02.06. Deliverance From Sin

DELIVERANCE FROM SIN an analogy. Many good Bible students hold to the idea that the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt is a type of our bondage in sin, their deliverance a type of our deliverance, their baptism unto Moses in the cloud and sea a type of our baptism into Christ, their journey through the wilderness a type of the Christian life, their crossing the Jordan a type of death, and Canaan a type of our heavenly home. But if this is a type, there are important points where the type and the antitype fail to agree. However, there is a striking analogy between the two. On this analogy, this resemblance, the present lesson is constructed.

Israel’s bondage. Had the Israelites been free and prosperous in Egypt, had they not been reduced by cruel and oppressive bondage, they never would have desired to leave that land; but they were reduced to the cruelest of bondage, and their lives became bitter. our bondage. "Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin" (John 8:34). "Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16). Satan is a cruel taskmaster; he promises us just enough of pleasure to lure us on to ruin in this life and the life to come. "The wages of sin is death." If we would only think seriously about sin and its awful consequences, it would become an unbearable burden, and there would spring up in our hearts a longing for freedom from its galling yoke of cruel bondage. Jesus invites those who are weary of sin, those upon whom sin rests as a heavy burden, to come to him for rest, for freedom.

Moses their deliverer. Being moved with compassion for the Israelites on account of their sufferings, God appeared to Moses and said: "And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:9-10), Stephen said: "This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush" (Acts 7:35).

Christ our deliverer. "Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.... I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him" (John 3:16-17). "If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Jesus took on himself the nature of man "that through death he might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15). The world to-day is burdened with dishonesty, immorality, robbery, murder—with sins of every kind; in Jesus alone is theIr hope of deliverance. faith necessary then. Moses, realizing that unless the Israelites believed him he could do nothing, said: "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee" (Exodus 4:1). we must believe. "Except ye believe that I am he ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). "He that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). "Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6).

How their faith came. "And Aaron spake all the words which Jehovah had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed" (Exodus 4:30-31) .

How faith is produced. "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). "And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and of Greeks believed" (Acts 14:1). "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). purpose of miracles of Moses. When Moses objected to making an effort to lead Israel out of bondage because the people would say, "Jehovah hath not appeared to thee," God gave him signs to perform in their presence to show them that God was with him (see Exodus 4:1-9; Exodus 4:29-31). The signs did not produce faith, nor enlighten them as to the nature of the mission of Moses, "but they were God’s guaranty that the message delivered by Moses was true. signs in the Christian dispensation. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed" (Mark 16:20). "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord was confirmed unto us by them that heard; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). Nicodemus had the correct idea of signs: "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2). repentance. They had to make up their mind to forsake Egypt and follow Moses. We must determine to forsake sin and follow Christ. There must be such a change in our mind and heart as will result in a reformation of life. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). deliverance conditional. God could have taken up the whole Jewish nation and carried them to Canaan, just as he took Enoch to heaven; but he did not choose to do so. He made it possible for them to leave Egypt, and guided them and provided for their needs on the way, but they had to cooperate with him in their deliverance. Their deliverance was not unconditional—they had to do what they could. our deliverance conditional. It is not a question of what God can do, but of what he proposes to do. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). God will render to every man according to his works; eternal life to those who seek for glory and honor and incorruption, tribulation and anguish to those who obey not the truth (Romans 2:6-11). Jesus Christ became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Hebrews 5:8). Follow Jesus and live in freedom, or refuse and die in. bondage to Satan. baptized unto Moses. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto (Greek, into) Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). Though they were following Moses before they were baptized, they were yet the property, the unwilling slaves, of Pharaoh, and were not completely under the undisputed leadership of Moses till their former owners were destroyed in the Red Sea. Here they passed from the ownership of the Egyptians into the leadership of Moses—baptized into Moses, into his leadership.

They were baptized in the cloud and in the sea—it took both elements to constitute their baptism. Any theory concerning their baptism that leaves out either element is wrong. It is contended by some that they were baptized by the rain. But the text relied upon to support this theory (Psalms 68:8) does not say the rain fell while they were crossing the sea. The rain came after they crossed—at Mount Sinai. But if it could be shown that the rain fell as they were crossing the sea, it is certain that it did not constitute their baptism. The rain theory is wrong; for if they were baptized in the rain, the sea had nothing to do with their baptism. The waters stood upright as a wall on either side frozen, and the cloud hid them from the view of the Egyptians. They were thus buried, immersed, in the cloud and in the sea. baptized into Christ. "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3). Baptism is the dividing line between the world and the church, between servitude to sin and freedom in Christ. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). "Repent ye and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). saved from bondage. "Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians" (Exodus 14:30). "Thus," in the manner described, "the Lord saved Israel." The Lord saved them by opening up the way and destroying their enemies, and they saved themselves by going forward as God commanded them. saved from sin. Jesus is our Savior, and there is none other that can save (Acts 4:12). He prepared the way for us to be saved and forgives our sins, and we save ourselves by accepting salvation on the conditions laid down. After the way had been pointed out on the great Pentecost, Peter exhorted them: "Save yourselves."

