THE FIRST PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
From Moses to Samuel
Message One—Exodus (1)
Scripture Reading: Exo. 12; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7-8; 1 Pet. 1:18-20, Exo. 12:37-42; 13:1—14:31
I. The detailed account of Christ’s redemption typified in Exodus indicates that God intends for us to remember Christ’s redemption in a specific and detailed way—12:14; 13:9; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Matt. 26:28-29; cf. Rev. 22:1: (2014 WT, msg. 5)
A. The passover is a type of Christ, who is not only the Passover lamb but also every aspect of the passover—1:29; Exo. 12:13; 1 Cor. 5:7: (2014 WT, msg. 5)
1. The noun passover, from the verb pass over (Exo. 12:13), indicates that the judgment of God passes over us because of the blood of Christ, the real Passover lamb (John 1:29). (2014 WT, msg. 5)
2. The lamb being for every house reveals that the unit of God’s salvation is the house, the family—Exo. 12:3-4; Luke 19:9; Acts 11:14; 16:30-31. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
3. Just as the passover lamb was examined for four days and was to be without blemish, so Christ was examined and found to be perfect, without fault, before He was killed on the day of the Feast of the Passover—Exo. 12:6; John 8:7, 46; 18:38; 19:4, 6; Luke 22:7-8, 14-15; John 18:28. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
4. For the lamb to be a year old reveals that in the eyes of God, when the Lord Jesus was put on the cross, He was fresh, never having been used for another purpose—Exo. 12:5; Heb. 10:5-10. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
5. Just as the lamb was killed by the whole congregation of the assembly of Israel, so we all had a part in killing the Lamb of God—Exo. 12:6; Acts 3:14-15; John 19:20; Isa. 53:5-6. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
6. Just as the flesh of the passover lamb was to be eaten for life supply, so we need to eat Christ for our life supply—Exo. 12:8-10; John 6:53, 55-57. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
7. The flesh of the lamb was to be roasted with fire and was not to be eaten raw or boiled—Exo. 12:8-9. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
8. The children of Israel were to eat the lamb with its head, legs, and inward parts, signifying that we must take Christ in His entirety, with His wisdom, His activity and move, and His inward affection and feeling—Exo. 12:9; John 6:57; 1 Cor. 1:24; Rev. 14:4b; Phil. 1:8. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
9. The lamb was to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, signifying to eliminate all sinful things and to have a bitter taste regarding them—Exo. 12:8. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
10. The children of Israel were not to break any bones of the passover lamb—v. 46. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
11. The children of Israel had to eat the lamb with their loins girded, with their sandals on their feet, with their staff in their hand, and in haste—Exo. 12:11. (2014 WT, msg. 5)
II. In Exodus 12:29-42 and 51 we have a number of details regarding Israel’s exodus from Egypt: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
A. The children of Israel did not make their exodus from Egypt of their own accord or by their own power; rather, the exodus was accomplished by the saving God: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
1. The children of Israel plundered the Egyptians of their silver, gold, and clothing—12:35-36. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
2. “It was for Jehovah a night of watching, to bring them out from the land of Egypt”—v. 42. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
B. God’s people left Egypt as an army arrayed for battle (Exo. 12:51; 13:18); God’s complete redemption produces an army to fight for His interests on earth (cf. Eph. 6:10-20): (2014 WT, msg. 6)
1. Israel’s exodus from Egypt typifies the believers’ breaking away from the world—Rom. 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
2. The children of Israel’s being able to enter the good land to enjoy its riches typifies the believers’ being put into Christ to enjoy all His riches—1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 3:8. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
III. Exodus 14:1-31 describes Pharaoh’s last struggle and Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
A. God used Pharaoh to glorify Himself and to carry out His salvation for His chosen people—vv. 3-10: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
1. Pharaoh’s opposition created an environment that made the passover, the exodus, and the crossing of the Red Sea possible. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
2. In the same principle, God uses Satan’s opposition for the accomplishing of His people’s salvation. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
B. The children of Israel crossed the Red Sea by faith—v. 22: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
1. After God spoke to Moses (vv. 15-16), spontaneously they had the faith to walk into the sea (cf. Rom. 10:17). (2014 WT, msg. 6)
2. At their baptism new believers should be encouraged to exercise faith in God as the One who operates in baptism— Col. 2:12. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
C. Pharaoh and his army were terminated and buried in the Red Sea; this signifies that Satan and the world were judged and buried in baptism—Exo. 14:28; Rom. 6:3-4; John 12:31; Heb. 2:14. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
D. The crossing of the Red Sea is a type of baptism—1 Cor. 10:1-2: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
1. The waters of the Red Sea were used by God to save His people and separate them from Pharaoh and Egypt—Exo. 14:30: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
2. God’s complete salvation of His chosen people included the passover, the exodus from Egypt, and the crossing of the Red Sea: (2014 WT, msg. 6)
a. The passover, typifying Christ with His redemption, was sufficient to save God’s people from God’s righteous judgment—Exo. 12:12-13. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
b. In order to be saved absolutely from the tyranny of Pharaoh and the enslavement in Egypt, the children of Israel needed the exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea. (2014 WT, msg. 6)
c. After enjoying Christ’s redemption to be saved from God’s judgment, the New Testament believers need to leave the world and be baptized—Mark 16:16. (2014 WT, msg. 6)