Now I know it is somewhat strange that I would use a section of the Law of Moses to write my first random thought, but I am currently reading Numbers and these verses struck me: how amazingly just God truly is. Most of the time we forget about the Horrors of Egypt as being exactly that: horrors. God did horrendous things to free the Israelites and to boost their trust in Him. God killed children in order to free the Israelites. Now God doesn't go by human rules: the only time he did was as Jesus. So it would have been fair for Him to kill the Egyptians off and not take a second glance. That is what the Egyptian gods would do no doubt. But, God loves every human being on this earth. Every hair on our head is counted.
So, you ask me how this verse applies to my ranting. God didn't set apart every first born just out of a whim. The Egyptians sacrificed their firstborn sons for the Israelites. The only just thing to do was to sacrifice the firstborn of every Israelite to God. Obviously God would not ask the Israelites to truly sacrifice their firstborn sons because, again that would be an Egyptian god thing to do not a loving God action. Instead, He replaced the firstborn with the Levites. God turned the sacrifice into a joy. What a joy it is to be in the presence of the Lord.
This brings up another twist in these verses. Doing God's work; being the sacrifice, does not have to be a burden. It can be incredibly joyful. God loves to see his people happy. How amazing is that?
An end twist: God ended the need for the sacrifices no matter what they were for when he sent his son. No longer do we have to give up our first born. No longer do we have to see carnage at the temple in order to unite our relationship with God. Jesus is the great uniter and the Holy Spirit is the great reminder.
God never leaves anything out. He is the Alpha and Omega and he encompasis everything.
