V.1-4. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say that they turn about, and pitch their tent toward the valley of Hiroth, between Migdol and the sea, toward Baalzephon, and there over against the sea pitch their tent. For Pharaoh shall say of the children of Israel, They know not where out of the land; the wilderness hath determined them. And I will harden his heart, and he shall pursue after them; and I will bring glory upon Pharaoh, and upon all his might; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. And they did so 2c.
(1) Hitherto there have been told several plagues which God inflicted upon Egypt for the children of Israel's sake. Then followed, in the 12th chapter, the tenth plague, which struck the firstborn, and is the last plague, after which the children of Israel immediately came out of Egypt. But so that this, along with the other plagues, and also the redemption from Egypt, would not be forgotten in the world, but would be preached and known to everyone forever, God instituted the feast of Easter, and commanded all kinds of outward ways and customs or ceremonies to be kept at this feast. But if we look at these by heart, it seems to be vain foolishness. For it is strange that they had to eat the paschal lamb with unleavened bread, and stand dressed up, as if they were wanderers. One cannot calculate the reason why God commanded it in this way. However, God undoubtedly wanted to bind the eyes and minds of the descendants by this special way.
Ears to this exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.
(2) Just as we Christians are commanded to preach, praise, sing and speak of the memorial of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to preach, speak, write and write about His glorious work forever and ever, that He was the Son of God, born of Mary, crucified and died, and rose again from death on the third day, so that He might deliver us from death, sin, hell and the power of the devil. 1, 23. ff], and that this remembrance might remain in the world, the Lord Christ instituted the reverend sacrament of the altar, an outward ceremony and manner of receiving in bread and wine the body and blood of the Lord Christ, which we should practice, preach, sing, and say, commemorating his passion, death, and resurrection. In the sacraments he wants to be taken hold of and found, and to be with us.
(3) Baptism is also a sure sign of taking hold of the true God, who created heaven and earth, and whose Son died for us, and who gives us the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In the same way, the paschal lamb was to be a reminder to the same people of Israel that God was present with them, and that they served Him and called upon Him, because He had brought them out of Egypt through so many miracles. And to strengthen this memory, this outward sign of the paschal lamb is used. For God has
He has always revealed himself to the world through his word and outward signs, and he has done this because he cannot bear us building our own bridge to heaven and seeking him there.
(4) Just as those who wanted to climb to heaven with their works did before that time, when we were monks. We preached: If I am shaven, and have a plate, wear a black cap, then I please God. Yes, you please the devil on your head. Such things are all set up and invented by them. I will get him with my sign. 1) Such a sign and signifiers invented by me are not valid; it is the devil. I shall have a sign, and that is an outward sign; but not that which I have instituted, created and devised, but which God has instituted. I shall have such a sign, of which God Himself says: "This is what I have instituted, that it may be such an outward sign, so that you may feel that I am such a God, and that I am present with you.
5 According to history, this is so that it may be said with certainty: God truly dwells here. So he also gave the sacraments as a sign, so that one could say: God truly dwells there. I have not instituted it, nor has any man devised it, but it has come from heaven; lest I should add by myself, and not make a consecration to please God.
006 As Jeroboam prepared two calves, one in Dan, and the other in Bethel, and preached, Behold, Israel, here is thy God, which brought thee up out of Egypt: and the people went and sacrificed there, thinking that there was the right worship, and that God was there: and that they called upon the true God, they suffered them not. The prophets have broken up with the false teachers and have preached to each other, and they have also recently perished, so that they have all been slain because of this punitive preaching.
7 So we have also done, and with the
1) Here the relation is again very unclear. With this last sentence, perhaps it should be said: I will seek to attain Him [God] with the outward signs raised by myself. Cf. f.
The monks and popes who pretend that their indulgences, masses, vigils, pilgrimages, monastic life, fasting, praying and almsgiving should make them a gracious God, and that their life would be the right service of God.
