Firstborn בְּכֹרָה

We are still in Genesis chapter 25 where we find our word for today also used for he first time in the Bible. בְּכֹרָה position and right of the firstborn, birthright. It is used 10 times in the Old Testament. A good example of this word is when Joseph has his brothers seated at his table before they knew he was Joseph. He arranged the seating this way. Genesis 43:33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the בְּכֹרָה firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. This right of the first born is defined by Moses in Deuteronomy 21:17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the בְּכֹרָה firstborn belongs to him. We don’t always understand God’s instructions to his people back in that time period. It may seem that the firstborn gets more than the other sons but they also have a greater responsibility to the family as well. Apparently you could lose your birthright as we see in 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as בְּכֹרָה firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his בְּכֹרָה birthright...the rights of the בְּכֹרָה firstborn belonged to Joseph).In our chapter today we see Esau not lose his birthright but actually sold it. Genesis 25:29-34 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your בְּכֹרָה birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the בְּכֹרָה birthright to me?”...So Esau despised his בְּכֹרָה birthright.We know that Jesus was the firstborn in his family. Luke 2:7 She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. As the firstborn you have more responsibility to take care of your family. Now this gets good because Jesus defines his family beyond just the physical relation he had while on the earth. Hebrews 2:9-12 But we do see Jesus...now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. So, as the firstborn Jesus calls us his brothers and sisters. He takes his responsibility to look after his family. Which he has done by dying in our place to set us free from our sin and make us holy like himself and God the father. But it gets better.This firstborn or right of the first born also includes being the first one to be raised from the dead. Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. This is what is meant by Jesus being the firstborn from the dead. Colossians 1:15, 18 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Hebrews 12:23 To the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.