Please to open your Bible and read carefully the thirteenth verse of the thirteenth chapter of Exodus: there you find these words from the lips of Jehovah― “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 first born of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.”
Now, come back with me, in thought to a supposed scene of three thousand years ago. Two men (a priest of God and a poor Israelite) stand in earnest conversation. Let us stand by, with their permission, to listen. The gestures of each bespeak deep earnestness about some matter of importance, and it isn’t difficult to see that the subject of conversation is a little ass that stands trembling beside them.
I have come to know, says the poor Israelite, if there cannot be a merciful exception made in my favor this once. This feeble little thing is the firstling of my ass, and though I know full well what the law of God says about it, I am hoping that mercy will be shown, and the ass’s life spared. I am but a poor man in Israel, and can ill afford to lose the little colt.
But, answers the priest firmly, the law of the Lord is plain and unmistakable ― “EVERY firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb, and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck.” Where is the lamb?
Ah, sir, no lamb do I possess.
Then go purchase one and return, or the ass’ neck must surely be broken. The lamb must die or the ass must die.
Alas! then all my hopes are crushed, he cried, for I am far too poor to buy a lamb.
While this conversation proceeds, a third person joins them, and after hearing the poor man’s tale of sorrow, he turns to him and says kindly, Be of good cheer, I can meet your need; and thus he proceeds: We have in our house on the hilltop yonder, one little lamb brought up at our Very hearthstone, and it is “without spot or blemish.” It has never once strayed from home, and stands (and rightly so) in highest favor with all that are in the house. This lamb will I fetch. And away he hastens up the hill. Presently you see him gently lead the fair little creature down the slope, and very soon both lamb and ass are standing side by side.
Then the lamb is bound to the altar, its blood is shed and the fire consumes it.
The righteous priest now turns to the poor man, and says, You can freely take home your little colt in safety―no broken neck for it now! The lamb has died in the ass’s stead, and consequently the ass goes righteously free. Thanks to your friend.
Now, poor troubled soul, can’t you see in this God’s own picture of a sinner’s salvation? His claims as to sin demanded a “broken neck,” i.e., righteous judgment upon your guilty head, the only alternative being the death of a divinely approved substitute.
Now, you could not find this provision to meet your case; but, in the person of His beloved Son, God Himself provided the Lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God.” said John to his disciples, as his eyes fell upon that blessed spotless One. “Behold the Lamb of God,” “which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).)
Onward to Calvary He went, “as a lamb led to the slaughter,” and there and then “He once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).) “He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Rom 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25).) So that God does not abate one jot of His righteous, holy claims against sin, when He justifies (i.e. clears from all charge of guilt) the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)) Blessed be God for such a Savior, such a salvation!
DOST THOU BELIEVE ON THE SON OF GOD?
Well, you reply, I have, as a poor condemned sinner, found in Him One that I can safely trust, I do believe on Him. Then I tell you, the full value of His sacrifice and death, as God estimates it, He makes as good to you as though you had accomplished it all yourself.
May we quote a little further on,
“THE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION”
Before you turn to the verse which I shall ask you very carefully to look at, which speaks of how a believer is to KNOW that he has eternal life, let me quote it in the distorted way that man’s imagination often puts it. These happy feelings have I given unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life. Now, open your Bibles, and while you compare this with God’s blessed and unchanging Word, may He give you from your very heart to say with David, “I hate vain thoughts, but Thy law do I love.” (Psalm 119:113113SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. (Psalm 119:113).) The verse thus misquoted is the thirteenth verse of the fifth chapter of the first epistle of John, and reads thus in our version: ― “These things have I WRITTEN unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that YE HAVE eternal life.”
How did the firstborn sons of the thousands of Israel know for certain that they were safe the night of the Passover and Egypt’s judgment?
Let us take a visit to two of their houses and hear what they have to say.
We find in the first house we enter that they are all shivering with fear and suspense.
What is the secret of all this paleness and trembling? We inquire; and the firstborn son informs us that the angel of death is coming round the land, and that he is not quite certain how matters will stand with him at that solemn moment.
When the destroying angel has passed our house, says he, and the night of judgment is over I shall then know that I am safe, but I can’t see how I can be quite sure of it until then. They say they are sure of salvation next door, but we think it very presumptuous. All I can do is to spend the long dreary night hoping for the best.
Well, we inquire, but has the God of Israel not provided a way of safety for His people?
True, he replies, and we have availed ourselves of that way of escape. The blood of the spotless and unblemished first year lamb has been duly sprinkled with the bunch of hyssop on the lintel and two sideposts, but still we are not fully assured of shelter. Let us now leave these doubting troubled ones and enter next door.
What a striking contrast meets our eye at once! Joy beams on every countenance. There they stand, with girded loins and staff in hand, enjoying the roasted lamb.
What can be the meaning of all this joy on such a solemn night as this? Ah, say they all, we are only waiting for Jehovah’s marching orders, and then we shall bid a last farewell to the taskmaster’s cruel lash and all the drudgery of Egypt.
But hold. Do you forget that this is the night of Egypt’s judgment?
Right well we know it; but our firstborn son is safe. The blood has been sprinkled according to the wish of our God.
But so it has been next door, we reply, but they are all unhappy because all are uncertain of safety.
Ah, responds the firstborn firmly, but we have more than the sprinkled blood, we have the unerring word of God about it. God has said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” God rests satisfied with the blood outside, and we rest satisfied with His word inside.
The sprinkled blood makes us SAFE.
The spoken word makes us SURE.
Could anything make us more safe than the sprinkled blood, or more sure than His spoken word? Nothing, nothing.
Now, reader, let me ask you a question. which of those two houses think you was the safer?
Do you say No. 2, where all were so happy? Nay, then, you are wrong. Both are safe alike.
The safety depends upon what God thinks about the blood outside, and not upon the state of their feeling inside.
If you would be sure of your own blessing, then, dear reader, listen not to the unstable testimony of inward emotions, but to the infallible witness of the Word of God.
We would like to quote much more, but must content ourselves with the following lines from
“THE JOY OF SALVATION”
Oh, then, dear child of God, ever bear in mind these two things, that there is nothing so strong as the link of relationship; nothing so tender as the link of communion.
All the combined power and counsel of earth and hell cannot sever the former, while an impure motive or idle word will break the latter.
If you are troubled with a cloudy half-hour, get low before God, consider your ways: and when the cause that has robbed you of your joy has been detected, bring it at once to the light, confess your sin to God your Father, and judge yourself most unsparingly for the unwatchful, careless state of soul that allowed the thief to enter unchallenged.
But never, never, NEVER Confound your safety with your joy.
We would like earnestly to suggest to our readers that they order a copy of this booklet at once for themselves and perhaps some for their friends.
Three other booklets that have helped many are,―
“THE REASON WHY”
See the Story “A Serious Decision,” on Page 203
“GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION”
“NO DOUBTS.”
The price for these is about the same as for Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment.
Send for them, Read Them, and Give them to your Friends.
Three little books that we can heartily commend to those anxious about their salvation, are,―
THE JOURNEY AND ITS END
THE TRAVELER’S GUIDE From Death to Life
Whither Bound?