In releasing the Israelites from captivity very first-born creature in Egypt had died. Now every first-born creature in Israel had to be consecrated to the Lord. In Exodus 4:22 God said to Pharaoh that Israel was His first-born son. Jesus was the first-born of Mary. Without the Lord we would have nothing, so it is good for us to give the first fruits of everything to the Lord. In planning our budgets we should set aside money for giving first of all, not waiting to see if we have anything left over.
The Israelites were to commemorate the day of their release for all time. When they finally entered the promised land and got settled there they would be inclined to forget that they only got there because of the saving act of God. When we repent and believe, God starts to work in our life and things get better. We can then easily start to think that we do not need God after all. It is good for us to continually remind ourselves of the One who died for us. That is one of the reasons why Jesus instituted the act of Holy Communion, that we would do it in remembrance of Him.
This remembrance is to be passed on from one generation to the next.
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