August 5, 2021
Following the very first Passover, carried out according to detailed divine instructions, God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt.
Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. And it came to pass, on that very same day that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. Exodus 12:50-51
Scripture often depicts intense drama on the earth, which illustrates even more powerful and dramatic spiritual realities of God at work to redeem people. The Great Deliverance performed by God in the book of Exodus parallels the Great Deliverance provided by His Son at the cross. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
The people had cooperated with God’s instructions and were led to make their escape. All of their firstborns were alive! While we see parallels in different passages of Scripture, it is also essential to note contrasts. The entire Passover lesson, in contrast to the Exodus story, points to the death of the Lamb of God—His firstborn, His one and only begotten Son. The indescribable pain and cost of our salvation is a powerful display of the divine, pure Love that is beyond our comprehension.
Immediately following Israel’s escape, the Egyptian armies, at Pharaoh’s command, pursued the Israelites. If we choose to align ourselves with the Word of the LORD, we will be pursued by armies of the LORD’s enemies, including our own hearts! Contemplate this: Jesus wants to save us in spite of ourselves! What LOVE! He has the power to recreate our hearts and mold—or reform—our characters. He is gentle and loving as He does the divine work of character transformation. Beloved, let us invite and welcome His Spirit to be at work in us, for He is able to complete the work (2 Timothy 1:12).
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
The picture here is vivid: in this world, we are surrounded by multiple agents of Satan who, at his command, are at work to cause our downfall. We have even been deceived by our own hearts! As we look around, the situation certainly looks bleak. That is why our loving Father regularly reminds us to look up! Beholding Him through study of His Word, followed by obedience, will bring vast improvement to the outlook. Today’s bookstores are filled with “self-help” books, telling people to look to themselves for improvement. But if I am looking, by faith, to the leadership of the Lord, I will give only Him the glory if I happen to detect improvement in my character. Often we are unaware of the changes He is making! If I am continually gaining a deeper appreciation of His character, it is likely that the defects of my own will become more evident to me. Do not despair! Paul was aware of this phenomenon, for he was an old man when he wrote Romans. Check out Romans 7:14-8:4.
And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Exodus 14:19-20
Beloved, where is your focus? Look up and be encouraged. He looks out for each of us in all of our comings and goings. Our protection comes from above and will light up even the darkest night for those who look to Him. He sends His Spirit to bring light to all who are humble before Him, effecting needed reformation. But note: the same presence that brought light to the people of God was a cloud of darkness to the rebellious Egyptians. Look to Him—and live!
Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22
For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12b