God commanded that, to commemorate the exit from Egypt, all the firstborn were to be set apart for His service.
The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine” (Exodus 13:1-2)
“Consecrate” in Hebrew has this range of meaning:
- To make holy
- To set apart
- To sanctify
- To dedicate
- To hallow
Many churches observe a parent-child dedication service, often held on Mother’s Day. Typical elements include prayers for the parents and children, the presentation of small Bibles to the children, and the giving of flowers to the mothers.
What does it mean for a parent to dedicate their child to the Lord? I have conducted many parent-child dedications. Below are a few suggestions that go beyond a cute and sentimental observance on Mother’s Day.
(1) Committing to Raise the Child to a Living Faith: The parents are promising to raise their child according to Jesus’ principles and teachings. This includes providing a loving, Christian home environment, teaching the child about God, the Bible, and modeling a life of faith.
(2) Acknowledging God’s Ownership: It’s an acknowledgment that the child’s life is a gift from God and that the child ultimately belongs to Him. The parents see themselves as stewards entrusted with the child’s care and spiritual nurturing.
(3) Seeking God’s Blessing and Guidance: Parents are praying for God’s blessing on their child’s life and for wisdom and guidance for themselves in raising the child.
(4) Enlisting Church Support: The church community is invited to support the parents through prayer and encouragement as they undertake the responsibility of raising the child in faith.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Rudy Ross has a great explanation of what is done, or should be done, for the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Hebrew families. I encourage you to take a look at our YouTube video. You may find the origins of Spring Cleaning in Rudy’s remarks.
At their first stop after leaving Egypt, Moses reminded the Hebrew people of God’s command to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the Lord brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten (Exodus 13:3).
In future generations, as people cleaned their houses of all leaven, even using a feather to sweep out cabinets to ensure none was present, children would invariably ask, “Why are you doing this?”
This question provided the perfect opportunity to tell the story.
You shall tell your child on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the Lord may be on your lips, for with a strong hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year (Exodus 13:8-10).
You may have seen pictures of Orthodox Jews wearing a small box on their forehead and an intricate wrap on their arm or wrist. These items serve as reminders of their devotion to the Lord and of God’s goodness.
This practice reminds me of the admonition in the first Psalm.
Blessed are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
or sit in the seat of scoffers,
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)
The source of prosperity is a conscious decision to turn away from the evil influences that easily entrap us.
Instead, we turn to God and meditate on His law, His direction, and His guidance throughout the day. Physical symbols on our arms or even forehead may remind us of that commitment.
In today’s video, Rudy Ross explains how he uses a reminder in his home and business to remind him of where his true commitment lies.
Reflections
God established various reminders—through festivals, the cleaning of houses to remove leaven, the wearing of certain items, and other means—to help His people remember that they are consecrated, or set apart, for Him.
This prompts us to ask, what are the reminders in our lives today that show we are set apart for God’s service?
As the Apostle Paul writes, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 