HISTORICALLY, AS A NOTABLE PATTERN OF PROVIDENCE; and so it represents to us two things
1. Unspeakable comfort to all believers in the midst of their extremities. God can disentangle and help them out, for He is with them in all their dangers (Isa_43:2).
2. It speaks terror to the wicked, and such as maliciously pursue the people of God, as the Egyptians did here.
II. SACRAMENTALLY (1Co_10:2).
1. They were baptized unto Moses in the sea; that is, Moses’ ministry was confirmed by that miracle, and so they were bound to take Moses for their leader and lawgiver; as the miraculous dispensations by Christ assure us that He was sent by God as our Lawgiver, whom we should hear and obey.
2. It is called a baptism, because it signified the difference that God puts between His people and their enemies, or the deliverance of His people from the common destruction of mankind was sealed to them by this passing through the sea, for here God shows that He would put a difference between His people and others.
3. They were baptized in the cloud and sea, because by submitting to God’s command they gave up themselves to God’s direction and the conduct of His providence by this initiating act, that He should lead them through the wilderness unto Canaan, and the land of promise; as we pass through the waters of baptism, that we may give up ourselves to be led through this world, which answers to the wilderness, to heaven, to Canaan, the land of promise, to be commanded and governed by Him till He brings us to our rest.
III. APPLICATIVELY, with respect to the use for which the apostle brings these instances; and it is to confirm believers in the faith of Christ, though they were sorely pushed at, and endured great sufferings for Christ’s sake.
1. I shall show what is the nature of faith, which we may learn from this instance.
(1) Faith inclined them to obey God’s command, and upon obedience to expect the mercy promised: Go through the Red Sea and you shall be saved. Now this is the common nature of all faith (Psa_119:66).
(2) For the command, faith gives courage to obey God in the most difficult cases.
(3) For the promise, the Red Sea was as a grave to them in visible appearance, and for a considerable time they walked every moment in the valley of the shadow of death. But this is the nature of faith, it teaches us to depend upon God’s promises in the greatest extremities.
2. This instance doth very much commend to us the excellency of this grace of faith, which was so necessary to believers in that age, when they were exposed to such great sufferings. Now, how it is manifested from this instance.
(1) God’s promise produces its miraculous effect through faith, and not otherwise. God could do it, whether the Israelites did believe, yea or nay; but their faith must concur.
(2) Here is another circumstance which commends faith likewise: this faith was weak at first, and mingled with unbelief; for first they murmured Exo_14:11-12). Now, when after such great faults God takes it so kindly, we will believe the promise, we should address ourselves to believe in Him.
(3) There is yet another circumstance in this instance; all of them were not true believers, but the faith of some made others partakers of the benefits. The ungodly receive many temporal benefits by the faith of others Act_27:24).
(4) It is commended to us again by the distinction God makes between believers and unbelievers; the one pass through the sea as on dry land, and the other sink as lead, and are drowned. We see our privileges in their destruction. Having laid this foundation, the doctrine is this--that they who, upon the belief of God’s promises, do resolve to run all hazards with Christ in the performance of their duty to Him, are only capable of salvation by Him. To evidence this, take these five considerations--First, that true faith receives the promise of God, with the terms and conditions which it requireth. Secondly, that the conditions which God requireth are, partly a belief of the promise, and partly obedience to the command annexed; as the Israelites were to believe that God would carry them safe and sound to the next shore through the Red Sea as upon firm land; and therefore, believing this, they were, upon the authority of God’s Word, to resolve to go down into the great deep, and try what God would do for them. Thirdly, these being the conditions, the belief of the promise, and thorough obedience to submit to the appointed way; lest we deceive ourselves with a notion, God loves to try us, to see if we have received the promise sincerely, whether we thoroughly believe His word, and are fully obedient to His commands (Jam_1:12). Fourthly, because we are fickle creatures, God will have us, by the solemn profession of such a faith, visibly to enter into His covenant. Fifthly, having thus solemnly entered into covenant with God, certainly we are bound to make it good, if we would have benefit by it. For it is not enough to make covenant, but all the promises run to him that keepeth covenant. Salvation is promised not to the undertaker, but the conqueror (Rev_2:7). (T. Manton, D. D.)
