268. BAPTISED INTO MOSES
"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord"
Later on, Yahweh was to say to Israel, € Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle's wings, and brought you unto myself € (Ex. 19:4). The wondrous miracles God wrought for His people at this time and His continued deliverance of them were constantly brought before Israel in later years to remind them that they owed their existence to Him. The most dramatic of these was the opening of the Red Sea which provided an escape for Israel and doom for the Egyptians.
The aim of this lesson is to show how God separated the people of His Kingdom to Himself
Exodus 13-15
DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT (Ex. 13:17 € 14:12).
From Exodus 13:17-22 we learn that God chose the route and directed the march of the Hebrews out of Egypt. At the head of the marching col umns were Moses and Aaron (Ps. 77:20) and before them there advanced a pillar of cloud, which at night turned into a pillar of fire. This was the symbol of God's presence through His Angel (Neh. 9:19).
They did not proceed directly to the Promised Land for God had a prior purpose with His people. They had to be educated in God's ways and trained for what He desired. The hardness of desert life and the education that He would give them in the Law, were first necessary. See ing they had been recently liberated from slavery they lacked discipline, organization and fighting efficiency. God's care for them is seen from the fact that He brought them through a way where they would not en counter enemies (Ex. 13:17-18).
He brought them first to Succoth where they rested (13:20; 12:37-39). The women made unleavened bread, the men cut down boughs of trees to shelter their families from the sun. They rejoiced together because God had delivered them by His mighty arm. Succoth means "Tabernacles" and this joyous occasion was afterwards celebrated in the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:39-43).
Then they came to Etham (Ex. 13:20), which means "Edge" for it-was on the edge of the wilderness and on the border of Egypt. They saw for the first time the terrible nature of the wilderness which they would have to traverse. It was as though God, having first revealed unto them the joy of the truth, now showed to them some of its difficulties before bringing them to the point of baptism (1 Cor. 10:1-2).
Israel could have continued their journey from Etham down the eastern side of the Red Sea without having to cross it, but the cloud turn ed and led the way down the western side for a distance of 25 kilometers. This brought them to Pihahiroth (14:2). Here, they saw a place of rugged desolation. Harsh, barren mountains, with steep valleys between them, ran right down to the edge of the sea itself. Along one of these deep valleys, the children of Israel marched, until they halted by the waters of the Red Sea.
PHARAOH PURSUES ISRAEL (Ex. 14:5-14).
News of this was brought to Pharaoh. He could only see in this that a terrible mistake had been made by the leader of Israel. "They are en tangled in the land", he exclaimed, "the wilderness has shut them in". Preparing his chariots, he set forth to destroy the hated Hebrews.
Thus the Israelites were presented with a terrible predicament. Hem med in by mountains on either side, and the sea in front, they saw the chariots of Pharaoh coming upon them. They forgot the mercy of God, and His wonderful works. They turned with anger upon Moses, accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt to die (vv. 10-12). See the wonderful reply of this great leader in verses 13 and 14: "Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord...". The Egyptians they had seen that day would be seen again no more. Moses turned to God for assistance, and was told to lift up his rod and stretch it over the sea and divide it, that the children of Israel might go through dry-shod (vv. 15-16).
ACROSS THE RED SEA (Ex. 14:15-31).
Meanwhile the angel went between Israel and Egypt, and the pillar of cloud brought darkness to the Egyptians, but to Israel it was a pillar of light. Moses lifted up his rod and stretched it towards the sea. God caused an east wind to blow all that night, the sea was divided and the path through became dry land. On either side were huge banks of water, stand ing upright and "congealed" (14:22; 15:8; Ps. 78:13). Across this path the Israelites marched to safety, but the Egyptians, attempting to do likewise, were drowned (Ps. 78:53).
God had hardened the hearts of the Egyptians to pursue Israel through the sea in a foolhardy thrust to recapture their slaves (v.12). But when their chariot wheels miraculously fell off, they feared and sought to escape from the walls of water beside them (v.28). It was too late. In obedience to the voice of God, Moses again stretched forth his rod, and the sea returned to its former place and completely destroyed the host of Pharaoh (vv.23-29).
