Israel, and Redemption by Faith
Xi. — 27. By faith tie forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28. By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.
30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.
31. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
IN these verses we have, in five examples, from the history of Israel on its way from Egypt to Canaan, the truth confirmed anew that in all that God does in redemption, on man’s part faith is the beginning and ending. Whether we look at His revelation as a whole, or at its individual parts, everywhere the one thing He asks, the one thing that pleases Him, the one thing that secures His blessing is — faith. In the five times repeated by faith we see that in the greatest variety of circumstances and duties the first of all duties always is — faith in the invisible One. Oh that we might at length learn the lesson: as there is one God, and one redemption, so there is but oneway to Him and to it — faith in Him. As absolute and universal and undisputed as is the sole supremacy of God, is to be the supremacy of faith in our heart. Because, when faith reigns supreme, it makes way
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for God, and God can become within us what He is in the universe, what He is in His very nature — the all in all.
The history of Israel, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, is a real type and figure of the life of Christ in the soul. In the illustrations taken from the beginning of that history, we have some of the chief steps of the Christian life strikingly illustrated. By faith Moses, with Israel, left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king who would pursue them. That is ever the first step — coming out, being separate, parting with sin, bidding farewell to Egypt, the land of our birth, and not fearing the wrath of Satan or the world. It is by nothing but faith that this can be done, definitely and perse veringly. But faith can enable us to do it, as it did Moses. For he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Here is the mighty power of faith; it sees what others cannot see. It sees, amid the thousand things others see and are guided by, something infinitely greater — it sees God. No wonder it leads a man to act differently from other men. On everything it looks at, the bright light of eternity, of God, is shining. No wonder that under the inspiration of that Vision it can do mighty deeds, for it sees God its helper and strength.
Let me here say to every believer that just as, in any pursuit, the eye by practice can be trained to see what others cannot see, so the eye of faith can be trained to see God everywhere. Abide in His presence till the heart is filled with it. Recognise Him in every thing that happens. Seek to walk in the light of His countenance. Seeing the Invisible will make it easy to forsake the world and do the will of God.
By faith he kept, with Israel, the passover and the sprinkling of blood, that the destroyer should not touch them. When faith is ready for the first step, the forsaking of
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Egypt, God meets it with His divine provision, and faith finds perfect safety and rest under the shelter of the blood. And if Israel thus honoured God’s word and trusted in the blood of a lamb — oh, shall we not ten thousand times more honour the blood of the Lamb, and believe and claim that eternal salvation it brings us. We have been taught its wonderful power in conquering sin and death, in opening heaven, in cleansing and perfecting our conscience and heart, and bringing us nigh to God; let us open our whole being to the power of the blood that cleanses from all sin. Let our faith rejoice in the invisible God and the precious blood of the Lamb of God.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land. On the sprinkling of the blood there follows the entrance on a new life, the surrender to be led by God in a way that we know not, through difficulties to us insurmountable. By faith they passed through between the waters in a way man had never trod, in a way that their pursuers in vain sought to follow. Where nature fails faith triumphs, for it follows in a way where God leads.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. The strength of the enemy, in which he trusted, in view of the impotence of God’s people, availed nothing before the power of faith. When shall we learn, in quiet patience and perseverance, to wait upon God our seven days too, the circle of a completed time, until He gives the possession of the promised rest. Let our faith claim it; we are the children of a God who does impossibilities; we are called to a life of faith that expects and receives them. Let our life be — faith in God.
By faith Rahab perished not. Salvation by faith was not for Israel only but for the heathen too. By faith Rahab was not only saved, but became one of the ancestors of Jesus, and
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one of the cloud of witnesses that tell of the blessedness of faith, With one accord they call to us: Have faith in God, all things are possible to him that believeth. Let faith be all with us, and God will be all. Let God be all and He will do all.
By faith. Let this be the motto of our life. In every need and perplexity, with every desire and prayer, with every work and trial, with every thought of ourselves and of God, let this be the one thing we seek — ever to breathe a living faith in a living God. Once again I say: As absolute and universal and undisputed as is the supremacy of God, is to be the supremacy of faith in our heart and life. We can only have as much of God in our heart as we have of faith. And because God is All, and must be All to us, faith in us must be all too.
7. The old saints had less light than we — how is it they had more faith than so many? It Is because we trust in the light we have, as we hold it in our mind and reason. They were thrown upon God and trusted Him. Let us but glue ourselves over to the perfect life Jesus has revealed — what power faith would give us.
2. But notice everywhere how it was only in obedience faith could act. In leaving Egypt, and sprinkling the blood, and passing through the Red Sea, and going round Jericho, ana Rahab’s deliverance — it was all, wholly and entirely, in obedience that faith acted and triumphed.
3, Faith is the power of the will choosing God’s will, entering into it and yielding to it. Wouldst thou be strong In faith stand perfect in all the will of Bod.