Christ Became A Permanent Ransom For All Who Believe

Exodus 30: 11-12  -  Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:  “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 

God’s visit with Moses continued to detail the exact contents of the incense Arron would offer to God each morning and evening… and how to make the anointing oil that would consecrate everything  the Tabernacle…including the priests.  Then God turned to the temporary way he would cleanse man’s sins until his larger plan of salvation for all was completely ready to unveil and carry out.

Ransom…defined by Webster…is a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity. Man was completely…and still is completely enslaved by sin.  The Bible is clear.  Romans 3:23 states… “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.”  In order for man to receive any comfort or protection from God...he had to admit this once a year with a ransom payment.  Each man paid exactly the same…poor or rich…1/2 shekel. This was a pretty low price…considering it measured out to be 8 oz of silver…about $5 dollars on today’s market.

God sent his son to be the final ransom. Jesus tried to explain his suffering to come in terms the disciples might understand in Mark 10:45…where he said… “ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Most did not understand until Christ had completed his resurrection and appeared too many during the 40 days he was allowed to tie up loose ends and instruct the disciples further.  Timothy wrote later ….what should be every Christian’s ’s explanation of why we share the gospel. He said in 1 Timothy2:6…  “ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…”

I am so thankful that God put a permanent plan for my sin in place.  I needed the reminder to thank him and remember just how much more than $5 dollars his permanent plan cost his son. Life and the craziness around us tries to make our mind oversimplify this act of love. Satan only needs a seed of this to distort our view until we put his suffering completely out of our mind.  I remember being so torn up watching the film “The Passion Of The Christ”… I had to leave the theater when they started beating him.  It was so real for me in that moment…all he had done…how much pain he had walked through…just for me.  I had no words….just tears of guilt to the point I was sobbing uncontrollably.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you loved me so much that you sent your son to pay the ransom for my sin and the sins of everyone else that was and will be born before you return to claim your throne. Forgive me for the times that I take for granted how much it cost you…and your son to make a way to save the world.  Help me to be more like Timothy…and let your gift of love power me to be a better disciple…. Telling others about what you have done for them.  Amen.