Baptism (part 6) - They Were All Baptized Into Moses
Introduction/Review. With all the controversy and disagreement on the purpose and importance of baptism, one might think Jesus and His apostles didn’t have much to say about it. Yet the Scriptures have more to say about baptism than most other subjects in the New Testament. God introduced baptism to Israel through the preaching of John the Baptist, whose very name testified to its importance in his ministry. Everyone was baptized! When Jesus commanded His apostles to preach the gospel to the entire creation, Peter also understood: “let everyone of you be baptized.”
Paul explained to the Romans, Ephesians and Colossians the role of baptism in the gospel. Only in baptism can we be buried with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. While under that water, we join Him in that likeness. We are buried with Him, and in that burial we also die and are crucified with Him, then, we are also raised with Him. All of this occurs in that moment as we go down into the water, are buried in that water and then come up out of that water. If we have not been baptized then we have yet to join Him in this way. (Rom. 6:3-9, Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:11-13)
Peter had the opportunity to help lower the expectations of the power of baptism, but he did just the opposite. He chose Noah’s ark as the pattern for baptism. He stated that baptism saves us exactly the same way the ark saved them. Once again, the illustration proved that everyone must be baptized, for just as only those on the ark were saved, only those who are baptized are saved.
We still have three figures or types left to consider. (1) The children of Israel leaving Egypt, (2) the circumcision of Christ and (3) the new birth. Each of these also emphasizes universal necessity, great power, and importance of baptism. Just as everyone must be born into this world the first time, everyone must be baptized to be born again. (Jn. 3:3-5). Just as every Israelite had to be circumcised to be in a covenant with God, so also all today must be circumcised with the circumcision of Christ in baptism (Col. 2:11-13). Finally, just as every Jew had to pass through the Red Sea to leave Egypt, so all must be baptized to leave the world of sin (1Cor. 10:1-11).
In today’s article we will consider the Israelites as they waited at the shores of the Red Sea, watching Pharaoh’s army drawing near with no escape available to them. The entire purpose of the Holy Spirit in this section was to show the exact parallel between the Israelites and Christians. Just as Israel passed through the Red Sea and were delivered from Egypt, so also Christians are delivered through baptism. Just as these Israelites fell away in the wilderness because of lusts, so also Christians need to fear that these same lusts could destroy us. Twice the Holy Spirit said through Paul: “these things became our examples” and “all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.”
The example clearly began with baptism: “For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Since there was no ordinance of baptism when Moses took the children of Israel through the Red Sea, the Holy Spirit used this example to show exactly where baptism fits into the similarity between Israel and Christians. Their example of passing through the Red Sea with water piled up on both sides of them and a cloud covering them so closely resembled what a Christian does in baptism that the Spirit wanted us to become aware of and understand it.
The account of the Exodus began with the ten plagues. After the death of the firstborn, Israel was thrust out of Egypt, yet God led them into the wilderness in such a way that Pharaoh would have second thoughts. Pharaoh knew they would be caught at the Red Sea and he again hardened his heart seeking to kill them all with his army (Ex. 14). Israel was still in mortal peril.
Thus, Israel’s final and complete deliverance from Pharaoh occurred when they were “baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea.” As Pharaoh drew near, those in Israel “were very afraid.” It was obvious to them that they had not yet been delivered from Egypt. But Moses assured them: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.” Moses knew that God would give them the salvation they longed for on that very day!
When the Lord saw all eyes upon Him seeking salvation, He revealed to Moses the means of salvation He had devised: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” They must do their part in this salvation. God would open the Red Sea, but they needed the faith to pass through it. “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.” This was clearly the moment the Spirit described as their “baptism into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” After Israel was safe, God then used the Red Sea to finally and completely destroy their enemies and deliver them from Egypt. “So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”
It is of great importance that we fully understand exactly what occurred because what happened when they were “baptized into Moses” is an example to every one of us who was “baptized into Christ.” It centered on slavery and freedom. Prior to their passing through the Red Sea, “the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard service.” So they “sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God,” then “God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Ex. 1:13-14; 2:23-24). This was the circumstances with Israel before they went through the Red Sea and were “baptized into Moses.” The circumstances of the sinner before baptism corresponds to it in an even worse way.