8. but God says: Here you will find me, in the preaching chair, in baptism, in the Lord's Supper, for this is my outward order. But we, in the papacy, have pretended and said: If you want to go to heaven, you must go out of the world into a monastery, crawl into a cloister; there, you will find our Lord God; so we have fallen into it, like swine into the gate.
9 Now, although this seems foolish and foolish, it should apply in the Christian church alone. For God wanted to give His people outward signs, outward pieces and order, so that they would meet Him and find Him, and thus He wanted to control and prevent them, so that they would not invent their own worship services.
They did not have to wear shoes; item, carry sticks in their hands, and use other ceremonies. Nothing seems glorious there, but everything has a foolish appearance. But at the same time, before baptism and the sacrament of the altar were ordained, it was a great thing that God wanted to draw and bind the people to Himself with these outward things, and also to bind their eyes and ears to this ordinance, so that they would be right and true.
Our fictitious devotion and works are not like this, even if we use the cap and monastic life in the same way. For the human condition is not valid, and even if one uses it well, my cap is of no use to me. Circumcision does not help either, as St. Paul [1 Cor. 7:19] teaches; but the divine ordinances are all based on faith. Alfo the sacrament of the altar urges me on faith, because the words: "Take, eat and drink" 2c., they demand faith. The same faith is not lacking. Even though I am a prankster, God's word and order is nevertheless in its power and remains with the faithful. So they also sang, and remembered when they ate the paschal lamb: "I am the
O Lord, your God, who brought you out of Egypt." You must now believe this.
(12) Those who have misused it have done so to their detriment; the order is in itself delicious, and the word has remained right, true, good, and wholesome. But if I say, I will go to a monastery, and so I will be saved, the same word is not right, for I do it without faith. Therefore, what God ordains, however foolish it seems, because it has God's word for it, that is valid for your faith. As far as this story is concerned, in our time all this has ceased, and now something else applies than the sacrament of baptism and the altar.
013 Let this be said of the history. Afterward the children of Israel went out of Egypt, taking with them all the goods they had borrowed and borrowed, and leaving all the firstborn dead behind them, and so they must go out by night, being driven out in haste, so that they cannot make dough for bread.
V.9-12 And the Egyptians pursued after them, and overtook them, when they were encamped by the Red sea, with horses, and chariots, and horsemen, and all Pharaoh's host, in the valley of Hiroth against Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh was come nigh unto them, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians went after them; and they were sore afraid, and cried unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Were there not graves in Egypt, that thou hadst to lead us away to die in the wilderness? Why hast thou done this unto us, to bring us out of Egypt? Is it not that we said unto thee in Egypt, Cease, and let us serve the Egyptians. For would it ever be better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness?
(14) We will soon hear how they were delivered from King Pharaoh, and they have a beautiful example of faith. They went to the Red Sea at God's command, at His direction and instruction, and pitched their tents there, having God's command and calling for themselves, but came into great danger and distress because of it. For when they come into the wilderness,
They were situated so that they had the Red Sea in front of their noses, and six times a hundred thousand fighting men were with them, without any other women, children, servants and maids, who could not jump over the sea. After that there were high mountains on both sides, so that they were like a gulf between two great mountains, and in front they had the sea. Behind comes the enemy Pharaoh, and presses on them with all power, and the enemy thinks: Ei, it is good, there they will not escape me over the sea, so they will not be able to climb me over the high mountain. Falls therefore into delusion, that he thinks, he has them now, as he himself wants. And indeed he had them, just as one might have a mouse in a trap, and partridges in a yarn. But he did not think that God would help them. But God announced this danger to the children of Israel beforehand, and also promised them help and salvation, because he wanted to put honor on him and prove that he alone was God.
(15) From this we may learn how it is with those who walk in the divine profession, that temptation, hardship and danger come under their eyes. For the devil does not celebrate, but sends all kinds of impulses to them, if they want to get tired and weary of the profession. But God knows well about such danger and wants to help them out of it. For He does not send such distress to His own to destroy them, but to show His grace and mercy toward them, and to show His earnestness, wrath and displeasure on His enemies. For this reason he also says in this place that he wants to give honor to Pharaoh and all his power, and that the Egyptians should realize that he is the Lord.
