Though God’s salvation is a free gift which cannot be earned or deserved, it does leave those who are saved with a great moral debt. We realize we now owe our lives to God. It’s impossible to look at all He has done for us and not feel deep gratitude. Somehow our hearts understand that our only proper response is to give ourselves back to Him. This is the lesson the Lord meant to teach His people by having them dedicate their firstborn sons. They were to never forget that on Passover night their families were rescued from death by the blood of a lamb, so from that night onward their firstborn sons owed their lives to the God who ransomed them. Each would be presented to God and dedicated to His service. They were to live as one who had been given back his life, realizing they should have died but God mercifully spared them.

The lesson of the firstborn son is a prophetic illustration of the life of every believer. We too have been delivered from death by the blood of a Lamb, and therefore we too are obliged to present ourselves before God and dedicate ourselves to His service.