WHAT IS FIRST?
The word FIRST features in the bible multiple times in both the shadow of the Old Testament and the reality of the New Testament. When applied to vegetation or animal life, the scriptures refer to the first fruit or firstborn. In addition, some refer to a law of first things, referring to principles guiding the conceptualization of firstborn or first fruit.
When we speak of creation, we always see who is first or alpha, and that is God.
Rev 22:13 (AMPC) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before all and the End of all). [Isa 44:6; Isa 48:12]
Gen 1:1 (NIV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Joh 1:1 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the verses above, we note that God is First. He must likewise be first in our lives; else our lives would not stand the test of time.
If you are born again, you are part of the body of Christ or the Ecclesia of God. Our description in scripture is “…the church (assembly) of the Firstborn” (Heb 12:23, AMPC). The Lord Jesus “…is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead...” (Col 1:18, AMPC). He told Apostle Peter, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it” (Mat 16:18, AMPC).
Why can His Church or Ecclesia not be overpowered?
This is because it honours the principle of FIRST THINGS. It has the most solid foundation. The foundation is the FIRST part of the building in construction.
1Co 3:11 (AMPC) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
In like manner, just as the construction of His Ecclesia follows the law of first things, our individual lives as living stones are built up following the same principle.
1Pe 2:5 (AMPC) [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable andpleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
But what is the first living stone again from whom all other living stones take our image, likeness, instruction and life?
1Pe 2:4-6 (AMPC)
4 Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God's sight. [Psa 118:22; Isa 28:16]
5 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame. [Isa 28:16]
God’s house is being built in Zion, and the foundation stone, also known as the chief cornerstone, is the Living Stone Jesus Christ, which some have rejected. The chief means the first. Lord Jesus actually means the First and Chief Owner of All. He earned that placement as first by birth (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15,18), inheritance (Heb 1:3-4), achievement (Php 2:9-11) and conquest (Col 2:15; Eph 4:8; Heb 2:14-15)—hence being given a name above all other names in three worlds. “That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” (Php 2:10, AMPC).
There are some who do not honour the law of first and build faulty foundations for their lives. For example, to be born again, one must “… acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord…” (Rom 10:9, AMPC). Lord means chief or first. Failure to do this means you are not born again and cannot access salvation. This is foundational to the new birth.
The first of a thing serves as the foundation. The concept of Lordship is about first. This is why Jesus is the foundation or first stone in the house of God, otherwise known as the firstborn from the dead, firstborn of all creation or firstborn among many brethren.
FOUNDATION
When describing the building of His House, Jesus told Peter he would be a good builder and build on the Rock.
Mat 16:18 (KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
He spoke about others who did not build their buildings or their lives upon the Rock but upon the sand:
Mat 7:26-27 (KJV)
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
So we see that it matters upon what foundation (chief cornerstone) or first principles we build our lives. Building on the sand are those who do not heed God’s word, but what about those who heed his word?
Mat 7:24-25 (KJV)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
There’s a powerful principle revealed in this teaching by Jesus, and that is:
- We must honour the law of foundations or the law of first things
- It matters what we lay or put first—stone and not sand [doing His Word verses not doing His Word]
- No one can stop the storms of life from coming. They will come, but our adherence or noncompliance to the law of first things or foundations will determine whether what we have built will stand the test of storms or not
A foundation is defined as a solid base of a structure or an underlying basis or principle. To found is defined as to lay the basis of or establish a thing. A foundation is thus the first part of what is being established. If we understand this principle, it will help us understand what the word first fruit means in scripture.
Even in the spirit realm, there are foundations.
Rev 21:19 (KJV) And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
When God was first in Adam’s life, and he obeyed God’s word, he was founded upon the Rock of Ages. The foundation of creation was intact. The moment God was no longer first and man gave his obedience to “… the great dragon, …that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Rev 12:9, KJV), man was no longer founded on the Rock. So, the entire house of creation came falling like a pack of cards—hence the phrase, the Fall of Man. The fall was caused because they neglected to put God and His commands first. They stopped building on the Rock. When he stopped being first to them, he stopped being Lord to them. They allowed another to challenge His Lordship. How, then, did Jesus the last Adam succeed where the first one failed?
Php 2:8 (NET) He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
Jesus never tampered with the foundation and stayed obedient even unto the point of death. In seeking to emulate him, some of our forbearers refused “…accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:” (Heb 11:35, KJV).