16. but they, the children of Israel, can neither see nor know this; indeed, the fear and distress of death comes into their faces, as they testify with their own words, when they say to Moses, Yes, "were there not graves enough in Egypt, that we should have died there?" 2c. If we fall over the mountains, we break our necks in two; if we jump into the sea, we drown; if we run back, we fall on the enemy's sword. And so there is a great clamor and a great cry.
The people complained because they did not all believe and trust in God. Many of them also left Egypt for the sake of carnal freedom, because they wanted to be noblemen after the great work, hardship and joyful service. But when the cross and the danger of death came, their unbelief became apparent, their mouths were full of blasphemy against Moses, and their gestures showed great impatience and despair against God.
(17) Moses' heart also trembled and wavered here. For he was their duke and commander, their chief and captain, that he thought: You have carried them out, and now you bring so many people around your neck. See how they are cheering for you. Such inward melancholy and crying of the heart of Moses is heard by God quietly and soon, although Moses does not cry out much. For this is the reason that he was much too afraid and anxious to do so.
This is a right, beautiful kind and piece of faith. There one feels the power of the divine word, and what the Christian's faith is. The Christian trusts God, and is well pleased with what God does with him. He could have led the children of Israel through the sea soon, but he wants to try them even better and lets them lie all night so that they can see the tents of Egypt behind them. But the angel of the Lord goes before the children of Israel in a cloud, and now that the Egyptians are following them, the cloud descends and sits between the Egyptians and the Israelites. Now the Egyptians do not think otherwise, because it is only a weather, and cloudy, dark clouds; but God says to Moses, "Strike the sea with your rod; immediately a wind comes and tears the sea apart, so that it stands on both sides like two walls.
19. before that they were very sad, lamenting, they are of death, and these are their words, "were there not tombs in Egypt?" 2c. They want to say: Fie on you, Moses, you desperate villain, you would be worth to be torn with teeth or tongs. Now we think, when such a story is told to us, that they have done too much to the things; but if we had been there, we would have lamented the same. If still
If some warring nation were to come today and attack us without warning, we would all despair. But here we must look at their faith and see into their hearts. Their faith closes its eyes, and does not see the sea, nor the mountains, nor the enemy, but hangs only on the word of God, that God had said: I will do it, and out of Pharaoh's house of service I will bring forth the children of Israel.
20 Nevertheless, look at how strangely he attacks it. Since he wants to set them free, he leads them all the more into death. God says: I will do it. But one would say, "How will you do it? For here is Pharaoh's sword; item, the high mountains and the deep sea, and the great power and might of the enemy. Where shall we go? To bring a man to life when his head is cut off is slow. But God says: Let me take care. Do you then say: It is impossible, reason cannot believe it! Yes, answers GOD, I will have that too; see on my word. I must believe that God can blow away the sea like a stick, and that He can move the mountains, and drive away the sword of Pharaoh, and remove the earth. For he has made heaven and earth.
(21) This many have believed. For God is able to make the sea dry as if a bridge were crossing it, and the soft water must become hard as a wall; but the mountains must become soft as water or a river, and the sea must be a fine, dry path. When one has stepped into it a little before, it has squeaked. 1) Therefore, whoever has seen these walls of the sea and has seen that this sea has become a wall, may think: Who would be so bold as to go in? And if a man were so bold, he should be afraid lest the waters fall upon him and drown him. For the sea stood upright on both sides, as if it were cut in the middle. There one had to fear that
1) Quacking is probably as much as: quacking, making a splashing noise.
not the water wants to fall on your head. Because no one holds it, there is no wall drawn under it.