Israel's passage through the Red Sea had been an act of great faith (Heb. 11:29). On the eastern side of the Red Sea, the children of Israel stood safe, delivered from the terrible fate that could have been theirs. The things they saw filled them with awe. Those who had murmured against Moses, bowed themselves before him and sought his pardon and in the hearts of all was the realization that God was indeed powerful to save. "They believed the Lord, and his servant Moses" (Ex. 14:31).
A song of thanksgiving commemorating the occasion was composed and sung by Moses and the people (15:1-19), with Miriam and the women of Israel playing musical instruments and answering with the refrain: "Sing ye to Yahweh, for He hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea" (15:20-21).
It is as well to note the rapid changes that took place in Israel's reac tions. They first rejoiced in their freedom from Egypt, but when faced with adverse circumstances, they despaired and reproached Moses. Once delivered, however, despair turned to triumph as they celebrated the vic tory of the Red Sea. Human nature is fickle, but God is steadfast and faithful.
The deliverance of the Red Sea became symbolic of God's great care and was recounted with gratitude by subsequent generations (Ps. 106:9-11). At other times God reminded them of this event (Amos 2:10; 3:1). But an even greater deliverance is yet to come when Israel will be brought out of a reluctant Northern confederacy and from all other countries and fully return ed to the land with great joy and gladness (Jer. 16:14-16).
A NEW LIFE.
Israel was now a free people commencing a new life. The slavery, the taskmasters, the idolatry of Egypt were behind them. They now followed God, Who became their Ruler and Guide. And in all this there is presented a wonderful lesson. In 1 Cor. 10:1-5 Paul shows that in cross ing the Red Sea, Israel was baptised into Moses. They were "buried" in water, hidden from view by cloud and sea. They rose to a new life on the opposite shore.
The Apostle says that these things are recorded as examples or types (v.6 margin). It is a type of our baptism into Christ. When a believer sub mits to baptism, he leaves behind his old life. The old man of flesh is destroyed (Rom. 6:6), just as were the Egyptians. In Christ, he follows the guidance of God whom he accepts as his Guide and Ruler. Previously he lived in slavery to the flesh, following its dictates and seeking its satisfaction, but now, that is no longer the case (see Rom. 6:16-18; Matt. 6:24).
Firstly, notice that Israel came to know that they were in danger of death. Secondly, they had to acknowledge the saving power of the Passover Lamb. Thirdly, they were then baptised. On all occasions, the urgency of their need was completely borne in upon them. They realized the need of the means of salvation, and so they followed what God com manded. They had to do so, or else be destroyed. In the things of the Truth, God commands and it is imperative for us to obey. Having come to a knowledge of His will, we must act in accordance with it (Lk. 12-47-Jas. 4:17; Jn. 12:48; 9:41; 15:22).
LESSONS FOR US:
- When God brought Israel out of Egypt, they were not led at once to the promised land, but directed rather by stages to the wilderness where hardship would have to be faced. In the same way, we are subjected to discipline and hardship, so necessary to character formation, before ob taining the prize.
- Like Israel, who were protected from their enemies by being taken into the wilderness, we also experience the protective Hand of God, Who saves us from those who would destroy us.
- With mountains left and right, sea in front and enemy behind, the great lesson God taught Israel (and us) is that there is no salvation apart from Him. Men must "stand still" and see God's salvation.
- Threatened by death but believing in God, Israel went through the Red Sea, and were thus "baptised into Moses" (1 Cor. 10:2). We also, once we come to a knowledge of the Truth, should be baptised into Christ Jesus our Lord.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Page 292-293
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 14
"Moses My Servant" (H. Tennant) € Chapter 3
"The Wilderness of Life" (J. Martin) € C.S.S.S Study Notes
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- What words did Moses use to calm Israel's fears as the Egyptians ap proached them on the banks of the Red Sea? What lesson do these words have for us?
- Of Israel, Paul said, "They were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor. 10:2). Explain.
- How did God bring about the destruction of the Egyptian host in the Red Sea?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Describe the crossing of the Red Sea and the fate of the Egyptians.
- Why was the crossing of the Red Sea so important to Israel?
- What was the significance of the departure of Israel from Egypt and their crossing of the Red Sea?
- How is the crossing of the Red Sea a type of baptism into Christ?