PATRIARCHAL days were ended. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had passed away, and Israel, the people of God's choice, were suffering the horrors of Egyptian bondage. From the human standpoint it appeared that the knowledge of Jehovah was soon to become extinct.
But that hour of midnight darkness and wo was but the "fulness of time," when the covenant promise, made to Abraham centuries before, could be fulfilled. The clock of time had struck the hour of deliverance; and as Moses, the man of God's opportunity, fed his flocks at the base of Horeb, suddenly "the Angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush." Ex. 3:2. He who had walked with Enoch, preserved Noah, tested Abraham, and encouraged Jacob, now came to sustain and uphold His aged servant in one of the greatest crises of earth's history. Men lived and died, ages came and went, but "the Angel of Jehovah," "the Messenger of the covenant," the Son of God, still continued in charge of His Father's plans, and brought blessing to the world.
"And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people that are in Egypt." Ex. 3:7. He who spake from the burning bush was the same as He of whom the prophet wrote: "For He said, Surely, they are My people, children that will not deal falsely: so He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isa. 63:8, 9. The message to Moses came thru "the Angel of His presence," the Lord Jesus Christ, thru Him who was "their Saviour," and by whose hand Israel was to be "redeemed."
The story of the deliverance, when Jehovah "by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors" (Deut. 4:34) took His people from Pharaoh's land, is therefore but a part of the greater story of redemption—the story of the Christ, the world's Redeemer. And to every child of God it must be a matter of tremendous encouragement to know that He who wrought for His oppressed people in those ancient days, to the end that He might lead them "into a land flowing with milk and honey" (Ex. 3:8), is the One who in these last days has "set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people" "from the four corners of the earth" (Isa. 11:11, 12) that He may establish them in the heavenly land, where "the children of wickedness shall afflict them no more." 2 Sam. 7:10.
From the day that Israel went forth from their bondage, the Angel of God's presence ever went before them. "And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people." Ex. 13:21, 22. And this was the pitiful constancy of the Son of God.
This same beautiful truth, stated in other words, is set before us by the apostle to the Gentiles: "I would not brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed thru the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. 10:1-4.
Bearing in mind that the Leader of Israel was the Son of God, how intensely interesting becomes the entire history of the journey from Egypt to Canaan! The passage thru the Red Sea, the healing of the bitter waters of Marah, the falling of the manna, the building of the tabernacle, and the smiting of the rock, these and many other incidents connected with the experiences of Israel all speak loudly of the goodness, the mercy, and the forbearance of the Lord Jesus Christ in His dealing with rebellious, ignorant children. Knowing that it was really He who led the people, we may gather great encouragement and hope as we review the history of the wilderness march.
Christ, the Leader of Israel, the Angel of Jehovah's presence, was therefore the One who in thunder tones proclaimed the law from Sinai's Mount. He who had led them forth from bondage was He who gave them those wonderful commandments. Indeed, then, the law "was ordained thru angels by the hand of a Mediator." Gal. 3:19. For there is only "one Mediator between God and man, Himself man, Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2:5.
When we thus think upon Sinai, it loses its terrors. Our Lord was there even as truly as He was at Calvary. In God's great economy, Sinai and Calvary stand together to accomplish man's salvation. Well did Bishop Simpson declare, "The congregation should be gathered as around the base of Sinai, as from the summit is heard the voice of God in those commandments which are eternal and unalterable in their character. . . . The law must be followed by the Gospel. The awakened sinner must be pointed to the Saviour that he may see that deep as his transgression may be, the blood of Christ can wash it away."—
Christ is still the Leader of Israel, the spiritual Seed of Abraham. For "if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed." Gal. 3:29. Brother, sister, are you acquainted with Him? and do you follow Him? As "an Israelite indeed" may He ever know you, and as your Leader in Israel may you ever know Him.