But faith that keeps it, that knows that God keeps it. The sea will have opened wider than this city of Wittenberg is long or wide; six, seven or eight miles long. This is a great separation and a glorious redemption, and the miracle is so great that one cannot marvel enough at it. So long shall the sea stand for the children of Israel, until they are all over with their goods and chattels. Think how much time they must have taken to get through with such a large warring nation. For this people must have leisure and space to pass through; they must have passed a day, two or three, eating and drinking as they went, for otherwise they would not have had much food or drink in the midst of the sea.
(23) It has been an excellent thing, though it is described here in brief words; but if you think about it and calculate it, it is a great, wonderful thing, and the bottom or ground in the sea has been as deep, and the water as high, as two high, great mountains. That has granted six or seven miles, that in the sea has been a dry way and fort, as otherwise a road on a land.
24 Now, in truth, it was bold people who dared to enter and go in. Is it not a miracle? But it is the right kind of faith, which is seen here in the children of Israel. Faith closes the eyes, though not completely, because the heart is trembling. But they trust in the word, and believe God can either pave the sea, or make the mountains level and even, or blow away the Egyptians, or strike them all to death at once.
(25) If we also believed that when we were in distress and danger of life and limb, when death crept up on us or we fell into the hands of our enemies, we would say: I have a God who has promised me that he will not forsake me; there is his word that he will save me and keep me alive. When I believe this, I do not look at the enemies, at death, sword, pestilence,
I will not go through hunger, prison or any other hardship that comes my way, but I will go through it. And so at last the enemies must be turned to powder and ashes, and the spears to straw; as Pharaoh with all his armor drowns and disappears before their eyes.
(26) But if anyone does not believe, God cannot perform miracles or wonders on him, but he must perish and cannot escape death. But they that trust in God shall be saved, if heaven and earth should perish. For he has thus promised, saying, If thou shalt believe, thou shalt be saved [Ps. 125:1 ff]. His word is more to him than heaven and earth. For with his word he created all things; therefore he also wills that his word and promises should be believed more. Even if all the world, the heavens, the earth and all the stars were against you and proved to be your enemies, you should still trust my word. For is not his voice so mighty that it could sweep away the heavens and the mountains? It is not seen, but he who believes has it.
(27) Faith is quite a miracle; it makes a man, who is otherwise a weak, poor creature, have such great courage that he becomes so proud that he can say: If all devils fell upon me, even if all kings, emperors, heaven and earth were against me, yet I believe and know that I shall be preserved. Faith is a great thing; one can never understand its power, strength and might enough.
For this reason, this example of faith is glorious. The divine word and faith have great power; therefore nothing is impossible for faith, nor too difficult, nor too bitter [Marc. 9, 23]. Faith is a great and glorious work. He that believeth is a lord, and though he die, yet must he live again. If one is poor, he must be rich; if one is sick, he must be healed. So when one has greased the cart 1) by faith, the cart goes on. But we do not practice faith,
1) Eislebensche: Karn.
and do not yet realize that God can help us in all our needs; item, that faith is stronger than heaven and earth, or all creatures. For God Himself says [Luc. 21, 33. 1: "Heaven and earth must pass away; but His word, that passeth not away."
29 Thus it is seen here expressly and actually that the children of Israel did not help themselves by their armor of war, although they also had sword and other armor. For the fist or human reason cannot help here; the water in the Red Sea cannot be poured out, nor can the high mountains be crushed or shattered, even if they had fasted forever. But there is no other help here than God's word and promise, that God says: I am with you; I will be your God. This word is not our work. Item, that he says to Moses [v. 26.], "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may fall upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen." This word alone they shall follow and cleave unto; and we also to him, as to the right Asylum, have refuge and comfort.
(30) It is a joke and a mockery to reason that Moses strikes the sea with his staff, and the sea is afraid and runs away from each other, and stands on both sides as a wall, as if Moses took a spoon or a gun, 1) and wanted to scoop out the water, when the whole world could not scoop it out. But this is it that God says: I will save you. Thus saith Moses and the children of Israel, We believe it, O Lord. And Moses says, "Go on, open up the sea. So faith pervades and divides the waters and the sea from one another. Therefore we should also learn to believe, and not despise these beautiful, comforting examples.
