Saved For Himself

I'm in Numbers on my Through-the-Bible-in-a-Year journey, and a peculiar verse in chapter 3 struck me today.

Numbers 3:13-- "On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my won all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast.  They shall be mine: I am the LORD."

Here is what the ESV Study Bible has to say about this verse: "In the last plague, every firstborn male Egyptian and every firstborn of their cattle died, but the firstborn Israelite boys and cattle were spared.  So after this, all Israelite firstborn boys and cattle were dedicated to God."

The significance of this verse hit me between the eyes.  What God is saying is this: "I spared them and saved them; therefore, they are now mine."  God doesn't save us so that we can continue living for ourselves; He saves us for Himself.  This is the purpose of the cross.  Titus 2 says that Christ "gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possessions who are zealous for good works."

That is why He saved the Israelites, and it's why He saved us: He saved us for Himself.