God’s care of His Church:
What a standing record is here of God’s care of His Church! Does the flood come upon them? Then He will build an ark for them. Have they to go through a wilderness? He will make the wilderness a place of safety and comfort. Are they in want of bread? They shall have manna. Do they come to the Red Sea? He will smite the tongue of the Red Sea. Nothing shall hinder Him from watching over the people, who are dear to Him as the apple of His eye.
I. GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME INTO STRAITS FROM WHICH NO POWER OF MAN CAN EXTRICATE THEM The Word of God declares it, and there are but few of God’s saints but have the testimony of it in their own hearts, and all sooner or later shall. Sometimes this is seen in providential difficulties: the Lord brings them into them. True it is that they are sometimes the means of bringing themselves into straits: but then still the Lord is with them. And we see this too, in spiritual things. He does bring His people to be tried in a way that they had no conception of. Thus the young convert frequently cometh, with his low looks, in great sorrow, wondering whether it is possible for one to be a child of God, and to be assaulted as I am by the powers of darkness. He thought all should be smooth before him: he thought all should be plain under his feet. Perhaps he saw so much in Jesus as made him begin his way happy in God; he thought his enemies were all dead upon the sea-shore. And instead he finds himself let and hindered in prayer. But all these things are of an indispensable necessity: I do not learn what worldliness is by seeing it in my brother, but I learn what it is by seeing it in my own soul; I must know an evil before I can loathe it. And therefore be assured, you that are learning out some of these lessons, painful to your nature, humiliating to your pride, yet be assured of this, we never can know the worth of Jesus but as we try, and never can we know what there is in God but as the creature sinks, and is brought down to his right place before Him. This is God’s mercy, this is God’s wisdom, this is God’s goodness, this is God!s faithfulness, that He brings His people from time to time into such straits as no power on earth but Himself can extricate them from.
II. BUT OBSERVE NOW THAT THE LORD DELIVERS THEM. And if you ask why He delivers them, it is because He loves them. But for whose sake is it that He loveth His covenant people? Is it for Abraham’s sake? No; it is for His Son’s sake: “even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you.” It is for His own name’s sake, and because He had compassion on them, and chose them, and redeemed them, that in time He preserves them; and as long as that blessed Intercessor standeth up at the right hand of God, with your names upon His heart, as long as His great work goeth up with its much incense moment by moment, be assured of this, it is as much impossible for God not to remember His covenant, as it is impossible for God to deny Himself.
III. BUT OBSERVE, NOW, THE WAY AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THE LORD DELIVERED IN THIS CASE. It was a way through the Red Sea, typical of Jesus, the way through the Red Sea to Canaan, and that Red Sea typical of the vials of God’s wrath, the trials and temptations of the way, the floods of evil by which we are surrounded in this poor dying world; and yet Jesus is the way to the land of Canaan, by which all the Israel of God shall pass, and not one shall perish. Is it not a wondrous way to see an incarnate God standing in the breach? Is it not a wondrous way to see Jesus by His own blood opening a way for His ransomed to pass over, yea, bringing life and immortality to light in His own death? See what it has cost: the blood of God’s own Son. See what your sins deserved. See what God’s love was. See what Jesus is. And remark, too, that these very waters, that seemed in themselves as if they must destroy, became a wall on the right hand and on the left, became, as it were, a supporter. Oh, is it not a truth to die upon, when a man turning upon his pillow is enabled to look up and rest in Jesus, the Spirit bearing witness with his spirit that he is a child of God, to see the debt completely paid? Do you think anything like this can bear up a dying bed? And now consider the means. It was by faith. Faith, resting upon the promise, went into the sea; presumption, without a promise, rushed into the sea; faith was safe; presumption was destroyed. Here was faith, with its meek look, resting upon the promise going forward. So it is with you, casting yourselves, in your feebleness, in your beggary, m your vileness, simply upon God’s promise of life in Christ Jesus to every soul that believeth, Now, as faith enters into the mighty waters, it can see righteousness and peace all in glorious perfection. It can stand up, in the midst of providences, and say, not a drop of wrath is here. Mighty faith! O Lord, increase our faith. (J. H. Evans, M. A.)
