Page 70 - Gods Plan of the Ages

a patriarchal society. Yahweh does all things with great purpose and design. The emphasis
on the firstborn is a pervasive theme throughout the Old Testament.

Exodus 13:1-2
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring
of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me."

Exodus 13:11-13
"Now when Yahweh brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to
your fathers, and gives it to you, you shall devote to Yahweh the first offspring of every
womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to Yahweh.
But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not
redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you
shall redeem."

Every detail in the Law of God is significant. It was only firstborn males that were
devoted unto Yahweh. We saw the significance of this in the preceding chapter. Man must
rule over the feminine soul, taking upon Himself the masculine spiritual character of Christ.
Only spiritual men will be counted as the firstborn of God.
Yahweh singles out donkeys as an exception to the law of the firstborn. This is due to
what donkeys represent. The donkey is renowned for its stubbornness, whereas the lamb
is known to be meek and yielding. It is a true statement that no man will ever qualify as a
firstborn son of Yahweh unless he adopts the meek and submissive attitude of a lamb.
Those who are stubborn must have their necks broken. Stephen,the first martyr of Christ,
reproached the Israelite leaders for their stubborn resistance of God's work in their lives.

Acts 7:51
"You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting
the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did."

Both history and the Scriptures reveal that God had to deal with the Jews very harshly
due to their stubbornness. A generation would not pass from the time Stephen spoke these
words until Jerusalem would be destroyed and tens of thousands of Jews slaughtered. Yet,
even among the Jews there was a remnant who humbled themselves, embraced the shame
and suffering of Christ's cross, and qualified themselves to be firstborn sons.
The firstborn are considered holy unto God. They become His unique possession. They
are accorded honor and glory above all others.

Luke 2:22-23
Now when the days of [Mary's] purification according to the law of Moses were
completed, they brought [Yahshua] to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is
written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the
Lord")...

Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Although the above Scriptures are specifically speaking of Yahshua, there will be many