031 Now that the children of Israel are passed through, Pharaoh, who is senseless, foolish and foolish, thinks, I also will pass through. For he sees not the miracle and wonder of God, but is blinded and hardened, saying in his heart, We also are pious, we will pass through like the children of Israel; and yet we are desperate and wicked.
1) "Grinded" is probably as much as: Scale, scoop.
The children of Israel, who persecute God's people, think that now they will deal with them and afflict them. But when Pharaoh and the Egyptians come a day's journey into the sea, and the children of Israel are through, God says to Mosiah, "Strike into the sea, and the waters (that stood as walls on both sides) will fall into each other again.
(32) Why did not the mighty king of Pharaoh defend himself? The wheels flow away from the chariots, and all his power swims in the Red Sea. For God has caused a weather, a wind, roaring, terror and flight to come among them, so that they cry out, O let us flee, now is the time to flee. But they had come too far into the hole, and were all stuck together in the water, some hundred thousand men. Then the water was all over and they were all drowned, because not one of them had escaped.
So God can save His people and help them. If Pharaoh had had faith, the walls of water would have remained standing; but since he does not have faith, the stones turn back into water. Faith turns water into stones, it also turns fire into water, and it can turn water into fire, and God does it as he wills who believes, as the 145th Psalm, v. 19, also says: Deus facit voluntatem timentium se, he does the will of those who fear him. This is what God wants us to know from Him, and this is what we should do to Him, that He wants to help the faithful. That is why he has done these miraculous works, so that we may also learn to believe and expect God's help. As in the prophet Isaiah, chapter 30, v. 15, God exhorts us to faith and hope in divine help, saying: "In silence and hope you will be strong. As Moses also says: "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see what salvation the Lord will do for you today.
(34) Thus far we have heard of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, as before of the paschal lamb and the firstborn, which the Holy Spirit signified and signified by these two things to come to pass in the new testament. Now the third and last one is still to be dealt with behind the scenes, as how the children of Israel through
went through the Red Sea. God did a great miracle in leading the people of Israel through the Red Sea with dry feet, because otherwise they were trapped on both sides. For they had the Red Sea before their eyes; on their backs the enemy pursued them, the king of Egypt; on either side was a great mountain range and high cliffs over which they could not climb; they were therefore in great distress and trouble, and death was before their eyes. Therefore they said also unto Moses, Were there not graves in Egypt?" In spite of all these obstacles, God nevertheless directed this march or passage through the Red Sea. So that he wanted to indicate that he could and would help us in all our needs and concerns, that he also knew how to find ways and space where there was no way or space at all, and in sum could make everything out of nothing.
Interpretation of this story.
(35) Now let us also consider what the Red Sea is. In Greek it is called the Red Sea, not because the water is red, for it is one sea, but because it had a red shore; the mountains on the shore or edge had red earth. In Hebrew it is called the Reed Sea, because many reeds and canes have grown on the shore from time to time.
(36) Now we have done three things before it comes to pass. First, the Israelites are terrified, and it is as if they were dead. Then God promised that he would harden the Egyptians to follow the Israelites to the sea, and said to Moses, "Strike the sea with your staff and the water will be divided. Third, he sends an angel before the people in the air, and the angel must lie down behind the people and retreat, and sit down between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Our Lord God does not take care of His people in any other way than as a father or mother takes care of her children, cares for them and helps them [Ps. 103:13]. For God takes care of them with such concern and diligence that He does not abandon them in times of need, but helps them out and rescues them.
His. But he will not come sooner, unless all is gone, and utterly desolate, that the trouble is greatest [Ps. 9:10]. Before that, everything must fall to pieces, and the oxen must stand on the mountain, and the string must be pulled to its highest point, so that it now wants to burst; the water must go over mountains and valleys, before they will be delivered from the Egyptians.
