CHRIST IN THE SONG OF MOSES (3)
His Works
Exodus 15:1-18

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III. The works of Christ performed at the Red Sea. These were primarily two. And they were typical of the works He will perform at the last day.

i. The objects of this destruction: "those who rose against You." Pharaoh had risen against Christ by refusing to acknowledge His lordship, saying "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice ....?" (5:2). Pharaoh's people had risen against Christ by joining their king in hardening their hearts against Him (9:34). They were concerted in their rebellion against Christ, and were therefore all doomed to destruction together. The objects of the destruction at the Red Sea were typical of those who will be destroyed at the last day: "the nations" and "the people" who join "the kings of the earth" in rebelling against Christ by refusing to acknowledge His lordship (Psalm 2:1-3). They are concerted in their rebellion against Christ, and therefore doomed to destruction together.

1) Christ's destruction of His enemies is majestic: "in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You." This destruction is majestic because it is righteous. Christ would not be great in excellence if He did not do the righteous thing in destroying His enemies. As Christ did at the Red Sea, so shall He do at the last day (Revelation 19:11ff): "in righteousness He judges and makes war. ..."
2) Christ's destruction of His enemies is complete: "You sent forth Your wrath which consumed them like stubble." He was not merely peeved at them; He was full of wrath against them. He did not merely chide them; He utterly destroyed them like stubble in the fire. As Christ did at the Red Sea, so shall He do at the last day. He will come against the wicked in "the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:15; 6:15-17), and utterly destroy them like chaff in unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12; 25:41).

i. The objects of this salvation: "the people whom You have redeemed." Redemption involves "release by the payment of a price." Christ had redeemed His chosen nation Israel from Egyptian bondage in fulfillment of His promise (6:6). The price He paid for their redemption was His own power exerted in doing so (13:3, 14f; Psalm 77:14f), both in the plagues upon the Egyptians and in their destruction in the Red Sea. None but those whom Christ had redeemed would be recipients of His salvation.

The objects of the salvation at the Red Sea were typical of those who will be saved at the last day: God's elect, those whom Christ has delivered from spiritual bondage through the payment of His own life and blood (Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18). Every one of them will be saved at the last day, because He has for them "obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12). ii. The manner of this salvation:

1) Christ's salvation of His people is majestic: "You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed." This salvation is majestic because it is merciful. Christ saved Israel not because of any merit on their part (see Deuteronomy 9:24). Rather, He saved them because of mercy on His own part. As Christ did at the Red Sea, so shall He do at the last day. The redeemed in glory therefore give all the praise for their salvation to Christ (Revelation 5:9-14), extolling His majesty in saving them through his mercy.

2) Christ's salvation of His people is complete: "You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation." Moses knew there was a place in Canaan which God would sanctify to Himself, and that His salvation of His people would not be complete until He had brought them thereunto and given them rest from all their enemies (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). As Christ did at the Red Sea, so shall He do at the last day. All His people shall be brought by Him to eternal rest in His holy habitation in heaven (Psalm 23:3, 6).