Called to Deliverance
|
Key Verse: “Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” Selected Scriptures: |
IN DELIVERING ISRAEL from Egyptian bondage, God exercised his great power in bringing ten plagues upon Egypt. The last plague, the death of the firstborn, finally shocked the Egyptians, and Pharaoh let them go. Israel escaped tragedy by keeping the Passover. The nation left by way of the wilderness to avoid the Philistines. This route would avoid tempting Israel to return to Egypt. God led the way as a pillar of fire at night, and a cloud by day.
They were not aware that Pharaoh had changed his mind, and wanted to recapture them. It was not until Pharaoh’s hot pursuit of the Israelites made the Egyptians draw near to their encampment that they realized the seriousness of the situation. Immediately they began to grumble, and brought to Moses’ attention that they would have fared better by serving the Egyptians as slaves, than to die in the wilderness.
Moses then spoke the words of the Key Text, to tell them their salvation was imminent if only they would wait on the Lord. He also promised that these Egyptians would not be seen any more.—Exod 14:13
First, it was necessary to prevent the Egyptians from advancing. The angel of the Lord changed positions from leading Israel to a rear guard position, and the pillar of the cloud came between Israel and the Egyptians. It was darkness to the Egyptians, and light to Israel. Nevertheless, Israel was trapped. The Red Sea was before them and the Egyptians were at their rear. It was then God told Moses to have Israel go forward. This led them into the sea.
He also told Moses to stretch out his hand upon the sea, and to divide it. We read: “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” (Exod. 14:21) Israel then passed through the Red Sea dry-shod, with a wall of water on either side. When the restraint by the angel of the Lord was removed, the Egyptians again pursued Israel and lost their chariot wheels. Then God told Moses to stretch his hand over the sea, causing the waters to return. And all the Egyptians perished.
This entire incident presents a powerful lesson in the plan of God. At the time of the Passover, Israel was to slay the Paschal Lamb, representing Jesus, the world’s Redeemer. Only the firstborn were in jeopardy of death that night. If the blood of the lamb had been placed on the doorposts and lintel of the house, they were saved from death. These represented the “Church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23), selected during the Gospel Age. This was the first deliverance.
The pursuit of Pharaoh and the Egyptians pictures the end of the Millennial Kingdom, when all the world of mankind are delivered from death and Satan’s power. Thus, when Pharaoh and his army perished in the sea, they pictured the destruction of Satan and his angels. The world of mankind’s deliverance will then be complete.