Throughout the whole Bible the great Jewish “Exodus” from Egypt is celebrated. From its initial, miraculous occurrence in the Book of Exodus (chapter 14) virtually until the end of Malachi we hear “echoes” of God’s leading His people to freedom! Against great foes, too.
As an example, Scripture in places portrays the return from Babylon as another Exodus. And there is even reason to believe that one of the Gospels (Mark) may have undertones of the “Exodus” experience through the Life of Jesus, a greater than Moses! Jesus, the Real Liberator!
And I am sure this morning that in our Text we see it again, hints of the Exodus! Except now it is the Lord inviting His people (whomever they might be, Jews foremostly I suspect) to “exit” this filthy world (those vile nations) and “separate” themselves … retuning to the Lord Jesus Christ (the new world Leader) during the Millennium.
Isaiah 52:11-12 … “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.”
I see four times the verbal unit “go out” is used in this short Pericope. (The very definition of “exodus!”)
I think the Apostle Paul quoted (or at least alluded) to this Passage in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 … “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
But now (in today’s context) the Jews are not leaving Egypt … they are leaving their cubbyholes and hiding places and caves of refuge (wherever they could seclude themselves during the anti-Christ’s reign of terror, the great Tribulation) … running unto Jesus their Emancipator (in more ways than one)!
In other words, “sanctify yourselves.” (A word “string” used 8 times in the Old Testament.) Clean up!
Bearing “the vessels of the Lord?” Yes, God’s intent for the Jews from day one! (God speaking to Israel back near the first Exodus … “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Exodus 19:6, and though we’ve not studied it yet, Isaiah 61:1 … “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God.”
Wow!
But the real point (the heart) of today’s Lesson … my intent when I first sat down here to type … was this nugget from our Text … “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.”
Again for emphasis, as the Jews “come home” during the Millennium, to Israel … “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.”
No rush, no danger (for the first time in years and years and years) … because they will have an Escort! A Protector! A body Guard!
The Lord Himself … will go ahead of them!
And will be behind them, too … “their rereward.” (In English … protecting them from the “rear.”)
Hallelujah!
Surrounded by the Lord!
Surely you’ve heard, Exodus language by the way … “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.”
Isaiah 54:17 in real life … “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
What promises!
And if God has all this planned for repentant Israel … think how well He has already cared for us, part of His very Body, Bride, Church!
Ahead of me, behind me, underneath me (His everlasting Arms), over me (from Heaven) plus on my right hand and left!
Comforting!
I will close today with Psalm 34:7. Someone memorize it please. “The angel of the LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
Glory!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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