When Israel departed from Egypt and the house of Jacob emerged from a foreign land (Psalm 112:1), Judah became His sanctuary and Israel His kingdom (Psalm 112:2); the sea fled, and the Jordan was turned back (Psalm 112:3). We should not limit these accounts to historical facts, but rather recognize them as foreshadowings of what is to come. Though these miracles were in the past, they carry profound implications for our current reality, not simply reiterating past deeds but also foretelling future truths.
While Scripture does not explicitly state that the Jordan was turned back, it indicates that it was held up on the side nearest to its source while the people passed through. Further, it does not mention mountains leaping but rather that the essence of these events was captured and amplified in the Psalmist's expression, who declared, “The sea saw it and fled; the Jordan turned back” (Psalm 113:4), and then posed the question, “What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?” (Psalm 112:5, Psalm 112:6).
Therefore, we must examine what we can learn here; both the events recounted and the exhortation contained within these expressions extend an invitation to recognize our identity. If we embrace the grace of God we have received, we become spiritual Israel, the children of Abraham. The apostle declares, “Therefore you are Abraham's seed.” No Christian should perceive themselves as distant from the identity of Israel. We are united through Christ, the cornerstone, with the faithful Jewish believers who were among the first apostles. Our Lord further states, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them in too, so there will be one flock and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). Hence, the Christian community embodies true Israel, akin to the house of Jacob, while those who betrayed their heritage and sought pleasure in the world forfeited their birthright, aligning more closely with Esau. It was foretold that “the elder shall serve the younger.”
Egypt, often seen as a symbol of hardship and oppression, represents this world from which we must spiritually detach ourselves to avoid yoking ourselves with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Each person becomes a true citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem only after renouncing worldly desires, much like Israel could not enter the promised land without first escaping Egypt. Just as they required divine intervention to leave, no person can truly turn away from this worldly existence without the assistance of God's mercy. The reality that was once foreshadowed is fulfilled within every faithful believer in the daily life of the Church in this present age, referred to by Blessed John as “the last time” (1 John 2:18). The apostle, the messenger to the Gentiles, instructs us: "I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and passed through the sea; they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ate the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; they were struck down in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:1-6). What more clarification do you seek, dear ones? This is evident not by human interpretation but through the apostolic proclamation that God spoke through them; although expressed in human terms, the divine truth shines through: all events that occurred in types are now fulfilled in our salvation; past prophecies inform our present, revealing the future.
Hear this divine marvel: the once-hidden truths of ancient texts are now partially unveiled. As the prophet Micah states, “In the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show wonders” ... Thus, while the prophetic words glance into the future, they also appear to recount former events. The declaration that Judah was His sanctuary, the sea's fleeing, and the Jordan's retreat utilize past tense language yet hold future significance. Even centuries after the exodus, the psalmist's proclamations point decisively toward the future. “In the days of your exit from Egypt, I will show wonders” affirms that the nations will witness and be confounded by these miracles. If within these accounts the future is unwittingly unveiled, who would dare claim the phrases “shall see and be confounded” indicate only bygone events? The psalmist further alludes to our adversaries that pursued us—our sins, overwhelmed in baptism as the Egyptians were drowned in the sea—proclaiming, though He does not withhold His anger forever, He will return with mercy and cast all iniquities into the depths of the sea.
What about this, beloved? You who identify as Israelites through Abraham's lineage, part of the house of Jacob, heirs of the promise, recognize that your exodus from Egypt symbolizes your renunciation of worldly life; you have emerged from a foreign nation, setting yourselves apart from the defilements of the Gentiles. You do not worship with foreign tongues not suited to praise God, the one to whom you sing Hallelujah. For in you, Judah has indeed become His sanctuary; true identity does not arise from outward appearance or superficial rites of circumcision, but is found within, through the circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:28-29). Therefore, assess your hearts to see if your faith has truly transformed them, if your confession has purified them; in you, Judah becomes His sanctuary, and in you, Israel represents His kingdom. He grants you the privilege of becoming the children of God (John 1:12).
I urge you not to seek signs or predict misfortunes, as the Jordan turns aside; rather, recognize that the Lord rebukes those who turn their backs to Him instead of facing Him (Jeremiah 2:27). Anyone who forsakes their foundational truth and turns away from their Creator, flows without control into the discord of this world; it would be better for such a person to reverse course, turning their back from the world's evils to face God, that the very sea of worldly distractions might be left behind. They must let go of what is past in order to embrace what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13), which will serve them well upon their return.
Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob (Psalm 113:7). What does it mean to be in the presence of the Lord except to acknowledge Him who declared, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:30)? The earth trembled, though because of human laziness it did not strengthen itself in God’s presence. He transformed stone into refreshing water and hardened flints into flowing springs (Psalm 113:8). He softened His essence, making it life-giving for those who believe in Him, becoming for them a wellspring of water leading to eternal life (John 4:14). Previously, when He was concealed, He appeared rigid; thus, those who lamented, “This is a hard saying; who can accept it?” (John 6:60), faltered, failing to wait for Him to clarify when the Scriptures were revealed. That very hardness, that rock became a reservoir of water, as He uncovered the Scriptures after His resurrection, explaining to them, starting with Moses and all the prophets, how the Messiah must suffer (Luke 24:26-27), and granted the Holy Spirit, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37).
THEOSIS