Exodus 14:22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Read Exodus 13:17-15:21
Have you ever been to a baptism service? What is the largest number of baptism candidates you have seen? One? Two? Ten? Twenty? This passage we just read is the largest baptism service the world has ever witnessed. Paul tells us, “I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,”(1Cor. 10:1-2)
1. How do we get every spiritual blessing?
What does baptism mean? It literally means to be bathed. Rediscovering redemption means exploring what it means to be bathed in blessing. God tells Pharaoh that Israel is His firstborn son, and ‘I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.”(Exodus 4:22-23a)
One the beauties of redemption is the concept of adoption. Adoption carries with it at least three main concepts, if not more.
Adoption means access. If a person tries to run towards the prime minister unannounced the prime minister’s security detail will most probably tackle them before they reach their objective. Rewind this whole situation and now have the person running towards the prime minister be his son or daughter. Now the protective detail will no longer tackle, it will aid and even grant access. Sonship or daughterhood grants us access.
Adoption grants us an incomparable inheritance. This inheritance is of greater value than any gold spoils we may take from Egypt.
Thirdly adoption grants us security. We are kept safe from any dangers, toils, or snares that Pharaoh may try to throw our way. You can hear God saying to Pharaoh, “If you mess with my son you mess with me.”
2. Why do we get every blessing?
In Harry Potter, when Harry asks Dumbledore, “Why can’t the bad guy touch me?” Dumbledore explains, “Because your mother gave her life for you. Because your mother sacrificed her love for you. That’s the strongest magic there is. That puts a power on you evil can’t deal with.”
There is no more powerful narrative structure; there is no more incredible moral beauty than that. To not just read about somebody else doing that for somebody else, but to know Jesus Christ came to earth and did that for you, to get you eternal glory and love, that will change the center of your life. The waves of the Red Sea did not come crashing down on you, all the breakers and waves came down upon the Jesus and guarantee your adoption. His rejection on the cross guarantees our adoption. Jesus giving up his inheritance guarantees our inheritance.
Today if fears assail, remember you are adopted. If you are worried about finances and provision, remember you are adopted. If you are anxious about tomorrow, remember you are adopted. Your Father will care for you.
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