Reminded of the Plan All Along

Scripture: And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons). Luke 2:22-24

Observation: Joseph and Mary will dedicate Jesus on the eighth day, and will also make the sacrifice of two birds for their firstborn son. This is an instruction from the very first laws in Exodus, just as the tabernacle was being constructed and the first offerings were being defined by the Lord. The Lord declared that firstborns belong to the Lord, and thus the first born of any animal is to be dedicated and sacrificed to the Lord, however that was not true for people of course. Instead, animals were used to redeem them, typically a lamb except the poor could substitute two birds.

Therefore, we see centuries later that the first public event involving Jesus - the lamb that will be sacrificed to redeem all of mankind - is a sacrifice to redeem him, in full compliance with the law.

Application: Once again, we see that something the Lord declared back in the very earliest conversation about the law, had a metaphorical meaning that was fulfilled by Jesus. The sacrifice of a lamb to redeem a firstborn son was defined in the law. The replacement by two birds was allowed for the poor. Messiah - the lamb of God - will be sacrificed to redeem God's firstborn, the descendants of Adam. And as part of this, the poor-family's offering is sacrificed to redeem Jesus.

It is amazing to understand the Lord's plan and model, to see it move from slightly illogical instructions, to then play out centuries later as a choreographed plan with the clear intention of showing to all the order and magnitude and authority of the Lord.

The Lord had a plan all along, and the Lord has a plan all along, right now. Whatever elements of this world I believe are in chaos and languishing in evil, the Lord has a plan ... he has had that plan for centuries upon centuries, for all of creation ... and it is a good plan that will not fail. No, I cannot possibly understand it. However ...

Yes, I trust it.

Prayer: Lord, again I declare, I trust your plan. I know it is good, that it has as its intention to love the entire world and offer redemption and restoration to all, and that it will not fail in achieving your ends. Please forgive me when I doubt the plan itself, but also please know my heart, that I never doubt you. I just don't understand, and I don't need to. Amen.