Moses, The Red Sea & Baptism (Sermon from Baptismal Service 6/11/2023)

Baptized into Moses and Christian Baptism

If you would, please turn to 1st Corinthians chapter 10, 1st Corinthians chapter 10 and the title of this message is baptized into Moses, baptized into Moses. Now we are going to have a baptism after the service and rest assured everyone being baptized will be being baptized into Jesus Christ, not Moses.

So just in case anyone's a bit concerned about that, but hopefully you'll see the connection in a moment baptized into Moses, but the church historically as it's understood at Christian baptism is to be done in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.

This is a new Testament concept. This is something baptism and father, son, and Holy Spirit. This didn't exist during the days of Moses. I think we understand that, but Christian baptism didn't come out of nowhere.

There are old Testament types and shadows, or we would say symbols that eventually led to the church's understanding of what baptism is all about. We're going to look at one of those symbols here in 1st Corinthians 10, one through three.

The apostle Paul says to the Christians in the city of Corinth, he says, moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea. All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them.

And that rock was Christ. Okay. So first of all, it's interesting that Paul speaking to the Corinthians, he calls Moses and the Israelites, our fathers. Is that how you view it? Can you look at Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and say, they are our fathers?

Obviously, he's not saying that we're physically or they were physically related by blood. Rather, they were our fathers. They are related by believing they are our fathers in the faith. So that same God that delivered Israel through the Red Sea is the same God that we were Christians trust in.

Israel wasn't covenant with God. So are Christians today. And so we're Christians back then. Sometimes we call this the household of faith and Abraham being the father of all those who have faith. In verse 11 of first Corinthians chapter 10, Paul writes that these things that happened in the old Testament, all these stories about Israel being led out of Egypt and passing through the Red Sea and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, all of that was written to be an example for who?

For us, for the church to learn. And in some of these stories, it's a matter of learning what not to do, therefore, because this was written for our admonition, as Paul says, therefore, there is something for us to learn about baptism when it comes to Moses, parting the Red Sea.

So this statement in verse two, that all the people were baptized into Moses, Paul mentions the cloud that remember, this is the cloudy pillar they followed by day and the cloudy or the pillar of fire by night.

And then the sea is clearly a reference to the Red Sea. So let's go back to this story in Exodus, turn to Exodus chapter 13, if you would. And we're going to read through it. But what does this mean that they were all baptized into Moses?

The word baptized is a transliteration. You've heard of a translation where you take something in another language and you translate.

It.

A transliteration is when you take it directly from the other language directly into English. So the Greek word is baptizo and it's just ripped straight from Greek into English and we say baptized. But to be baptized, it simply means to dip or to immerse or the other meaning baptized.

It means to submerge, right? Everyone being baptized this morning is going to be dunked under the water. They're going to be submerged. Of course, they're coming back up. Yeah, amen to that. But this statement, think about it for a moment.

The Israelites were baptized into Moses. That strikes many people as odd since when the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, they didn't get wet, did they? Who got wet? Who was submerged? It was the Egyptian army.

So what's going on here? So there has to be another meaning to the word baptized. So we'll come back to that. All right. Looking at Exodus chapter 13, just the context, God had already rained down the plagues upon Egypt to where Pharaoh has finally decided to let the Israelites go.

They're released from slavery. Just a few things to remember at the outset. If you take notes, write this down. In the Bible, there's something called typology. Who's heard of typology in scripture?

Some of you.

So in the scripture, there are certain types. Something will represent something else. So there are many figures in the Old Testament who are types of Jesus Christ. They represent Christ. Moses is a man who represents Christ.

He was the mediator of the Old Covenant. Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant. So Moses represents Christ. Another part of typology. Egypt represents what?

The world.

Right.

So Egypt represents the world. Israel being in bondage, this represents people being in bondage to sin. So think about it. They're being called out of the world, delivered by Moses, who represents Jesus, called out of the world, being delivered from bondage, bondage to sin.

They want to go where? Where's the destination? Canaan or the promised land. This is the place of God's blessing. But what stands in front of them? The Red Sea. All right. Let's start reading Exodus 13, starting in verse 17, Exodus 13, 17.

Then it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war in return to.

Egypt.

