Sun.’s Devo - The Firstborn

Read: Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-25; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:23
The firstborn animals and people were automatically consecrated to the Lord. They were the first to come through the blood of their mother’s womb which represents those who are called from the foundation of the earth. Ephesians 1:4,5 says that God has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. We were predestined to be adopted by Jesus to himself.
Every other person had to be redeemed by a price. In Judaism, they believed there were three groups of people: the totally righteous, the totally wicked and the in-betweener’s. The in-betweener’s were those that could go either way. That is a pretty good way to look at it. Some are destined for salvation but others have to be rescued. Either way, we are called to the field to work in the harvesting of souls.
In Numbers, we have two lists of the tribes of Israel. The first is the list and their tribal leaders. I noticed that they named all of Leah’s sons first, then Racheal’s, then Bilhah’s and Zilpah’s. In the second list they did the same only they listed Gad, with Leah’s. I have no idea why, I just find it interesting.
They were to count all the men who were army age: 20-60. Everyone was counted except the Levites who were exempt from the army since their job was the tabernacle. This is such a great picture of Ephesians 6. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. We don’t fight like the heathen’s fight. We, as priests of the Lord, battle principalities and spiritual forces in the heavenlies with praise and faith and the name of Jesus.
In Mark, Jesus is following the practice that they have been doing for years. The pascal lamb which is chosen on that day by the priests to atone for the people would be coming down a similar path at the same time Jesus was coming down his path. Everything they did for Jesus, they did for the lamb. They met at the same place in Jerusalem and the pascal lamb would be taken into the temple and examined for four days to make sure it was unblemished. In the same way, Jesus would be examined by his own priests and the government to see if he was without sin. Both would be declared innocent and be killed for the sins of the people.
Jesus went to the temple and cleansed the temple because that is what unleavened bread was all about - getting rid of the sin. He then went to the fig tree which stood for the nation of Israel to see if it bore any fruit. Since it didn’t, he cursed it and Israel has lived under that curse for years. One day it will be lifted and they will be fruitful again.
Lord, help us to walk in the freedom of the cross. Thank you for dying for our sins and making us righteous and clean.