Paul made the exact same application for Christians. First, he asked every one of us the same question: “Do you not know as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death,” and that when “we were buried with Him through baptism into death.” If we can’t say yes, we are still in our sins! Only when we passed through the water of baptism would we too “no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:3-8). This was the application we were all commanded to make.
Just as those who passed through the Red Sea and were “baptized into Moses” were freed from the slavery of Egypt, so those who are “baptized into Christ” through immersion in water are made free from the bondage and slavery of sin. This is such a clear and obvious parallel that we would be foolish indeed to miss it. If we have not yet been baptized, then we have not yet been made free from sin.
When Israel “walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians.” How could it be any clearer? Before the children of Israel passed through the sea, they were still slaves, in great danger and not yet saved. They were still under the power of Egypt and could have been destroyed or returned to that slavery if God had not opened the Red Sea. Again, this proves the absolute necessity of baptism. No one who refused to pass through the Red Sea with Moses and was thus “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” was saved or delivered from Egypt. How can we not see the application to our own baptism?
The Holy Spirit Himself said that what happened to everyone in Israel when they passed through the Red Sea “became our examples.” They “happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.” We need to be admonished by these examples and accept the power of baptism:
Conclusion. Can you imagine what God would have thought of those in Israel who refused to pass through the Red Sea? What if they had said to God, “We want to be saved by our faith alone and are not interested in your ‘water salvation?’” They did not say such things. They were “all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,” and when they came out of the Red Sea they were saved and delivered! These things “became our examples” and “they were written for our admonition.” Those who refuse to teach the necessity of “baptism into Christ” have not heeded this example. They are among those who refused to enter the ark and be saved through water and those who refused to enter the Red Sea and be saved through water. All such people will surely perish.
Paul explained to the Romans, Ephesians and Colossians the role of baptism in the gospel. Only in baptism can we be buried with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. While under that water, we join Him in that likeness. We are buried with Him, and in that burial we also die and are crucified with Him, then, we are also raised with Him. All of this occurs in that moment as we go down into the water, are buried in that water and then come up out of that water. If we have not been baptized then we have yet to join Him in this way. (Rom. 6:3-9, Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:11-13)
Peter had the opportunity to help lower the expectations of the power of baptism, but he did just the opposite. He chose Noah’s ark as the pattern for baptism. He stated that baptism saves us exactly the same way the ark saved them. Once again, the illustration proved that everyone must be baptized, for just as only those on the ark were saved, only those who are baptized are saved.
We still have three figures or types left to consider. (1) The children of Israel leaving Egypt, (2) the circumcision of Christ and (3) the new birth. Each of these also emphasizes universal necessity, great power, and importance of baptism. Just as everyone must be born into this world the first time, everyone must be baptized to be born again. (Jn. 3:3-5). Just as every Israelite had to be circumcised to be in a covenant with God, so also all today must be circumcised with the circumcision of Christ in baptism (Col. 2:11-13). Finally, just as every Jew had to pass through the Red Sea to leave Egypt, so all must be baptized to leave the world of sin (1Cor. 10:1-11).
In today’s article we will consider the Israelites as they waited at the shores of the Red Sea, watching Pharaoh’s army drawing near with no escape available to them. The entire purpose of the Holy Spirit in this section was to show the exact parallel between the Israelites and Christians. Just as Israel passed through the Red Sea and were delivered from Egypt, so also Christians are delivered through baptism. Just as these Israelites fell away in the wilderness because of lusts, so also Christians need to fear that these same lusts could destroy us. Twice the Holy Spirit said through Paul: “these things became our examples” and “all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.”
The example clearly began with baptism: “For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Since there was no ordinance of baptism when Moses took the children of Israel through the Red Sea, the Holy Spirit used this example to show exactly where baptism fits into the similarity between Israel and Christians. Their example of passing through the Red Sea with water piled up on both sides of them and a cloud covering them so closely resembled what a Christian does in baptism that the Spirit wanted us to become aware of and understand it.
