Reading through the Bible 2025: Why firstborns are such a big deal to God

Note before sharing the Bible reading reflection: although I am an only child, I would have been a firstborn if I had siblings. Eventually when I acquired three step-sisters as a young adult, they were all a few years younger than me, which reinforces this belief. If I feel moved by the Spirit, I'll someday share more about the significance of this thought and how it has shaped my understanding of not only my life but also with some of the things the Lord has shared with me over the years. For today, I want to just simply highlight what God has been highlighting to me in this current reading through His Word this year, starting with the thirteenth chapter of the book of Exodus.


Thesis: Why firstborns are such a big deal to God:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.13.1-2.NKJV

Another reminder of God’s promise to Abraham:

“And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.13.5.NKJV

Explanation of the redemption of the firstborn:

““And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.13.11-16.NKJV

Jesus was Mary’s firstborn:

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25, NKJV

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7, NKJV