Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 13:1-16
One of the theological terms we use in Christianity is sanctification. Unfortunately, many Christians do not live sanctified lives, either because they don’t understand the term, or they simply choose not to abide by the concept.
When the Israelites left Egypt, Yahweh commanded Israel to sanctify the firstborn. That command helps us understand the concept behind sanctification and evaluate whether we are living sanctified lives.
At midnight, Yahweh struck and killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. There was so much anguish amongst the Egyptians that Pharaoh and the Egyptians drove Israel out of their land. After sojourning 430 years in Egypt, Israel was finally free to go back to The Promised Land.
Ex. 13:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Ex. 13:2 “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”
Look at the word “sanctify”. The firstborn of every womb was to be sanctified, meaning it belonged to Yahweh. The word “sanctify” is a translation of the Hebrew word “qadash”. The first time that word appears in the Old Testament is Gen. 2:3 which tells us God sanctified the seventh day, meaning He set apart the 7th day as being different than the other 6 days. The word “qadash appears in 151 verses throughout the Old Testament and is often translated “set apart as Holy”.
This concept appears in the New Testament. The Greek word “hagiazo” appears in 25 verses and teaches us that Christians are sanctified, meaning we are set apart, we are different than the world.
Unfortunately, many Christians do not live and act as if they are different and holy. Their lives display no significant difference in values and priorities than those who are non-Christians.
Ex. 13:3 ¶ And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a strong hand Yahweh brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.
Ex. 13:4 This day, in the month of Abib, you are going out.
Ex. 13:5 And it shall be when Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall do this service in this month.
Ex. 13:6 For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to Yahweh.
Ex. 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.
It takes time to make leaven bread because the yeast needs time to make the dough rise. On the night of Passover, the Israelites did not have time to let the dough rise, so they baked it before the dough rose, meaning they made unleavened bread.
Ex. 13:8 And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
Yahweh commanded Israel to observe the feast of Unleavened Bread as a yearly reminder of how Yahweh freed them from slavery and the haste with which they were driven out of the land.
Ex. 13:9 And it will be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of Yahweh may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh brought you out of Egypt.
Ex. 13:10 Therefore, you shall keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.
Ex. 13:11 ¶ “And it will be when Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you,
Ex. 13:12 and you shall devote to Yahweh the first offspring of every womb and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to Yahweh.
Ex. 13:13 But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
Take note of the word “redeem”. Redeem means to pay a ransom. Since Yahweh killed all the firstborn of Egypt as a method of forcing Pharaoh to release Israel, from that time forward, all the firstborn of Israel belonged to Yahweh. That normally would have meant sacrificing the firstborn. However, instead of sacrificing the firstborn sons, Israel was to redeem them instead. This is a picture of Jesus redeeming us from the punishment of eternal death which we deserve.
Ex. 13:14 And it will be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a strong hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.
Ex. 13:15 And it happened, when Pharaoh hardened his heart with stiffness about letting us go, that Yahweh killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to Yahweh the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
The requirement to sacrifice or redeem the firstborn was also intended as a constant reminder to the Israelites of what Yahweh did for them when He brought them out of Egypt.
Ex. 13:16 So it will be as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries between your eyes, for with a strong hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”
When the Israelites left Egypt, Yahweh commanded Israel to sanctify all the firstborn, meaning they were set apart, they were to be treated differently than all other offspring. The firstborn belonged to Yahweh, meaning they were to be sacrificed, but Israel was to redeem the firstborn humans instead of sacrificing them.
The concept of sanctification also appears in the New Testament. Christians are sanctified, meaning we are set apart. We are supposed to be different than the world. We belong to Christ.
Unfortunately, many Christians do not live and act as if they are different and holy. Their lives display no significant difference in values and priorities than those who are non-Christians. That should not be. Since we are sanctified, we should be different than the non-Christians among whom we live.
How effectively does your church teach the concept that Christians are sanctified?
Do you think of yourself as being sanctified, set apart to serve Christ?
In light of being sanctified, how do you need to change how you live your life?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”