#3 - The Principle of First

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

exo 13:1-2

“It is mine” -

Exodus 13:12–13 NKJV

that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Ownership in God

If you don’t bring it to God, you will lose it.

The first must be sacrificed or redeemed.

How do you know which to do - sacrifice or redeem

Donkey represents unclean animals

Lamb represents clean animals

If your clean animal has a firstborn, it must be sacrificed. If your unclean has a firstborn, it must be redeemed with the sacrifice of a clean.

What does it mean to us?

When you and I were born on this earth, would you say we were spiritually clean or unclean?

Born with sin nature - a bent toward sin

Did you have to teach your children to be bad?

All born unclean

Jesus born clean

Clean had to be sacrifice so that the unclean could be redeemed

God gave Jesus - his firstborn - so we could be redeemed.

Jesus is God’s tithe

God didn’t wait to see if we were good to make the sacrifice

He didn’t say have ten lambs and then give me the one that you want - the one that’s getting in the garden

He said give me the first one - because it takes faith to give the first.

Only area where you can test God -

Why did God invent this?

Do you really believe that God needs our money to support His kingdom.

He did not invent it for his sake - he invented it for yours. Faith -

2. The firstfruits must be offered.

Proverbs 3:9–10 NKJV

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

prov 3:9-10

Exodus 23:19 NKJV

The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

BRING - not give - only bring. Can’t give what doesn’t belong to you.

Can’t designate your tithe

Jericho - BRING all of the silver and gold to me. () First city.

First has power to bless the rest

Ever wonder why God accepted Abel’s offering but He didn’t accept Cain’s?

Genesis 4:3–5 NKJV

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Gen 4:3-5

“Process of time” “came to pass” “an offering”

Abel brought of “firstborn”

2500 years before law - its a principle

Its not that God didn’t like Cain’s offering - He COULDN’T accept it

Thought God could do anything

Anything INSIDE his nature

Can’t lie - - He IS truth. Lie is the opposite of truth

Can’t change - immutability - if He could, He could get better - and He’s best - perfect like He is

Can’t think the way we do - omniscient - God knows everything - AT THE SAME TIME - we try to figure stuff out - He’s not. Nothing has ever “occurred” to God. God has never said “you know what I just thought of” - He’s never said that.

As relates to Cain’s offering - God can’t be second. Pre-eminence. Higher than all. Above all. Before all.

Even if He’s not first in your life - He’s first in universe. Your order won’t change His.

Couldn’t accept Cain’s offering because it wasn’t first.

“In the process of time” - I can’t accept that.

Cain gave what he wanted WHEN he wanted.

3. The tithe must be first.

God IS first, what’s His must be first.

Leviticus 27:30 NKJV

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.

lev 27:30

Wants us to walk in faith. Takes faith to give the first 10%. Wants to be in a relationship where you trust Him.

Example of landscaper doing job - $1000 profit . . . How do you know which one is first? First to leave your hand.

Example of how some do it: mortgage, car note, utilities, Tithe - God can’t accept it.

Not enough left for tithe - you’ve robbed God. He will not accept it -

Exodus 13:14–15 NKJV

So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

exo 13:14-15

One day your son will get old enough to ask “why are you killing these animals”?

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