37 For this reason, the help has been delayed so long that they are in despair over it, thinking, "Oh, who would have died and been buried already? They grumble and are impatient. This shows our weakness and sin. When the conscience is frightened, it fears God's wrath, which makes one despondent and stupid.
038 Then Pharaoh also is after one, that is, the lawgivers, who make heaven too narrow, and hell too wide, and make one despair, and fear that he shall be eternally lost. So the children of Israel feared that they would lose their hair and be lost in this misery of death. Now this is a miserable torment, which is often lamented in the Psalms, where the saints say, "O Lord, you have cast me out of your sight" [Ps. 51:13]. Item, in the 6th Psalm, v. 1. f.: "Oh Lord, do not punish me in your anger, and do not chastise me in your wrath. O Lord, be merciful to me, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled, and my soul is greatly distressed. O Lord, how long!" Wherever I look, I die among my enemies. I am frightened everywhere, heaven and earth have become too narrow for me, I could stay nowhere, everywhere were my enemies.
(39) We are taught that we should not fall into despair, nor despair, and how we should get out of trouble in sorrow. For if it does not come to such a hard state and move, then God's grace and help does not taste good to us.
40 Then Mosi was told to strike the sea with his staff, and the water would be divided, become dry, and stand like two walls. The water that would otherwise drown others must become the protection and keep them alive. The one that should choke and cause damage to the
That must do to the pious and bring them to life. That should also lead to hell, that must help to heaven.
(41) Many prophets and psalms have been concerned about the Red Sea, that it served the people of Israel for life, and yet it was the death of Egypt. So wonderful is God that he helps me to bliss with that which is otherwise my hell, and that he brings me to honor through disgrace. The Red Sea would have been the right bitter death for the children of Israel; they would all have been drowned in it, as it happened to the Egyptians; nevertheless, this death is a life for the Israelites. And it is said here that the sea stood as two walls, as if there were no water at all.
42 But how does this happen? Because Moses struck it with a rod, stick or staff by God's command. It is the blow that does it. It is a foolish thing that he should strike the water with a rod, and this blow should have such power that it should divide the sea, that it should stand as two walls, and become the Israelites' shelter and shield. If it were not written in the Scriptures, it would be considered the greatest folly and foolishness for a piece of wood or a stick to do such great things. But it is that God could have done it just as well without the staff of Moses, and the staff would not have been necessary. For God did it, and not the staff, if one wants to look at it right. For the text says: When the sea was smitten with the rod, there came a wind that lifted up the sea, and it was dry. The wind took it away, and not the staff.
The rod is the holy gospel; as everywhere in the holy Scriptures God's word is called a rod, as in the third and twentieth Psalm, v. 4: "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," 2c., and in Iesaiä in the eleventh chapter, v. 15, it is said: "He will make his hand pass over the waters with his strong wind, and will beat the seven rivers, that one may go through with shoes. This is done with the rod or staff, so that it must go and be beaten, and be driven with joy between the seven rivers.
to sinners; this then makes consciences confident. When the blow is struck, sin, the devil, death and all misfortune depart. After the blow, the wind blows away the sea, so that it becomes space; that is, when God's word is driven, then the rod is struck into the water, and after the word follows the Holy Spirit, who blows away the water and makes a courage, renews the hearts; then death, sin and all misfortune is gone, disappears, atomizes and flies away.
Now this is a wonderful art of God, that he acts with us through the oral word when it is preached, gives and bestows the Holy Spirit, who creates that nothing must harm a Christian man, but the counterplay must take place so that what would be harmful and corrupt in himself and in his nature may also be helpful and useful to him [Proverbs 8:34 ff]. The casting of the rod into the sea is to freely thrust out the gospel, to preach and drive it, in temptations bodily and spiritually. Then the Holy Spirit comes and makes room. So it is when sins weigh me down, my evil conscience weighs me down and drives me to despair; the more these offend and weigh me down, the more I am driven to hope in God.
