January 18th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Remembering Whose We Are

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Opening Prayer

Father, I praise You in astonishment. I adore You in gladness. I thank You in gratitude for who You are, for what You do.

Read Exodus 13:1-16

[1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.” [3] Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. [4] Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. [5] When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites-the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey-you are to observe this ceremony in this month: [6] For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. [7] Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. [8] On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ [9] This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. [10] You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. [11] “After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, [12] you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. [13] Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. [14] “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [15] When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ [16] And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

As we sometimes sing in church, “we give thee but thine own”. That’s because all that we have already belongs to God and is given us as a trust. We must be good stewards.

Think Further

When life is prosperous and peaceful it is easy to forget who we are as humans made in the image of God, and what it means to live as people set free through Christ. This danger was anticipated when God commanded two regular ritual activities based on what he did in the Exodus. Eating bread without yeast for a week (3-10) is an act even children will notice–a time to tell of the Lord’s “mighty hand” (9) and how it enabled the Israelites’ speedy, dramatic move from slavery to freedom. This deliverance was not only in the past, for “them,” but for “me” and “you” (8, 9). Celebrating the Passover week was central during the later spiritual reformations under Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Chron. 30, 35). Ritual expresses and reinforces faith and relationship with God.

Likewise, the giving of firstfruits to God is an affirmation not only that all belongs to God, but also that God acts in history (2,11-16). To redeem the firstborn male (12,13) is a reminder that the Lord killed the firstborn in Egypt to deliver “my firstborn son,” Israel. Now, as then, God’s deliverance from forces of oppression and injustice and all forms of evil involves conflict, but God does deliver. Persistent rebellion against his purposes is met with judgment. Nowhere is the cost seen more clearly than in the death of Christ, the Son of God, guaranteeing that continuing struggles will lead to final victory over Satan (Rom. 16:20).

Regular joyous worship celebrating God’s deliverance, remembering the conflict, cost and generous giving of firstfruits are contrary to today’s outlook. Such attitudes as “my life is my own,” “what’s mine is mine,” “victory belongs to the strong” are widespread. Living differently will raise questions, not least from children who face these attitudes from their peers!

Apply

What are the answers you give when people ask you, “why”? How are you giving the “firstfruits” generously to God?

Closing prayer

Lord, at times it can be hard to be countercultural. So often I want to go along to get along. Empower me with courage to stand for You.

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