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by

Ron Parsons

Readings in the Book of

Exodus

The PDF link is at the end

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

 Reading #160: 

The spiritual exodus

We are now into the time of the preparation for the Hebrews to leave Egypt and go back to their main post of duty in the land of Canaan, between the two great errors of false religion and the world. 

But before we do, let’s look at an important point.

In later records in the Bible the events of the exodus are often used as pictures of the way of redemption (not just salvation), so we should keep this in mind as we study them. 

For example:

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1 Corinthians 10:

1 Moreover, brothers and sisters, I would not that you should be ignorant [unknowing], how that all our fathers [of the Old Testament] were under the cloud [of Christ’s protection], and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptised to [by] Moses in the cloud and in the sea [Spirit and water, John 3:5].

3 And [they] did all eat the same [the same as us] spiritual meat [the words of God]; 4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink [the guidance of the Spirit]: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed [went with] them: and that Rock was Christ.  

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They had the same gospel preached to them as we have already seen (Hebrews 4:1-6), for as our Saviour says, “I am the LORD, I change not.” Malachi 3:6.  It was just SHOWN them by different methods.

It works this way: 

First, the LORD sets each of His people free from the slavery of sin as explained below.

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Romans 6:18

Being then made free from [serving] sin, you became the servants [followers] of righteousness. 

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How does He do this?

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Romans 6:

3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: 6 knowing this, that our “old man” is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is “dead” is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be [spiritually] dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also [spiritually] live with Him: 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him.

10 For in that He died, He died to sin once: but in that He lives He lives to God [forever]. 11 Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin [free from “Egypt and the slave master’s” power once], but alive to God through Jesus Christ our LORD [forever]. 

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These words are not intended to give any credibility to the thought that water baptism conveys any real transformation.  It is the baptism by the Spirit which is being dealt with here, as opposed to the water and fire baptisms. See Matthew 3:11 and Ephesians 4:5; for all three are simply different aspects of the same experience.

Then He sustains each of us in our newfound freedom by feeding us with heavenly manna.  The “manna” for us is spiritual, but still very real.

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John 6:

47 “Verily, verily [truly, truly], I say to you, He that believes on Me [as the Son of God] has everlasting life [already].”

48 “I am that Bread of life.”

49 “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the Bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever: and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” [Their problem was they always confused picture with reality, and thought only in earthly terms.] 

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Verily, verily, I say to you, Except you eat [consider very carefully, chew over] the flesh [the life] of the Son of man [not the Son of God], and drink His blood [take up His cross], you have no life in you. 54 Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life [not immortality]; and I will raise him up at the last day [if he dies].”

55 “For My flesh [My life as the Son of man] is meat [food] indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him [we are one]. 57 As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats Me, even he shall live by Me [My life in him, Colossians 1:27].” 

58 “This is that Bread which came down from heaven: [this experience is] not as your fathers [which] did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this Bread [understandingly] shall live for ever.”

59 These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum. 

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After we have received that understanding and experience the Spirit instructs us individually in the ways of God, showing us the true relationship we should bear towards the eternal God in worship.  He wants to be known as a Father, not a God!  Jesus told His followers:

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Matthew 6:

7 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions [certain types of group prayers], as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking [and bowing and scraping]. 8 Be not you therefore like to them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him. [So why should we ask Him?]

9 After this manner therefore pray you: “Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed [highly respected] be Your name [Your character, Your “way” among us]…”

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While we are learning this, we are given various jobs to do.  Then, after we have finished all the work assigned to us He endeavours to lead us into the new world without coming under the dominion of Satan’s prison house.  He doesn’t like the idea of us dying in a wilderness after forty years of idle wandering [like Korah], or even after a fruitful life [like Moses], because this means separating from Him for a time.  He would rather that we were like Elijah.

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2 Kings 2:

1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” And Elisha said to him, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” [Consider Ruth 1:16.]

So they went down to Bethel. 

3 And the sons of the prophets [students] that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, “Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?” [They knew it, but were not sure if he did!] And he said, “Yes, I know it; hold you your peace.”…

So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho [the students of that school] came to Elisha, and said to him, “Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; hold you your peace.”…

And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off [they were scared at the thought of the presence of God]: and they two stood by [the river] Jordan [This was a very public departure drawing attention to a very important detail in the kingdom of heaven.] 8 And Elijah took his mantle [his cloak], and wrapped it together, and smote [hit] the waters, and they were divided here and there [right and left], so that they two went over on dry ground [across the river, outside of Israel’s border.  Consider Hebrews 13:12-13].

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha [because he had stayed with him on what was to him, a frightening journey], “Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you.”

And Elisha said, “I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me [so that I can be of great use to God and man].” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing [not many really want this and you will have to be trained hard to get it. See Hebrews 4:10-11]: nevertheless, if you [are able to] see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

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He who loves Christ the most will do the greatest amount of good. There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. If men and women will endure the necessary discipline, without complaining or fainting by the way, God will teach them hour by hour, and day by day. He longs to reveal His grace. If His people will remove the obstructions, He will pour forth the waters of salvation in abundant streams through the human channels. If those in humble life were encouraged to do all the good they could do, if restraining hands were not laid upon them to repress their zeal, there would be a hundred workers for Christ where now there is one.

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2 Kings 2:

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire [a heavenly vehicle made up of angels, which looked like a chariot, at that time the modern luxurious means of transport, Psalm 68:17], and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven [he was translated, or moved, into heaven without dying].

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father [Elijah], my father,  [I see] the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent [tore] them in two pieces [in sorrow as in mourning, when he should have been rejoicing because now he was to have twice the helping ability that Elijah had!]. 

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Elisha was able to see, not only the angel chariot which took Elijah to heaven, but also the Son of God watching that event.  We know that from the words “Elijah went up by [past] a whirlwind”.   Ezekiel describes that “whirlwind” for us in greater detail.

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Ezekiel 1:

3 The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans [Babylon] by the river Chebar [during the exile about 592BC]; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him [in blessing]. 

4 “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and [it had] a fire infolding itself [continually circling into itself like a tornado, expressing great vitality], and a brightness was about it [over the top of it], and out of the midst thereof [there came  a brightness] as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire….”

26 “And above the firmament [space] that was over their heads [of the angels which carried it] was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone [blue is the colour of mercy]: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a Man above upon it [the body of a Man sat on it].”

27 “And I saw as the colour of amber [golden brown], as the appearance of fire round about within it [continually moving].  From the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward [of this sitting figure], I saw as it were the appearance of fire. And it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the [rain]bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about [above His head].”

“This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spoke….”

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To the disciple John was granted the same picture, only this time he was taken to heaven in a vision to see it.

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Revelation 4:

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first Voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter [the future].” 

2 And immediately I was in the Spirit [in a vision]; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper [stone, colour unknown] and a sardine [red] stone: and there was a rainbow round about [above] the throne, in sight like to an emerald [mainly green].

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These glimpses into the design of God’s throne are intended to help us accept the reality of it. 

What an experience for them!  What an experience for us!

More next week,

RonP

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Hebrews 4:10-11

For he that is entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  Back

Psalm 68:17

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the LORD is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Back