The Firstborn... The Only-Begotten...

The Firstborn...

The Only-Begotten...

“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: Israel is my son, my firstborn.’” (Exodus 4:22)

When God sent Moses in response to the cry of the people of Israel, He used a description of them that had not been used until then. That is the key verse for today.

Although God had already referred to Israel as His own people, as the descendants of His beloved Abraham, and as His special possession, this is the first time He calls them “my son.” This thought is repeated later as well (Psalm 89:27; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1).

Pharaoh claimed to be the son of the sun god, Ra. Using the Israelites as slaves for his own benefit, Pharaoh built store cities, palaces, embankments, and other structures.

By killing the male infants, he sought to eliminate any possibility of them ever rising up against him. Pharaoh devised a multifaceted strategy to strip them of their identity as God’s people and their distinct heritage, reducing them to mere human beings without spiritual strength.

It was in this context that God said to Pharaoh: If you claim to be the son of Ra, then let your people serve you. But My Son is the one who must serve Me. Moreover, he is My firstborn.

The firstborn had a unique responsibility. He was the father’s beloved, entitled to a double portion of the inheritance, and expected to carry on his father’s responsibilities.

According to ancient Near Eastern law, if one person harmed another person’s son, the other could likewise act against that person’s son.

God says:

“If you refuse to let my firstborn go as I command, I will kill your firstborn.”

Destroying Israel, God’s firstborn, was ultimately a plan of Satan rather than merely Pharaoh’s own scheme. The Only-Begotten Son had to take on human flesh through the Abrahamic lineage in order to crush the head of the serpent as the offspring of the woman. Satan’s plan was to destroy that divine purpose.

It was at this point that God intervened, came down, and gave Moses his calling and authority.

A Message...

For the devil to accomplish certain things, he needs Pharaohs—people with wealth, influence, and authority. But to dismantle such schemes, God needs only a servant like Moses, even one who was slow of speech.

Dear beloved,

No matter what authorities the devil may use to disrupt God’s plans concerning us, remember this: when God’s people cry out, there is a God who comes down and acts on their behalf.

May God bless everyone.