2. Jesus In Exodus

7/26/2020

Introduction

This morning, before we partake of communion together, we are going to consider a few aspects of how the book of Exodus points us to Jesus and His work of redemption. As we see do so, it will refresh us on the big picture of God’s history-long plan of redemption that began at the beginning and is still going on today. It will help us see our place in God’s eternal purposes. Hopefully it will also encourage us as His children to persist faithfully in trusting and obeying Him in the part of His plan which He has for us in this world.

In the book of Exodus, we have the establishment of the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a nation in God’s rescue of them from their slavery in Egypt. We learn about their population growth in Egypt, their oppression and slavery, the preparation of Moses to lead them out of Egypt, the plagues culminating in the Passover of the angel of death, the departure from Egypt, the rescue by God at the Red Sea, the giving of the law, the wilderness wanderings, the institution of the priesthood, the golden calf failure, and the building of the tabernacle for the worship of God.

The New Testament references the book of Exodus quite a number of times. Many extensive messages could be preached on ways that this book foreshadows aspects of Jesus’ work of redemption. With our time this morning our goal will be to highlight briefly a number of these connections through an overview that gives us the big picture and stimulates us to greater love and appreciation for God’s work through history in carrying out His redemption.

Since so many connections could be made to Christ and His redemption throughout Exodus we will focus on six which are specifically mentioned in the New Testament.

1. The First Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus Is The Passover Which Is Recorded In Exodus 12. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Mentions It And Directly Applies It To Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (cf. also John 19:36 and Exodus 12:46)

In the original Passover plague the lamb was slain in the place of the life of the firstborn and the blood was applied to the doorposts. The angel of death passing over Egypt in judgment then spared all those who had by an act of faith sacrificed the Passover lamb and followed God’s instructions. Jesus is our Passover lamb who takes our punishment in our place and redeems us from our slavery and bondage to sin. Passover is a powerful foreshadowing picture of Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice for our eternal redemption.

In this passage in 1 Corinthians Paul was correcting blatant sin that was continuing on in that church. He was pointing out that since Christ is our Passover lamb who has been sacrificed on our behalf to redeem us from our sin there needs to be a new reality of purity and holiness in our lives. Just like care was taken in the annual Passover celebration to remove all the old leaven, so too it is only fitting that sin be removed from our lives and our worship services as we celebrate God’s work of salvation through Jesus.

That is a good reminder for us to have as we come to the communion table today. While we do not have any blatant ongoing sin in this church, it is still important for each and every one of us to examine our lives and repent of any sin that we might have in them. Sin is incompatible with fellowship with God and our having been redeemed from sin.

2. The Second Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus Is The Red Sea Deliverance Which Is Recorded In Exodus 14. It Is Mentioned In 1 Corinthians 10:1-22.

1 Corinthians 10:1-22 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

There is a lot there. But in essence, the Israelites were rescued from Egypt. They were redeemed from slavery. They partook of God’s provision—here connected with Christ, like a type or foreshadowing— and yet many of them then engaged in idolatry, immorality, and complaining. If we have truly believed in Jesus we have been saved from our sin and eternal destruction. We have partaken of God’s provision in Christ. We must not give in to temptation and go back to the idols, immorality, and evils of the past. Else we risk the jealousy and judgment of God like was poured out on the disobedient Israelites during their wilderness travels.

3. The Third Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus, Recorded In Exodus 16, Is The Provision Of Manna From Heaven Each Morning For The People To Eat During Their Wilderness Travels. This Is Referenced In John 6:26-40.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

The manna sustained the Israelites as God prepared them and brought them to the promised land. True and eternal life is given to us by the Father in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone can bring us back to life from the dead. He alone can reconcile us to the Father through His taking our sin and punishment upon Himself and giving us His righteousness. He alone can sustain us and give us life in this wilderness journey here in this sinful broken world.

Have you personally believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, To free you from your sin and give you true and eternal life? And are you living in the new life that He gives and provides for us? Are you living in joyful communion with the Father, gaining victory over the temptations to sin, and living to the Father’s glory? This is what He provides in Jesus, but we must go to Him for it. We must know Him more deeply through His Word. We must depend on Him daily through prayer.

4. The Fourth Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus Is The Provision Of Water Out Of The Rock At Horeb In Exodus 17. This Is Also Mentioned In The 1 Corinthians 10 Passage Which We Already Read.

1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

The rock which provided the water is compared to Christ, who provides us spiritual water and true life. He sustains and gives life. God sustained their lives in the wilderness. God sustains our lives through Jesus in this wilderness, in this pilgrimage. As we journey towards the fulfillment of God’s promises Jesus is our sustenance. But, we must not complain about the trials, or give in to the sinful temptations around us (like they did). Rather, we must go in trust to our Savior and seek His help. Seek His life-giving and life-sustaining help. He will provide it.

So let’s not complain about 2020. Let’s not complain about the hardships we are going through in our country—as if God’s provisions were not enough. Let’s go to God for His life-giving help to persevere faithfully and live victoriously through it all for His glory. I am not talking about pretending realities and problems do not exist. No, we have a lot of problems in our society and world right now. But I am talking about making sure we are not responding to our problems as if God’s provisions for life were not good enough to bring us through them in a way that glorified and honored Him.

