:40-51

But 22,272 firstborn males were redeemed with Levites themselves.

Why would this not be the redemption of the firstborn by the priest(s)?

 

[Mr. M]

But 22,272 firstborn males were redeemed with Levites themselves.

Why would this not be the redemption of the firstborn?

It is, but the other 273 had to be accounted for, this is when the 5 shekel redemption
price would come into effect. All are being redeemed, whether by man or coin. The real
problem is when the number of saints=the number of firstborn males?
Take this information into account and consider the meaning of this statement.
Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

 

[Clare73]

It is, but the other 273 had to be accounted for, this is when the 5 shekel redemption
price would come into effect. All are being redeemed, whether by man or coin. The real
problem is when the number of saints=the number of firstborn males?
Take this information into account and consider the meaning of this statement.
Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Your point?

Keeping in mind that "until" (Gr. achri) does not necessarily mean ending at that point (up to), but also can mean beyond that point (within), as it does here in Romans 11:25 and, for example, in
2 Corinthians 3:14-15; Acts 23:1; Romans 5:13, Romans 8:22, etc.

Romans 11:25 does not specifically state that the blindness of Israel ends with the fullness of the Gentiles coming in, but rather that it can include a continuance.

And likewise keeping mind that Romans 11:23 is conditional, not guaranteed; i.e., if they do not persist in unbelief. . .which they have been doing for 2,000 years now, longer than the time they were the people of God.

We have no NT guarantees that the blindness of Israel will end, all is conditional.