Resurrection at the Red Sea
April 1, 2016 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
The story of Crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 14 is a Resurrection
story. In fact, it gives us a glimpse into the resurrection life we
enjoy now in Christ. Let me set up the story and then highlight the
focal point.
The Israelites have just been rescued from death-like bondage of
slavery by God's miraculous power. For 400 years the children of Jacob
have multiplied and grown in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh, however,
subjected the Israelites to demeaning and strenuous labor. In fact, he
feared their multiplication, so he sought to have male babies killed.
Life for the Israelites in Egypt was dark, hopeless, despairing, and
marked by death.
God's sends his choice "redeemer" in Moses to buy the people out of
slavery. Moses faces Pharaoh in a struggle of strength and will. The
God of Moses proved multiple times that He was stronger and ultimately
in control. The final demonstration of power stuck to the heart of
Pharaoh's strength: his offspring. Interestingly, the Israelites were
immune to the plague of death only if their home was marked by the
blood of a substitutionary sacrifice. And so, through a sacrifice, God
delivers his people out of the darkness of slavery, with the hope of
arriving in the Promised Land.
When Israel arrives at the Red Sea in Exodus 14, they were already
redeemed, but they had not yet received the full benefit of life in
the land. They were sojourners waiting for their final redemption,
restoration to the land promised to their forefathers. I think you can
see the parallels to our experience of the resurrection life. By
Christ's substitutionary sacrifice (and resurrection) we have been
redeemed from the darkness of slavery to sin. But we have not yet
received the fullness of eternal life in the presence of Christ.
What does this mean for our experience of resurrection life now? Two
observations from Exodus 14:
1. Pharaoh's Pursuit of Israel is much like the Presence of Sin in a
Believer's Life. Pharaoh (and sin) has been conquered by God. Israel
(and the believer) is no longer subjected to slavery to Pharaoh (or
sin). We may find the fear of the Israelites in the face of a pursuant
Pharaoh silly (did they forget what God did back in Egypt?). Wouldn't
it be just as silly for a Christian to be plagued with guilt and
defeat in the face of sin (did we forget what God did on the cross?)?
There is a whole new perspective to live with when we affirm that sin
is powerless and defeated in our lives.
2. The Battle with Sin is the Lord's. Note what Moses says to the
people in verses 13-14, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation
of the LORD, which he will work for you today... The LORD will fight
for you, and you have only to be silent." The Israelites had already
seen the salvation of the Lord (they're not in Egypt anymore!). And
yet God continues to deliver them. God promises to fight for his
people. God finished his battle with sin on the Cross, but he is not
finished with sin. He still fights for us. He never leaves us on our
own to fight this battle. That's the power of the resurrection in our
lives!
I join Paul in praying for you that the eyes of your heart may be
opened so that you may know "what is the immeasurable greatness of his
power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great
might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead" (Eph.
1:19-20). May you know the power of his resurrection!
