Have you been baptised?
Yesterday, we discussed how the people of Israel received manna from heaven when they were about to starve to death.
That wasn’t the first time, though, they found themselves in a life-threatening situation after their exodus.
Moses, their brand new leader, had hardly led the people out of Egypt when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his troops to bring them back. The Israelites were scared and cried out to God. We all know what happens next–the miraculous parting of the sea–but before that, God did something we often overlook:
Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. – Exodus 14:19-20 NIV
The next day, Moses leads the people through the Red Sea, which God miraculously parts to make way for them. What an impressive yet terrifying sight that must’ve been!
The people had a choice: to trust their new leader and follow him through the sea, or head back to slavery.
Jesus is our Moses, we have a choice to make Him our leader and put our trust in Him, or live a life as slaves to sin (Romans 6).
Paul writes something very interesting about the events in Exodus in his letter to the Corinthians:
Our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. – 1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Paul outlines that the people were baptised threefold, and all three baptisms are available to us as well:
- First, the people were baptised into Moses, but we are to be baptised into Christ (Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27).
- Secondly, the cloud, which represents baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).
- Finally, the sea stands for the water baptism, which all believers are called to partake in (Acts 2:38).
If you have never been baptised but would like to, I recommend you talk to your pastor. If you’re not yet part of a church or don’t know where to start, send us a message, and we’d love to help you.
