Independence

DEVOTION

EXODUS

INDEPENDENCE

Ex 22:25-31

25 "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.   26 If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, 27 because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 28 "Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. 29 "Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. "You must give me the firstborn of your sons. 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day. 31 "You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

NIV

It seems God is bouncing back and forward between laws regarding how we treat each other and how we are to be in relationship with him. Here he states how we are to deal with each other regarding financial matters then he says not to blaspheme him, but then also includes earthly rulers. Then back to money matters, but this time it is in relationship with God. We are not to hold back our resources from him. Then back to the first born, but that too is about our relationship with God, he wants all the firstborn. Now of course the children are not to be sacrificed as an animal would, but the boys would be circumcised on the eight day, thus signifying they belong to God. Yet all boys should undergo this circumcision, so what would be different about the first born son? It would appear everything is about the first fruits and first born. God desires that we acknowledge him who gives us the fruits of our labor and our lives.  If we remember the very first time we earned money for ourselves, we felt so proud. That first paycheck represented our independence, being our own person. We may have still been living as a young adult within the household of our parents, but that first check was still special. God wants that first check, not to take away our money, but our sense of independence. It is the same thing when we have our firstborn son, the one would inherit all we have, and that will carry on the family name. Again this carries a great deal of significance for a man, it is a sign of his manhood, his independence from his parents. He is now his own family, the head of his own household. God does not want that son sacrificed, but he wants the father to see his dependence on God, not on his own position. This all relates to not blaspheming God, not reviling his authority both in money matters and in life matters. This matter about not eating meat torn apart by animals speaks directly back to the command God gave Adam about toiling all the days of his life for his sustenance. Whether it is the labor of our hands or our loins, the first portion of all we have belongs to God, showing him our respect and reverence for his constant provision for us. Let us always see him as our God, our provider, of life itself, of salvation, eternal life, and of material goods. We should be giving him first of all, our independence.