Exodus 13:1-13 (Cont’d)
“AND EVERY firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” God would have His people ever to remember that they were a redeemed and separated people. The bringing together of the firstling of the ass with the firstborn of man is very striking; both alike were to be redeemed. The firstling of the ass was to be redeemed with a lamb, and the firstborn of Israel were redeemed with a lamb on the night of the Passover. Furthermore, the ass was to be destroyed if not redeemed, even as the Israelites would have been destroyed when the Lord smote the Egyptians. The ass was numbered among the unclean animals in Israel; it also has a stubborn nature, and since we too have such stubborn natures, God compares each one of us naturally to an ass. “For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.” Job 11:12.
Man born into this world is classed with the firstling of an ass because both alike are unclean, and as such doomed to destruction, unless redeemed with a lamb. How humbling this is to man’s pride! He may boast of what he is, of his intellect and capabilities, but here we have God’s estimate of his condition. The believer bows to this truth; “let God be true, but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4. For that was our state by nature—lost and helpless—and we would surely have perished if God in the riches of His grace had not redeemed us by the blood of the Lamb.
The classing of the firstling of an ass and the firstborn child might have seemed strange to an Israelite and contrary to his thoughts; perhaps he might have been inclined to keep their little one on “higher ground,” and class him along with a clean beast, but God’s thoughts and ways are not man’s.
Man in his pride seeks to elevate himself, and overlook the fact that he is fallen. Yet even the sweetest babe is born with a sinful nature which as the child grows will early show itself in naughty ways, self-will and disobedience. It is no use to shut our eyes to this circumstance; there it is in all its stark reality—sin is present in every babe born into this world, and this sinful nature is abhorrent to a holy God as shown in the uncleanness pronounced upon the ass. If the owner cared not to redeem the ass with a lamb, or neglected to do so, then it was to suffer the penalty of death. Man who like the ass ruses or neglects the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, faces death and judgment in his uncleanness Whereas one who by the simple act of faith in this day of grace accepts the atoning work of Christ as the way of forgiveness, is cleansed from all his sins and instead of eternal judgment his portion becomes eternal joy.
In classing the firstborn of man with the ass, a more degrading comparison could hardly be made. Yet how it magnifies the grace of God who condescended to meet us in that state, brought us to Himself and associated us forever with the Lamb by whom we have been redeemed. We could not have fallen lower; yet grace could not have raised us higher; for God has predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
ML-05/18/1969