Two Hebrew customs dated from the Exodus—first, the dedication of the first-born to God’s service, and second, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. See Luke 22:7. The first-born had been specially redeemed and so were specially God’s. On them all was branded the

one brief word Mine. What a lesson for us all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. We are his by right of purchase; we ought to be his by our own choice and indwelt by his Spirit. Whenever we take up this position with regard to God, we may count on his strong hand. In after years the first-born sons, who performed the priestly rites, were replaced by Levites, Num. 3:11-13; but still they were ransomed by a slain lamb. Every first-born son lived because a lamb died. In this he stood on the same level as the firstling of an ass. What a parable is here! See Rom. 3: 22 and 10: 12.