In our travel, we look for points of reference towards the destination. Deuteronomy 15 points us to the destination of God’s deliverance of our bondages through the law concerning the firstborn. The law regarding the sanctity of the firstborn gave a special status to the firstborn. It is also pointing prophetically to Jesus the Firstborn who delivered us from our sins (Luke 2:7); and the law concerning the Firstborn Son (Luke 2:22-24). Even though the passage talks about the firstborn of the cattle and flocks. In verse 19a, “All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the Lord your God.” This law of the “firstborn” was already made in chapters 12:6-7 and 14:23 and is more explicit in Exodus 13:11-16; 22:29-30; 34:19-20; Leviticus 27:26-27; and Numbers 18:15-18. The law was meant to commemorate God’s deliverance of His people when He took the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 13:14-16). This points to Jesus who was set aside as the firstborn as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

The firstborn was set apart according to verse 19b, “You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.” The firstborn was not to do any work or to be sheared. In other words, in any way tainted by the world through any “secular” work or purposes. Likewise, Jesus who lived among us was not tainted by the world or by sin. He was set apart for God as He walked in constant obedience to do His Father’s will.

In verse 20 God said, “You shall eat it, you and your household, before the Lord your God year by year at the place that the Lord will choose.” The firstborn was to be offered in a designated place made by God and not anywhere they liked as the firstborn belongs to God. Just as Jesus was crucified on a hill in Jerusalem by the temple as the firstborn and as an offering devoted to the Lord. The portions devoted to the priests were also to be eaten by them and their families in the same designated place.

In verses 21-23, the given instruction for the offering of the firstborn was it must not have any defect such as being lame or blind or had any crippling imperfection. It may be eaten as a regular animal but according to the instruction given by God, And as always, with all animals that were eaten, the blood was to be avoided. It points us to Jesus who did not have any imperfection or tainted with the sin of Adam, and who had committed no sins of His own. And as 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul said, God “made Him to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

As the “setting apart” of the firstborn commemorates God’s deliverance of them from their bondage in Egypt. So, in the Old Testament, the observing of the Passover was to celebrate this deliverance. In the New Testament, the Lord’s Supper is observed to celebrate the deliverance of our sins by Jesus. Both commemorate God’s deliverance of our bondages.

Response: We are therefore to set ourselves apart in holy living for His use. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection and Prayer: Are we set apart for God in holy living as a disciple, and allowing Him to use in the making disciples? May this be our prayer!