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GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
February 10, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #358
Christ in Exodus #51
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(Continued from preceding message.)II. The attributes Christ manifested at the Red Sea.
1. Power (v.6): "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces."
i. The power of Christ is here measured against the power of Pharaoh. That mightiest earthly monarch of his day was but a puppet in the hand of Christ (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17). Christ enthroned Pharaoh, then enticed him into the Red Sea, and there destroyed him (see Psalm 75:6f; Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 21:1). And He will do likewise with the rebellious king of these last days (Revelation 17:7-17): He will raise them up, then put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose by giving their kingdoms to the beast, and then destroy them. All the kings of the earth are no match for Jehovah's Christ (Psalm 2:1-6).
ii. The power of Christ is here measured by the elements which it controls. The two elements here considered are the waters of the Red Sea and the wind, which are far beyond the control of mortals. Christ caused the wind to make a channel through the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could pass through it on dry land (v.8; 14:21f, 29). Then when the Egyptians entered the channel in pursuit of Israel, He caused the same wind to return the waters of the sea to their former position, thereby destroying the Egyptians (vv.9f; 14:23-28).
He exercises the same controls over the elements in these days. For example, when His disciples on one occasion feared that their boat would sink because of a boisterous storm, Christ stopped the wind and calmed the sea (Matthew 8:23-27).
iii. The power of Christ is here measured by the ease in which He accomplished His purpose. His decree was performed effortlessly. His enemies were "consumed like stubble" (v.7).He accomplishes His purpose today in the same ease. His enemies will be destroyed as effortlessly as the unquenchable fire consumes the chaff (Matthew 3:12). He is therefore rightly called "Lord God Omnipotent" (Revelation 19:6; cp. Genesis 18:4a).
2. Supremacy (vv.11-18): "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?" None! Christ is supreme, because:
i. Unlike the gods, Christ is "glorious in holiness" (v.11). Holiness is separation. The emphasis here is upon Christ's majestic holiness, or divine sacredness, rather than His ethical holiness, or moral perfection (although the latter necessarily develops out of the former). It renders Him completely unapproachable – as at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5) and at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:11-13, 20-24).
ii. Unlike the gods, Christ is "fearful in praises" (v.11). This is the estimation of Christ by those who have been permitted and enabled by Him to approach Him. They esteem Him worthy of reverential fear, saying "... Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth" (Psalm 96:7-9) – as did the magi (Matthew 2:11) and His disciples (Matthew 14:33), and as ultimately every one will do (Philippians 2:9-11).
iii. Unlike the gods, Christ is capable of "doing wonders" (v.11). Wonders are miracles, events which run counter to what is known of nature (not counter to nature itself, or violations of it, as many aver). No one but God can perform them. (Contrast the "lying wonders" of 2 Thessalonians 2:9.) Christ performed wonders at the Red Sea (vv.8-10) and during His incarnation (John 2:11, 23), especially in the work of the salvation of His people.
iv. Unlike the gods, Christ will "reign forever" (v.18). "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). In all these regards, and in every other, Christ has manifested His supremacy over all the gods of this world. "For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places" (Psalm 135:5f). In sharp contrast, the gods of heathens are devoid of holiness, unworthy of praises, capable of nothing, reigning never (Psalm 115:1-8).