So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness, by the Red Sea. This is not the route that they would normally have taken. God led them to the sea and the children of Israel, it says, went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

Skip ahead to verse 21. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night a pillar of fire to give them light. So as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

So God's presence is with them. He is leading them. Now let's start chapter 14, verse one. We're going to read many verses here. It says, now the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the children of Israel that they turn and camp before Pi-Hahiroth, before Migdal in the sea, opposite Baal-Ziphon.

You shall camp before it by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are bewildered by the land. The wilderness has closed them in. Then the Lord speaking, I will harden Pharaoh's heart so that he will pursue them.

And I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. It says, and they did so. Verse five. Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled in the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people.

And they said, why have we done this? That we have let Israel go from serving us. So he Pharaoh made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took 600 choice chariots and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he pursued the children of Israel and the children of Israel went out with what.

Boldness.

So the Egyptians pursued them and all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea besides Pi-Hi-Hi-Roth before Baal-Ziphon. So God is bringing them to a place where it looks like there's nowhere to go.

They're boxed in. Like from what it looks like, there's no hope. And they now have only one option. They have to trust God, right? And sometimes God will allow us to get into a place where we don't have any other options.

We have to trust God because there's nothing else. Verse 10. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

And they said to Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians, for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we.

Should die in the wilderness.

These are sort of the troublemakers speaking. They don't represent all the people, but the people are afraid and that's natural. Verse 13. And Moses said to the people, do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will accomplish for you today.

For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again, no more forever. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace. And the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward, but lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.

And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots and his horsemen.

Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. When I have gained honor for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen. And the angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud in darkness to the one and it gave light by night to the other so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry land and the waters were.

Divided.

So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen.

Now it came to pass in the morning watch that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and he troubled the army of the Egyptians and he took off their chariot wheel so that they drove them with difficulty.

And the Egyptian said, let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. Then the Lord said to Moses, stretch out your hand over the sea that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians on their chariots and their horsemen.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained, but the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on.

Their left.

So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus, Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt. So the people feared the Lord and believe the Lord and his servant, Moses.

And may God had a blessing to the reading of this word. We usually don't read that much scripture in a message, but I thought it was important for this reason, just to get the full context and the full understanding of, of what's happening.

So hopefully that will help us understand this statement in first Corinthians 10 about them being baptized into Moses. Did the Israelites get wet?

No.

Did the Egyptians get wet? Oh yeah, real wet. So this statement, first Corinthians 10 to all were baptized into Moses in the sea along with the statement, Exodus 1430, the Lord saved Israel that day. And then verse 31, the people believe the Lord and his servant, Moses.

So when they saw this, they, they had to trust in God. God is powerful. Look at what he did. And he did it through who this man, his servant, Moses. So remember typology, Moses is a type of who, who does Moses represent Christ.

So when people were to see the, when they saw the miracles of Christ, that should have been enough for them to believe in Christ. But as far as this word baptism, we said the meaning means to dip or to immerse or to submerge.

In water.

And by the way, that's the, that's the reason why we do baptize by full immersion, dunking someone under the water, because that's what the word baptize means. But there is a secondary meaning to the word baptize, and it basically refers to an identification.

So the people now identified with Moses, they were connected now to Moses in a very real and powerful way. For the rest of their lives, they would be in the Mosaic covenant. So the Israelites were now in spiritual union with Moses.

Don't you know that when you go through something dramatic or maybe traumatic with the person, when you and somebody else go through something big, you always kind of have that connection.

With them, right?

So going through the sea, this miracle that the deliverance wrought by the hand of Moses, Moses was now their leader, they identified with him, he was the leader, they were like his disciples. And it's the same for those who are baptized into Christ.

So the parting of the Red Sea, this incredible, miraculous act would forever link Moses together with the Israelites. And when the Lord changes our heart, when he does that miracle for us, and he changes our heart and our mind to where now we love Christ, you know, we were living one way and kind of looking for excuses to do our own thing, and we wanted to do this and just go the opposite way, then all of a sudden, God gets a hold of us.

And because of that, because of that miracle that we call regeneration or salvation, and through our baptism, we are now forever linked together with Christ. So that's sort of the symbolism there, Moses, and there's more symbolism, Moses led the people out of Egypt, which is what, what's Egypt a symbol of?

