GOODNEWS LETTER
Number 355 January 19, 2011
SEPARATION
Another year of Bible reading is before us. Having been through God's Word yearly, many times, causes me think of the men and women of Scripture as old friends. They are not just characters with historical interest, only. They are people and, I will see most of them again one day, in the coming kingdom. I'm glad to have met them and blessed that God used them for His glory; for the bigger part.
This year I have started from Genesis. I'm well into Exodus, now. WHAT A GREAT READING IT IS!!! This time through, I'm struck with Exodus, Chapter 13; which, in verses 1 and 2, the Lord tells Moses, "Sanctify unto me all the first born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine."
This account pre-figures and types that of our Savior Christ, of course. From start to finish, God's word reveals more and more of His Son, Jesus. The date in Exodus is one of great emportance; for, God told Moses in verses 3 and 4, say to the people, "Remember this day...The day in which ye came from Egypt. The month was Abib." This date begins the (religious) calendar for the Jewish year. It's in the month of March; not January.
God instructs Moses to be ready with the answer when thy son asks, "What is this?" Moses, you say, "By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage" (V14). Children want to know. I've heard Baptists children question their parents about doctrine more than once. "Why do we do immerse or, close the Lord's Supper to church members only?" The answer is straight forward, just as God told Moses - God demands a separation. His people are to observe the ordinances just as Jesus instructed His church. Baptists are different from the rest of the religious world. Like, Israel, servants are to be consistent and never change. Baptists are.
Further, verse 12 gives us some of God's high standard; which, cannot be altered. "...thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix...the males shall be the Lord's." Here, we clearly see God making a difference by separating His first born from the Egyptian firstborn. "...the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beasts: therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem" (Exodus 13:15).
Exodus 13 records the separation that God commanded for Israel. The first born sacrifice is essential to salvation (V 1, 2). Thus, God instruced His nation to:
a. Remember their deliverance, verses 3, 4.
b. Observe the feast of unleavened bread, verses 5-8.
c. Instruct the meaning to their children, verses 8-10
d. Set apart to God the firstlings of their cattle, verses 11-13.
God took care of Israel after He brought them out of Egypt, as well. And, as I love to state: 'Not one Israeli returned to the land of bonage.' Even, the bones of Joseph were carried from Egypt.
Throughout God's Word, instruction of Separation it taught. Often, separation is seen in the daily routine, as well. In Deuteronomy 22, God restricts clothing for men and for women (V5). Protection against falling required a parapet (wall) on each roof (V8). Nor, would God allow an ox and a donkey to plow together.
Back in Exodus 13, my interest we peaked, causing me to read Deuteronomy for a better meaning of verse 13, "And every firsting of an ass thou shalt redeem with an lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thous shalt break his neck:" (V13). I wondered, 'why?' My agriclutural schooling thought that an ass could not reproduce and, that's the reason for redeeming it. But, it seems that the donkey (ass) is unclean because it doesn't chew it's cud.
But clearly, SEPARATION is demanded from Scripture. While, plowing or building houses isn't the issue in today's world, let us never forget the message of REDEMPTION that is recorded in Exodus 13. The lamb that secured Israel's safety and removed the nation from bondage teaches us that is was God's Son, Jesus.
In all ordinances, we see a picture of Jesus. In the unleavened bread teaching of separation, reveals to us what the Person of Jesus Christ shall accomplish on man's behalf. To have Jesus is Salvation. Thus, let's study these subjects until we have all the answers of separation and redemption; always ready to instruct our children; as well as, the world around us.