In his classic work from 1852, The Typology of Scripture, Patrick Fairbairn masterfully compares the Old Testament types (prophetic symbols) with their New Testament anti-types (fulfillments).  One of the most prominent types in the Old Testament is the fleeing from Egypt by the Israelites under the leadership of Moses.

Let me begin by laying the foundation for this type. Moses, the leader, is a type of Jesus Christ, who led His people out of bondage to sin through the shedding of His blood on the cross. Moses did not shed his blood but rather had the Hebrews shed the blood of a lamb and paint its blood on the doorposts and lintel beam (Exodus 12:7). The blood was their protection from the angel of death even as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, shed His blood to cleanse our sins and protect us from hell.  No blood covering, no protection from death. This was called the Passover in that the angel of death passed over the houses which had the protection of the blood. The Passover has been continuously celebrated by Jews ever since (Exodus 12:14).

Once spared by the protective covering of the blood of the lamb, the Hebrews were to flee Egypt in haste. Legend has it that they left so quickly that they did not have time to bake the unleavened bread but rather baked it under the hot Egyptian sun on the backs of the Hebrew slaves! The Hebrews were freed from slavery by the blood of the lamb even as you and I are freed from slavery to sin by the blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus Christ. Fleeing Egypt for the Hebrews was the equivalent of you and I choosing to forsake the values of this world and live for Christ. Remember Egypt represents slavery!

From slavery to the waters of the Red Sea. Fairbairn says that the Red Sea is a type of Christian baptism. Believers are already washed clean from sin by the blood of the Lamb, so baptism doesn’t save us, but passing through the waters of baptism declares to all that we have left the world (Egypt) behind and are now following the Lord. The Hebrews were led by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day even as the Lord leads Christians by His Holy Spirit.

Once the Red Sea miracle was accomplished, the Hebrews began the journey to the Promised Land. It was fraught with hardships, complaints, and rebellion but also with miracles from God. So, too, for us in the Christian life. Life is hard and salvation doesn’t make it easier. In fact, it makes it harder as we wage war against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The end goal for Israel was to cross the Jordan River and live in the land God promised to Abraham; a land flowing with milk and honey. So, too, the end goal for Christians is to cross over death and enter heaven where streets are paved with gold and God sits on His throne and rules and reigns over all creation.

Christ, our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7),

Irv