Jesus Christ is described as “the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).” Well we all know that Jesus was not the firstborn. As the Second Person of the Trinity, he is in fact, the Creator and was not born but existed eternally. When Jesus became a man through the miraculous virgin birth, he was the firstborn from the virgin Mary, but he certainly was not the firstborn of all creation. Adam wasn’t even the firstborn, he was formed from the dust and God breathed the breath of life into him. Some time later Eve was formed from his side, so she wasn’t born either. Cain would be the firstborn of human beings and his most famous act was that he murdered his innocent brother Abel. Further investigation into the concept of the firstborn is warranted to understand its meaning when used to refer to Jesus Christ as the firstborn. The first time we hear of it is when Abel, the second-born of all creation, offered a sacrifice of his firstborn livestock (Genesis 4:4). His was deemed an acceptable sacrifice but his brother Cain’s sacrifice of the best of his produce wasn’t. The difference was that Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice that included the death of an innocent substitute, not because it was the firstborn among his flock. But early in the Biblical narrative we find a reference to the distinctive class of offspring, the firstborn.
The Bible records ancient genealogies that list some firstborn sons (Genesis 10:15, 22:21, 25:13). But it is not until around the time of Abraham that it is recorded that the firstborn son began to receive a special blessing from his father. Abraham’s situation included a big exception to the rule as well. His firstborn son Ismael was born to his concubine Hagar as a workaround since his wife Sarah was unable to conceive (Genesis 16:1-3). God had promised Abraham that he would have many descendants and Abraham believed (Genesis 15:6). But after many years had passed and the normal age for childbirth had elapsed for them as a couple, he took matters into his own hands and fathered a son with Hagar. When God eventually and miraculously allowed Sarah to conceive, Abraham was perplexed about what to do about the blessing of the firstborn which was due to Ismael though the heir that God promised was his second-born son, Issac. Abraham pleaded with God that Ismael also receive a generous blessing (Genesis 17:18-20). God allowed this but confirmed that the holy line that would fulfill his covenant and bring blessing to the whole earth was to come through the second-born son, Issac (Genesis 17:21).
The practice of blessing the firstborn was apparently well established by others in the culture of Issac’s lifetime. But when the time came for Issac to bless his firstborn, he was deceived and mistakenly blessed his second-born son Jacob instead of his firstborn son Esau. This was another big exception to the rule. But while he did it mistakenly, in God’s plan it was no mistake. Issac’s wife was named Rebekah and even when Rebekah was pregnant with twins, the prophecy was made by the Lord that the older son would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Esau was born first and Jacob emerged second, but many years later when the blessing was given by the father, Rebekah and her favorite son Jacob worked together to deceive Issac who was old and didn’t see well. Jacob had previously negotiated the birthright from Esau (Genesis 25:24-34) and then he stole Esau’s blessing as well (Genesis 27:1-40). The prophecy was fulfilled just as God predicted even though it was done through cunning and deceit on the human end. Jacob, the second-born son had his name changed to Israel and went on to have many sons and became the patriarch of the nation Israel, God’s favored nation. Esau became the patriarch of the nation of Edom; they were outcasts (Obadiah 1:2). The Apostle Paul sums it up nicely in Romans 9:13 where he quotes an Old Testament passage saying, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
When the time came for Jacob to bless his firstborn, there was another big exception to the rule. He withdrew the eligibility of his firstborn son Reuben to receive the blessing and instead he blessed two grandsons, sons of his eleventh son Joseph. Reuben, the firstborn, had been born to Leah, Jacob’s first wife and one he was tricked into marrying. Also Reuben defiled his fathers marriage bed by sleeping with his concubine (Genesis 49:3-4). Joseph was the firstborn to Rebekah, Jacob’s preferred wife whom he loved. Joseph was an honorable son and greatly favored by his father over his other sons. To honor Joseph, Jacob basically adopted Joseph’s two sons Manassah and Ephraim. It is noteworthy that Jacob intentionally reversed his hands and placed his right hand on the younger of Joseph’s sons and gave Ephriam the greater blessing compared to his older brother Manasseh. Because both these grandsons of Jacob were in essence adopted they were included with the other sons of Jacob who became the 12 Patriarchs of the tribes of the Nation Israel. The was a double portion of sorts for Joseph as he forfeited his share but gained shares for each of his two sons. And for the record, the tribe of Ephriam turned out to be much greater than the tribe of Manasseh.
The Firstborn Son was Esteemed in Many Cultures
Though not explicitly stated in the Bible, blessings for the firstborn had apparently become common not only in Israel but in other nations as well. The Israelites who lived before the Law installed their firstborn sons to be priests. (Later when the Law was given, Aaron was established as the Priest and only his sons and descendants were allowed to serve in that role. Prior to the law, the firstborn Israelite sons from any tribe were priests.) Apparently there were many priests both in Israel and among Gentile nations prior to the establishment of God’s Law given through Moses. Melchizedek was a priest of the God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:17-18). Egypt had priests who served their gods (Genesis 47:26). Jethro, who became the father-in-law of Moses is recorded as being a priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1). We also observe that Job served as a priest making sacrifices for his family (Job 1:5). By Job’s record we can speculate that in these ancient times the head of each family apparently served as priest for his family and then that responsibility apparently was passed down to the firstborn son. This continued until Aaron and his sons were set apart by God to fulfill the role of Priest under the Law given through Moses.
