We are entering into a new great event that will mark the people of God, known by some as The Exodus Event. The Exodus Event is summarized by the answer to the question from children at Passover. God tells them to answer the question:
“And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 26:8-9
That is The Event: God brought them out (exodus) and brought them in. It was an adventure in love and provision, to be sure, and may be the most important defining event in the Old Testament. It would mark all of the yearly festivals of Israel. Each of those festivals is a way to tell some aspect of the Exodus Event once again.
There is another layer of why this event is so important. Ultimately, every one of the significant details of the Exodus Event foreshadowed a greater fulfillment to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the word “Exodus” is the Greek title for the book used in the Septuagint, which was a translation in common use by Jesus and the apostles. The word means, “the Way Out.” Do you remember how Jesus said, “I am the Way...?” The Greek word is (h)odos, which is the same root word. Jesus is truly the fulfillment of the “way out” that Israel experienced.
Ten of the significant details are listed here. We will likely explore each one in later chapters.
1. The Passover. It started with the Passover Meal, where the people spread blood of a slaughtered lamb on their door frames and ate a meal of symbolic food and spoke of what God was about to do that very night. It was all fulfilled on a whole different level at the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples, and our own memorial done today.
2. His People. It identified Israel as the people of God. You will be my people and I will be your God. This is the center of God’s intention for Israel, and for us. In Revelation, the same phrase is used to summarize the whole of human history:
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3
3. Deliverance. God did many wonders and brought an entire nation from slavery to freedom. This was more than calling one patriarch to bring his family along. It was truly remarkable. So Christ has come to make a people out of all who would call on the name of the Lord, to bring us from slavery to sin and to be with us as we traverse to a better place.
4. His Presence. God directly dealt with His people, showing them signs and wonders, and leading them with His very presence through the wilderness. So Christ came to be Emmanuel, God with Us, to do signs and wonders and reveal God’s presence among us. And He sent to His followers the Holy Spirit to provide that daily guide through life.
5. Death and Life. It involved death and life. The firstborn sons of Egypt were killed, and those of Israel were saved by innocent blood of a lamb. Consequently, those whose lives were saved were to be consecrated to the Lord, for they belonged to Him. Any fulfillment found in Christ? Amen!
6. Baptism. It involved baptism, as Israel passed through the Red Sea—a journey that killed those outside the covenant who tried to take the same journey—and thus identified the people of God through water. The NT tells us that this was a figure of baptism for those who belong to Christ.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
7. The Law. While in the wilderness, they all came upon The Mountain of God, upon which the Lord spoke directly with Moses to provide the Law. If there had been any doubt as to what God means by “be holy, as I am holy,” they were put to rest in the very clear Ten Commandments and more. Jesus came, not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17
8. The Tabernacle. It contained the building of the Tabernacle, every aspect of which is fulfilled in Christ. From the altar to the laver to the lamp stand and showbread and incense, then through the curtain to the Mercy Seat itself, it all speaks of Jesus and our relationship with him.
9. Victory. It led to amazing military victories and displacing the people who had taken over the land that God had promised to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (that’s why it’s called the Promised Land). Christ came to bring that same kind of violent zeal to displace the demons and spiritual enemies who had taken each of us captive. Spiritual warfare leads to freedom!
10. Promised Land. It all culminated in the Promised Land! A land flowing with milk and honey. Moses knew of it, and wrote of it, but he was never able to dwell there. The Promised Land today is the church, where the Spirit dwells and lavishes upon us gifts. And after this life, we do more than simply to be gathered to our fathers. We join God Himself and live in His presence eternally.
YOUR ENCOUNTER
It is appropriate to model Christian worship around a model that we might call The Christ Event. We proclaim the Gospel itself by recalling and celebrating the Incarnation, the Life, Deeds and Teachings, the Death, Burial and Resurrection, the Ascension, Reign and Return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We might well say that The Exodus Event in every respect is the foreshadowed version of The Christ Event, and The Christ Event is a foreshadow of heaven.
This would be a good time to do some reflection on the overview of the two Events, and see the parallels. Think through each of the details of the Exodus Event and the Christ Event, and see how you might celebrate each aspect of the Story of God and His people when your church gathers for worship.
1. Passover Meal.
2. People of God.
3. Deliverance
4. His Presence.
5. Death and Life
6. Baptism.
7. The Law.
8. The Tabernacle.
9. Victory.
10. Promised Land.
1. Incarnation.
2. Life
3. Deeds
4. Teachings.
5. Death
6. Burial
7. Resurrection
8. Ascension
9. Reign
10. Return
What insights does this bring you in your image of corporate worship practice? Talk about it with someone, and write about it in your journal.