LESSONS FROM THE JOURNEY WITH ISRAEL FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN
1 Corinthians 10:1-11
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
It has well been said, for every New Testament truth there is an Old Testament illustration. Through type and symbol God has given Old Testament Shadows for New Testament Substance. This truth is best illustrated for us by Israel in their journey from Egypt to Canaan. All the things that God's earthly people Israel encountered contain special lessons for God's heavenly people the Church.
Israel typifies the church in its Journey.
As Israel, the church is delivered by power and blood, to leave Egypt, (Typical of this world) and enter Canaan, (Typical of a spiritual filled life in this world).
In Egypt we see the Natural Man, Unborn.
In the Wilderness we see the Carnal Man, Unlearned.
In Canaan we see the Spiritual Man, Unquestioning.
Israel typifies the church in its Judgments.
God dealt with them as Sons with chastening as they make their way to the promised land. When they sinned God judged them in the same manner, He judges the believer in New Testament times.
Bob Daugherty
CHAPTER ONE
GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES
Exodus 3: 1-8
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and come to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereupon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
God's plan for our lives is not only our deliverance from past sin, but our entrance into the blessings of following God's perfect will for our lives.
There are five WORD Pictures I want to present, revealing Israel's complete journey from Egypt to Canaan. If I were an artist with canvas, I would paint a picture of Israel in the land of Egypt as slaves to Pharaoh, building treasure cities with self made brick. I would title this picture -
In Egypt we see - -
1. The Character Of Sin - The scene we have of Israel in Egypt is revealed with whips and chains, speaking of their bondage to sin. Enslaved by a power stronger than self.
2. The Consequence Of Sin - God is not revealed with Israel while in Egypt. They experienced spiritual deadness until they completed the three-day journey ordered by the Lord for their deliverance.
In the second word picture I want to reveal Israel crossing the Red Sea with the waters standing as walls on each side, Israel crossing over and the Egyptian Army ready to enter into the road made for Israel's deliverance. I would title this picture -
At this point Israel received - -
1. Reality Of God - They had not witnessed the works of God while still in Egypt. They remained safe in the land of Goshen while God through Moses brought the plagues on Egypt. But now they see God at work first hand.
Exodus 15:11, "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders."
It is at this point of time that the new born babe in Christ has a reality of God. It is that reality of God that goes with us like Israel, as we journey toward Canaan.
2. Reckoning Of Time Anew -
Exodus 12: 1,2 - "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."
All their past was taken away and time started anew as they left Egypt. The New Testament believer likewise starts life anew at the new birth. Isn't it wonderful that God starts us in the new life with no past? We start life anew as new born babes in Christ, and new born babies have no history behind their birth to account for.
In the third picture I would reveal Israel wandering in the wilderness with the mixed multitude. I would title this picture - -
1. In The Wilderness We See A Lack Of Love - -
They murmured at all the things God did for them through Moses His servant. Think of what love does for us in our new life.
(1) Love Causes Us To Stay With God regardless of the circumstances around us.
(2) Love Causes Us To Obey God in all things. When you love someone, it is not hard to obey their wishes.
(3) Love Causes Us To Pray To God for the people about us who are in need.
2. In The Wilderness We See A Lack Of Learning - -Israel's growth as followers of God was halted during their wilderness journey. They remained as babes in the Lord. As long as we, like Israel, remain in the state of carnality wandering in the wilderness of this world without a real commitment to God, we will not have growth in Christ.
In the forth picture I would reveal Israel crossing the Jordan river with its waters out of banks, and the waters parting as the priest with the Ark entered into it. I would title this picture - -
1. Jordan Was A Place Of Separation - -
It was a this point of time and place that God called for Israel's Separation. We see three days wait before Israel crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan. Jordan is a type of death to the old man. It is not a type of our natural death, neither is Canaan a type of Heaven. Canaan reveals God's people in a place of commitment to God and His plan.
2. Jordan Was A Place Of Supernatural - -
It was a work performed by God for His people. There are three basic steps dealing with crossing Jordan.
(1) To The River - Preparation
(2) Through The River - Passage
(3) From The River - Purification
Galatians 2: 20 Reveals the New Testament Crossing of Jordan. A crucifixion of the old nature with Christ. A dying out to the self life.
In the fifth and final picture I would reveal people living safely in the land of plenty. I would title this picture - -
1. In Canaan There Are Tangible Victories - -
They must possess the land. It was not what the eye beheld, but what the feet tread upon that became theirs. If they wanted more land, they must conquer it. Likewise if the believer wants more victory over the world, flesh and the Devil he must conquer them.
2. In Canaan There Are Total Victories - -
At Jericho, Israel gained a total victory over the city. We can see our Future Victory portrayed in their conquering Jericho. Their victory came in a time of Hearing A Shout and the Sound Of A Trumpet. The same as in - -
I Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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