THE PLACE OF HONOUR
Giving God the first place signifies honour, faith and love. The scriptures say, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” (Joh 14:15, GNB). This is reminiscent of “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Mat 7:24, GNB).
FIRST FRUIT & DELIVERANCE
Now let us narrow our teaching on firsts to first fruits or firstborns. Remember, the first of vegetation is known as the first fruit, but that of animal life is firstborns—but essentially, both speak of the same concept.
What does a firstborn signify in scripture? First, let us look at a few scriptures:
Gen 49:3 (KJV) Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Deu 21:17 (KJV) But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
For those who do not understand the principle of firsts, they cannot understand who a firstborn is to a father—the seed giver. The firstborn or first fruit is:
- The might of the seed giver
- the beginning of my strength
- the excellency of dignity
- the excellency of power
The right of the firstborn, therefore, is the double portion, but that is for another day. When we understand what the first fruit signifies, then we will understand why during battle, God struck the firstborn of his enemies and why God requires the first fruit from his people. Those he does not require directly; he requires they be redeemed.
Now with the definition of firstborn from scripture, the following scriptures now make more sense:
Psa 78:51 (KJV) And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Psa 105:36 (KJV) He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Psa 135:8 (KJV) Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
Why did God strike the firstborn of Egypt? The answer is Egypt first touched God’s firstborn nation.
FIRST THINGS AND EGYPT
The Passover can be described as a war over first things or first fruits.
It was on the basis of how Egypt handled God's first fruit that God judged Egypt, and she lost her hegemony status. When God called Moses and gave him his assignment, God stated:
Exo 4:22-23 (AMPC)
22 And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn.
23 And I say to you, Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, your firstborn.
Whenever we keep His first, he takes our first. Adam took away God’s first place and lost his place in the garden of Eden and now had to toil and eventually die though he was never created to die. It’s a principle. God first, always.
Pharoah and his demonic spirits found out the hard way.
Exo 13:15 (AMPC) For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
This war of first things ushered in the first month for the Jews.
They were asked to partake of the Passover lamb—a foreshadow of the first and only begotten son of God. Jesus was God’s initial first fruit or firstborn. God’s word, who had always been the Word for all eternity past at a certain point in history, “… was made flesh” (Joh 1:14, KJV), was born the first and only son of God and dwelt among us. He eventually died and resurrected for us. The Jews were told to partake of this foreshadow of the first son. They did, and the judgement against all firstborns in Egypt started—all firstborns of man and beast were killed. After the desolation of Egypt’s might, and the beginning of their strength, the excellency of their dignity, and the excellency of their power, God ushered the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt and told them—“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Exo 12:2, KJV)
At that point in history, the nation of Israel was the firstborn among nations or the nation he selected to be the lead, showing the other nations the way to the true God. Today His firstborn is Jesus, and other borns is His Ecclesia, the “… chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people…” (1Pe 2:9, AMPC). The Ecclesia is now God’s first fruit.
Jas 1:18 (AMPC) And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].
Paul used the term when describing the first convert in a city—meaning the principle can apply to multiple things.
Rom 16:5 (KJV) Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
He also used it in reference to a household—the first household to accept the message of the gospel in a given city.
1Co 16:15 (KJV) I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
LAW OF FIRST FRUIT
When we use the term law here, it is not with reference to the law of Moses because the principle goes all the way back to the beginning. In The beginning, God. Jesus, God’s first and only born, and Passover lamb, was “… slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8, KJV), ever before there was a law of Moses. Though the principle predates the law of Moses, it spanned that dispensation also as well as after that dispensation into the current one.
Holiness and First fruit
Rom 11:16 (KJV) For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Paul got this principle from an Old Testament practice where the first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared, belonged to God. When the first fruit is given, the remainder of the fruit is set apart unto God.
Let us try and apply this principle to an event in the OT. Moses had instituted the Law and explained what God required as a first fruit.
Deu 26:2 (KJV) That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
In his journey, he allowed anger to cause him not to give God the first place. He struck the foreshadowed first and only born Jesus twice instead of once—and for this, he was made to forfeit entering the promised land.
Num 20:11-12 (AMPC)
11 And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. [Psa 106:32-33]
Moses did not obey the instruction given by God. He tampered with the foundation and the law of first things. The instruction was:
Num 20:8 (AMPC) Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.
