Exodus and Salvation - the Story of Deliverance

 I have, of late, been reading the story of Moses and the deliverance of the people of Israel from the hand of the tyrannical Pharaoh. With great power God sent a deliverer and brought forth a people for His very own. Years of wandering and struggle finally brought them to the Promised Land where they crossed a mighty barrier and entered.

All the Bible points us to the person of Jesus. He stated this fact when speaking to the crowds, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). There are so many parallels between the story of the Exodus and the story of Salvation that I wanted to give you a quick glance at some of the commonalities.

1. Identified with His Own People
   The one who came to deliver the people was completely identified with the people. Moses was once part of Pharaoh’s court, having been adopted into the palace. He refused identification with the world and chose, instead to be identified with the oppressed and enslaved. Jesus, also, left His glory and became one of us – except without sin.
   
   
2. Displayed Great Power
   With great power, by God’s command, Moses commanded plagues upon the nation of Egypt. These signs testified to the truth of who he was and why he had come. So, in Christ, the power of God was manifest through Him and gave not only credibility to who He was, but also signaled why He came.
   
   
3. Only the Blood saved from Death
   It was at the command of Moses that the captive people covered their doorframes with the blood of the chosen lamb. Only the houses with the sign of blood would be spared from the angel of death. Each house had to choose to put the blood on the door. And so is it in Christ. Only those who come to faith in Jesus and surrender to Him in repentance will be covered by His blood. It is those who choose faith in Christ that will have their sins atoned for by His sacrifice and will be spared eternal death and final judgement from God.
   
   
4. Crossed over, Never to Return
   The Exodus commences and the people of Israel are led to the Red Sea. By God’s power, the waters part and Moses leads the people across to the other side. The water’s rush back into the seabed and the way back is blocked. So, in Christ, we cross over by faith and are taken out of slavery to sin and led by God’s word through this world—never again to go back into slavery.
   
   
5. Led for Years
   It took time, 40 years to be precise, but eventually the people of God were led across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The years of wandering in the wilderness changed them forever, and Moses never left them the entire way. So, in this life, we wander in this wilderness—sometimes for years—before we enter the Promised Land. We grow, mature, and see the old life die off as we wander – all the while being led by Jesus through everything.
   
   
6. Entered the Promised Land
   There came the time when, finally, the people crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. All the years of waiting… all the years of strife came to a singular moment when God stopped the waters of the river and they entered. All who follow Jesus will, someday, cross over to that blessed, Promised Land called Heaven. We will cross the river of death, that great barrier that separates us from this life and the next, and God will deliver us safely to the golden shores of eternity.

I hope this is an encouragement to you. Don’t fear the journey you're on as you follow Jesus. He will lead you out of sins captivity, through the wilderness wanderings of this life, until you reach securely that Heavenly Shore.

If you’re not a Christian, why wait? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and know that no matter what avails in this life, you have been secure for all eternity by the Mighty Hand of God. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
 
©2015 Michael Duncan

For further study, pick up the book: "Starting Out: A Study Guide for New Believers" from Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482694328.

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