Wait… Why Does Exodus 30 Talk About Paying a Ransom?

Reading the One Year Bible Together | Vineyard Church Southern Indiana – New Albany, IN

If you’re reading along with us in the One Year Bible, you probably hit Exodus 30 this week and had the same reaction I did. You’re cruising along through instructions about the Tabernacle, incense, oil, worship practices… and then suddenly:

God tells Israel everyone must pay a ransom for their life when the people are counted.

And if you’re like me, you stopped and thought:

“Wait… what?”

Because it almost sounds like God is charging admission.

But I also knew there had to be something deeper going on here. So I did some digging for us. Let’s walk through it together.

The Strange Moment in Exodus 30

God tells Moses that whenever Israel takes a census, every person must give a small silver offering as a “ransom” so that no plague comes upon them.

And here’s what stood out:

1. Everyone gave the same amount.

2. Rich people couldn’t give more.

3. Poor people couldn’t give less.

Which immediately tells us this isn’t about fundraising. Something spiritual is happening.

Why Would Counting People Be a Problem?

In the ancient world, kings counted people to measure their strength.

“How big is my army?”
“How powerful am I?”
“How secure is my kingdom?”

But Israel wasn’t supposed to think that way. They weren’t strong because of their numbers. They existed because God rescued them from slavery.

So every time the people were counted, God required them to remember: “You are alive because I redeemed you.” The ransom payment wasn’t buying protection.

It was a reminder:
Your life belongs to God.

Why Everyone Paid the Same

This part still hits today. Everyone paid the same ransom amount because:

1. No one’s life was worth more.
2. No one could buy better standing with God.
3. Everyone stood equally dependent on His mercy.

In a world constantly ranking people by money, status, and influence, God reminds His people every life has equal value. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. 

And Then It Gets Really Beautiful

This passage quietly points forward to Jesus. In Exodus, people gave silver as a reminder that their lives had been spared.

But in the New Testament, Jesus says, “The Son of Man came… to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We don’t pay ransom anymore because Jesus became the ransom. Peter says we weren’t redeemed with silver or gold, but with Christ’s precious blood.

The reminder in Exodus becomes reality in Jesus.

Why This Matters for Us Reading Today

If you’re reading the One Year Bible with us and you hit passages that make you pause, you’re doing it right. Sometimes Scripture makes us stop and ask questions. And often, right behind the confusion is something beautiful.

Exodus 30 reminds us:

1. Our lives aren’t random.
2. We’ve been rescued.
3. We belong to God.

And now we get to live in gratitude, freedom, and purpose because of what Jesus has done! This good news folks!

Reading Together in New Albany, Indiana

One of the things I love about our church family at Vineyard Church Southern Indiana in New Albany is that we’re learning Scripture together.

None of us are experts, none of us have "it" all figured out (whatever that means), we are all just figuring it out together. 

If you’re looking for a church home in New Albany, Indiana, or you want a place to explore faith and grow, we’d love for you to join us.

And as we keep reading together this year, here’s encouragement for all of us:

When a passage makes you say, “Wait… what?”
Lean in.

God often hides some of His best treasures right there.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Brian
Vineyard Church Southern Indiana
New Albany, Indiana