The first time he was asked to strike the Rock (Exo 17:6), but the second time, he was asked to speak to the Rock (Num 20:8). He stuck it instead of speaking to the Rock.
Exo 17:6 (AMPC) Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at [Mount] Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. [1Co 10:4]
Why was this a problem? First, because the Man of God did not do/honour the instruction. This is akin to what Adam did.
Mat 7:24-27 (AMPC)
24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.
25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.
27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great and complete was the fall of it.
Another problem was who the Rock was that Moses struck twice:
1Co 10:4 (KJV) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
The water that came out is the Holy Spirit.
Joh 7:38-39 (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The first time Jesus gave up the Holy Spirit was at his crucifixion because he was struck or crucified. But the next time we want this spiritual drink from God, all we need to do is speak, not strike the Rock again.
Rom 6:10 (KJV) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Heb 9:27-28 (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus was to die once, but Moses struck the Rock twice. In a way, this was fitting because the law cannot usher God’s people into the Rest of God because it worketh wrath. Wrath made Moses strike the Rock twice. Only Joshua [Hebrew for Jesus] can take God’s people into their inheritance in Christ.
Rom 4:15 (KJV) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
God’s statement to Moses after this act was, “Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” We are back to the concept of first fruit and holiness. God must be sanctified or hallowed by our conduct which includes us heeding His Word always.
We have seen what happened to the first Adam, who did not hallow God. We have also seen what happened to Pharoah and now Moses. Let us consider another example but this time under the leadership of Joshua.
A CITY AS FIRST FRUIT
God gave a promise to Moses and the children of Israel.
Exo 33:1-2 (KJV)
1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
After Moses died, God renewed the promise to Joshua.
Jos 1:2-5 (KJV)
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
The first city in this new Land of Rest or Canaan was called Jericho. Now remember the principle of firsts? On the basis of this principle of first fruits, the Lord gave the following instructions to Joshua and the children of Israel.
Jos 6:2, 17-20, (AMPC)
2 And the Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho, its king and mighty men of valor, into your hands.
17 And the city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the Lord [for destruction]; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But you, keep yourselves from the accursed and devoted things, lest when you have devoted it [to destruction], you take of the accursed thing, and so make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it.
19 But all the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and [Jericho's] wall fell down in its place, so that the [Israelites] went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21 Then they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
24 And they burned the city with fire and all that was in it; only the silver, the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.
What were the instructions?
- The city being first, was to be offered to the Lord as a burnt offering. The Israelites were not allowed to take anything in it or spare anyone except Rahab and hers.
- Because it was God’s offering, anyone who touched what belonged to God came under a curse.
- The Gold, Silver Bronze were to be put in God’s house—specifically his treasury.
- Everything else was to be burnt.
As far as Joshua (the Saviour) was concerned, the instructions had been followed to the letter. It was not until the battle with the next city that he discovered a grievous error had been committed by one of the children of Israel—by the name Achan. Not only did Achan touch what belonged to the Lord, but he took part of it and hid it in his tent. The next city was a much smaller one, but because of dishonouring God by touching what is His, the children of Israel suffered a very shameful and bloody defeat—contrary to the promise made to Joshua—"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life” Josh 1:5. Did God lie? Nope. The covenant had been breached:
Jos 7:1-5 (AMPC)
1 BUT THE Israelites committed a trespass in regard to the devoted things; for Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the things devoted [for destruction]. And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, Go up and spy out the land. So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, Let not all the men go up; but let about two thousand or three thousand go up and attack Ai; do not make the whole army toil up there, for they of Ai are few.
4 So about three thousand Israelites went up there, but they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and slew them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
After the defeat, Joshua, as the Man of God, went to pray and seek God for the reason for the defeat. At the place of prayer, he was shown the error of Israel. Though committed by one man, it was considered a breach by the entire nation—corporate sin.
Jos 7:6-12 (AMPC)
6 Then Joshua rent his clothes and lay on the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7 Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all only to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!
8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned to flee before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?
10 The Lord said to Joshua, Get up! Why do you lie thus upon your face?
11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. They have taken some of the things devoted [for destruction]; they have stolen, and lied, and put them among their own baggage.
12 That is why the Israelites could not stand before their enemies, but fled before them; they are accursed and have become devoted [for destruction]. I will cease to be with you unless you destroy the accursed [devoted] things among you.