The account of the Exodus began with the ten plagues. After the death of the firstborn, Israel was thrust out of Egypt, yet God led them into the wilderness in such a way that Pharaoh would have second thoughts. Pharaoh knew they would be caught at the Red Sea and he again hardened his heart seeking to kill them all with his army (Ex. 14). Israel was still in mortal peril.
Thus, Israel’s final and complete deliverance from Pharaoh occurred when they were “baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea.” As Pharaoh drew near, those in Israel “were very afraid.” It was obvious to them that they had not yet been delivered from Egypt. But Moses assured them: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.” Moses knew that God would give them the salvation they longed for on that very day!
When the Lord saw all eyes upon Him seeking salvation, He revealed to Moses the means of salvation He had devised: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” They must do their part in this salvation. God would open the Red Sea, but they needed the faith to pass through it. “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.” This was clearly the moment the Spirit described as their “baptism into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” After Israel was safe, God then used the Red Sea to finally and completely destroy their enemies and deliver them from Egypt. “So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”
It is of great importance that we fully understand exactly what occurred because what happened when they were “baptized into Moses” is an example to every one of us who was “baptized into Christ.” It centered on slavery and freedom. Prior to their passing through the Red Sea, “the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard service.” So they “sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God,” then “God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Ex. 1:13-14; 2:23-24). This was the circumstances with Israel before they went through the Red Sea and were “baptized into Moses.” The circumstances of the sinner before baptism corresponds to it in an even worse way.
Paul made the exact same application for Christians. First, he asked every one of us the same question: “Do you not know as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death,” and that when “we were buried with Him through baptism into death.” If we can’t say yes, we are still in our sins! Only when we passed through the water of baptism would we too “no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:3-8). This was the application we were all commanded to make.
Just as those who passed through the Red Sea and were “baptized into Moses” were freed from the slavery of Egypt, so those who are “baptized into Christ” through immersion in water are made free from the bondage and slavery of sin. This is such a clear and obvious parallel that we would be foolish indeed to miss it. If we have not yet been baptized, then we have not yet been made free from sin.
When Israel “walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians.” How could it be any clearer? Before the children of Israel passed through the sea, they were still slaves, in great danger and not yet saved. They were still under the power of Egypt and could have been destroyed or returned to that slavery if God had not opened the Red Sea. Again, this proves the absolute necessity of baptism. No one who refused to pass through the Red Sea with Moses and was thus “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” was saved or delivered from Egypt. How can we not see the application to our own baptism?
The Holy Spirit Himself said that what happened to everyone in Israel when they passed through the Red Sea “became our examples.” They “happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.” We need to be admonished by these examples and accept the power of baptism:
- We were buried with Jesus in our “baptism into Christ.” (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27)
- They were buried with Moses in their “baptism into Moses” (1Cor. 10:1-2)
- After “baptism into Moses” they were no longer slaves to Egypt. Ex 14:22, 28
- After “baptism into Christ” we are no longer slaves to sin. Rom 6:6
- After “baptism into Moses” they were given Moses’ Law and under the dominion of God. (Ex.-Deut)
- After “baptism into Christ” we are under the dominion of God through Christ. (Mt 28:18-29)
- Everyone who was “baptized into Moses” was saved from Egypt. (Ex. 14:30)
- Everyone who is”baptized into Christ” is saved from sin. (Acts 22:16)
Conclusion. Can you imagine what God would have thought of those in Israel who refused to pass through the Red Sea? What if they had said to God, “We want to be saved by our faith alone and are not interested in your ‘water salvation?’” They did not say such things. They were “all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,” and when they came out of the Red Sea they were saved and delivered! These things “became our examples” and “they were written for our admonition.” Those who refuse to teach the necessity of “baptism into Christ” have not heeded this example. They are among those who refused to enter the ark and be saved through water and those who refused to enter the Red Sea and be saved through water. All such people will surely perish.