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Awesome Hands – part 56

“The Firstborn”

Feb. 19, 2013

In this study today, we are going to cover the final plague and it’s execution on the Egyptians. We are also going to examine the spiritual application of this last of ten plagues for the “Jew who is one inwardly”.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Our praise will be of God when we are able to acknowledge the working of His hands in our lives and claim none of it for ourselves.

“It came to pass”

We ended part 55 of this series with the instructions and particulars of what the Israelites are commanded of the Lord to do in order to fulfill the requirements of the Passover.

We are now going to pick up with the Israelites fulfilling these commandments faithfully.

Exo 12:28  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exo 12:29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

It is in the night that the Lord starts salvation for any of mankind and that includes His first begotten Son.

Day is likened unto life and night is likened to death. For the Lord, He sees both day and night alike for the purposes He is calling all of mankind into, and He is the only One who can use both Faithfully to execute His will for good.

Psa 139:11  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psa 139:13  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

For this story of the plagues, the Lord causes the death of the firstborn to happen so that the Pharaoh will finally let the Israelites go. This pattern is the same that Christ followed since it is THROUGH DEATH that salvation comes.

Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It may not seem apparent on the surface and in the letter, but the freeing and deliverance of Israel from the bondage in Egypt is a type of the freeing salvation we are given by the works of God alone.

Of course, being given the start of salvation in no way means that we have arrived at God’s purposes and work in us but that we simply have been given the ability to see our safety in the process of the cross and what Christ alone accomplished by the working of the cross.

That is why and how we die daily when we follow Christ to the cross.

Still, it is not going to be an easy transition from death to life since even the Pharaoh presents to us just how formidable the flesh and carnal mind is to those who are being freed from the bondage of the same.

Exo 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Exo 12:31  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
Exo 12:32  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

After all the has happened with the firstborn deaths and the utter destruction of Egypt at the power of the Lord being placed in Moses and Aaron’s hands, the Pharaoh still insists that he be blessed by Moses. This shows us that it will be “until the end of the flesh,” that we will be enduring and overcoming it.

EVERY “house”, that is every generation, will know the Truth of “this death” to the carnal mind.

It is written several times that it is at NIGHT that the Passover happens and a big part of that is to show us WHEN it is the Lord comes to “our house” and “passes over us” in our “hour of need”.

Exo 12:33  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
Exo 12:34  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

The Israelites do as they were commanded and follow the commandments of the Lord. There is a way out of the dire situation they have been placed in and by following the commands of the Lord, they are additionally blessed to have the Egyptians be quick to send them on their ways.

“Borrowing of the Egyptians”

There are always many layers to any story in scripture, and there are many layered admonitions we can gain by seeing various types and shadows that are contained within various stories.

That concept is no different to this story and in particular as it pertains to the aspect of the Lord telling Moses to tell the people to borrow of their neighbors, silver, gold and raiment.

Exo 12:35  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
Exo 12:36  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Exo 12:37  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

Previously in the last study, I mentioned that each layer and each type and shadow builds upon itself and other types, in order to better expound to us what is being said.

This is a similar concept to how Christ would speak “plain” words, yet they held and hold a spiritual meaning behind them to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear.

For example, in Exodus 11:2 Moses is told this:

Exo 11:2  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

However, when the children of Israel do according to Moses words they borrow silver, gold and raiment. Raiment is not mentioned in Exodus 11:2.

It may seem like a small thing, but what we can learn from this additional bit of information really paints for us a clearer spiritual picture of what we are being told.

The Israelites borrow from their neighbor AS they are exiting Egypt so when we try to determine what this might mean we can look at other examples of this happening in scripture and make a spiritual comparison, spiritual with spiritual of what we are being taught.

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

So, where else do we see silver, gold and raiment mentioned together? Remember, there are positive and negatives to all words in scripture and that also applies to spiritual concepts.

Here is another example of silver, gold and raiment being mentioned in scripture but with a little more detail, just as Moses adds the detail of raiment being borrowed like silver and gold was borrowed.

Eze 16:10  I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
Eze 16:11  I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Eze 16:12  And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:14  And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

The Egyptians indeed witnessed firsthand the FAVORING of God’s children over the Egyptians.

