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The Exodus was the defining redemptive event for the people of Israel. The prophets spoke of it, they wrote songs of it (Ex 15 is the first worship song in the Bible), and if they could have they would’ve made movies about it like we still do today.
The Exodus story, in one word, is about salvation. The better we undestand the salvation of the OT people of God, the better we will understand our salvation as the NT people of God.
3 Thoughts on Salvation:
- The Miracle of OT Salvation
- The Miracle of NT Salvation
- The Hero of Salvation
1. The Miracle of OT Salvation
After God’s people exited Egypt, God led them south to the Red Sea. Pharaoh changes his mind once again and has 600+ of his officers and chariots to chase after them. The people of God would be caught between the sea and Pharaoh’s army which would set stage for the dramatic event of crossing the Red Sea (cue Mariah Carey).
A question that scholars still debate over today though is where did they actually cross over?
One theory that I’d like to argue is not possible based off the Biblical text is the “Reed Sea” theory. According to this theory, the translators of the Septuagint mistakenly translated the Hebrew to “Red Sea” when it should’ve been translated “Reed Sea” or “Sea of Reeds.” Proponents of this theory then come to the conclusion that they must have travelled across one of the many shallower lakes known for having reed growth. Pharaoh’s chariots would have then been caught in the mud as they cross thus allowing the Israelites to escape.
The problem with this theory is that the Biblical text does not allow this possibility! The details in the text are presented in such a way that either the Bible is wrong or the this theory is not possible. These details include: dry land, walls of water, drowning of Pharaoh’s army.
Thus all of these details combine to the effect that the Bible was unapologetically, unhesitatingly, describing a supernatural event, a miracle.
So why are some scholars so adamant about explaining away a supernatural even in naturalistic terms?
It’s because they are muggles.
Muggles are non-magic folk, people who deny the existence of a supernatural realm. They scream with Uncle Dursley, with ears closed, there’s no such thing as magic!
Tim Keller often mentions Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Tales. In it Tolkien explains why we are drawn to stories of fantasy where there is life after death, love is eternal, and good triumphs over evil. It is not because we are bored (maybe partially) but mainly because deep inside we know that there does exist a reality outside of our 5 senses. A supernatural realm where the blind can see, the lame can walk, and the dead are raised. And every so often this magical reality crashes into our muggle world.
Can you imagine being at the first exodus as Moses is told to lift his wand in v.16 to see the waters part forming vertical walls of water on either side? We already see water forming vertical walls in nature, we call them waterfalls. But the miracle of this OT salvation story is seeing not only walls of water on either side, but the powerful wind was making the water go from the ground up. It was Niagara Falls in reverse…
2. The Miracle of NT Salvation
The OT Exodus was pointing to a greater Exodus that would happen in the NT. In Luke 9:31 Jesus transfigures before his disciples and is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah about his departure, his Exodus.
The similarities are striking…
As amazing as it would’ve been to witness the first Exodus, I believe the miracle of the 2nd Exodus is even more awe-inspiring.
My favorite exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium is called “Ocean Voyager.” You start by passing thru a 100ft tunnel of water that completely immerses you in an underwater world. It then climaxes by opening up to a large room where you are standing in front of a massive wall of water. Behind this wall are thousands of kinds of fish, 4 giant manta rays, and 4 enormous whale sharks.
Amidst the beauty I noticed a small seam going up the center of this wall of water. It looked like where the glass had been fused together. In that moment I felt a hint of nervousness. Thoughts like “How safe is this?” “What if that shark goes crazy from endless selfies?” “Surely the engineers took everything into account, but what if…?” But then the guide proceed to explain that the tank holds 6million gallons of water but is held in place by glass that is 2ft thick. With that assurance, I went back to peacefully enjoying the view.
The thought now occurs to me… why was I and the millions of visitors to this exhibit able to enjoy these walls of water? Because they know they are safe.
If there was leak, if there were cracks, if there were sounds of the structure straining under the water pressure, that exhibit would become a terrifying death trap.
All of us deserve to perish as the Egyptian soldiers did. But the miracle of NT salvation is that the glass didn’t break. More amazing then witnessing Niagara Falls in reverse is witnessing the unbreakable glass of Christ holding back the waters of God’s judgment.
3. The Hero of Salvation
Question: How much ability do we have to save ourselves?
Answer: Our ability to save ourselves is as effective as Israel trying to hold up the waters with their own collective breath.
On the count of three… 1!… 2!… 3!… B-L-O-W!!!
Even our strongest moral efforts to be righteous are like trying to hold up a wall of water with our own breath…
Israel was not the hero of the Exodus, neither are we the heroes in our Christian lives. We need the True Hero to fight for us.
As Ex 14:13–14 states:
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The Lord fought for them. They were only told to stand and watch. Believe and follow their deliverer. May we do the same today.
