Exodus, Grace and the Law

The experience of Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan is said in 1st Corinthians 10 to be an example to us living in the last days. So Pastor Bohr, in this sermon, highlights some of their experiences that illustrate our own journey to heaven. Just like us, mired in our sinful nature with no way out of bondage, they were in slavery and disobedience and did not deserve, of their own merit, any grace of deliverance. The "great river dragon/serpent", Pharaoh, a type of Satan, held them in bondage and would not let them go without a struggle. Just like Herod (who also is represented by a dragon/serpent in Revelation 12) did, when he hoped to kill the promised Messiah, Jesus, by slaughtering the male children of Bethlehem many years later, Pharaoh tried to rid Israel of their promised deliverer, Moses.

God delivered Israel from slavery first and then led them to Sinai to teach them His law. In like manner, God does not require us to keep the Ten Commandments until we have been rescued from slavery to sin and given power to overcome by the Holy Spirit. Israel's forced labor in Egypt on the Sabbath, the Passover, the Red Sea experience, the manna, and the striking of the rock episode, all have spiritual applications we can benefit from today.

After baptism there are still many trials ahead for the new Christian. There is still a desert to cross. In the wilderness, many of the Israelites tired and complained of the manna and wanted to return to Egypt. This serves as a type of many today who want spiritual junk food and who miss the pleasures of sin instead of desiring what is best for them. This sermon warns us that we also must be on our guard and not lose heaven because of unbelief and disobedience. We must be qualified to enter the promised land, not only by justification, our title to heaven, but also by sanctification, our fitness for heaven.