He brought them out, after that he shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness. Acts 7:36
We all try to imagine what Heaven is like. We try to visualize the pearly gates, the golden streets, the many mansions, and the tree of life. We try to imagine a body incapable of discomfort, pain, or mistakes. We attempt to grasp something of the glory of the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. All that we can do we know falls far short of the reality. All that we can do is acknowledge that the wonders of Heaven will be far more wonderful than our tiny imaginations can produce. In our pale and confining world of today, we eagerly await the revelation of Heaven’s wonders. And yet, our text today tells of the great wonders that we can appreciate along the way.
Moses we know is a type of the Lord Jesus, and our text tells us some of the ways in which this type is true. If it had not been for Moses, the children of Israel would never have made it to the promised land. That which God had promised to Abraham and his descendants awaited them, drew them out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the brink of Jordan. The wonders of the land of milk and honey captivated their imaginations and ignited their enthusiasm for the journey. But along the way, Moses showed them great wonders and signs, just as the Lord Jesus shows us great wonders and signs along the way. It is not just the wonders of Heaven that should give us cause for excitement; there are plenty of wonders here for us to appreciate.
The first great wonder that the Israelites saw was the deliverance from Egypt, a wonder so amazing that to this very day the Jewish people celebrate it. The deliverance that God has given to us in His great plan of salvation is no less miraculous. His working in our lives to bring us to repentance and faith in Christ should daily cause us to bow and sing in humble but delighted thankfulness: Thank you Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you Lord, for making me whole. Thank you Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free.
Did you ever consider your baptism as a wonder? The Israelites’ passage through the Red Sea is a type of baptism. When they had crossed over, they saw their enemies dead on the seashore and they sang a great song of deliverance and victory. If you and I will live all that our baptism represents, we will also experience a great victory over our enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. What a great wonder that is!
During 40 years of wilderness journeys, Moses showed the children of Israel many great wonders, such as the sweetening of Mara’s bitter waters, the water from the rock, the manna, and the indestructible shoes. Our Lord today shows us great wonders in the truths of His Word, in His constant care and guidance, and in His faithfulness despite our stumblings.
Some of God’s greatest wonders for us are to be appreciated long before we ever enter the pearly gates. – Jim MacIntosh