We are in chapter thirteen of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the bible in our chapter. עָרַף break the neck, pluck, seize, pull, overthrow. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of breaking something down to cause to fall or collapse. Hosea 10:2 Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will יַעֲרֹ֣ףbreak down their altars and destroy their sacred stones. The other five uses of our word refer to breaking of an animal’s neck. We see it used to handle a situation where someone is found dead in a field. Deuteronomy 21:4, 6-7 and lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and where there is a flowing stream. There in the valley they are וְעָֽרְפוּ to break the heifer’s neck… Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה neck was broken in the valley, and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. Notice how an animal is sacrificed in relation to a sin committed, someone was killed. This is the sense of how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 13:12-13 All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. There is a lot of amazing connections with this usage of our word in our chapter. First notice the contrast with redemption. We have already looked at our word for redeemed a few times which if we remember has to do with paying the ransom to set free or buying back. It has the idea of something or someone having enough value for a substitute to be exchanged in place of the valued so that it can be set free. Second, watch how our word shows what happens with what belongs to the LORD when the owner chooses not to redeem it or pay the price for it. The full weight of the sin falls on it and it is destroyed. Breaking the neck means that it no longer lives. It is dead. This is where all sin leads to death. But the good news is that we don’t have to get what we all deserve which is separation from God because of our sin but instead life. God says this in a very succinct way in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Third, notice how there is no option for not redeeming a man who is the first born. As we have seen the practice of children sacrifice was abhorrent to God. He never asks this of his people. In fact, God says it this way in Jeremiah 19:5 They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind. What is interesting is that what God never would think to ask of us he is willing to do himself in offering up his own son as the sacrifice to take our place for our sins. And lastly, did you catch how the donkey could be redeemed with a lamb. Now that is interesting. It reminds us of what we looked a few days ago that John records so well. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” I’ll close with this great psalm which God’s people would sing in worship, which by the way is one of the reasons psalms were written for worship. Psalm 107:1-2 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. I like how the ESV translates verse 2. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.