The Hebrews and Egyptians at the Red Sea: a picture of modern men
I. THEY WERE ALL EMBARKED IN A COMMON ENTERPRISE. The pursuit of happiness is universal. Men seek it in different directions: some in sensual indulgence, some in worldly wealth, some in scenes of revelry and debauch, some in spheres of mental culture and religion. All are trying to cross some Red Sea in its pursuit. They will brave the greatest dangers, and venture their all if haply they may find it.
II. SOME SUCCEEDED AND SOME FAILED. The vast majority get engulfed in the sea of worldly anxieties, spiritual conflicts, moral remorse, and dread forebodings.
III. FAITH EXPLAINS THE SUCCESS OF SOME AND THE FAILURE OF OTHERS. “It is certain,” says Southey, “that all the evils in society arise from want of faith in God, and of obedience to His laws; and it is no less certain that, by the prevalence of a lively and efficient belief, they would all be cured.” (Homilist.)
Faith enabling us to do what seems impossible
I. THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH OPPOSED MOSES’ FAITH
1. The task itself to which he was called seemed impossible.
2. The committing so vast a multitude to the strange pathway was full of peril.
3. The unworthiness of the people seemed to forbid Divine help on their behalf.
II. THE GROUNDS OF MOSES’ FAITH.
1. God’s revealed purpose.
2. God’s past dealings.
3. God’s glory over His enemies.
III. THE TRIUMPH OF MOSES’ FAITH.
1. Faith can do what is impossible without it.
2. This because it secures the aid of Omnipotence.
3. And this, by simply doing fearlessly what God bids. (C. New.)
Of sinners perishing by that which preserves saints
1. This comes to pass through man’s abuse of the means which God affords for his good.
2. God being provoked by such men turns blessings into curses. This may afford us a good direction about the use of those means which we see to be successful to others.
For this end
1. Be sere of thy warrant for the use of such and such means. These Egyptians had no warrant so to rush into the sea as they did. When the Israelites presumed to go up against the Amalekites and Canaanites without God’s warrant, they were discomfited (Num_14:44-45).
2. Use warrantable means after a right manner: herein David failed (1Ch_15:13).
3. Aim at a right end. The King of Assyria aimed at a wrong end in the successes that God gave him (Isa_10:12-13).
4. In all lawful things seek God’s blessing, for it is not means, but God’s blessing on means, whereby we come to prosper (Deu_8:3; Pro_10:22). (W. Gouge.)
Fear and courage:
While at war with each other a small company of Thebans under Pleopidas unexpectedly met their Lacedaemonian enemies on the road. One ran and told Pleopidas, “We are fallen into the enemies’ hands.” “And why not they,” said he, “into ours?” (Plutarch.)
Folly of presumption:
Presumption is a fire-work made up of pride and foolhardiness. It is indeed like a heavy house built upon slender crutches. Like dust, which men throw against the wind, it flies back in their face, and makes them blind. Wise men presume nothing, but hope the best: presumption is hope out of her wits. (T. Adams.)
Reckless presumption
A noble ship was bearing in to port. It was the evening hour, and too late to enter without a pilot. There were two passages into the harbour: one a dangerous narrow channel, the other a wide and safer one. The captain determined to pilot himself by the narrow passage. A storm was coming up; and the passengers, with fear and consternation, begged him to take the wider channel. He laughed at their cowardice, and swore he would do as he pleased. As the night advanced, the gale increased. Soon arose a cry, “Breakers ahead, breakers ahead I “ The captain flew to the wheel; the sails were struck; the wind had the mastery; and the captain found a will that could defy his own. The vessel made a fearful plunge, struck the foreship deep into the sand, to be shattered by the wild waves’ pleasure. Few survived the terrors of that fearful night; but among the dead thrown up by the rising tide was the body of the wilful and presumptuous captain. (New Cyclopedia of Illustrations.)