Here are a few more examples:

Rebekah was given away AFTER abiding for TEN days with her family. Abraham typifies “the Father” welcoming in His new child, in this case his new daughter-in-law.

Gen 24:51  Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
Gen 24:52  And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
Gen 24:53  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
Gen 24:54  And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
Gen 24:55  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

One last example, of many examples, can be found in Joshua:

Jos 21:43  And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
Jos 21:44  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

Then a few verses later:

Jos 22:2  And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
Jos 22:3  Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
Jos 22:4  And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
Jos 22:5  But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jos 22:6  So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
Jos 22:7  Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
Jos 22:8  And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

Did anyone notice that when the Israelites left Egypt they SPOILED the Egyptians?

Does anyone think it coincidence that when the Israelites left Egypt they had much cattle, silver, gold and raiment? What then had they DONE that led to them successfully being led out of Egypt?

The answer is the same answer found in the examples listed above. They DILIGENTLY took heed to the commandments and law of the Lord and FAITHFULLY obeyed. I am not saying they did this on their own since we know via the “sum of thy Word” that Faith is a gift and the Lord works all things.

So, what does this mean for us today? It was the DEATH of the firstborn and the PASSOVER which led to the salvation process starting for the children of Israel.

Who then is the Passover? Who then is our GOLD and SILVER? Who is our Raiment? Who is the FIRSTBORN sacrificed for OUR (and the rest of humanity’s) salvation?

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The Passover:

Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

“By Faith … a gift of God”

What the Israelites did when they “simply” followed the commandments of the Lord was that they acted in Faith. They were leaving a “known” Egypt, though in slavery, to go unto a wilderness they knew nothing about.

They followed the commandments of the Lord and did as He instructed Moses.

Exo 12:39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
Exo 12:40  Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Exo 12:41  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
Exo 12:42  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

When the work of the Lord happens, it is for all, for everything that work is set out to do. Meaning, the Lord does a quick and complete work in “that selfsame day”.

It is in the night, night being likened to blindness, darkness and death that the Lord comes to us with deliverance. (Col 1:12-15)

When we come forth form this darkness, this night, we are going forth with the raiment, gold and silver that ONLY the Lord can give us, HIS NAME and His work in us.

We know the Israelites, like we all do, go on to doubt, to betray, to back talk and to do many things AGAINST the commandments of the Lord and this is VERY MUCH like what we know is to LEAVE our FIRST LOVE.

When the Firstborn, our First Love comes into our lives we are given EVERY thing we could ever want. We are given His name, His wealth and His covering. We are given ALL THINGS He can give us.

However, it is a VERY short time until we start thinking we know best and we go into rebellion. We take His name but don’t want to take on “His wealth” like the women in Isaiah 4. So, why DOES this happen?

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Didn’t Adam and Eve experience this? They were given everything in the garden BUT the SERPENT beguiled them with lies mixed with Truth.

After this study, I will be doing a mini-series on “satan and the devil”. I feel led to go into this very aspect in a lot of scriptural detail to show how and why satan is able to mix Truth with lies in order to accomplish being used to cause the “children” of the Lord to do the things that cause us to “leave our First Love”.

What are the first works we must do? Did not the Israelites show us these “first works” in type and shadow in leaving Egypt by Faith?

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Here is what the children of Egypt did.

Exo 12:42  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Exo 12:43  And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
Exo 12:44  But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Exo 12:45  A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
Exo 12:46  In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
Exo 12:47  All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Exo 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exo 12:50  Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exo 12:51  And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

The Israelites start off doing the commandments of the Lord but they soon fall away from those same commandments pulled by lusts that dwell in us all and can be easily TEMPTED by the SUBTLE SERPENT.

The “only” thing we have to battle this old serpent with is Jesus Christ, and He ALONE is ENOUGH.

Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that THROUGH DEATH he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The Firstborn is able to deliver us all, and does deliver us. However, this is a life-long process for “us” and is a process most will face in the lake of fire.

We will pick up the “Awesome Hands” series from this spot after the mini-series on “Satan and the devil” is done, but I believe the mini-series will better equip us to view how the Lord views the works of Satan and the devil in our lives as He admonishes us to “keep thy commandments”.

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Joh 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.