Redemption
12:31-42, 13:17 to 15:21

We have now come to the portion of the book of Exodus that tells the story of the exodus itself. It is, after all, the central theme of the book. To redeem means to purchase and set free (see the book of Hosea). When God freed His people from slavery in Egypt, His mighty hand (6:1) and outstretched arm (6:6) performed the greatest act of redemption in the TaNaKh. German scholars recognize its importance when they refer to the TaNaKh as Heilsgeschichte, which means history of salvation. Just as the redemption brought about by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ constitutes the main theme of the B’rit Chadashah, so the redemption brought about by God’s mighty acts of judgment (7:4) at the time of the exodus forms the main theme not only of the book of Exodus but of the entire TaNaKh as well. 

However, redemption in the TaNaKh and redemption in the B’rit Chadashah are not identical. The Exodus redemption was basically national and corporate, whereas the redemption effected by Jesus’ death on the cross is basically individual and personal. Redemption at the time of the exodus was primarily physical (political), whereas today redemption is primarily spiritual with a future physical dimension (heaven).

But, the similarities between the two covenants are striking indeed. In both cases death was the terrible price necessary to bring about redemption, in both cases the specific redemptive act became the most important event in the history of God’s people, and in both cases the redemptive event is celebrated each year by means of a joyful ceremony having its origin in the Passover meal.223

The crossing of the Sea of Reeds, coupled with the slaying of the Passover lamb make up Isra’els redemption. Both complement each other. Both are necessary to complete any discussion concerning redemption. It is the freeing of slaves through the payment of a price.

The first thing to note about redemption is the price which was paid. In Isra’el’s case, the one who paid the price was the poor innocent lamb. He was slain and his blood smeared on the door frames of the Jewish houses. If someone did not do this, it would have resulted in the death of the firstborn in that household. But ADONAI, in His grace made provisions for a substitute – the lamb. In like manner God also redeems on a spiritual level. We need to be set free from our slavery to sin. The price paid is the lifeblood of the Lamb of God, Yeshua.

Secondly, redemption implies freedom from our former master. To appreciate that freedom in its fullest, we need to remember what it was like to be slaves. On that day of redemption, no one had to remind Isra’el how bad slavery was. There did not appear to be any hesitation in their exit from Egypt. (They would forget later in 14:12 how much they hated the Egyptian slavery, but ADONAI would do things to them to help them remember!). This passage teaches us that complete redemption will require the LORD entirely breaking all claims Pharaoh had on Isra’el.

It is also true in our spiritual redemption. In reality, we had two masters: sin and Satan. As for the latter’s claim on us, the Scriptures teach that when Yeshua accomplished our redemption by His atoning death, He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by means of the cross (Colossians 2:15). When Isra’el left Egypt, they really left it! It was not an illusion or a theoretical event. It was actual. In the same way, Paul of Tarsus writes concerning sin’s claim upon us. He says that when Yeshua died, our old sin nature also died with Him that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Romans 6:6). When Yeshua died for us, He really separated us from our spiritual “Egypt.” We died to those things which formerly were slavery to us. It is real. It is actual, not theoretical.

When Paul writes that when we died with Messiah and rose with Messiah, that our old sin nature also died, that we are no longer slaves, and we have a new Master (see the commentary on Romans, to see link click BvThe New Master in Messiah). And that has to be taken with just the same certainly as the Exodus from Egypt by the Israelites. Now, that is something to really rejoice in! Both acts of redemption are historical truths for which we can praise the Eternal One forever (see the commentary on The Life of Christ MsThe Eternal Security of the Believer)!