Today the window of God moves us from His Creation to His great wonders of redeeming His people from oppression and slavery in Egypt. This is the first Passover when Yhwh passed through Egypt to bring death to the firstborn. God gave the people a sign for protection against death, however. Take the blood of a lamb and paint your outer doorframe with the blood. When I see the blood, I will “pass over” that home and death will not enter it. This is the first Passover.
For 430 years (Exodus 12:40) God’s people had been enslaved. They had cried out to the LORD to deliver them. Though their prayers may have seemed to go unanswered during that time, or they wondered why the LORD was taking His time, nevertheless, the LORD heard the prayers of His people. He still hears your prayers today. He’s faithful, after all, even when we are unfaithful to Him.
Through this window of God, the LORD shows us His redemptive work. The 10 Plagues God uses to crush Pharaoh’s heart aren’t simply neat tricks that God performs. Each of these plagues is connected to one of Egypt’s gods. In sending these plagues God showed the Egyptians that He, and He alone, is truly God of gods and LORD of lords.
The problems for God’s people didn’t end once Pharaoh told the Hebrew people and Moses to leave and get out of town. Pharaoh later changed his mind. He chased them down with his armies, chariots and horses. God’s people found themselves in a pickle once again. Pharaoh’s army was coming from one direction, and on the other side stood the Red Sea. They were trapped. Would there be any hope? It certainly didn’t look like it.
Nevertheless, Yhwh is the God of His Word. He promised deliverance to the Promised Land, and He wouldn’t let evil stop Him. With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm Yhwh God parted the Red Sea so that His people could pass through safely to the other side on dry ground. Pharaoh’s army tried to pass through as well, but they were met with a different fate as Yhwh brought the parted waters down upon them. All Pharaoh’s army, chariots, and horses were drowned and brought to nothing. Put your trust only in God and not human kingdoms, rulers, and principalities.
The Passover and parting of the Red Sea are one of God’s Great Wonders—His miracles that He Himself initiated on behalf of His people. These great wonders point forward to, and are fulfilled in, Christ Jesus.
Jesus is the Lamb of God who not only takes away the sin of the world. He is also the way through Whom God passes over eternal death, hell, and damnation. Those who have the blood of the Lamb painted on the doors of their hearts through Baptism demonstrate their trust in God. The Passover meal was fulfilled in Christ Jesus the night before He was betrayed. The Lamb of God was sacrificed and slaughtered on the cross because of our sins. Yet, this is what the Son did willingly and lovingly for the world. This window of God shows how much He loves you. God desires the eternal death and damnation of no one, which is why He gave us the way out. That way—that Window—is only Jesus.
The parting of the Red Sea foreshadows the blessings God bestows through the waters of Holy Baptism. The people were doomed on the one side, but God parted the waters and provided the way to safely travel to the other side.
Baptism is God’s Window for salvation. Without Jesus we are doomed. But with Jesus, God delivers us safely to the other side. God works His great wonders through His Holy Waters. There in Baptism is where He claims you as one of His dear children. Through God’s window of Baptism the Lord works His power and might. He takes the initiative to drag us from the kingdom of darkness and damnation and places you securely in His Kingdom of Light and Salvation.
What a great window!
A Redeker Respite 