How they were guided. "And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people" (Exodus 13:21-22). "And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward throughout all their journeys: but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up" (Exodus 40:36-37). our guide. "Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24; see also Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). "Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). We follow Christ by imitating his example and obeying his commands. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105). Our loyalty must not be divided —we must follow him with the whole heart. To do so we must repudiate human creeds and all the doctrines of men. their food. God supplied them with food during their journey through the wilderness. "And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost on the groundAnd Moses said unto them, It is the bread which Jehovah hath given you to eat" (Exodus 16:13-15). "And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31). "And the children of Israel did eat the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat the manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan" (Exodus 16:35). our spiritual food. "Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:32-35). "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world" (John 6:49-51). The Israelites drank from the rock that followed them, andthat rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). That rock was a type of Christ. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed" (John 6:53-55). We eat his flesh and drink his blood—that is, we appropriate the benefits of both—by studying and doing his will. "As newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:2-3). Spiritual life will perish without spiritual food. All over this land Christians are perishing for lack of food and drink. "My people perish for lack of knowledge." Many have a name to live, but are dead. theirs A journey of trust. They depended not on themselves for guidance. God, through Moses, was their teacher, and by the cloud and the pillar of fire he led them in their journey. ours A life of trust. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." No one knows the way of life and salvation, only as it is revealed to him. Many of the Israelites fell through unbelief, and we are exhorted to take heed lest we fall after the same example of unbelief (Hebrews 4:11). Unbelief most commonly manifests itself in the making of human creeds and in the various schemes for which no authority can be found in the New Testament. A lack of confidence in the wisdom and goodness of God is alone responsible for all the new fads and schemes of present-day religionists. many fell. "Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:5). "And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? As I live, saith Jehovah, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, that have murmured against me, surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in" (Numbers 14:26-31). can we fall? "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (1 Corinthians 10:6). "Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:11-12). If man cannot fall, then this admonition is entirely useless. the river Jordan. Before the Israelites could dwell in the promised land of Canaan, they had to cross the river Jordan. They were miraculously aided in crossing Jordan, as they were in crossing the Red Sea (see Joshua 3:1-17). death. Before we reach our promised inheritance we must pass through death. Jordan has come to be a symbol of death, and we sing that soul-stirring hymn: On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye, To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie.

O, the transporting, rapturous scene That rises to my sight!

Sweet fields arrayed in living green, And rivers of delight!

All o’er these wide-extended plains Shines one eternal day, There God, the Sun, forever reigns, And scatters night away. When shall I reach that happy place, And be forever blest? When shall I see my Father’s face, And in his bosom rest?

Fill’d with delight, my raptur’d soul Would here no longer stay;

Though Jordan’s waves around me roll, Fearless I’d launch away.

* * * TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND DISCUSSION. The Spies and Their Report (Numbers 13:1-33, Numbers 14:1-45).

Korah’s Rebellion and the People’s Complaint (Numbers 16:1-50). The Fiery Serpents (Numbers 21:4-9).

Balaam (Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 24:1-25). The Death of Moses, and Why He Did Not Enter Canaan.

QUESTIONS

• Is the deliverance of Israel a type of our deliverance from sin? Give reason for your answer.

• Give the meaning of the word "analogy."

• Describe the severity of Israel’s bondage.

• To what are sinners in bondage?

• What brought about this bondage?

• Give some of the consequences of this bondage.

• Who are invited to escape this bondage?

• What moved God to deliver Israel?

• Who was sent to deliver them?

• Who is our Deliverer?

• Wherein is he like unto Moses?

• What moved God to send this Deliverer?

• Why did Jesus take on himself the nature of man?

• Why did Israel have to believe?

• What degree of faith was necessary?

• Discuss the need of faith now.

• How was their faith produced?

• How does faith come now?

• Discuss the purpose of signs.\

• What of repentance?\

• What did they do toward their own deliverance?

• Can we do anything in our deliverance?

• When were they freed from the Egyptians?

• Describe their baptism.

• Prove that their baptism was not sprinkling by midst from the walls of water, nor by rain.

• Prove that in baptism we are freed from sin.

• How did Jehovah save Israel?

• How did they save themselves?

• How may we save ourselves?

• How were the Israelites guided?

• Who is our guide?

• Give some quotations of scripture on this point.

• What was their food?

• Who gave them that food?

• What is our food and drink?

• How may we take this food and drink?

• What is spiritual milk?

• Why do Christians perish?

• Show why they needed guidance and why we do. Why do men invent things in religion?

• How many men over twenty years old came out of Egypt?

• How many of these fell in the wilderness?

• Why did they fall in the wilderness?

• What is the lesson to us? Can we fall?

• Describe their crossing the Jordan.

• Why has the river Jordan became a symbol of death?

• Why did Moses fail to enter Canaan?