The world.

He would lead them towards the promised land, which some see as being symbolic of heaven, but many commentators, I think it's best to view the promised land as sort of a picture of the victorious Christian life or the blessed Christian life.

Do you want a blessed life? Of course you do. A land flowing with milk and honey, the abundant life that Jesus spoke about, but to receive that blessing, to receive and walk in that abundant life, what do we have to do?

What stood in between them in the promised land? The Red Sea. What stands between us and that abundant life of blessing? What stands in front of us? The waters of baptism. That's the symbolism. Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 clearly ties the waters of the Red Sea to baptism.

Therefore, okay, all of that to say this, therefore, to live the blessed Christian life, we must first live the obedient Christian life. And baptism is the first step of obedience for the believer. In the Great Commission, what did Jesus say?

Matthew 28, Jesus gave three marching orders, three instructions to his church.

What were they?

Number one, go, okay, go. He likes to say there's four, but go, yes. Number one, disciple the nations, right? Make converts. Once you make a convert, what's the next thing that happens? Baptize them. And then number three, teach them all that Christ commanded.

These are the three basics of what the church is doing. We make converts, preach the gospel, they're converted to Christ, we baptize them, they join the church where they're taught all that Christ commanded.

What's more basic than this in Christianity? You believe, you get baptized, you go to church. I mean, this is like fundamental, the most basic. So a convert is made there to be baptized. This is sort of like the initiation right into the church where a person is then taught the doctrine of Christ.

So all of this is basic, right? Like this is no surprise to anyone, is it? I've never heard that before. No, I think even unbelievers are aware of this. So what happens? You know, sometimes I think we make things too complicated.

This is very basic, believe, get baptized, join the church. But what do we do? Even pastors sometimes we make it too complicated. We say, well, you need to do this. We have all these preconditions and you know, you need to sign up for maybe a six week course on baptism.

You have to prove yourself. I heard of one local church pastor. He told the people in his church, if you want to be baptized, you need to prove to me that.

You're worthy.

He had a group of people that wanted to be baptized. He said, I'm not baptizing any of you. You need to prove to me. I don't think any of you are worthy. You need to prove to me that you're worthy. It's like, hello.

I mean, the only people who got baptized in the Bible were the ones who first recognized their unworthiness. Nobody is worthy of the grace of God. That's why we need Christ to begin with. Now, on the other hand, I think I understand why he did that.

I think it's the wrong thing to do, but I realized there's people who get baptized and maybe they get baptized and they never do anything after that. They never move forward. Some people, maybe they don't take it seriously, but you know, that's on them.

That's on them. That's between them and God. Here's what I see in scripture on the day of Pentecost, 3000 people believe they heard Peter's preaching 3000 believed and were baptized. And it says they were added unto the church.

I mean, that's pretty simple, believe baptized, added under the church in Acts chapter eight, the Ethiopian eunuch. What did he ask? Philip, what hinders me from being baptized? He says, well, if you believe with all your heart, you may.

That's the prerequisite. What do I need to do to be baptized? Hey, do you believe? Okay, let's go. It's that simple. My friends, we should not make it difficult for people to come to Christ. The message is whosoever will may come.

So at times, and again, even for pastors, sometimes we make it too complicated. Even the age factor, because we don't believe, I don't believe it's biblical to baptize babies and infants. And if you, if you support that, that's up to you.

I mean, I realize there's some good Christians who, who believe that way, but I believe it's a choice in scripture. Everyone who got baptized, it was by immersion and they were old enough to make the choice.

So I want to do things the proper way and not baptize an infant who doesn't understand.

What's happening.

But even then, I mean, what's the right age? The Bible doesn't tell us. There really are no list of rules or things you need to do or, or guidelines, except do.

You believe?

So I don't want to make it hard for anyone. Sometimes we make it hard for ourselves. I did this when I was younger, I had my excuse of why I didn't get baptized. You know what it was? I said, well, you know, you don't need to be baptized to be saved.

See, I heard somebody say that and I just used it as an excuse. Well, is that true? You don't need to be baptized to be saved. Can, can people still go to heaven without being dunked underwater? Well, I mean, yeah, but think about it for a moment.

Like they say, well, the thief on the cross, you know, he didn't get baptized and he's.

