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THE TYPE. THE PASSOVER.

ISRAEL'S chains were now just on the point of being broken: and after a long and painful contest, DELIVERANCE was at hand. The arm of Jehovah had won the victory-"this is the finger of God," Ex. viii. 19, and see xii. 31, contrasted with ▼. 2. But the moment of redemption was to be hallowed by a distinct and perpetual acknowledgment of THE REDEEMER, that Israel might never forget to whom they owed their deliverance. The Feast of "THE LORD'S PASSOVER" (Ex. xii. 11) was to be kept for ever, xii. 14. See the whole directions in Ex xii.

I. THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB WAS THE SAFEGUARD.-God was coming to bare his Arm once more, finally and irresistably, Ex. xi. 4– 8. Other plagues had desolated the land-destroyed its wealth-and humbled its inhabitants, Ex. 1. 7: yet when each had passed away, Pharaoh had rebelled again. Now, one more arrow from God's quiver would end the struggle.

But as the Angel of Death spread destruction, WHO should escape? God knew his own, but it pleased Him to require the outward sign on their part: ch, xii. 13; and had any one been so mad as to disobey, utter destruction must have fallen on him xii. 23. But the blood, OPENLY sprinkled on the door-posts (like a public confession "I am the Lord's," Matt. x. 32) saved the inmates.

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II. THE FLESH OF THE LAMB MUST BE EATEN.-Each one, young or old, master or servant, must take his share: each, by that act, must show for himself his own obedience, and his own Faith: Ex. xii. 4: and thus each one, as it were, claimed his part in the REDEMPTION AND SAFETY.

III. UNLEAVENED BREAD AND BITTER HERBS, were part of the Passover feast, the first the type of pureness, the second of penitence and confession. Thus the Israelites were taught to acknowledge that God's goodness to them was undeserved and that it demanded the return of a life of holiness-sin being leaven, pervading, and corrupting.

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THE CONNECTION.

This rests on the very words of Scripture, as St. Paul speaks of the Lord Jesus as Christ our Passover," or Paschal Lamb, slain for us: 1 Cor. v. 7, whilst St. Peter's words in 1 Pet. i. 19, clearly refer to Ex. xii. 5. Only the main features can be noticed here.

THE ANTITYPE, CHRIST.

I. HIS BLOOD IS SALVATION. From what danger? The terrors of that night are not to be compared with the "Great day of his Wrath" (Rev. vi. 17) or the awful scenes of the Judgment Day. But they that are sprinkled with that blood will be safe-God's wrath will pass them by-His love will own and gather them. To bear his name alone will not suffice-we must use the means God bids us. See Heb. ix. 22, and then Luke xxii. 20; Coloss. i. 20; Heb. ix. 14; x. 19; 1 Pet. i. 2; 1 John i. 7.

II. WE MUST BE PARTAKERS OF HIM. Each one for himself (Ps. xlix. 7) we must, as Jesus Himself describes it, eat his flesh and drink his blood: John vi. 54-56, that is, must receive Him into our very hearts, to have LIFE by Him. There is no other Saviour, no other way.

III. Note also that He must be received with A PENITENT AND PURE HEARTa heart mourning over guilt (1 John i. 8-10) and longing to be pure. Who would seek a Saviour, that felt not his NEED? Who would follow a Holy Saviour

that yet loved his SIN ?

Compare also Ex. xii. 46, with

The circumstances related in Ex. xii. 11, have also their Antitype in the Pilgrimage life of the Christian, ready to depart. John xix. 33, 36.

THE TYPE. THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE.

THE Promised Land was no matter of doubt to the Israelites. They well knew whither they were going: nor was the road an uncertain one. A direct path along the Coast would have led them in a few days to the South of Canaan. But they were not left to choose their own route; everything that concerned them was a matter of Divine direction, from the highest to the least important, and the path they should follow was of great consequence to them-more so than they them selves were aware of. One reason for avoiding the short direct road is given in Ex. xiii. 17, 18. But He who foresaw all, fore-ordained all; and led the People in such a direction as to bring them through the the Red Sea to Sinai-to learn more of God's POWER and God's WILL-of their own sinfulness and weaknessand of God's holiness combined with long-suffering. Thus the Wilderness was

their School, and God purposely led them into it: compare Deut. viii. 2; Isa lxiii. 12-14.

