Exodus 13:13-16 “Redeem every firstborn child among your sons. When the time comes and your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you tell him, ‘God brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery, with a powerful hand. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, God killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstborn of both humans and animals. That’s why I make a sacrifice for every first male birth from the womb to God and redeem every firstborn son.’ The observance functions like a sign on your hands or a symbol on the middle of your forehead: God brought us out of Egypt with a powerful hand.”
It’s a sad mistake when we look at the Bible and say, “Well, God threw out everything that happened in the Old Testament once Jesus came.” WRONG!!!! God doesn’t make mistakes and God isn’t sitting in heaven, whacking His forehead, and exclaiming, “Oy! Why didn’t I just send Jesus in the first place?” The New Testament builds on the Old Testament, and everything in the Old Testament is necessary. The Exodus story is a perfect example.
Whenever we see God doing something, we must remember that he’s likely accomplishing seven or eight more things that have yet to be revealed. We are incredibly arrogant, so sure that we understand the Will of God that we totally ignore miracles happening right in front of us. It’s easy to read the story of the first Passover and mouth sanctified nonsense –“Oh, what a wonderful deliverance! Oh, what great miracles!” But the story of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt applies equally to us.
Forget all the programs glorifying the ancient Egyptians you might have watched on TV. Yes, the Egyptians were brilliant in many respects, producing magnificent temples and incredible artifacts that have been found in tombs; however, they worshiped a pantheon of more than 2,000 gods and were obsessed with death. Society was organized in a strict hierarchy, with the pharaoh at the top, followed by priests, nobles, and commoners. Slaves ranked below commoners, and once a slave, always a slave. Joseph’s elevation to becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt was an anomaly born from the warnings God sent Pharoah in dreams.
Once the Israelites were reduced to the level of slaves, they were condemned to remain slaves forever. The King James version mentions “a Pharoah who knew not Joseph…” In other words, once enough time had passed, Joseph was ancient history and the Egyptians didn’t care. Besides, the pharoahs wanted big construction projects and slave labor was cheap.
Why re-examine the situation of the ancient Israelites? John 8:34 tells us,“Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave can’t come and go at will.” No matter how virtuous we might think we are, all of us are slaves to sin. Just like those ancient Israelites in Egypt, we are trapped with no way out. We need a Savior, someone from outside who can come and do what we cannot possibly do for ourselves.
In the NALC Church in which I grew up, this is the Confession of Sin: “Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching him, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness.
Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto you that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against you by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore, we flee for refuge to your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring your grace. For the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
O most merciful God, who has given your only begotten Son to die for us, have mercy on us, and for His sake grant us forgiveness of all our sins: and by your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of you and of your will, and true obedience to your word, to the end that by your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The pastor then assures the congregation: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and has given His Only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. TO those who believe on His Name, He gives power to become the sons of God, and bestows upon them His Holy Spirit. Whoever believes and is baptized, shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, unto us all. Amen.”
If you have read this closely, you might be agitated. “What happens if someone cannot be baptized? Will they go to hell even if they believe in Jesus?” Absolutely not! Luke tells the story in Luke 23:39-43 “One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”
But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”
Baptism is a sign of faith in Jesus Christ; however, just like that criminal on the cross, sometimes baptism isn’t possible. What’s most important is faith in what Jesus has done for us.
These days, there’s a series of short stories on Facebook in which heroic grizzled veterans belonging to motorcycle clubs rescue women and children from horrible situations. No matter how independent you might think you are, such stories are appealing, for each of us can find ourselves in untenable situations from which we cannot escape. When we celebrate Christmas, we aren’t merely celebrating the birth of a cute little baby; we celebrate the birth of the Savior Hero who can deliver us from our slavery to sin.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are slaves to sin and desperately need a Savior. Thank You for sending Jesus to live as a sinless man and to die for our sins. We accept that blood sacrifice and beg You to help us follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Centuries ago, Charles Wesley wrote a wonderful hymn that clearly expresses that deliverance:
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, 2. Born thy people to deliver,
born to set thy people free; born a child and yet a King,
from our fears and sins release us, born to reign in us forever
let us find our rest in thee. now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Israel’s strength and consolation, By thine own eternal spirit
hope of all the earth thou art; rule in all our hearts alone;
dear desire of every nation, by thine all sufficient merit,
joy of every longing heart. raise us to thy glorious throne.
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