45 This is a merry and subtle warfare, that I have the word of God, and hear Christ preached, that he is my Lord, and stand for me [Eph. 6:13, Pf. 144:1]. Then my former life and being, also my sin is there, which is like the Red Sea, where Pharaoh says, This and that thou hast not kept: but the more the law, sin and devil torment me, the more I hope, and space is made for me, if I cleave to the word of God. So also the sins must help a Christian; and if he had not sin, he would not come through so well. For if I did not feel sin, the evil life and conscience, the power of the divine word would never taste good to me. But because they torment me and make hell hot and terrible, I am all the more aware of the power of the divine word, which I cling to and brings me through.
46 Thus God has decreed in this matter; and what I speak of sin, that
is also said by others. You will not get out of it but by the word of God alone, when you strike the sea with the rod; that is, if you accept God's word, then no misfortune need harm you. The word of God divides it tremendously, so that this same sin may benefit you and help you to get through it much better than otherwise. So the sea makes alive that which otherwise kills. This is done by the rod, and that the wind comes, which makes everything dry and dries it. The rod did not do it, but the staff only struck; but the wind did it. For God wants to give the Holy Spirit through the word; without the word He will not do it [Joh. 3, 8. Gal. 3, 2.]. He could have divided the water without the rod, but he did not want to do it. So the wind will not divide and drive away your temptation and calamity without the rod or without the word of God. Hold fast to the word alone, take it in your fist, and strike freshly into the midst of sin and death; here is God's word, and it will make all things pass away, and make room.
Otherwise, the devil has filled the world with spirits preaching from the wind and the Spirit, but without the staff of Moses, and has abandoned the holy Scriptures. I warn you to beware, for I greatly fear we will lose God's word again because of our ingratitude. The wind does not divide the sea unless one has struck it with a rod. God does not enlighten you without His divine word.
48 The rod is nothing compared to the sea, if one wants to calculate it with reason. For the staff is about two cubits long, so the sea is about eight or ten miles wide; nor does Moses strike it with his staff, because God told him to strike it; and the wind soon followed, dividing it and drying it. So also the word of God is a bad letter, black ink, a word like another word. Then they say: Well, what will that redeem from sins, death, the devil and hell? But see thou, and handle diligently the divine word, and the Holy Ghost shall come, and follow with the word, and smite out all thy calamities, and help thee through.
The other Pharaohs, Pharaoh himself, were drowned in the Red Sea; that is, where the word of God is not, but the doctrines of men and the statutes of men are, or the law of God, and trust in good works, all are drowned.
(49) Pharaoh is a teacher without God and without the Holy Spirit, an idle preacher who makes one fall from the grace of God and walks in his own holiness and trust in good works. He who follows this teacher must fall to the ground, he cannot resist it. But whoever has God's word, sin, the law and death do not harm him. But he who does not have the rod, but hoards other spirits, whom he follows, he will drown in his conscience.
V. 19, 20: Then the angel of God, who reigned before the tents, rose up and came behind them, and the pillar of cloud also departed from behind them, and came between the tents of Egypt and Israel. And there was a dark cloud, and it lighted up the night, so that they could not come together all that night, both they and they.
50 It is also a miracle that God calls an angel to interpose between the children of Israel and Egypt. This is a glorious comfort, that God cares for his own in a fatherly way. For He makes His help appear here, and gives us the angels as guards and escorts. It is as if God wants to say here: I will make it so that Pharaoh will chase after you; then he will guide you. Thus, in His word, God has announced to us beforehand what is to come and what would pass over us. That is to say, fatherly and faithfully warned and admonished, and also promised that He would not forsake us. For there is God's word, which says: Those who persecute you shall serve and benefit you. Just as even today the pope and tyrants have promoted the gospel against their will, even though they have raged and raged against it and wanted to suppress it completely.
