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ÒMy FirstbornÓ

Exodus 4:22

 

There is a definite reference here to our Lord Jesus Christ. Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2:15 tell us that when God said, ÒIsrael is my son,Ó he was not talking about the nation of Israel, or even his elect, alone. He was talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, that baby boy brought up from Egypt by Joseph. He was telling us that the man Christ Jesus is God the Son.

 

GodÕs Message

This is the message God gave to Moses to declare to Pharaoh. Indeed, this is the message God gives to every man who is his ambassador among men, the message GodÕs servants must proclaim to all men everywhere throughout the ages. — ÒIsrael is my Son, even my Firstborn.Ó Israel typified Christ, who is here said to be GodÕs Firstborn, that One man who is Òabove all people that are upon the face of the earthÓ (Deuteronomy 7:6). The Word of God has much to say about Christ the Firstborn, as he was typified in Israel and throughout the Old Testament.

 

GodÕs Purpose

In all things the triune God has purposed and determined that his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, have preeminence as the God-man Mediator, the Savior of his people. Therefore, he is declared to be Òthe firstborn.Ó The Holy Spirit tells us that GodÕs purpose in saving his elect is that his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Òmight be the firstborn among many brethrenÓ (Romans 8:28-29). We read in Colossians chapter one that our Savior Òis the image of the invisible God, the firstborn from the deadÉthe head of the body, the church: the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.Ó And in Hebrews 12:23 the church of God is called Òthe church of the firstborn.Ó The Lord our God is determined that his Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, be exalted and have all preeminence as his Firstborn. He says, ÒAlso I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earthÓ (Psalm 89:27).

 

Old Testament Types

Throughout the Old Testament, the preeminence of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior is typified as the first, the firstborn, the firstfruits, and the firstlings of the flock, and of the herd. Indeed, everything recorded in the Old Testament foreshadows him who is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and the Sum and the Substance of all things in the salvation of his people (Luke 24:25-27, 44). There is nothing in the Book of God that does not speak of our all-glorious Christ, nothing that does not, in one way or another, set forth his supremacy, excellence, and glory as God our Savior. Nowhere is this fact more evident than in those passages dealing with the firstborn.

      The firstborn symbolized a fatherÕs might and strength, Òthe excellency of dignity and the excellency of powerÓ (Genesis 49:3). In that awesome night, when the Lord God slew the firstborn of both man and beast among the Egyptians (Exodus 12:29), he claimed the firstborn of both man and beast in Israel as his own, requiring that they be sanctified unto him (Exodus 13:2).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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