Where In The Bible Will I Find:

The Deliverer Of Israel And God's People Today?

For Israel, God raised up one of their brethren to deliver them. Moses was called for this task, and to become God’s spokesman for them. Through Moses, God promised to raise up a prophet that would deliver us from sin (Deut. 18:18-19).

Jesus came as the anti-type of Moses, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (John 3:34). Then it is by Jesus Christ that God speaks to us: "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. 17:5). Israel was delivered by Moses - but not against their will. In fact, they had to act to obtain their liberty. They had to hear the words of their deliverer; they had to repent of their voluntary slavery, and move to depart from bondage. But even then, they had not yet become free. They still had to be baptized unto their leader in order to throw off the yoke of bondage.

Paul said, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (I Cor. 10:1-4).

If there was ever any doubt of this being type and anti-type, this Scripture eradicates it. And please note this: Not one of those Israelites stopped short of baptism! With bondage yet upon them, they were not going to argue, "Non-essential." It is necessary that we follow the same procedure as Israel. We must bear the Words of our Deliverer that we might have faith, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

We must believe Jesus in order to be made free: "...to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). Jesus said, "...for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). Even as Israel, we must repent of going into bondage: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5).

Peter also straitly commanded repentance (Acts 2:38, 3:19). Paul wrote, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commadeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). Our will to sin must change. Israel had to trust Moses, God's prophet. Only when they trusted him enough to follow could they be made free. We must also trust Jesus Christ, our Deliverer; we must trust Him enough to follow Him, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mark 16:16).

No Israelite seeking freedom from bondage balked at being "...baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (I Cor. 10:1-2). We cannot afford to disbelieve our Prophet and Deliverer! If we believe, we will not argue with his directions; we will simply do that which Jesus plainly taught.