In v11, note that God said, “They have taken some of the things devoted”, and yet only one of them committed the actual physical act. What specifically did he do?
Jos 7:19-21 (AMPC)
19 And Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make confession to Him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.
20 And Achan answered Joshua, In truth, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this have I done:
21 When I saw among the spoils an attractive mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.
There is a principle in scripture. The leader as Priest can always atone for those under them when they commit error—act as intercessor between the errant and God. However, when the one who must intercede is also a part of the error committed, then no one can intercede. That is what happened with Adam. This is why God had to become man in the mystery of Godliness and come atone for man.
Joshua was the leader in the stead of Moses. Thankfully, in this case, he did not commit the crime. In Adam’s case, as the Priest of his home and leader, he partook of the crime so he could not atone for Eve. In Moses’ case, he too partook of the crime. But in Joshua’s case, like Jesus, the reality, He was innocent and so could rid the people of the sin. He did not partake of the sin of Achan. Forgiveness is sometimes defined as riddance (aphesis, as seen in Eph 1:7.
Jericho was the first city (first fruit) in the promised land, so the children of Israel were to sacrifice it to God and not take anything there for themselves. This made the remainder of the cities holy and consumable by the Israelites.
Rom 11:16 (KJV) For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
It is instructive to note that Achan did not take the entire first fruit but just a part of it—an apparel and some money—and yet this caused defeat for Israel and revoked his blessing of continuous victory.
If you had farms and had sheep, the first sheep belong to God
MISCELLANEOUS TRUTHS ABOUT THE FIRST THINGS
Firstborn males belonged to God as the first fruit, but that would mean giving them as a burnt offering, and God does not promote human sacrifice, so he instituted a way to redeem them. The same principle applied to Donkeys because God knew they would need it to work.
Exo 13:2,12-15 (AMPC)
2 Sanctify (consecrate, set apart) to Me all the firstborn [males]; whatever is first to open the womb among the Israelites, both of man and of beast, is Mine.
12 You shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstlings of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord's.
13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem by [substituting for it] a lamb, or if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons shall you redeem.
14 And when, in time to come, your son asks you, What does this mean? You shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage and bondmen.
15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
What other scriptures speak of first fruits?
Exo 23:19 (KJV) The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Exo 34:19 (AMPC) All the males that first open the womb among your livestock are Mine, whether ox or sheep.
Num 15:19-21 (AMPC)
19 Then, when you eat of the food of the land, you shall set apart a portion for a gift to the Lord [called a heave or taken-out offering].
20 You shall set apart a cake made of the first of your coarse meal as a gift [to the Lord]; as an offering set apart from the threshing floor, so shall you lift it out or heave it.
21 Of the first of your coarse meal you shall give to the Lord a portion for a gift throughout your generations [your heave or lifted-out offering].
But who receives the first fruit or first things?
Num 18:8,13-15 (AMPC)
8 And the Lord said to Aaron, And I, behold, I have given you the charge of My heave offerings [whatever is taken out and kept of the offerings made to Me], all the dedicated and consecrated things of the Israelites; to you have I given them [as your portion] and to your sons as a continual allowance forever by reason of your anointing as priests. [Lev 7:35]
13 Whatever is first ripe in the land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours. Everyone who is [ceremonially] clean in your house may eat of it.
14 Every devoted thing in Israel [everything that has been vowed to the Lord] shall be yours.
15 Everything that first opens the womb in all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be yours. Nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts you shall redeem.
Deu 18:4-5 (AMPC)
4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first or best of the fleece of your sheep you shall give the priest.
5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name [and presence] of the Lord, him and his sons forever.
“First” fruit in the Hebrew is rê'shı̂yth, and it means first, chief or choice part. It means that which is choicest and foremost. Below is a quote from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Complete Word Study Dictionary. Read both carefully:
H7225 (Strong)
רֵאשִׁית | rê'shı̂yth | ray-sheeth'
From the same as H7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically a firstfruit): - beginning, chief (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
H7225 (Word Study)
רֵאשִׁית
rē’šiyṯ: A noun meaning the beginning, the first, the chief, the best, the firstfruits. Occurring fifty-one times in the Old Testament, this term holds the honor of being the first word written in the entire Bible (Gen 1:1). On other occasions, the term signifies the highest of anything, i.e., the best or most excellent, such as the choicest parts of offerings (1Sa 2:29); the best of the spoil (1Sa 15:21); or the finest in oils (Amo 6:6). Elsewhere, the word designates the earliest or first products or results of something. It refers many times to the first products of a harvest (Lev 23:10; Deu 18:4; Neh 12:44); and sometimes to the first product, i.e., the firstborn of a father (Gen 49:3; Deu 21:17). Both this term and the noun rō’š (H7218) are derived from the same unused verbal root.