In heaven.

Yeah, well he didn't exactly have an opportunity either. Here's the thing. If we want to be followers of Christ, what does the follower of Christ do? We listen, we listen to Jesus. Did Jesus tell people to be baptized?

Yes, he did. And yet today, uh, even in decent evangelical churches, baptism is sort of seen by many as optional. Well, let me ask you this. Is being blessed by God optional? Well, I'm, there are some people I guess who are now not blessed by God here.

Here's the thing. Here's why I say that I've never met anyone who said, you know, can I, can I still get to heaven and not be blessed by God? Cause I really want to go to heaven, but I don't want to be blessed.

See, nobody ever says that. So why would we say, well, I can still get to heaven, but I don't need to be baptized. If you want to be blessed by God, obey God. Let's keep it simple. It's for everybody.

Do you believe let's get baptized?

Okay.

Then join the church. It's simple. Do you want to be blessed by God?

Yes.

Obey God. It's not that hard. So people have this whole thing. Well, you know, I don't need to be baptized to be saved. You know what that is? It's, I mean, it might be true in theory, but it's an excuse.

It's an excuse. And people have all sorts of different reasons. And I would just encourage you, this is what I always go back to. What does the Bible say? Whatever you have to say, whatever arguments we come up with, what did, what did Jesus.

Say?

What does the Bible say? You know, it's the great commission, not the great suggestion. A commission is like a, it's an order. Commission means a mandate. Jesus is the King of Kings. We should do what he says.

The Red Sea as a Type of Baptism

All right, let's turn to Romans chapter six and we'll, we'll close here. What's the title of the message baptized into Moses. Did Israel, here's another thing. Well, I don't need to be baptized to be saved.

Did Israel have to walk through the Red Sea? You know, they could have said, Hey, let's, some of them wanted to do this. Hey, let's turn around and go back to Egypt. Hey, let's turn around and go back and stay in bondage.

But what did God do? God offered them something better and they took it. So for those people who keep insisting, you don't need to be baptized in order to be saved. And I just, I keep repeating this because I know it's, this is kind of the big excuse.

Well, okay. I grant you that in Israel didn't have to walk through the midst of the sea either. They could have gone back to Egypt. They could have stayed in bondage and missed out on God's best. As a pastor, I love the flock.

I love you. And I tell you that because I care about you and I want God's best for you. So baptized into Moses, we're seeing this Old Testament story and how it's rich in symbolism. So this act of baptism, this is symbolic as well.

Look at Romans six, verse one. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us, as we're baptized into Jesus Christ, we're baptized into his death.

So when a person goes down under the water, that is symbolic of Christ's death. Them being under the water, that is symbolic for Christ's burial. And then them coming up out of the water is symbolic for what?

The resurrection. And Paul says, how, what shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Here's another reason some people don't get baptized. They say, well, if I get baptized, if I get serious about my faith, then I'm going to have to quit this.

I'm going to have to stop doing this or whatever bad habit. Well, here's the thing. God will give you the power to overcome. Don't worry about a month from now, a year from now. And how am I going to do this?

And how am I going to overcome that? God will give you the power. But he asked you to take a step in the right direction. He'll work it out from there. Verse four, therefore we were buried with him through baptism.

And by the way, if you wait until you're like near perfect in order to be baptized, you're going to be waiting a long time, forever. Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father.

Even so, we also should walk in newness of life. So that's what it's about. Newness of life. So there's more symbolism. We go down into the water, you know, the old me is down there. The old me is dead.

He's gone. And what comes up is the new me, the new creation in Christ. So in conclusion, just as the Israelites were baptized into Moses, when he parted the sea, we are baptized into who?

Christ.

The one who at his baptism, Moses parted the Red Sea, what did Jesus part? He parted the very heavens and the Holy Spirit descended upon him as a dove. Let's close. And Lord, how thankful we are that that same Holy Spirit that descended upon Christ at his baptism, that same Holy Spirit indwells us.

And Lord, we ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit. We thank you for those who have made that decision to be baptized. And Lord, if there's anyone who's on the fence, or if there's somebody who's never given their life to you, I just pray that they would consider these things and that they would also take a step in the right direction, the direction of faith.

And we ask all this in Jesus' name, Amen.