A profound price was paid to redeem us from bondage to sin and death, as we were bought at a cost beyond measure. This redemption was not achieved with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. It required the death of the Creator God, the very One to whom we owe our existence, who bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we might live for righteousness. By this priceless cost of our redemption, we now belong to God, and the lifeblood of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was the only price sufficient to pay our enormous debt of sin. Accepting this sacrifice and Him as Savior, we bear a responsibility to devote ourselves to Him in love and obedience. Therefore, we must never take the Passover lightly, for it is a most solemn occasion, reminding us that our God had to die to bring us salvation. We are urged to examine ourselves deeply, to discern our true state, remembering the immense price He paid in suffering and death, and to use His great love as incentive to correct our flaws in preparation for life in His Kingdom. Passover recalls the unbelievable, awesome sacrifice Jesus made for each of us, compelling us to set aside time to review what He suffered and to set goals to overcome our shortcomings, striving to truly please God.

Redemption carries a profound significance, encompassing past, present, and future dimensions. He has redeemed us, yet we are also being redeemed, and there remains a future redemption at His return. Though drawn out of this world by His grace, we often stumble and return to worldly ways due to our carnal minds, necessitating continual repentance and realignment with His people to pursue what is right and good. God persistently draws us toward His freedom, liberating us from the slavery of this world. In the symbolism of the wave loaves, we see individuals who, despite being sinners, have been redeemed, justified, sanctified, and saved, becoming acceptable to God as His holy people. These firstfruits, represented by the loaves baked with leaven, signify corruption and sin, yet through redemption, they are set apart for service as priests like Jesus Christ. Their dedication to God and fellow man, as shown through various offerings, reflects a complete commitment, with sins covered by a price paid, establishing a harmonious relationship with God. The gleaning law provided sustenance for the poor and strangers, offering a hand up to change their situation and status. This act of charity mirrors a form of redemption, enabling improvement in life circumstances and integration into God's family. God's desire for freedom is evident in His act of redeeming His people from slavery in Egypt, leading them to a land of blessings and obligating them to remember their past bondage and keep His statutes, including the feasts, to maintain their relationship with Him as Redeemer. In the narrative of Ruth, redemption is subtly introduced through the cost of returning to the Promised Land. The deaths in Naomi's family symbolize the ultimate price paid by the Creator God, our King, to redeem us from the world and sin, bringing us back to His people. Boaz, as a figure of redemption, integrates Ruth, a foreigner, into God's way of life by instructing her to stay in his field, remain with his people, and partake of his provisions, reflecting how God calls us out of the world, places us among His people, and nourishes us with His blessings. Boaz's eagerness to redeem Ruth, prioritizing her over material gain, underscores a deep desire to secure her as part of his life, paralleling Christ's fervent wish to have us in His Kingdom. His actions demonstrate a commitment to redeem not just land, but a person, willing to do whatever it takes, mirroring the ultimate sacrifice made to redeem a people for Himself. This ongoing process of redemption continues as He works to free us completely from this world, purifying our minds and character from past filth, preparing us to be waved before Him as acceptable firstfruits, ultimately to live and work with Him for eternity in His Kingdom.

Our God provides far more for us each day and hour than any human could, often in ways that are invisible and unobtrusive. He sustains our lives, upholds our health, supplies our needs, and maintains a hedge of protection around us against harm and spiritual adversaries. Without these blessings, there would be no hope of life for anyone. One of God's greatest gifts is the weekly Sabbath, a time to rest, reflect, and recharge, linking us to both creation and redemption. In Deuteronomy chapter five, the Sabbath command emphasizes redemption as a reason to observe the day. It recalls how God redeemed His people from slavery with mighty power, bringing them out of bondage and providing for them in every way. This redemption is not merely a single act but encompasses all that God did to free His people and lead them to the Promised Land. It is a personal reminder of His work on their behalf, a fitting subject to remember on the Sabbath day. The Feast of Tabernacles also ties to this theme of redemption, reminding us of God's provision for Israel in the wilderness as they dwelt in temporary booths. This symbolizes our transitory state in this world, moving toward the Kingdom of God, and highlights God's ability to provide under any circumstance. He ensures we have what we need, teaching us to depend on Him rather than material possessions, preparing us for eternity. God's providence in redemption demands a response of deep gratitude for all His works and blessings. On the Sabbath, we are to focus on Him, recognizing that everything we have and are is due to His grace and intervention. This remembrance of our redemption from a former state magnifies God's role in our lives, leading us to realize our immense debt to Him. Our logical response, as outlined in Deuteronomy chapter eight, is threefold: to keep His commandments, walk in His ways, and fear Him with reverence, ensuring we do not disappoint Him. This focus on redemption during the Sabbath should produce a weekly rededication to God and His way. By remembering where we were before He intervened and comparing it to our current state, we see that the difference is entirely due to Him. This gratitude compels us to pledge with deepening conviction to grow further in His grace, to obey Him, and to live as He instructs, acknowledging that all we have and will be is because of Who our God is and what He continues to do for us.