Dedicated to my Firstborn Son, James Bibb
James Bibb in his Bradley
Firstborn offspring had a special place in the eyes of God. while Israel was in slavery in Israel and Pharaoh refused to let them go after numerous signs that a great and powerful true God said to let me people go, Yehovah (God)killed all the firstborn, both of people and animals. There was one exception, those that were redeemed by blood, placed on the door frame, as a sign of obedience to Him.
It tells us the every male that opens the womb is to be redeemed. He considered the firstborn males special since he knew when the time was right, that His firstborn would redeem all Peoples to Him forever. Exodus 13 tells us the story of why:
And on that day you will explain to your son, ‘This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ It will be like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the LORD will be on your lips: with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. You will keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year. “When the LORD, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, just as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, you will dedicate to the LORD every newborn that opens the womb; and every firstborn male of your animals will belong to the LORD. Every firstborn of a donkey you will ransom with a sheep. If you do not ransom it, you will break its neck. Every human firstborn of your sons you must ransom. And when your son asks you later on, ‘What does this mean?’ you will tell him, ‘With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of human being and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD every male that opens the womb, and why I ransom every firstborn of my sons.’ It will be like a sign on your hand and a band on your forehead that with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt. Toward the Red Sea. (Exo 13:8-16 NAB)
Redemption of the firstborn male
Uncle Jimmy with Luke
Written in Exodus 34, verses 19-20 says “To me belongs every male that opens the womb among all your livestock, whether in the herd or in the flock. The firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. The firstborn among your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.” (Exo 34:19-20 NAB)
Therefore, upon learning this command I redeemed my firstborn son, James as command on this day, April 13, 2013 at 3:49 pm in obedience to the command and offer this post as a witness to others to obey the command.
James Bibb, Born May 2, 1985 in Naples, Florida
Jimmy at Granny’s place for Xmas
James, born this date, May 2, is a terrific young man and a wonderful, intelligent son who has gone through tremendous difficulties in his life and yet still overcomes daily. He has a nephew Luke and niece Leia along with a brother Andrew. Also a step family of Elizabeth, Andrew and Christopher Gee. His new pride is his puppy he named sweetie.
But seeing him with the children reminds me of the gentle patient child he was. Strength is seen in the way we handle a little child and seeing him with Luke and Leia displays the truth in this.
Jimmy in Oraq
He served in the U.S. Army and fought in Iraq as a driver of a Bradley. During a mission, about two weeks before he was to return home, his Bradley hit a road side bomb nearly killing him. Some of his buddies were not a fortunate and this he now lives with.
However, we know we serve a great and mighty God named Yehovah who does not give us tests beyond what we can handle. We can never know why we face certain things in our lives, but we should know that we never face them alone. Sometimes bad things happen because of our own choices, thus they are consequences. At other times, they happen for a reason that only God knows.
Thank you son for blessing my life.
Jimmy with Luke
Jimmy sleeping with Sweetie in the foreground
Jimmy in Dublin at the Guinness factory
Jimmy with Marissa, Dan and Linda returning from the jungle in Darien, Panama.
wow.. not much to be added here. The love between a Father & a Son. priceless indeed
Ray, yes it is. Until I studied about redemption of the first born, knowing that the Father’s first born was killed on a tree for me and the first born killed in Egypt, I knew that I must redeem him.
What if there are only daughters in a family?
Hello Laina,
Thank you for your question. Redemption was for the first born male who opened the womb and was a requirement from the Exodus out of Egypt. However, there is no scripture forbidding one to redeem any first born.