We can deduct that the importance of the firstborn was evidently prominent in Egypt. When God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt, he sent a series of ten plagues. The final and worst of these plagues was the death of every Egyptian firstborn son and every firstborn from among their livestock (Exodus 11:4-5). This was probably done to symbolically defeat the strength and hope of this ungodly nation. That would be especially effective if they placed a high degree of importance on the firstborn. Otherwise God may have taken the biggest or strongest or smartest of their sons and the best specimen of livestock in death.
The Bible doesn’t speak authoritatively on the firstborn son until the Law was given through Moses. At that time the Law formalized the practice of honoring the firstborn for Israelites (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). All the sons would receive a blessing, though these would be lesser blessings than given to the firstborn, and all would receive a share of the inheritance but the firstborn son would receive a double share. The law specified that you had to bless your actual firstborn son even if he was born to a concubine or less desired wife. The blessing, the birthright and the double portion were three different things which were due to the firstborn son. The blessing was sometimes a prophecy which foretold the future of that line. The birthright gave authority to become the leader of the family clan and included the responsibilities that went along with it such as paying a dowry when appropriate, caring for the elderly and making business decisions. The firstborn son, by succession, became the patriarch of the family after the passing of his father. The double portion was a double share of the fathers estate.
Though the birthright and the double portion are different things, they were traditionally given in tandem and in most cases, if one is mentioned, the other is assumed. In the same way, unless an exception is noted, these blessings were conferred to the firstborn son.
Other Biblical References to a Double Portion
The concept of a double portion in the Bible dates back to the story of Job. Job’s family and his wealth were wiped out during a time of Satanic testing against this righteous man. In the end, God blessed him and he received back twice of what he started with prior to Satan’s attempt to discredit him (Job 42:10).
Other examples are when Hannah was given a double portion to ease her anxiety of not having children (1 Samuel 1:5). And Elisha requested that Elijah leave him a double portion of his spirit as an inheritance (2 Kings 2:9). Israel is promised a double portion of blessing in the Millennial Reign of Christ instead of the punishment they would have otherwise received for their generations of disobedience (Isaiah 61:7). While this may not be an exhaustive list, it will suffice to demonstrate that a double portion is a term that is familiar to students of the Bible.
The idea of a double portion usually has the idea of a positive effect, or blessing attached to it, but in Revelation 18:6 there is the promise of double trouble! “Give back to her [Babylon] as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.” In this reference, the double portion indicates a heavy judgment.
Using the imagery of the family succession via the birthright as described previously, God regards the nation Israel as a firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) and has promised the Nation Israel a double portion of blessing compared to other nations (Isaiah 61:4-7). Israel is elect among the nations and all the other nations will be secondary to Israel during Christ’s Millennial Reign. Christ will reign as King over the earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years. All the other nations will travel to Jerusalem to offer worship and praise to Jesus the King who reigns from the Holy Nation Israel.
The Believer’s Blessings in Christ
The blessings of the firstborn are so well established in the Biblical record that Jesus Christ is called the “firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). This designation indicates His prominence over his physical creation as well as the head of all the redeemed. All believers are considered his brothers and sisters, but Jesus Christ is honored as the firstborn and we are conformed to his image (Romans 8:29). By grace and through our faith in Christ, believers in the church age become heirs and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Our blessings are spiritual and eternal as we are made one with Christ and can look forward to his presence, guidance and peace in our lives and affairs now and through eternity. We are collectively described as the body and bride of Christ and so our blessing is much greater than a mere double blessing. In humility, we serve God through various acts of service and love for others. We willingly submit to our spiritual leaders such as pastors and teachers and bless them with a measure of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17). This should be manifested in respect and support, both financially and through various acts of service (1 Peter 4:10-11).
As believers, we don’t expect to receive a double portion because what we have already been given is greater than a double portion. We have been given Christ and all he is and has as our inheritance. We are joined together with him and become heirs together and co-heirs with Christ. We are collectively described as the body and bride of Christ which indicates an inseparable oneness which is hard to comprehend. As a result of this spiritual union, we will reign alongside him in eternity. Thus we have already inherited every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).
There may times when we forget the privilege and advantages we have and fix our gaze on the short lived challenges that life presents us. We must remember who we are in Christ and resist the temptation to merely cater to our short-term earthly needs and desires. Regretfully we can sometimes be compared to Esau who foolishly traded his valuable birthright for a single meal.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
Hebrew 12:16-17
May that story remind us and enlighten us to refocus on all that we have in Christ and overcome our sinful and shortsighted outlook. We must get back into step with the Holy Spirit daily. Only then can we accomplish the things God has prepared for us to do with the power and guidance provided by the Holy Spirit because of our standing in Christ.
Jesus Christ is indeed the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15) and more than that he is the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18) which means eternal life for us with him in the heavenly realms. There is no greater blessing to be given! Praise God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Summary
Few Christians today understand the biblical implication of the blessing, birthright and double portion that was given to the firstborn son in Bible times. We don’t typically practice these same traditions in our earthly lives and instead divide an inheritance up evenly between the surviving children instead of giving preference to the firstborn son. But in Bible times the firstborn son was the future of the family clan. He was held in high esteem and was given more, honored more and he was accepted as the leader. In that way, Jesus is likened to the firstborn. He is the most honored among all mankind and is considered King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is called the Last Adam because he has become the head of a new creation, the redeemed and holy ones of God (1 Corinthians 15:45). Jesus was, in essence, the firstborn of the new creation. Not in the sense that he was born, but in the sense that he is the first and has become our leader in all things. When we believe in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, we become born again and follow him into a life of light and holiness – for eternity!
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:1-21
The Supremacy of the Son of God
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
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