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What is the symbolic application for us today of God's historical deliverance of His people from Egypt, their wanderings in the desert, and final entrance into the Promised Land?

Is it accurate to say:

1. The deliverance from Egypt is symbolic of the salvation experience

2. The wandering in the wilderness, and God's dealings with the people during this time is symbolic of our sanctification process

3. Their entering the Promised Land is symbolic of,

 a) our passing from this life to eternal life with Jesus (passing the river Jordan symbolic of our bodily death), or, 

b) being filled (not just indwelt) with the Holy Spirit

?

I'm particularly interested to know if the second point is accurate. When I read about God's dealings with the people in the wilderness, and how they were prone to complaining, unbelief, idolatry and rebellion, I wonder if it's accurate to put believers in their place (recognizing we still commit these sins in our hearts after salvation), and how God sanctifies us by how He dealt with them. 

For example, is Psalm 78 about the sanctification process, or salvation/lack of salvation?

OR 

Is is accurate to assume that the born-again salvation experience isn't symbolized by Israel's deliverance from Egypt, but their entering into the Promised Land, in which case those who perished in the wilderness are NOT saved. If this is the case, I would have to apply the wilderness years in a very different way. 

I hope this is clear enough. 

Thanks, 

Jenny

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Rather than give what I think, at least at this point, I am going to respond with a couple of questions and then point to some Scripture to look at that relates to this topic.

Two questions to ponder:

1) What major differences are there between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

2) What is the relation between Israel and the church ... in light of the Old and New Covenant? Did the church replace Israel, or is the church a continuation of Israel, or is the church a separate entity all together? 

So maybe that is 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 questions instead of 2 :-)

Then read:

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Numbers 13 and 14 ( Note especially, but not only, Num. 14:10-12; Num. 14:20-25; Num. 14:41-45).

Feel free to post your thoughts and lets attempt to walk through your question seeking an answer.

Lord Bless,

LT

Thanks LT, I will do some studying tonight.

Hi Jenny,

I've thought for a long time that the great exodus from Egypt had many shadows of things to come in the new Covenant.

God delivering His chosen people from the bondage of slavery resembles Jesus's ministry work on the cross. However, I agree with Roy's thoughts - It definitely requires more than just starting the salvation journey........as Roy says, the victory is to those who finish, which is the end of this life's journey.

I Cor. 1:30, " But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. (N.A.S.B.). There's the salvation formula summed up in one verse. I believe many people overlook the "sanctification" part. Many of the exiting Israelites never did change, because they stayed worldly. They were still under the Law.

Yes Jen, I agree the wilderness wanderings (challenges, hardships, joys, problems, trials, etc.) echo a believer's life in  God through  Christ Jesus, today.

Now, about crossing the Jordan River into the promised land........

I believe that land is comparable to our Kingdom of God (or Heaven). Yes, flowing with milk and honey....... But it was not Heaven. There were giant problems there, the Israelites were going to wage war on the inhabitants living there, and were ordered to kill them all. We're talkin' Jericho for starters here. The promised land was still in the world.....but they had God to help them......if they kept the faith.

Isn't that  like believers today? We're in the Kingdom....but we are still in the world, and we encounter daily problems and challenges....and face them through faith.  And we do enjoy milk and honey, also.

Hebrews 12:14," Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.(N.A.S.B.). Sanctification is key. If a person doesn't show a change (might take years) turning from the world....God will not know them.

Matthew 7:21-23, " Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord", will  enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?"(23) And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (N.A.S.B.).

So, a true convert needs to come to Christ Jesus as Peter instructs them in Acts 2:38........and then start the sanctification process. Amen.

Grace and Peace.

Thanks, lots of things in here to treasure. 

1 Cor. 1:30 in particular gives a lot of hope because if He has become for us righteousness, He will also be our sanctification and redemption. I don't know if any other way to understand this than that His own are secure. 

So it sounds like from all of this that there isn't a tidy 1:1 correlation between the journey from egypt to canaan and our Christian walk, but that each stage of Israel's history has something to teach us, whether it's the trials in the wilderness or the difficulties faced after crossing the Jordan River. 

I think some folks don't understand the sanctification part of the redemption process.

Think of it this way:

In Matthew Chapter 1, the betrothal of Mary (Jesus's mother ) and Joseph (His earthly father) is described.

Betrothal is like becoming engaged. The couple plan their marriage, making a home together, raising a family, getting along in the world, and so on.

There are no sexual relations.....a platonic love time, close relationship without sexual activity. A chance to draw close to each other, and to discontinue any bad habits that might offend the other...........kind of like - a sanctification period, being set apart for a special purpose.........getting to know each other away from the world.

Then after this period of time - the marriage ceremony takes place.

O.K., compare the above betrothal to I Corinthians 1:30 - (Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption) and remember.....sanctification is the believer's responsibility in the relationship with the Lord.

Now fast forward to the believer's passing from this life to a future time in heaven: Revelation 19: 7-8:  "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints". (K.J.V.).

The wedding of Jesus the Christ and His bride - the church of believers who prepared themselves on earth for Him.

Not by works, not of their blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man......... as they were sanctified, becoming in the image of Christ.

Ephesians 5: 30-32, " For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (K.J.V.).

Grace and Peace.

Very interesting, I never thought of the betrothal and marriage in that light before. 

So in I Corinthians 1:30 - (Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption)He has become for us:

Wisdom- it was the wisdom of God that designed the whole plan of salvation from the foundation of the world

Righteousness- by His shed blood, He has bought for Himself His people (our Justification like an official engagement)

Sanctification- like Rebecca, we have received the pledge of marriage (engagement) and, like her, many riches as tokens that God is serious about keeping His promise. Now we prepare ourselves for the marriage ceremony, looking to the joy set before us. 

Redemption- the marriage ceremony, to take place in our heavenly home. 

I'm beginning to understand how my Nana has been reading her bible her whole life and still getting more and more out of it. 

Thanks for sharing this.

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