Freedom Was the Beginning, Not the Goal - Bo - Dallas Messianic Congregation

Описание: In Parashat Bo, we stand at one of the most intense moments in our history.
The final plague.
The death of the firstborn.
The night when God Himself drew a line between death and life, slavery and freedom.

And then—almost immediately—the Torah does something unexpected.

Right after redemption, God gives a command.

“Consecrate to Me every firstborn… it is Mine.” (Exodus 13)

Freedom wasn’t the end of the story.
It was the beginning of responsibility.

The firstborn were spared in Egypt not because they were more righteous, but because God chose to redeem them. And because they were redeemed, they were set apart. Marked. Consecrated.

Rashi teaches that the firstborn were originally meant to serve in the Sanctuary. Even after that role was transferred to the Levites, the holiness placed on the firstborn never fully disappeared. That’s why we still redeem them today.

Enter pidyon haben.

Thirty days after the birth of a firstborn son, a Jewish family gathers.
A kohen asks the father a piercing question:
Which do you prefer—to give over your son, or to redeem him?

Five silver coins are given.
Blessings are spoken.
And a truth is declared out loud:

This child does not ultimately belong to us.

The Ramban takes it even further. He explains that redeeming the firstborn teaches us that everything we have—our children, our possessions, our lives—belongs to God. We don’t own them. We steward them.

Our children are not trophies.
They are trusts.

This wasn’t just theory. It was lived.

The Torah tells us that Jewish families would travel to Jerusalem to present their firstborn before Hashem. Even in the Second Temple period, this mitzvah was woven into everyday Jewish life. Redemption led to dedication. Always.

So here’s the uncomfortable but holy question:

What does it mean to live consecrated today?

Because this mitzvah was never just about firstborn sons.
It was about identity.

You were redeemed for a reason.
You were freed for a purpose.

Not to live comfortably.
Not to blend in.
Not to hand our children over to culture, schools, governments, or trends.

But to live set apart.
To raise children who know they belong to God.
To use our time, money, voice, and influence for something holy.

The Torah asks us to do something radical:
Acknowledge that even what feels most “ours” actually isn’t.

And that changes everything.

So here’s my challenge this week 👇

Ask yourself honestly:
How am I living as someone who belongs to God?

Maybe it’s carving out time for Torah.
Maybe it’s checking where your money really goes.
Maybe it’s having a deeper conversation with your children about purpose, truth, and holiness.
Maybe it’s stopping the drift toward comfort and choosing intention again.

The firstborn were saved in Egypt.
And because they were saved, they were consecrated.

So are we.

Let’s not waste our freedom.
Let’s live like a redeemed people with a sacred mission.

🕍✡️🕎🍷🔯🍞🕍✡️🕎🍷🔯🍞

Benei Avraham is a Traditional Jewish Congregation, Inspired by Mashiach.

We help Jews who believe in Yeshua do a formal return to Judaism.

We also help non-Jews who believe in Yeshua and are drawn to Torah do a formal conversion to Judaism.

Learn more about our conversion process at:    • Conversion to Judaism  

Join us for Shakharit, Morning prayer and Torah service, on Shabbats and Yom Tovs at 10:00 am CT: https://beneiavraham.com/zoom

We say the traditional Jewish prayers, read the Torah portion of the week (or the holy day) as all Jews do around the world, and listen to a few drashes (insights based on Torah).

Near Dallas? Join us in person!

Learn more: https://www.beneiavraham.com

May Hashem Bless & Keep You Always,
Benei Avraham

(And in case you're thinking of doing anything funny, please note we are Texans and we are armed. Hashem is a man of war - Exodus 15:3)

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