When Israel departed from Egypt and Jacob's household left a foreign land, Judah became His sanctuary and Israel His dominion, as highlighted in Psalm 112:1-2. During this time, the sea fled, and the Jordan turned back (Psalm 112:3). We ought to understand that these accounts are not merely historical but are also prophetic; they connect past miracles with future significance. Some details vary from our readings, suggesting that the retelling is meant to reflect not just previous occurrences but also future fulfillments. Notably, while the scriptural account doesn't specify that the Jordan turned back, it illustrates how it was held back from its source as the people crossed. Furthermore, it does not mention hills jumping, which is an addition in the Psalm. The verses proclaim, "The sea saw it and fled; the Jordan turned back," and elaboration follows with metaphors of mountains and hills leaping like sheep (Psalm 113:4-5).
Let us contemplate what lessons we can learn from these texts; they are both prophetic and reflective of our identity. If we embrace the grace of God bestowed upon us, we are the true Israel, heirs of Abraham, as conveyed in the Apostle's declaration, “Therefore ye are Abraham's seed.” No Christian should feel detached from the name of Israel, as we are united with the faithful Jewish community, including the chief apostles. Our Lord speaks of these connections as well, noting, “And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; and these I must bring in, that there may be one flock, and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). Thus, the Christian community represents Israel, akin to the house of Jacob, while those who betrayed their heritage for earthly pleasures divided themselves from Jacob and aligned with Esau, fulfilling the saying that “The elder shall serve the younger.”
Egypt symbolizes suffering or oppression, representing this world from which we are called to spiritually depart, in order to avoid being yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Each one can become a true citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem by first renouncing worldly ties, just as Israel could not enter the promised land without leaving Egypt. They could not escape without Divine assistance, as no person can withdraw from worldly entanglement without the grace of God. The historical accounts serve as types fulfilled in the daily experiences of the faithful amid this present age, which Blessed John terms as the last times (1 John 2:18).
The Apostle, a guide to the Gentiles, cautioned his brethren, saying, “I do not wish, brethren, to leave you in ignorance, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ. But many of them were displeased with God because they were cast out in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:1-6). What more could we desire? The Apostle clarifies that these historical acts were not mundane occurrences but divine foreshadowings of our salvation. What was once prophetic is now revealed in our deliverance; the future is foretold, the past is recounted, and the present is experienced.
Consider the profound revelation that the ancient scriptures, though veiled, can illuminate future truths. The prophet Micah states, “In the days of your going out of Egypt, I will show him wonders.” Therefore, while the Psalmist proclaims past events, his prophetic vision extends toward future revelations. When he asserts that Judah was His sanctuary and that the seas fled, he uses past tense to describe events that also signify forthcoming truths. Despite the time elapsed since the Israelites’ departure from Egypt and the establishment of the Church, the prophecy of wonders to come remains unequivocal.
“Since He does not withhold His wrath forever, because He is good and merciful,” in His mercy He will again turn to us, drowning our iniquities in the depths of the sea.
To my beloved brethren, remember that if you are true Israelites by descent from Abraham, members of the house of Jacob, inheritors of the promise, you too have escaped from Egypt by renouncing the world. You have left behind sinful nations through your commitment to godliness, separating from the blasphemies of the Gentiles. It is not your spoken words that sing Hallelujah, but hearts transformed by His grace. For Judah has become His sanctuary within you; true sonship consists not in mere outward appearance, but in inward transformation through the circumcision of the heart, as stated in Romans 2:28-29. So examine your hearts; consider whether faith has purified them. In you, Judah has become His holy place, and He has granted you the power to be called sons of God (John 1:12).
Yet do not seek to turn away like the Jordan, nor let your heart foreshadow ill will. The Lord admonishes those who turn away from Him (Jeremiah 2:27). Those who turn their backs on their Creator—like a river returning to the sea—fall into the bitterness of this world. It is best for such a person to repent, turning back so that God may again be before them. In this way, the worldly sea they once faced will be behind them as they strive toward what lies ahead, as urged by Philippians 3:13.
Tremble, O earth, in the presence of the Lord, in the presence of the God of Jacob (Psalm 113:7). What does it mean to be in His presence but to acknowledge Him who promised, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:30)? The earth trembles not only from His power but also in response to the slothfulness of mankind, designed to strengthen us in His holy presence.
He transforms solid rock into flowing waters and flint into springs (Psalm 113:8). He softens His hardness, giving refreshment to those who believe in Him, becoming a wellspring of life eternal (John 4:14). In times of His recognition, He may appear challenging, causing some to stumble (John 6:60); yet it is in Him that hardness flows into life-giving waters. This transformation was made evident at His resurrection, as He explained to His followers how Christ was to suffer. As Scripture was revealed, He invited all who thirst to come and drink (John 7:37).
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