We're talking through the theme of the first born.

It's a theme about who gets to be in charge.

And in the storyline of the Bible, God creates a reputation for selecting the least likely

candidates.

We saw this theme begin with God choosing humanity to be his image to rule the world.

The choice that some angels aren't that thrilled about.

And this theme continues with God showing his favor to Abel, the second born shepherd

boy.

Over the sacrifice of Cain, the first born city boy, this theme continues and is very

poignant in the moment that God chooses Jacob, the second born, even though he's a

devious snake of a man.

As we begin the scroll of Exodus, we see this theme come to life in a new way.

The family of Abraham has now grown to become an entire ethnic group and their slaves to

the real power in charge, Egypt.

Yet it's this small, inconsequential, oppressed people who God calls his first born son.

God is so closely identified with them that Yahweh's own power and name authority is

invested in these people.

First born becomes essentially a way of saying this is my image.

This is my representative.

To call someone the first born is not necessarily a statement of their actual origins.

This family was never the first born in any of the generations, but what's being referred

to by calling them a first born is a status, a role.

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