Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20061001.htm

THE PREINCARNATE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST
Part IX: Applying Christ's Shepherding Ministry In Israel's Exodus To Us
(Exodus 14:19-20 with 13:21-22 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. Christ is the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11, the "Great Shepherd" in Hebrews 13:20 and the "Chief Shepherd" in 1 Peter 5:4. To Him every believer in the church can look for priceless oversight.
    2. However, we can learn much about applying His oversight from the Old Testament passages on His "Angel of the Lord" shepherding of Israel in her Exodus! We view these passages for our edification:
  2. Applying Christ's Shepherding Ministry In Israel's Exodus To Us, Ex. 14:19-20 with 13:21-22 et al.
    1. Exodus 14:19 reveals the "angel of God" Who had gone before the camp of Israel moved behind the nation to obstruct the advance of Pharaoh's ominous Egyptian chariots on Israel at the Red Sea crossing.
    2. We know from past lessons in this series that this "angel of God" is "the Second Person of the Trinity," the Lord Jesus Christ, cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to Exodus 14:19-22 with the ftn. to Genesis 16:10.
    3. Well, the fact that this "angel of God" had gone "before the camp of Israel" (Ex. 14:19) reveals the Lord Jesus Christ had appeared in the Ex. 13:21-22 pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night for Israel!
    4. In view of these facts, we can glimpse the Preincarnate Christ's SHEPHERDING of Israel (as follows):
      1. At the crossing of the Red Sea, the Lord Jesus Christ protected Israel from the Egyptian chariots by sending great darkness upon the charioteers while He encouraged Israel with light, Exodus 14:19-20.
      2. In the crisis of Israel's faithless complaining about hunger, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ exhibited His brilliant divine glory in the cloud to feed faithless Israel, Exodus 16:9-12.
      3. In the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ descended in the cloud on the Mount to commune with Moses (Exodus 19:9-11) and with the elders of Israel (Exodus 24:9-18).
      4. When Israel built the tabernacle, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ descended in His cloud to fill the tabernacle, demonstrating His gracious presence of fellowship with Israel, Ex. 40:34-38.
      5. When Aaron brought the sacrifice into the tabernacle, the Preincarnate Christ in the cloud over the Mercy Seat would forgive Israel's sin and commune with Aaron based on that sacrifice, Lev. 16:2-3.
      6. When Moses told God he was unable to lead the difficult people of Israel himself, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ descended in His cloud and took some of the Spirit of God that was upon Moses and distributed Him unto the elders of Israel so they would help Moses lead, Numbers 11:14, 16-17, 25.
      7. At the rebellion of Korah when 250 leaders in Israel rose up to threaten the God-ordained leadership of Moses and Aaron, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ appeared in divine glory to judge Korah's group and defend the ministry roles of Moses and Aaron, Numbers 16:1-3, 42-50.
      8. When it came time for Moses to die and Israel's human leadership to shift from Moses to Joshua, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ appeared in glory in the cloud to charge Joshua to follow Him after Moses' death and to warn Israel to continue heeding the Lord after Moses died, Deut. 31:14-19.
      9. During the regular events of Israel's journeys, the Preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ guided Israel by the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night on when and where to move or stay, Num. 9:15-23:
        1. Christ led Israel in the cloud by day and the fiery pillar by night to stay in a place whether it was for a single overnight stay, or a day or even up to a full year's stay, Numbers 9:15-19, 20-21a, 22.
        2. Christ would lead them to travel by day, but sometimes to go at night as well, Numbers 9:21b!
        3. At all times, Israel had to keep her eye on the cloud to follow the Preincarnate Christ, Num. 9:23!
      10. Before the tabernacle was built, the Preincarnate Christ descended in His cloud to a tent of meeting to meet there with anyone who sought Him, and He often met there with Moses and Joshua, Ex. 33:7-11.
Lesson: As the Preincarnate Lord Jesus effectively shepherded Israel in her Exodus and wilderness journeys, we can look to Him to shepherd us today in the Church era as our Great Shepherd.

Application: As in Old Testament Israel's case, we ALSO may rely on Jesus to protect us from foes, to encourage us, to supply our living needs, to commune with us, to forgive us as we repent, to help us in hard oversight tasks, to judge the rebellious and defend the roles of just leaders, to charge a new generation to heed Him as He did the former, to guide us by day or by night at all times on when and where to move or stay, and to fellowship with us in His Word! May we then follow Him, John 21:19!