When Israel departed from Egypt and Jacob’s house was taken from among foreign nations, Psalm 112:1, Judah became His dwelling place, and Israel His kingdom, Psalm 112:2; the sea recognized this and fled, while the Jordan was turned back, Psalm 112:3. We should not merely reflect on the past events, but recognize that they also forecast what is to come. While miracles occurred in that nation, the present was intertwined with an eye toward the future. The accounts differ from our understanding, ensuring that they cannot be deemed merely repetitive of history but rather prophetic of future occurrences. Initially, we read that the Jordan was stopped at the source of its waters as the people passed through; additionally, we do not find mentions of mountains leaping or hills moving in the same manner as depicted. The Psalmist, having declared, "The sea saw it, and fled; the Jordan was pushed back," then adds, "the mountains leaped like rams, and the hills like lambs," Psalm 113:4. He then poses the question, "What ails you, O sea, that you flee? And, O Jordan, that you turn back?" Psalm 112:5. "Why do the mountains leap like rams, and the hills like lambs?" Psalm 112:6.
We must understand what is being conveyed here, as both elements symbolize our own journey. These words encourage self-reflection. If we embrace the grace bestowed upon us, we are Israel, the descendants of Abraham, as stated by the Apostle, "Therefore you are Abraham’s seed." ... Therefore, no Christian should consider himself foreign to the identity of Israel, as we are united through Christ with the believing Jews, among whom the chief apostles emerged. Our Lord affirms in another passage, "And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd." John 10:16. Thus, the Christian community is rightly seen as Israel, which is synonymous with Jacob. Yet, those Jews, rightly criticized for their betrayal, discarded their birthright for worldly temptations and follow Esau instead of Jacob. It is known that the phrase “the elder shall serve the younger” holds deeper meaning.
Egypt symbolizes suffering or oppression, representing this world from which we are called to spiritually separate ourselves, avoiding the yoke of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14. Each believer becomes a true citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem by first renouncing worldly attachments, just as the Israelites could not enter the promised land until they had departed Egypt. They did not leave until divinely assisted; likewise, no individual can truly turn away from this world without the gift of divine mercy. What was once a type is now realized in every faithful believer through the ongoing labors of the Church during these current days, as Blessed John records, "It is the last hour." 1 John 2:18. Listen as the Apostle, the teacher of the Gentiles, instructs us, "I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and they all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ." But with most of them, God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. These things occurred as warnings for us. 1 Corinthians 10:1-6. What more could you desire, dear brethren? This understanding comes not from human conjecture but from the Apostle’s proclamation of God and our Lord, who spoke through them. Though they were guided by the flesh, it was indeed the voice of God presenting truth: all that transpired in symbolism is now fulfilled in our salvation; the future was foretold then, while the past is revealed now, and the present is to be understood.
Consider how astonishing it is that the hidden mysteries of old are unveiled through the ancient texts. The prophet Micah proclaimed, "In the days when you went out of Egypt, I will show him wonders." ... Therefore, although the prophetic spirit gazes into the future in this Psalm, it appears to communicate merely the historical record. Judah, he states, was His sanctuary; phrases like "saw and fled" reflect past actions, while the Jordan’s receding and the mountains’ rising also portray past events, yet these words yield glimpses of the future ... For all that occurred long after the Exodus and before the Church’s establishment, he nonetheless proclaims that it undeniably anticipates what is to come. "In the days of your coming out of Egypt, I will show him wonders," indicating that nations will see and be confounded. This statement matches the observation that the sea saw and fled, revealing that through these historical accounts, the future is discreetly foretold. Who would claim that the phrase "shall see and be confounded" refers solely to past occurrences? Additionally, he pointedly references our foes, those sins that pursue us, ultimately vanquished and drowned at Baptism, as the Egyptians were in the sea. Since He does not delay in His wrath, out of His goodness and mercy, He will return and show compassion, casting all iniquities into the depths of the sea.
What does this mean, beloved? You who recognize your identity as Israelites by the seed of Abraham, who belong to the house of Jacob, the heirs of the promise, understand that you, too, have come out of Egypt by renouncing worldly attachments. You have separated yourselves from foreign nations, denouncing the blasphemies of the Gentiles through your profession of faith. It is not your own tongue, but rather a foreign tongue that remains ignorant of how to praise God to whom you proclaim Hallelujah. For in you, Judah has become His sanctuary; indeed, true Jewish identity is rooted not in outward appearances, but in spiritual authenticity through the circumcision of the heart. Romans 2:28-29. Therefore, examine your hearts to see if faith has purified them, whether confessions have cleansed them; in you, Judah has truly become His sanctuary, and in you, Israel has become His kingdom. For He has bestowed upon you the power to become children of God. John 1:12.
I urge you, do not seek your own path as the Jordan turns back, nor foreshadow any evil. For the Lord rebukes those who turn their backs on Him rather than face Him. Jeremiah 2:27. Anyone who forsakes the wellspring of existence by turning away from his Creator slips into the bitterness of this world, like a river flowing into the sea. It is beneficial to return, ensuring that the God whom he has turned from is now before him, and that the sea of worldly desires, once ahead, is left behind. This process enables one to forget what lies behind so they may reach for what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13, which will be advantageous for them post-conversion.
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. Psalm 113:7. What do we mean by "in the presence of the Lord" but recognizing Him who states, "Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:30. The earth quivers, yet in slothfulness, we compel it to shake, lifting ourselves up firmly before the Lord.
He transformed the solid rock into flowing water and flint into springs, Psalm 113:8. He softened Himself, turning what might seem rigid to others into a source of living water for believers, creating in them a fountain that flows into eternal life, John 4:14, as before, when He was unrecognized, He seemed hard. Those who exclaimed, "This is a hard saying; who can endure it?" John 6:60 were perplexed and did not wait for Him to reveal the Scriptures. That rock, representing hardness, became an abundance of water when at His resurrection He opened their understanding, starting with Moses and all the prophets, explaining how Christ must suffer, Luke 24:26-27, and sent the Holy Spirit, of whom He said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." John 7:37.
THEOSIS