The Firstborn, the Cross, and the Call to Remember

 

"The Firstborn, the Cross, and the Call to Remember"

Text: Exodus 13:1–16

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Introduction

In Exodus 13:1–16, God gives Moses a powerful command: “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” This comes right after the final plague in Egypt—the death of all Egyptian firstborns—and the miraculous sparing of Israelite homes marked by the blood of the lamb.

Why this command? Why did God require that all firstborn be consecrated to Him? And what does that ancient command have to do with us today? Let’s dig into this passage to uncover a timeless truth about grace, ownership, and redemption.

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A Call to Remember God's Grace

The consecration of the firstborn was meant to be a living memorial. It reminded each generation that God spared their lives—not because of their goodness, but because of His grace. Every time a firstborn was presented or redeemed, it was a moment of remembering that the Israelites were once slaves, but God delivered them with a mighty hand.

Verse 14 says, “When in the future your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him...”

This was a teaching moment, a family discipleship tool. Every household would pass on the story of salvation—how blood on the doorpost saved their lives. In the same way today, we are called to remember and teach our children about God’s grace and deliverance. Whether through communion, testimony, or daily life, we must not forget what God has done.

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The Principle: Everything Belongs to God

God says, “It is Mine.” He doesn't say, "Offer it if you feel like it," or "Set aside what you don’t need." No—He declares ownership. This is not just about firstborns, but a greater principle: everything we have belongs to God.

The firstborn represented the strength and future of a family. To offer it to God was to say, “I trust You more than my own resources.” It was a form of surrender, a way of acknowledging, “You gave this to me, and I give it back to You.”

Today, we may not bring lambs or sons to the altar, but we are called to give our first and best to God—our time, our talents, our treasure. Not because He needs them, but because they already belong to Him.

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Jesus, the Firstborn Redeemer

This passage also points forward to Jesus Christ, the firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15), who was not spared but given—so that we could be redeemed. In Exodus, firstborns were saved by the blood of a lamb. At the cross, we are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God.

As Exodus 13:15 reminds us, the firstborn had to be redeemed—either by sacrifice or by death. Jesus took the place of every firstborn that should have died under judgment. He is our substitute. He redeems us with His own life.

Redemption has a cost. For Israel, it was a lamb. For us, it was the Son of God. That truth should stir our hearts toward worship and obedience.

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Living as the Redeemed

So what does this mean today?

• We must remember God’s grace—not just mentally, but actively, through worship, obedience, and teaching the next generation.

• We must surrender everything to God—our lives, our dreams, and our “firsts,” because He owns it all.

• We must live as redeemed people, not as slaves to fear or sin, but as those who have been bought with a price.

Let Exodus 13 remind us: God delivered us, God owns us, and God redeemed us. Let us live with gratitude, with purpose, and with trust in the Lamb who was slain.

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Let us pray:

Lord, thank You for redeeming us with the blood of Your Son. Help us to live lives that are consecrated to You, offering You our first and our best. May we never forget the cost of our salvation, and may our lives tell the story of Your grace for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More: EXODUS Sabbath School Lesson 6 - Through the Red Sea