The Pillar was both a symbol and a means of PROTECTION as well as GUIDANCE. Spread out as a cloud by day it tempered the burning rays of an Eastern Sun: (see such an effect described in Isa. xxv. 5), and as a fire by night it gave light, and a sense of safety: Ps. cv. 39. See also Ex. xiv. 19, 20.

But taking the GUIDANCE as the chief design, we note that

I. IT WAS CONSTANT. It was given the very moment that the need arose, and was never withdrawn; as noted especially in Ex. xiii. 22. By a change of appearance it was as visible by night as by day. And all the numberless sins of the He, whose presence it visibly repreNeh. ix. 19.

People never provoked God to withdraw it.
sented would never leave them, Deut. iv. 31;
II. IT WAS CERTAIN. It could never mislead them, nor leave them in doubt.
They always knew clearly when and whither God would have them march.

III. IT MUST BE FOLLOWED. Where it led, there was safety-manna to eat and water to drink, with God's protecting care; but to wander from its path was to forfeit all these blessings and to perish.

THE CONNECTION.

That a cloud typified God's presence is surely declared in Scripture, Ex. xvi. 9, Lev. xvi. 2; 1 Kings viii. 10, and as we may look on Israel as a typical Nation, we may consider that Israel's privileges were typical privileges, finding their antitype in God's mercies to his Church. No such visible sign is needed or applicable now, but God's directing Providence is needed, and is GIVEN ; both in the temporal and spiritual path of his People.

THE ANTITYPE.-GOD'S DIRECTING PROVIDENCE.

I. THAT GUIDANCE IS CONSTANT. See it promised as grasped by Faith in Ps. xxxii. 8; lxxiii. 24; Isa. lviii. 11. God cannot fail his Promise, nor be inconstant: Malachi iii. 16. We may look for it even in our Earthly circumstances: Phil. iv. 6.

II. IT IS CERTAIN, and cannot fail to be right. He that follows God shall be

safe: John viii.* 12.

III. IT MUST BE FOLLOWED. Human Nature rebels at this. We like our own way: Isa. liii. 6; Ps. cxix. 176; 1 Pet. ii. 25. See even Jer, vi. 16. But the end of that path is DEATH; whilst they who follow whither God leads will be led HOME, Ps. lxxiii. 24.

THE TYPE. THE MANNA.

WAS deliverance from Egypt enough? No! guidance was needed. Was that enough? No! support was needed. A NATION was in the wilderness, where even a solitary man would have been starved, Matt. xv. 33; who should feed that multitude? Even Moses' faith was staggered at this, Numbers xi. 21, 22, though he seems never to have hesitated a moment at plunging into the wilderness. But God never forsakes his people where He has led them, Heb. xiii. 5, nor fails to give them what they need. They must seek Him, and his will, and his way, and then He who knows that they "have need of these things," will supply ALL" their need, compare Matt. vi. 31-33; Phil. iv. 19. He did so for the Israelites, from their entry into the wilderness, to their possession of Canaan, Exodus xvi. 12; Joshua v. 12; Nehem. ix. 20, 21.

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I.—IT WAS A FREE GIFT, not simply in the sense of being undeserved (as all God's mercies are, Gen. xxxii. 10), but also as unsought, and not obtained by labour, see Exodus xvi. The Israelites knew not even what it was; there it lay and they had but to take it.

II. IT WAS EVER FRESH for fresh need. Day by day, excepting on the Sabbath, the daily bread was given, a constant unfailing supply, as certain as the sunrise.

III. THERE WAS ENOUGH FOR ALL. A NATION needed to be fed, but He fed them to whom the nations are as a drop of water! Isaiah xl. 15. How simple the effort, but how full the supply. Probably the Israelites helped one another to gather it, but any how each had ENOUGH, Exodus xvi. 18; every woman and child "in the tents" being fed, Exodus xvi. 16.

