Nine plagues had fallen upon Egypt, and Israel was still in bondage. But God would send the plague of the death of the first born. God commanded Moses to prepare the people for deliverance from the plague and from Egypt.
Moses instructed Israel to select a lamb for each family, put it up for three days, slay the lamb, and apply the blood to the door posts. They were to roast the meat and eat it with unleavened bread.
They were to be fully dressed and ready to travel. It was the LORD's Passover, which was a type of our Passover, Jesus Christ.
The Israelites were allowed by Pharaoh to leave Egypt after the first born of all Egyptians died.
Exodus 13:21, 22: "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by
day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of
fire by night, from before the people."
The children of Israel followed the LORD by faith.
IN THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA
Hebrews 11:29: "By faith they (the children of Israel) passed through the Red Sea
as on dry land: which the Egyptians assaying (attempting) to do were drowned."
The Problem.
Exodus 14:5-12: 5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the
heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they
said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6And he
made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7And he took six hundred
chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of
them. 8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he
pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an
high hand. 9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of
Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the
sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the
children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after
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them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the
LORD. 11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast
thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with
us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in
Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been
better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
The pursuit of Pharaoh's army was the result of the leaving of the children of Israel (Verses 5-8).
The appearance of Pharoh and his army caused great fear in the children of Israel (Verses l0-12).
The Promise.
Exodus 14:13, 14: 13And 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. 14The LORD
shall
fight
for
you,
and
ye
shall
hold
your
peace.
Moses gave the command (Verse l3a). Fear not. Fear has doubt, not faith. Stand still and wait.
Psalm 37:7: "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself
because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth
wicked devices to pass."
See the salvation of the LORD, which He shall show you today. The salvation or deliverance was the physical lives of the people. They were saved for service. In saving their lives, the children of Israel were baptized in the sea and cloud.
1 Corinthians 10:1, 2: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through
the sea, And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea."
Their confidence was in the LORD (Verse l3b-14). The enemies will be gone (Verse l3b). The encouragement was to trust the LORD (Verse l4).
The Provision.
Exodus 14:15-31: 15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto
me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16But lift thou up
thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children
of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I, behold, I
will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get
me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his
horsemen. 18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have
gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went
behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood
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behind them: 20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of
Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these:
so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21And 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.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground:
and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23And
the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all
Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24And it came to pass, that in
the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the
pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25And took
off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said,
Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the
Egyptians. 26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the
sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and
upon their horsemen. 27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the
sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled
against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28And
the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host
of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one
of them. 29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the
sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and
Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31And Israel saw that great
work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD,
and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
Their command was to go forward (Verse l5). God was responsible for clearing the way for Israel (Verses l6-22). He was also responsible for closing the way for the Egyptians (Verses 23-29).
The consequences meant victory for Israel but defeat for the Egyptians (Verses 30, 31). It meant the discovery of defeat by the Egyptians (Verses 18, 25); the deliverance of Israel (Verse 30), and the faith of Israel (Verse 30).
The Praise unto the LORD by Israel.
Exodus 15:1-19: 1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the
LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed
gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The LORD is
my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will
prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3The LORD is
a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he
cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The
depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand,
O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in
pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown
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them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed
them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered
together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in
the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide
the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand
shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they
sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the
gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy
mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them
in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom
shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;
all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon
them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people
pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou
shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the
place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O
Lord, which thy hands have established. 18The LORD shall reign for ever and
ever. 19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen
into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but
the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
AT THE WALL OF JERICHO
Hebrews 11:30, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were
compassed seven days."
The Challenge.
Joshua 6:1: Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel:
none went out, and none came in.
The Command.
Joshua 6:2-5: 2And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand
Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3And ye shall
compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt
thou do six days. 4And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of
rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the
priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5And it shall come to pass, that when they
make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the
trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city
shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before
him.
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The promise was given in Verse 2. The plan was revealed in Verses 3-5.
The Conquest.
Joshua 6:6-20: 6And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them,
Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of
rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. 7And he said unto the people, Pass on,
and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the
LORD. 8And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the
seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the
LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD
followed them. 9And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the
trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing
with the trumpets. 10And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall
not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed
out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11So the
ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the
camp, and lodged in the camp. 12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the
priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13And seven priests bearing seven trumpets
of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with
the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after
the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14And
the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they
did six days. 15And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about
the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven
times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16And it came to
pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said
unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. 17And the city
shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the
harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the
messengers that we sent. 18And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed
thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and
make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19But all the silver, and gold,
and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come
into the treasury of the LORD. 20So the people shouted when the priests blew
with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the
trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat,
so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they
took the city.
The compliance to God's plan resulted in the conquering of the city of Jericho (Verses 6-16). The city was easily taken (Verse 20).
Conclusion
In both events cited, the children of Israel obeyed by faith. They heard God's Word, believed it, 227
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and acted upon it. In crossing the Red Sea, they were baptized, and their lives were saved to worship and to serve God.
Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour? Are you listening to God's Word, believing it, and acting upon it?
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