The start of the chapter was the LORD's instruction to consecrate the firstborn. Then Moses instructed the people to keep the feast of Unleavened Bread when they entered the promised land. That was to commemorate what God did as they escaped from Egypt and to remember the law of the LORD. The law here is not referring to the Ten Commandments, for it was not given them yet. Instead, it refers to the consecration of the firstborn: Every firstborn son or animal belongs to the LORD, and they shall redeem them with the life of a lamb. If they did not wish to redeem their donkey, they should break its neck. That sounds cruel.

Thus, many people felt the God in OT seemed to be fierce and cruel. Whereas the God presented in NT seemed more gentle and loving. Was there something wrong with the God found in OT? Of course not. The God in OT is the same as in the NT. Our God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. If so, what went wrong? The answer lies with us. We are the cause of the problem. We are so protected by God's grace that we cannot appreciate the need for justice. Nothing is free in this world. Salvation is free only when Jesus has paid the price, which is much higher than the total worth of the whole of mankind.

We think we are loving and cannot bear the idea that so many lambs have to die for the firstborn of every man and animal. The truth is revealed in v13. If we refuse to redeem a donkey, we must break its neck. We cannot pretend to be so loving and ignore the presence of death due to sin. The price is hefty and God's firstborn, Jesus Christ, paid for it.

If we feel sorry for the death of so many lambs and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, then we shall make the price He paid worth it. We shall live a life worthy of being called God's children.