Victory was given and their freedom was decisively won with the death of their Egyptian masters. The Red Sea literally closed the path back to bondage. The miraculous intervention, of the LORD, that led to their release from bondage; only required faith in the blood of the lamb. Had any one of them left the cover of the blood that night; it would have meant certain death, if they were a first born. Today we take sanctuary in the church; where we come under the blood of the LAMB, under the New Covenant; the New Testament. The WORD, which is living, abides in us if we abide in it. That WORD gives us doctrine that covers us with the protection of the blood of the LAMB as well. Leaving the cover of the WORD, that is to say the doctrine can lead us to spiritual death.
Through Moses, God delivered from bondage; the nomadic children of Israel. Their bondage and their wandering were supposed to come to an end. God had intended to settle them in the promised land of Canaan. However, when they began to murmur and show a lack of faith, God had to try them and they became the church of the wilderness. God extended their wandering forty more years. They sojourned in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years and now they would have to endure forty more years because of their murmuring.
Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea and all of the camp of Israel rejoiced! They sang with Moses a song of triumph. The entire song is found in Exodus 15, verses 1 through 21. The song summed up the miraculous events that made them free.
Exodus 15:1-5 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. (2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. (4) Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. (5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Song of Moses (The Lord is my strength and my song)
After journeying three days into the wilderness of Shur, there was no water and they began once again to mummer to Moses.
Exodus 15:22-24 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. (23) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (24) And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Moses cried to the LORD and the LORD showed him a tree that would heal the water so that they could drink the water. When it was cast into the water, the bitter water turned sweet. It was there that God gave Israel a statute and an ordinance and He proved them.
Exodus 15:25-26 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (26) And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and, wilt do that which is right in his sight and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
God brought Israel to Marah, He lead them to the “Bitter Waters.” This was a place to prove them, to give them a test. Trials and tests come upon God’s people for two different reasons; educatory (to teach us and develop God’s character in us) and punitive (punishment or penalty for a trespass). The tree healed the waters. It would also be on which Christ would later be crucified that brought healing. Israel could not live without water; it is vital for life and synonymous of life. Jesus also said if any man is thirsty; let him come unto me. He told the Samaritan woman that if she drank of His water, she would never be thirsty again.
God Was Teaching Israel by leading them to the bitter waters.
- Walk by Faith and God will always provide.
- Listen to God and He will bless.
- Obey God and He will heal all disease and won’t allow the diseases of the world to afflict them.
God Made An Agreement at the bitter waters.
Israel’s Requirement
- Diligently listen to the LORD
- Keep ALL of the Commandments of the LORD (God’s Universal Law; the Ten Commandments)
- Keep ALL of the Statutes of the LORD (Ordinances given that govern the nation of Israel, the priesthood, sacrifices, rituals, meat and drink offerings; these were all a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ)
God’s Promise
- None of the diseases that were upon the Egypt, would God put upon them.
- The promise of healing
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
When Israel left Egypt and became God’s people; when they came out of sin; they were healed. When we left the world and became God’s people; when we came out of sin and came to Christ; we were healed. This is a past tense promise! It is a done deal! If we are not healed, then we need to search our soul and seek God for the reason why!
The church of my birth was a non-Trinitarian church that preached the oneness of God through Deuteronomy and Isaiah.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
These scriptures were cited hundreds of times along with the above stated scriptures in Hebrews, Isaiah and 1 Peter. We lived by Faith in Healing. Our church chose Healing in Christ over Treatment in Modern Medicine. For the first thirty three years of my life people in our church rarely got sick, but when they did; they were healed. No one died a slow, painful death from cancer. Now there were at least a dozen people; my personal friends who were diagnosed and healed completely of cancer. When God’s healing was expected; people were healed. Then around my birthday, at age thirty three; the church went into reform and moved away from the doctrine of oneness, holiness and healing. My church self-destructed.
By changing doctrines to a more liberal approach; people began to fall away. The church that emerged was diametrically opposite from the church of my birth. The more people went to doctors, the more people got sick; this included me! By 2001, my life had begun to be defined by the medical profession. The rest of that decade was lost in continuous diabetic foot ulcers and other complications from diabetes. There seemed to be no way out of the medical hell that plagued my life.
Two weeks ago began a soul searching quest for the answer. It meant taking a leap of faith; the kind of faith from my youth that has eluded me for the past ten years. Faith to totally trust God and live by Exodus 15:26 (cites above). It became personal; God promised not to afflict me with the diseases of the world. Repenting of my lack of faith; it was now time to trust God completely and stop all medications. After living ten years with an average monthly prescription cost of about $1,500; the past ten days have been 100% medication free. My blood sugars did not rage out of control and my blood pressure has been normal. God is once again my healer!
This is not to say that any one should follow my example. God must give you the faith to do so. In 2010, two close personal friends of mine were terminal cancer patients who refused treatment completely. God healed them. It is their example that helped lead me to my decision.
Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father that you are my healer. Lead me to your blessings and help me to serve you with my whole life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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