IV. IT WAS A DIVINE GIFT, grand like all His, who satisfieth the desire of every living thing, Psalm cxlv. 15, 16. No human instrumentality could preserve it, much less procure it, Exodus xvi. 19, 20, 27. It came down evidently from above, God spread the table in the wilderness, and spread it like a King of kings.

CONNECTION.

This is on the highest of all authority. See our Lord's own words, John vi. 23, 51; and his argument in that important discourse involves the infinite superiority of the Antitype to the type. The latter was only temporary, and bestowed only temporary nourishment (" are dead," John vi. 49), the former is the very life of the immortal spirit, John vi. 54-58.

THE ANTITYPE-CHRIST JESUS.

We feed on Him spiritually, and by faith (see Notes on the Passover). He is to the heart and soul, what bread is to the body,-ITS LIFE and GROWTH.

I-HE WAS A FREE GIFT. How possibly could sinful rebellious men earn, or obtain by their own efforts such a Saviour? Compare Rom. v. 8, 15—18; vi. 23. HE GAVE Himself, Matt. xx. 28.

II. HE IS AN EVER FRESH GIFT; not only fresh to those just come to Him, but NOURISHING those that have come; giving them fresh strength and fresh love, Isaiah xli. 10; xl. 31; Lam. iii. 23.

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III. HE HAS GRACE ENOUGH FOR ALL. See the fulness of the invitations; ‘EVERY ONE," Isaiah lv. 1, and "ALL," Matt. xi. 28.

IV. HE IS GOD'S GIFT, from heaven, John iii. 13; xvi. 28; the Father's gift with his own free will, John vi. 38: x. 17. 18.

THE TYPE. THE SMITTEN ROCK.

MANNA was not the only provision needed by and supplied to the Israelites in the wilderness. In that sultry climate, where heated sand fills the pores and loads the breath, water is the one great necessary of life, and a failure in the supply is not only hurtful, but fatal: comp. Gen. xxi. 15, 16, 19; 2 Kings iii. 9, 10; Job vi. 15-20; Is. xli. 17; and also the danger and privation which led to the miraculous supply, Ex. xvii. 1—4. He who knows all human wants and sorrows (Ps. ciii. 14) knew this need, and supplied it as marvellously as the food. We gather from 1 Cor. x. 4, that the stream of water flowed on through the wilderness, a constant supply, and always in the track in which the cloud led the Israelites (see also Ps. cv. 41); and this seems to have lasted for nearly the whole of the forty years, when a repetition of the miracle became necessary, Num. xx.

I. THE NEED WAS URGENT.— —A whole nation was ready to perish for want of water, and such sufferings as Ishmael's would have been multiplied a thousandfold. There is no substitute for water-NOTHING ELSE WILL DO (it is the chief part of all liquids), and even the precious gift of manna would have been useless, alone, to sustain life. So great was the agony, that Moses' life was threatened by the maddened people, Ex. xvii. 4. And the supply was wanted at once. A few more hours and all that mighty host must have perished; against such a foe as thirst their number, their bravery, their skill would have availed nothing.

II. THE SUPPLI WAS MIRACULOUS.-There was no fortunate discovery of water (as at such an oasis as Elim, Ex. xiv. 27); we may be sure the whole neighbourhood had been well searched over, and not a well or a stream could be found. Whence, then, was the supply to come? Man might well ask this in doubt and trembling, but GOD KNEW AND PROVIDED; and to show his power and his will more strikingly, the life-giving strcam was brought from the solid and barren rock, Ex. xvii. 9; Ps. cxiv. 8; Neh. ix. 15.

III. THE SUPPLY WAS ABUNDANT.-For all the forty years we hear no more of thirst. An entire nation lived upon that precious stream as it flowed by their daily path, and every one was satisfied. We must not forget how much would be required: comp. Num. xi. 21, 22.

THE CONNECTION.

St. Paul says, "THAT ROCK (i.e., by figure of speech, the water from the rock, as it could not be literally the rock that "followed them ") "WAS CHRIST." He, by Gospel light, saw Christ in the Types of the Old Dispensation. The men who lived under it may not have seen so clearly, but they saw (if they sought it) something of God's future purposes.

THE ANTITYPE.-CHRIST.