The entire bible begins with this word— רֵאשִׁית | rê'shı̂yth | ray-sheeth'. God always has the first place.
CAIN AND ABEL—THE FIRST OFFERING
We have already discussed that this concept is not just under the law. Let’s go back to before the law of Moses. The first fruit is a divine principle. It existed before and after the Law. Many have tried to understand the reason why Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and yet his brothers rejected, but the answer is situated within the context of the law of first things.
Gen 4:4-5 (KJV)
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Abel gave His best and his first and God was pleased. The other one did not give his first and best and was unhappy that God did not have respect for his offering.
ABRAHAM GAVE HIS FIRSTFRUIT
What made Abraham special to God? One of the reasons is Abraham always gave his first and best to God—including his first and only son.
Gen 22:2 (KJV) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Abraham obeyed. Isaac was his first fruit. Ishmael was a seed of disobedience/the seed of his flesh and not the first God gave Abraham.
GOD GAVE HIS FIRSTFRUIT
God like Abraham also gave his first and best—his only begotten Son. When the earth was lost, and God wanted to get it back and have sanctified children rather than rogue inhabitants of the earth who were children of the dragon, God gave his first and only seed (His first and best) — the word who put on flesh. But how is Jesus a seed? He is the Word, and the sower soweth the Word, meaning He is the original seed sown.
Luk 2:22-23 (AMPC)
22 And when the time for their purification [the mother's purification and the Baby's dedication] came according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--[Lev 12:1-4]
23 As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every [firstborn] male that opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the Lord--[Exo 13:1-2, Exo 13:12; Num 8:17]
Jesus, before the cross, was the first and only son of God and the firstborn of Mary.
Rom 4:25 (KJV) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Even after the resurrection, when people wanted to touch Jesus, He forbade them because he was the first fruit or the firstborn from the dead—so he had to go and present the first fruit to God first.
Joh 20:17 (KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Rom 8:29 (AMPC) For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
Only after the first fruit [firstborn among many brethren] had been offered to God could man touch him. After his first ascension, he allowed people to touch him.
Joh 20:27 (AMPC) Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe!
UNIVERSALITY OF FIRST THINGS
Occultists and unbelievers follow this principle. One time the Israelites were fighting their enemies, but their enemies outmanoeuvred them with the first fruit – and guess what, the battle turned against “the people of God.”
2Ki 3:26-27 (KJV)
26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
27 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
What is another name for the eldest son? He is the firstborn male or first fruit.
2Ki 3:26-27 (YLT)
26 And the king of Moab seeth that the battle has been too strong for him, and he taketh with him seven hundred men, drawing sword, to cleave through unto the king of Edom, and they have not been able,
27 and he taketh his son, the first-born who reigneth in his stead, and causeth him to ascend—a burnt-offering on the wall, and there is great wrath against Israel, and they journey from off him, and turn back to the land.
This King outmanoeuvred them, and out-sacrificed / outgave them—thus winning the day.
WHY CHURCH ON SUNDAY?
Why do the ecclesia worship on Sundays? Sunday is actually a name the pagans gave. The actual description is the “first day” of the week, and the pagans decided to dedicate to the Sun they worship. So amongst the days, it’s the first day of the week. It was selected as a day of worship to give the first fruit of the week to God Almighty.
The same principle applies to why we do our “quiet time” or bible study at the beginning of the day after waking up. That is the first or start of the day when we are at our freshest. We give that time to God before stepping out into the world.
All 24 hours belong to God. However, we give him the first part, as a show of respect and honor, and because of the Divine Principle, when you give or sow to God the first fruit or root of your day, the entire rest of the day is sanctified unto him as HOLY.
It is the same for the month. Many commence the month by paying tithes and offerings and doing other kinds of things for God. Why is that? It's not because of a ritual or tradition. It's because when you give or sow to God at the beginning of your month, the rest of the month is set apart as Holy. Now, it doesn't mean if you give him the early part of your day, the rest of your day does not belong to him. No, everything belongs to him.
