Exodus 15:1-21.
In Ex. 12:the people of Israel are sheltered from the judgment of God by the blood of the pascal lamb. Outside of that there would have been no more safety for them than for the Egyptians. What God saw was the blood-the blood applied on the door-posts of the houses; and where He saw that, He passed over them who had taken refuge behind it. If it is impossible for God not to judge where He does not see the blood, it is no less impossible for Him to judge where He sees it, for the blood bears witness of propitiation. The victim has borne the judgment, that they may be spared who deserved judgment. If my sins were judged in Christ, it is impossible that I be judged for them. Justice exacts but one payment, an essentially perfect one surely, but only one. I am the debtor and have nothing to pay, but Christ has given Himself to substitute me, and He has made integral payment. My ransom cost His life. God can ask no more, and He asks no more.
The Israelites thus, in figure, redeemed by the blood of the pascal lamb, had nothing more to fear from God, judicially speaking. Indeed they had God for them, and if God be for us who can be against us ? If God justifies, who can condemn? Christ my Surety has died; much more, He is risen, He is at the right hand of God, and He makes intercession for me. Who can separate me from the love of Christ? From that side, therefore, all is secure.
But redemption has a double aspect and a double effect. This is what is too often forgotten. It is written that our Lord Jesus Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Gal. 1:4). Could you think of the Israelites, after the sacrifice of the Passover, staying in Egypt? They were to eat the lamb roast with fire, (attesting thus the judgment it had gone through for them) and in haste:it was the signal that the hour had come to go. Egypt is "this present evil world," and Christ takes us out of it in leading us through the Red Sea, as He took us from under the judgment of God by passing through it for us.
They are out of Egypt then; past the sea which has opened itself to let them out, and is going to close upon their enemies. It will never be reopened to let them back again. Now it is they sing their redemption; they have been cleared of their sins, and taken out of this present evil world – for them, Egypt; for us, the world. They are not yet in the land of promise, but they are going there, with impossibility to return to the land of bondage. In their backsliding moments they might desire to return, for alas, what fainting may not the redeemed go through? But a God as faithful as He is good is with them:He has shut the door, none can reopen it.
In Ex. 15:lust has not yet enticed them, not yet conceived to bring forth sin. Their whole mind and heart is absorbed, on the one hand by the deliverance of which they have just been the objects, and on the other, by the glorious prospect of their entering Canaan. Had they kept these things steadily in view it would never have happened to them to murmur in the wilderness. The wilderness, they are in it when they sing their song, but they see it not. Thus it is with us when we look not on the things which are seen, which are only for a time, but on those which are not seen, and which are for eternity. The redemption and the heritage which are ours by the death of Christ are for eternity.
What a theme redemption is! There is none like it. Israel never sang perhaps on such a high note, not even in Canaan. They do not merely triumph over their enemies, whether those behind or those before them-all at once-they glory in God Himself, which is yet better (Rom. 5:ii). Indeed it was good to say as to the enemies of yesterday:"Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;" and as to those of to-morrow:"Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina; then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed … all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away." But how much more joyful to foresee that home which the Lord had prepared, that sanctuary which His hands had founded, where He would find His joy in the midst of His people, and His people would find their joy around their God. It is this which is the very bliss of heaven.
But between Egypt and Canaan there is the wilderness, whatever you do, and it must be gone through. God has ordained it so. What for? To humble us, to try us, to prove the dispositions of our heart, and if we would keep His commandments or not (Deut. 8:2). It is a place of testing.
We know how Israel behaved there. Scarcely had they finished their song when they raised a murmur. We do not love Marahs. and there are some along the way. God does not make us miss them, because He has said:" Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him" (Jas. 1:12). In each trial, and at the end of each trial God has put a blessing. Into the trial He puts a wood (the Cross) which sweetens the bitter water; and at the end of the trial He puts the crown of life. This is worthy of Him who is ever and infinitely good.
In Deut. 8:not a word, alas, could be said to the praise of the children of Israel. They had ceased to sing, to murmur and strive instead. By the trial they had proved not faithful. Happily for them God remained faithful to them:"Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years."
The heart is the same in us as in them:"All these things happened unto them for ensamples:and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (i Cor. 10:n). It is songs that God expects of us, His redeemed people, not murmurs. If in the midst of all our circumstances we keep before us our redemption and our inheritance, we shall find the way neither too long nor too wearisome, and we shall say with the psalmist, "The Lord is good, and His mercy endureth forever."
(Translated from the French.)