I. HOW URGENT is the NEED for Him! The believer thirsts for Him, Ps. xlii. 1,2; lxiii. 1, and NOTHING ELSE will satisfy that longing, Ps. lxxiii. 25; John iv. 13. The need is still more dangerous for being unfelt in the case of the ungodly; they perish for want of Christ.

II. The need is SUPPLIED FROM HEAVEN.-Human help can never avail, Ps. xlix. 7-9; but God pitied a perishing world, and the fountain of living water gushed out: see John iv. 10, 14; vii. 37; Rev. xxii. 37.

III. How FULL AND RICH IS THAT SUPPLY! None ever seek it in vain. Millions have drank of that stream-millions more may come ("whosoever WILL") and all shall LIVE, thirsting no more, except for fuller draughts of the same stream. And where Christ fully is, there is Heaven, Rev. xxii. 1.

THE TYPE. THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD.

THIS subject leads us to a fresh series of Jewish Types. We have been dealing so far with temporal blessings, more or less certified by Scripture to have been types of heavenly blessings; but now we come to the spiritual provision God made for his people, and the difficulty is not to trace the typical meaning, but to select only so much as can be contained in each lesson,—the whole being so richly illustrated by St. Paul.

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The early Patriarchal form of life presents to us each head of a family as a Priest (that word means an offerer of sacrifices"). But even then there are traces of a distinct priesthood, Gen. xiv. 18; and when Israel sprung into national existence, it pleased God to institute a permanent priesthood for his service and Israel's benefit. The institution should be read in Exodus xxviii. It was an essential part of the Jewish dispensation, and was to find both its perfection and termination in Christ, 2 Cor. iii. 13.

The whole force of meaning of the institution lay in the SACRIFICES FOR SIN, Heb. viii. 3; and when these were done away with, the priesthood (though not all MINISTRY,), became purposeless and useless.

I.-This priesthood taught MAN'S DISTANCE FROM GOD. Had man retained his original righteousness, he would have needed no priest between God and himself; but man fell and wandered, and “a daysman” (Job. ix. 33), is needed. The priests alone could offer the sacrifices, the High Priest alone enter into the Holy of Holies. This separation, and all the solemnities of the Feast taught that man had wandered from God and must return in God's own way.

II. The priesthood PROVIDED A WAY FOR RETURN. All the sacrifices had this object, and the pious and enlightened Jew (which all might be if they chose), would feel that every sacrifice offered in faith brought him back the nearer to God. None need despair, for God's OWN APPOINTED priests were there to make ceremonial atonement, and by figure to preach the Saviour.

III. The priesthood PROVIDED CONTINUAL HELP; so at least it was intended, Mal. ii. 4—7 (compare an interesting scene in Nehemiah viii. 1—9).

THE CONNECTION.

This is most richly set forth in Heb. v. 1—6; vii; viii.; ix. But this lesson will not be complete without a dear and constant remembrance of the INFINITE SUPERIORITY OF THE ANTITYPE TO THE TYPE, see Heb. vii. 8--28; ix. 11-14.

THE ANTITYPE.--CHRIST A PRIEST.

The sacrifice was Himself, Heb. vii. 27; ix. 12; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Thus He was both Priest and Victim; and, more wondrous still, He was also God to be reconciled. I. CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD SHOWED MAN'S GUILT. What else could bring Him down to suffer and to die? He came not to be merely a Teacher and a Model,-man was a guilty rebel, far from God, Eph. ii. 12; blood alone could atone for him, Heb. ix. 22, or bring him back to God, John xiv. 6.

II.-CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD PROVIDED ATONEMENT AND RESTORATION. Scripture is full of these precious truths, and they have been the stay of believers in all ages; see for instance 1 John i. 7; Rom. viii. 1; Isaiah liii. 5, 6, 10; Eph. ii. 13. His blood sufficed to satisfy God's justice, and now He pleads for us at God's right hand, Heb. vii. 25.

III.-CHRIST, AS A PRIEST IS THE CONTINUAL HELPER and teacher of his people. To Him they go constantly with all their wants, and dangers, and fears; his ear is ever open, his arm ever ready, and HOW CAN HE FAIL? Heb. ii. 18; iv. 14-16; v. 9: vii. 25.

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