Exodus 13 Devotion
Here in this passage there are two rituals that are prescribed to assist in remembering the Exodus miracle: the week long Feast of Unleavened Bread and the consecration of all Israel’s firstborn to God. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is eating bread made without yeast for a week every year to remember that God’s salvation was so swift and decisive (when it finally came) that the Israelites did not have time to put yeast in their dough and allow it to rise. The second ritual is the consecration to God of all Israel’s firstborn. Just as God claimed Egypt’s firstborn, so now God claims Israel’s firstborn. The way this worked was that every firstborn male animal would be sacrificed to God.
This ritual of consecrating the firstborn to God teaches something that we generally prefer to neglect: that although salvation is free, it is costly. The exodus teaches us that salvation is free in that salvation originates in the heart of God.
While salvation is free in that it is God initiated, it is costly in that it places the Israelites under the claim of God. They are indebted to God. This is important for us to grasp. Salvation is not so much liberation for self-government as it is a change of masters. They now belong to God.
When God saves, he places a lifelong claim upon those He saves. It is an expensive salvation, though a free salvation. Remember what God kept telling Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go, so that they may serve/worship me.” From the beginning, exodus salvation never was about liberation for self-government. Exodus salvation is about God becoming the Lord over our lives.
I’m sure you’re starting to make some New Testament connections. When Jesus sets us free from sin, it is always to serve him. “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” (Mt. 11:28-30). It may be a yoke that is “easy,” but it is still a yoke nonetheless. Let us often consider that salvation is free, but it will cost us our lives.
Pastor Travis