5. The Fifth Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus Is The Coming Of God To Give The Law At Mount Sinai In Exodus 19-23. This Is Talked About In Hebrews 12:20-29.

Hebrews 12:18-29 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

When God came down and delivered the law to Israel through Moses it was a sobering and serious occasion. God did not take His holiness or mankind’s sinfulness lightly. There were deadly consequences if people or even animals trespassed into the presence of God. It was a fearful, fiery, awe-inspiring time when God’s voice shook the earth as He delivered to them His righteous law and covenant.

Yet, as overwhelming as that was, it pales in comparison to what it points towards in Jesus. In the new covenant through Jesus we are coming into the very presence of God Himself, the judge of all in His heavenly Jerusalem.

If transgressing God’s commands then was fearful, if the shaking of the earth then was fearful, how much more will be God’s judgment and shaking of the whole cosmos, heaven and earth when He judges all things. Our only hope is the mediating and saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. But that is all sufficient.

Because of Him, all who have trusted in Him will receive an unshakable kingdom. So when He shakes all things, melts it with a fervent heat, and recreates it, we will be preserved by His amazing grace. How that ought to fill us with gratitude, thankfulness, amazing reverence, and awe as we see ourselves spared the just judgment that we deserve and as we see our God in the greatness of the glory of His consuming fire dealing with sin and evil for all time.

If we understand but a glimpse of the greatness of our God in His revelation of Himself at Sinai, and of His coming judgment in a consuming fire of both heaven and earth we would not refuse Him when He speaks. We would not refuse Him when He calls us to holiness. We would not refuse Him when He calls us to serve Him. We would not refuse Him when He points out sin for us to flee from. We would not refuse Him when He calls us to sacrifice or suffering. We would be struck and would remain struck by the amazing grace, mercy, and love He has extended to us and wants us to share with others.

6. The Sixth Of These Ways Exodus Specifically Points To Jesus Is The Tabernacle With Its Worship And Sacrifices Which Is Detailed In Exodus 25-27 And 35-40. Hebrews Chapters 8 And 9 Talk Extensively About This.

We do not have enough time to read through all those chapters this morning. But it boils down to this. The whole sacrificial system and the tabernacle points forward to Christ.

Jesus fulfills in full what the sacrificial system pictures. To be able to worship God and to be able to fellowship with Him our sins must be taken care of. We must be holy. Death—separation spiritually and physically—is the consequence and penalty for sin against the Holy God who is the creator and sustainer of life. We need someone to intercede for us, to take the place of our punishment. We need to be made righteous. The sacrificial system of the tabernacle pictured all this. But, as Hebrews points out, it could not cleanse the conscience. It could not put God’s law in our hearts. It could not bring an eternal redemption and inheritance. It could not take care of all our sins once for all.

The human priests of the tabernacle themselves died and needed to be replaced. The animals sacrificed in behalf of sin were insufficient and continual sacrifices had to be made. The priestly sacrificial system of the tabernacle in Exodus pointed out the sobering reality and consequences of our sin. It also pointed out our need to trust God’s provision to deal with them. In its temporary and repetitive nature it points to the need for a greater, ultimate, completely-beyond-our-ability provision.

It points to what Jesus fully accomplished once-for-all-eternally for all those who truly trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. He willingly died on the cross, a perfect unblemished sacrifice with no bones broken, taking our sin and punishment and giving us His very own righteousness and thereby reconciling us fully to the Father and guaranteeing our eternal salvation and inheritance with Him.

Conclusion

The book of Exodus, in its foreshadowing, gives us a quite a picture of the redemption of Jesus. We see the picture that Passover gave of Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf and the holiness that ought to produce. We see the Red Sea deliverance and the danger of idolatry, immorality, and grumbling against God’s provision. We see the provision of the manna and the provision of the sustaining water of life that are given to us for our daily Christian lives in Jesus Himself in His presence and provision in us and with us. We also see a glimpse of the greatness of God at Sinai and realize a bit better how amazing of a thing it will be to be in God’s full presence when He shakes not just the earth, but judges all things throughout heaven and earth. Being able to exist there at all is only through the redemptive mediating work of Jesus on our behalf. We also see how the sacrificial system and tabernacle foreshadowed many details of Christ’s once-for-all-completely-sufficient sacrifice to take care of our sins and guarantee our eternal inheritance with Him.

The work of Jesus is amazing. It is undeserved. It is a demonstration of love. God is not yet done with this world, and He is including us in His plan of sharing this amazing redemption with others before He judges all things as a consuming fire. May we be faithful to share this love, and live in a holy way before Him. Let us partake now of the elements which remind us of His blood which was shed, and His body which He offered willingly to pay the penalty for our sin.

We are going to have a moment of silent prayer where we can deal with any issues in our hearts, and where we can thank God for His amazing love. Then we will pray and partake of the elements together as we corporately remember and give God thanks.¹

© 2020, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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