We have lingered long under the shade of “Horeb the Mount of God,” but before we pass on with the children of Israel in their journeyings, let us seek to gather up some precious lessons from the commands and instructions that God gave to Israel when He made them to hear His voice “out of heaven,” and showed them “His great fire” upon the earth, thus making them to know something of “His glory and His greatness.” (Dent. 4:36.)
The first subject we will take up will be redemption. Do you know, dear young readers, what this big word means? To redeem means something more than simply to buy, or to purchase. In the days of slavery in the South, a negro might be sold from one master to another, and still have to toil as a slave; but if some benevolent person bought a slave and gave him papers of freedom, he went forth a free man, rejoicing in his liberty. Such a person was more than purchased; he was redeemed from slavery—set free by the one who had paid the purchase price. This illustrates the redemption that God has for man, who is under the power and bondage of Satan. The one who believes in Jesus is not only purchased, but he is set free from Satan’s toils; blessed liberty is given him.
Let us look for a few moments at this in type. When the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai and there made a covenant with him, He gave instruction about the different feasts which were to be observed every year. The first one was the Passover Feast, and brought to mind that fearful night of Egypt’s woe, when all the first born of man and beast among them were slain, while they were preserved. God would have the people bear in mind, in connection with this feast, that all the first born were His.
The first born of clean animals must be offered up, and “the firstling of unclean beasts” must be redeemed; and “the first born of man shalt thou surely redeem,” was His word. He gave as a pattern of the unclean animals, the ass. It must be redeemed with a lamb, and one who would not thus redeem this unclean creature must break his neck. And in the very verse in which God -says, “the firstling of an ass” must be redeemed, He says also, “All the first born of thy sons thou shalt redeem.” (Ex. 34:18-2018The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt. 19All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. 20But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. (Exodus 34:18‑20).) (Num. 18:1515Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. (Numbers 18:15).)
Can you tell me why God has thus put man on a level with the unclean animal? It is because he, too, is unclean. That which is unclean must not be offered up to God; and man, who is a sinner, is unfit for God’s presence. The ass must have his neck broken unless a lamb was offered in his place; and man must suffer judgment at God’s hand unless a substitute is provided for him—that is, one to take his place, as the lamb was to be offered up, in place of the ass, which could not be offered up but must be killed if its substitute was not provided.
But oh, joy! the little unclean creature could go free when the lamb was offered in his place. And can God accept a lamb and let the sinner go free? Yes, yes, thanks to His blessed name, the purchase price has been paid! A lamb of worth so great that its price can never be measured— “the Lamb of God,” has been offered for us. Shall we then go free—we who are sinners by nature, and enemies of God? Is there redemption for us? Yes, there is redemption, full and free, for all who believe in Jesus, that blessed One who gave His life “a ransom for many.”
The price has been paid, and we are free. Let us then rejoice with glad hearts, and give thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light! Col. 1:1212Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12).
ML 12/27/1903