Did you know? Moses was baptized. What do we mean by Moses having been baptized? In the tenth chapter of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us of the history of the Israelite nation: Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4. What can we learn from Paul the apostle's mention of this obscure piece of history of the nation of Israel. For us to fully understand what God's message to Paul should mean to us today perhaps it is best to start with Israel's state before Pharaoh of Egypt released them to Moses. Israel was truly in bondage or slavery to the nation of Egypt. Our Jesus reminds us in the book of John: Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:34-35. The nation of Israel was an antitype or a foreshadowing of a person's life. They were in slavery just as any living person is slavery to sin. They longed to be relieved of their burden just as any person wants to be free of their sin. God used the nation of Israel to show people in New Testament times how he was going to relieve them of their burden and he compares it to the act of baptism. When they lived in Egypt they were enslaved. As long as they were in Egypt they would never be free. Moses had to lead them out of Egypt to be out from under the rule of Pharaoh.When Pharaoh finally relented and released Israel from bondage, he of course did not keep his word. He followed after Moses and Israel all the way to the Red Sea. The only way Israel was going to be able truly be free was to pass beyond the Red Sea. God's plan was to part the waters of the Red Sea. In doing this Paul in the letter to the Corinthians reminds them that Moses and Israel passed through or under the sea on dry land. They were leaving their bondage to Egypt by escaping Pharaoh. In verse one of Paul's letter also mentions they were under a cloud. What cloud could this be? In the story in Exodus we are reminded that God traveled in front of Israel as a Cloud. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way.
Exodus 13:21. In Paul's account of this story Moses and Israel passed under a cloud. This account is not like other accounts in the Old Testament. The Cloud of the Lord did not go before them as in every other reference when mentioned. In several accounts Moses went "into the Cloud" of the Lord when God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments. Moses was interacting directly with God. The Corinthian account of Israel passing through the Red Sea says they were all "under a cloud and passed through the sea." This was a different way to describe God's presence with Israel. It is logical to believe God describes his presence this way to Paul for a purpose. God's interaction with Israel is different here. He is above them.Then Paul explains the Israelites were "baptized into Moses in the Cloud and in the sea." Again God through Paul tells us something else is different again about God's interaction with the Israelites. Now the Israelites are in the Cloud and in the sea. First we should look at the word baptize. If we refer to the original Greek word for baptize (baptizo) it is a transliterated word which means it was not translated but written in its original form. The original Greek word (baptizo) means to immerse or cover with water. This certainly describes what is happening to the Israelites in the Red Sea. Water was on both sides and above them. Paul also states the Israelites were in the Cloud. Now it is appropriate to compare these verses in 1 Corinthians letter to the Book of
Acts 2:38; Then Peter said to them,"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this verse Peter the apostle is telling the Jews who had been responsible for the death of Jesus on the cross what they must do to receive the forgiveness of sins. Both elements are visible here in the Corinthian's letter. Baptism which is immersion in water and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit or the presence of God are explained here.The Israelites were not going to be saved from their Egyptian master without going through the Red Sea. If they chose to follow Moses directions from God, they could pass to the other side of the sea. The presence of God was first above them but as they passed through the sea they were also baptized (immersed) in the Cloud or the presence of God. Paul's message to the Corinthians was that this occurred simultaneously. It is not unusual that the Lord used the history of Israel to teach mankind lessons of faith. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning , that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4 In being immersed into Moses, Paul tells us the Israelites became partakers of Jesus Christ. They ate spiritually of his body and drank spiritually from the water of life who is Christ.
And Moses and the Israelites were baptized because they followed Moses across the Red Sea. If they had not, God would not have spared them. The Israelites who refused would have suffered the same fate as Pharaoh and his army. The Red Sea swallowed them. My friend what is keeping you from following Jesus in baptism?
All references are from the New King James translation of the Bible . ©1982
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