God’s typical Israel was still in Egypt and enslaved, despite the nine plagues which had already been visited upon the land. True, all these plagues were God-sent, but were not fully effective. Nor does this signify that God was thwarted. Quite to the contrary, God had his spiritual Israel in mind when these scenes were enacted, and the account specifically sets forth, that it was the Lord himself, that hardened Pharaoh’s heart. (Exod. 9:12) As the experiences of Israel “happened to them for ensamples; and they were recorded for our admonition…”, (1 Cor. 10:11) we may well inquire as to the antitypical significance of these.

First, however, let it be noted that it was the tenth plague which brought relief, and this only through the sprinkling of the lintels and doorposts of the houses of Israel with the blood of a “passover lamb.” To us, this seems to say, that while all of God’s providences are designed to bring us closer to deliverance from the bondage to this world, actual deliverance comes only through a coming under the blood of the Lamb. Israel itself, had to bring itself under this, the fact that the lamb had been slain was not sufficient. So, too, is it with

God’s antitypical Israel, it has to bring itself under the blood. Mere belief in the fact that Jesus died for the sins of the world brings no salvation, but belief that he died for me, brings with it a “consciousness of evil,” a justification, as it were, by faith; a redemption from the curse. Yet this deliverance is not in itself complete, but becomes the means to that end.

The Apostle is quite specific when he declares we are to have a “heart sprinkled from an evil conscience” (a consciousness of evil – F463). (Heb. 10:22) This does not come as a result of belief about, but rather by belief in, the blood of the Lamb. Belief about, still leaves us outside the Court of Justification, but belief in, brings us within, through the gate, which is Christ Jesus.

Such faith in the blood of Jesus, inspires a glorious hope. The Apostle Paul declared, “Faith is the basis of things hoped for.” (Heb. 11:1) Well, what do we hope for? Ah, for that complete deliverance from this present evil world:

Gal. 1:4 – “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world…” also from this body of death:

Rom. 7:24 – “O, wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” into the glorious, yea, most glorious, liberty of the sons of God, of which our present state is but a foretaste, and concerning which glory God’s Word declares:

1 Cor. 2:9 – “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

While it is true, that God has already revealed these to us by his spirit, we are unable to appreciate these as fully and completely as when our deliverance is completed. Even so Israel could by faith already see the “land of promise” from afar, but to experience its goodness awaited their actual entry into it.

Thus we see that while it is Jesus’ blood that contains this merit, this merit becomes ours only through faith in that which God has thus himself provided. Nor is faith itself the end of our salvation, rather, it is merely the means to that end. It evidences itself in the glorious hope to which it gives rise, and this hope in itself then brings the impetus that drives us ever on to the fullness of that glory. On this account we read:

1 John 3:3 – “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

As will thus be seen, faith is itself, GOD-GIVEN, for without the blood of Jesus, which the father himself supplied, there would have been nothing in which to exercise ourselves. So faith is the “gift of God.” This is even what the Apostle Paul tells us:

Eph. 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

It is the means whereby we bring ourselves “under the blood.” Yet faith must be added to, and this adding is the purifying work of the faith-inspired hope, and by means of this, we add to our faith; fortitude, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and love. (2 Pet. 1:4-8) Only so, is one’s calling (out of Egypt) and election (to be made one with Christ in the glories of the kingdom) made sure, and adds the Apostle, “for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:11)

Our purpose in dwelling so long upon this phase of the plan of God, is to emphasize, if possible, the fact, that the blood itself, affords no merit of deliverance or salvation, unless we bring ourselves under it by faith, and with this accomplished, our journey toward the “Canaan rest” of God is only begun. Many indeed, will be the trials and experiences of those having, while yet in Egypt, come under the blood, as they pilgrimage on through the various wildernesses, until they enter fully into the “land of promise.”

God’s word tells us that Israel did not enter in, because of disobedience and unbelief. (Heb. 3:10-19) And since those things which happened unto Israel for types were written for our admonition (1 Cor. 10:6-11) and since this “rest” yet remaineth, we must labor to enter in.

Yet the deliverance from Egypt, and the abundant entrance into Canaan, were based entirely upon the blood of the Passover lamb. But this blood would for them mean complete deliverance into the land, only if they continued to exercise themselves in the way as if they recognized they were purchased, and they were not their own. This, we know, Israel failed to do, and with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, they all died, not in Egypt, nor in Canaan, but in the wildernesses that lay between.

Let it be remembered that the mere fact that we once came under the blood, and were delivered from the bondage of this world, is no guarantee that we shall take in God’s promises. The account tells us that with many of them God was grieved and displeased. (1 Cor. 10:5) We too, then, ought to take heed, lest we like them, should be overthrown in the wilderness. It is not for us to presume upon God, that He shall always strive with us, knowing the weakness of our frame. There comes a time when he ceases to do this (Gen. 6:3) for continuance in this presumption is failure to take God at his word. It is unbelief, yea, it is disobedience. He has promised us the victory (Deut. 7:2) but we must take it. Israel failed, for when it reached the portals of the promised land, it doubted, it forgot God’s promised grace in every time of need; they would send spies into the land. (Deut. 1:19-26) And for failure to believe God they were turned back, not into Egypt, but into the terrible wilderness. (Num. 14:26-45)

Failure for the antitypical Israelite to take God at his word, will likewise exclude him from the “land of promise.” If Israel had been rightly exercised by its experiences, and had recognized God’s abounding grace, ever keeping in mind the fact of its unworthiness of this grace and favor, it would have sought his aid in cleansing itself of the secret faults which gradually developed into the presumptuous sin gaining dominion over it, causing it to become guilty of the great transgression, causing God to cease his striving on its behalf and turning it back into the “terrible wilderness.” (Read Psa. 19:12,13) Israel felt so sure of itself, so sure that it stood before God and would forever so stand, that it became careless and indifferent, presumptuous, stumbled and fell. The blood could not save it into Canaan, unless that blood would serve to keep it in mind of the fact, that salvation and redemption were not of itself, but of the grace of God, a gift. No wonder then, that the Apostle admonished us in these words:

1 Cor. 10:12 – “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

This salvation, while an accomplished fact insofar as the blood is concerned, needs however, to be worked out “with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12)

These lessons should be especially taken to heart, by the Israel of God according to the spirit. All should strive to remain under the influence and effect of God’s grace, as is represented in the blood of deliverance, the blood of redemption, the blood of the Passover Lamb sacrificed for it.

While the whole nation of Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage in the morning following the Passover ritual, it should be noted that the lamb was particularly slain only for the first-borns. Thus the blood which caused the passing over of the angel of death so that the first-borns might be saved, was also that which brought about the release of all Israel in the morning. What a picture that is! Is it not true that Jesus was the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, but that he, as our Passover Lamb was sacrificed for us?