Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son. The expression reveals the familial nature of the relationship between God’s people and the LORD. Israel is his firstborn son. Firstborns had special rights. They were the most favoured of all the sons.
The LORD has appeared to Moses as a burning bush which remained unconsumed. He commanded Moses to return to Egypt and pass on his demands to let his people go. Today’s passage picks up from here.
18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
19 And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”
20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. (Ex 4:18–20)
Moses doesnt tell his father-in-law the real reason why he is returning to Egypt and he leaves in peace.
The LORD reassures Moses the people who had anything against him are dead. So following the LORD’s commands he leaves for Egypt with his family.
He takes the staff of God with him. This is the staff he had when he saw the burning bush. The author has renamed it more suitably now Moses will use it to convince others who he represents. Taking the staff also signifies his commitment to go through with the LORD’s commands.
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21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.”
If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ” (Ex 4:21–23)
The LORD calls Israel his firstborn son.
The expression reveals the familial nature of the relationship between God’s people and the LORD. Israel is his firstborn son. Firstborns had special rights. They were the most favoured of all the sons. There is a strong implication of ownership.
The LORD wants his son Israel released so he may serve him. Sons and servants work for their father and master. When God’s people serve him, they also worship him.
Moses’ commands ends with a dire warning. If Pharaoh refuses to let the LORD’s firstborn Israel go, then the LORD will kill Pharaoh’s firstborn.
24 At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. (Ex 4:24–26)
Clearly if the LORD really wanted to put Moses to death he would be dead. The attempt highlighted the need for Moses’ son to be circumcised (cf. Gen 17.10f).
Moses had probably not circumcised his son because he was away from his people. But he must have told Zipporah his wife because she quickly circumcises their son and touches Moses’ feet with the flesh.
Firstborn is a term used in the bible to describe a family’s oldest (first) son. Israel was called God’s firstborn son because of that nation’s miraculous beginning and special deliverance out of Egypt (17:5, 15, 16; Ex 4:22; Hos 11.1). As God’s firstborn, Israel had unique privileges over all other nations and it implies a priority and preeminence as well as an inheritance.
Because God delivered Israel’s firstborn from death in Egypt, he expected each firstborn to be sanctified to him (Ex 11:4–7; 13:12). The first male child was a representative of the entire offspring (Gn 49:3; Ex 22:29; Num 3:13). The firstborn of all animals used in sacrifice was to be sanctified to the Lord (Ex 13:2, 15).
The firstborn acted as priest of the family in the father’s absence or death. Esau and Reuben are both examples (Gn 27:19, 32; 1 Chr 5:1, 2). Likewise Israel was called a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19.6).
This position of the firstborn ceased when the priesthood was committed to Levi’s tribe (Nm 3:12, 13). All the firstborn of succeeding generations had to be redeemed. The redemption money became part of the Levites’ yearly income (8:17; 18:16).
A double portion of the family inheritance was the right of the firstborn. (Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 791). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
The title “firstborn” is applied to Christ. We see this in the gospel (Lk 2:7).
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Lk 2.6-7)
Soon afterward, God declares Jesus to be his beloved son.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:21–22)
The title is a true statement regarding who Jesus is. He is God’s firstborn (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15, 18; Heb 1:6; Rv 1:5). As firstborn, Christ is heir of all things (Heb 1:2) and the head of the church (Eph 1:20–23; Col 1:18, 24; Heb 2:10–12).
Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son. The expression reveals the familial nature of the relationship between God’s people and the LORD. Israel is his firstborn son. Firstborns had special rights. They were the most favoured of all the sons.18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
