God Must Be First

Exodus 13:2Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.

Exodus 13:12-13that 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.

FIRST BORN MUST BE SACRIFICED OR REDEEMED

Clean animal Sacrifice its 1st BornUnclean animal Sacrifice a clean animal

If its unclean it must be redeemed with the sacrifice of the clean

JESUS WAS BORN CLEAN

God gave us Jesus in faith that we would give our lives to Him

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still

sinners, Christ died for us. -- Rom. 5:8

THE FIRST FRUITS MUST BE OFFERED

The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God-- Exo. 23:19

Give God the FIRST and the rest will be BLESSED

Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. -- Pro 3:9-10

Cain and AbelAnd in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. -- Gen 4:3-5

2 Attributes of God1. God Can’t Change2. God Can’t Think Like We Think

Motives for the Principal of the First

1. Are we thankful that Jesus was offered as the First Fruit of our lives?

2. Do we therefore put God first in everything?

Exodus 13:14-15So 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.’