Redemption by Power -- By: William J. McRae

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 06:1 (Summer 1997)
Article: Redemption by Power
Author: William J. McRae


Redemption by Power

William J. McRae1

An Exposition of Exodus 14

Introduction

One of the greatest truths a believer will ever learn is that, rather than only one side, there are actually two sides to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first side has been illustrated in Exodus 12. What a picture of substitution! The innocent spotless lamb died in the stead of the firstborn that

he might be delivered from the sentence of death that was upon his head. He was redeemed by blood! Centuries later Peter wrote of believers being redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19). Paul explained: “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). This is the basis of our Salvation. It is the ground of our deliverance from the sentence of eternal death that is upon us.

Just as surely as the one side is illustrated in Exodus 12, so the other side is illustrated in chapter 14. Here Israel is redeemed from bondage by the most remarkable Old Testament display of God’s power. The drama unfolds in three scenes. First,

The Pursuit of Pharaoh 14:1-12

Up to this point, the Israelites have been journeying in a southeasterly direction toward the wilderness. It must have seemed strange indeed when God directed them, through Moses to “turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea” (14:2). This was a southwesterly direction. In a short time, the great Red Sea would be between them and the wilderness.

When Pharaoh heard of the changed direction of the Israelites to the south and southwest, he probably concluded that the Israelites had lost their way and were wandering in the desert in complete confusion. Noting this situation and having been encouraged by his own people (v. 5), Pharaoh took six hundred of his best chariots and charioteers and began a pursuit of the children of Israel (v. 7).2

Word of the intentions of Pharaoh soon reached the Hebrews. Somehow it is not hard for most of us to identify with Israel here. They were overcome with disappointment and fe...

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