Following instructions are critical

can be deadly when not…

8 On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

11 “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, 12 you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

14 “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.” ~exodus 13:8-16~

time and time again in The Bible instructions are clearly laid out for us. some may disagree with what it says based on their interpretation of “the law” and may even disregard it as nonsense. i suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion. the challenge is making sure you know what is right and to follow it even when others don’t.

instructions given here are pretty specific about what needs to be done by each family to honor The Lord for what He has done for His people - saved and set them free. why i like it is that this becomes a constant reminder of what God had done for those who love and follow Him. all He’s asking is that we don’t forget what He had done, so our hearts won’t be hardened and the memory of this event disappear.

in the same way i try to remember when i was ‘saved’ from my addiction. while i have the date written down in my Bible, i know i fell in and out of sobriety after, but without that starting line, i would not still be running my race right now. for that i try to always thank The Lord for not destroying me and for passing over our home.

thank you Father God for the redemptive love displayed through your Son, Jesus, that in and through Him we are saved. let us always be reminded of your goodness, your mercy, your grace, and that thanksgiving should be in our hearts, on our minds, and spoken with our lips. to you goes all the glory, honor, and praise, in Jesus’ name i pray, amen!