Salvation is a great, comprehensive word. In one sense the Christian has now salvation— “receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, “ that is, from the divine judgment against sin, which corresponds to the passover in Egypt, and the deliverance at the Red Sea. In another sense it is still future, “ready to be revealed in the last time,” though now “nearer than when we [first] believed." In a third sense it is a daily experience, “Work out your own salvation.” The Red Sea marks an important stage. Israel had been sheltered from the Destroying Angel by taking refuge under the blood of the paschal lamb; but at Pi-hahiroth they seem to be in a more terrible position than ever, the mountains on each side, the sea in front, and a rapidly approaching army of overwhelming power behind. They cry out in a panic of fear, whilst their leader's stern and reticent face holds converse with the skies. Then he turns to them and says, “Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
This is the state in which those are who have been converted and have accepted the sacrificial Savior, but have not yet seen the great and glorious consequences of His death and resurrection. The soul then sees itself beset by every evil power and sinister principle of the world, the flesh, and the devil— “the devil is most busy on the last day of his term,” says old Fuller—and sees no way of escape, apparently nothing but disaster. Thus the poor pilgrim who had set out from the City of Destruction fell into the Slough of Despond before he reached the wicket-gate and the path of life (but if he had taken heed to the steps—the promises—says the Dreamer, he would not have fallen into such extreme misery). Thus Paul cried, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?” Thus Luther groaned and cried at Erfurt, and threw his inkstand at the devil at Wartburg. (I think, though, that he did the devil more harm with ink than with inkstands). Thus White-field fell morbid and despairing at Oxford. Bunyan's fears were so great that he thought that his breastbone would split. Cowper took a coach to drown himself. Yet undoubtedly it was because these men had divine life and faith that they were so afflicted. What is wanted is for such to STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD; to see (not the forgiveness of sins, that is the passover, but) the judgment of sin (the root principle, which is not forgiven but condemned, Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)), and the great and permanent deliverance ensuing thereon.
When Bilbao planted his flag in the sea to assert his authority, or the Venetian Doge cast his ring into it, or Canute scolded it for approaching his chair, or Xerxes flogged it for wrecking his ships, I am not aware that much impression was produced on it. “Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain, Man marks the earth with ruin—his control Stops with the shore.” But when the Hebrew seer lifted up his shepherd's rod over it, the great angry desolate sea recoiled in affright from his feet, making a path through its depths, and then returned with its frightful flood of roaring waters to overwhelm their pursuers. Thus Israel sees the salvation of the Lord, which, as by the one dreadful judgment of the cross, delivers and separates forever His people from Egypt and its power. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ," not alone because God had forgiven them (that was proclaimed five chapters previously in Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25), &c.), but because, 8:3, He, “sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” For the Christian it is done with, and can never come up again for judgment: he is to reckon himself dead, and Bye accordingly in righteousness. If he fail, he is dealt with on a new ground; not punished as a criminal by the judge, but chastened as a child by the Father.
THEN burst forth from the myriads of throats of the whole assembled nation that great anthem of sevenfold hallelujahs which billowed up from earth to sky and surged in through the portals of pearl, over the sapphire floor. Its echoes have come down to our ears through the clamors of thirty-three centuries, and even. now stir our blood like the sound of Gabriel's trumpet: “He hath triumphed gloriously...... He is become my salvation He is my God. I will prepare Him an habitation Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy!......Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders! Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed Lord, the people pass over which Thou hast purchased...... Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea!”
And Miriam—poor little Miriam that was, that used to stand in the Nile mud watching over her little brother—she it is who is leading the choir of those millions enfranchised souls, and doubtless doing this as well as she then did that. Glorious work, Miriam! Better than minding the baby? “Glorious? yes! Better? no! Had I not watched there, I had not worshipped here.” And Moses, the babe whom her childish hands had protected, where is he? Ah! he is a brother born for adversity, and is never prominent in days of triumph like this. Presently there will be trouble again, and then we shall see him coming forward to pray, plan, labor, suffer, conquer for them; anon when the crisis is over, to again quietly obliterate himself. And this always, till he bring them right home to the promised land: then, having overcome every obstacle, he calmly closes his eyes in death and rests.