The Ordinance of Firstborn (8): Common Factors Among Firstborns that Succeeded

The Ordinance of Firstborn (8): Common Factors Among the Firstborns that Succeeded

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. – Hebrews 2:10

As we begin to wrap up our meditation on this series, we will be discussing certain factors common to those firstborns that thrived in the Bible.

Looking at some of the examples of firstborns who did well, two common factors stood out in their lives. The first was the role played by their parents. The second was that they were all consecrated to God. Let us consider some of them below:

While the Bible does not say much about the parents of Nimrod and what they did when he was young that laid the foundation of his greatness, we can infer from the examples of other firstborns who thrived that Nimrod must have had the dual privilege of similar parentage and consecration as well.

We can then start by citing the examples of Ishmael and Isaac as firstborns, in their individual rights, who succeeded because their father, Abraham, was a pure worshipper and a serial builder of altars to worship God (Genesis 12:7, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:4, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:9). In fact, as a testament to his life of worship, Abraham also built an altar to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God even though he did not know he was being tested at that time. In his mind, the child was as good as offered to God, Who asked for him.

That was an unusual thing to do back then and remains so even these days. But that was a reflection of Abraham’s heart in relation to God and the parentage that his sons had. Little wonder that Isaac prospered and continued to prosper.

Samson, another example of a firstborn who succeeded, was a Nazirite from birth (Judges 13:5). That meant he was consecrated to God right from the womb of his mother and was born to be handed over for God’s exclusive use. You can read the law of the Nazirite in Numbers 6:1-21. His consecration as a Nazirite meant that Samson was spared the curse of the firstborn, his personal hubris notwithstanding.

The case of Samuel was similar to that of Samson. Although he was not born a Nazirite, his mother made him one by offering him to God after he was weaned. Thus, he was also an example of a firstborn consecrated to God, even though the parents might not even be aware they were observing the firstborn ordinance then, as the law seemed to have been forgotten.

We discussed the example of Jesus earlier. He Himself was the firstborn of humans for whom the ordinance of consecration to God was observed by his parents (Luke 2:22-24). And when He came of age, He then proceeded to observe the ordinance as the firstborn among the dead, the firstborn among the living, and the firstborn among the brethren through His death and resurrection.

These examples show the role of the parents in the consecration of their firstborns to God, a move which ensured that they were spared from the firstborn curse and went on to succeed.

To be continued…

You Will Succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

• The Ordinance of Firstborn (7): What God Requires of Firstborns
• Understanding God: He Does Not Hold Grudges Forever
• ABC of Happiness
• Rounds
• Delivered from Drugs, Death and Destruction

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