Question: In Jeremiah 31:9, Ephraim is called God's "firstborn," but in Joshua 17:1, Manasseh is the ...

Question: In the Q&A of August re Mart De Haan, you said that God never called Israel His Son. But in Exodus:4:22-23 [22] And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: [23] And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
See All..., God calls Israel "my son, even my firstborn." In Jeremiah:31:9They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
See All..., Ephraim is called God's "firstborn," but in Joshua:17:1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
See All..., Manasseh is the firstborn. Romans:8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
See All... calls Jesus the firstborn. How many "firstborns" of God are there?

Response: What I said was true, but I wasn't precise enough. Mart De Haan was right that historically Hosea:11:1When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
See All... was about Israel being delivered from Egypt, but he denied Matthew's prophetic application. A major reason for God's calling Israel His son and firstborn was to foretell Christ's coming out of Egypt as a child. My objection was Mart's claim that Matthew was wrong.

Yes, God calls Israel "my son" (Ex 4:22,23) two or three times. However, the term "Son of God" is found 45 times in the Bible and always refers to Christ. Although called the "firstborn," never is Israel "the only begotten Son of God."

What is said of Christ could not be said of Israel. Matthew, inspired of the Holy Spirit, wasn't wrong!

Manasseh was the firstborn of Joseph, but Jacob bestowed the blessing and rank of the firstborn upon Ephraim (Gn 48:12-20). Jesus is "the firstborn of every creature" (Col:1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
See All...) by rank; and He is "the firstborn from the dead" (Col:1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
See All...)--the first one resurrected never to die again.