Therefore, God acts fatherly enough with the Israelites, proclaiming to them that He will not forsake them. Therefore, the saints have taken much comfort that God is so close to His saints that even the angels have given them
The fourth and thirtieth Psalm, v. 8, also says: "The angel of the Lord is encamped round about them that fear the Lord, and helps them out"; and the 91st Psalm, v. 11, 12, says: "He hath commanded his angels concerning thee, that they should keep thee in all thy ways, that they should bear thee up in their hands, and that thou shouldest not strike thy foot against a stone." If we believe this, we should be the more joyful. For the dear angels are our guards and escorts, yes, our servants and attendants, who must wait on the Christians so that no harm befalls them, as the epistle to the Hebrews [Cap. 1, 14.] testifies that the angels are ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who are to be saved. So we also see here that the children of Israel do not have any wall or rampart around them, but like a great host, by which they are protected from Pharaoh, so that they are now safe and certain of God's help.
(52) But faith is needed to know that the angels of God are around us, just as an army of war encamps and settles in the field with its armor, spear, rifles, horse and chariot. This is undoubtedly true, whoever could believe it alone, and trust in God, would be sure that the dear angels are standing with him. Therefore, we should take comfort in the protection of the angels and be sure that we will not have or gain any trouble in dangerous situations. I myself would rather have one angel around me than four and twenty Turkish emperors with all their power and authority; even if they had a hundred times a thousand guns with them, it is still nothing compared to one angel [2 Kings 19:35].
And if we had no other consolation than this one, it would be enough. Tell me, is it not a great thing that God is so careful for us, and looks so closely upon us? What more can he do? Yes, you say, I would like to see an angel. Dear, there would be no need for faith; but one must believe it. We have a fine, glorious example of this in the history of the prophet Elisha [2 Kings 6:14-16]. His servant saw that a great army of Syrians was coming around the city of Dothan, where Elisha was, and was besieging it. This knew
When the servant told him, he said, "Do not be afraid, there are more of them with us than with them," and asked God to open the servant's eyes, and he saw that the mountains around Dothan were all full of fiery horses and chariots. Yes, if one opens his eyes in this way, he will see. Therefore, if you trust in God alone, you will see not only a hundred thousand angels, but all the mountains full of angels; indeed, you will see God Himself around you.
(54) So it is also shown here that the angel had to take care of the people of Israel against the Egyptians, so that we may know that we have such a Lord who protects and guards us, so that no harm may befall us (Ps. 121:4). Truly, it is a sin and a shame that we have so many beautiful histories and sayings of the holy Scriptures, and yet we cannot trust the dear God, who has given us such strong, mighty and comforting promises in this case; nor do we go there and respect it. This is all due to our sorrowful unbelief.
V. 21, 22: When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the LORD caused it to pass away with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry, and the waters were divided from one another. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon dry land, and the waters were for walls unto them on the right hand and on the left.
55] This is the other miracle that happens here, that God leaves the waters as walls, and the depths of the sea must be dried up, so that the children of Israel may pass through; so that God's right hand, power and omnipotence may be felt, that He may well help His own in times of need, as a gracious God. So let us learn to believe in God. For this example shows us what faith is capable of, what help it achieves, and what emphasis it has. Of this the epistle to the Hebrews in the eleventh chapter, v. 29, boasts and preaches with these words: "By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through a dry land; and when the Egyptians wanted to follow them, they all sank and were drowned. [Now follows the third miracle:
V. 24-26 When the morning awakening came, the LORD shouted at the tents of Egypt from a pillar of fire and a cloud, and made terror in their tents. And thrusting the wheels from their chariots, he overthrew them with impetuosity. Then said the Egyptians, Let us flee from Israel: the LORD fight for them against the Egyptians. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand over the sea, that the waters may fall again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen 2r.
056 And when the Egyptians pursued after the children of Israel, and overtook them, God by an angel terrified them, that they should flee: but the sea smote them again, and kept them, and drowned them all.
(57) This miracle should awaken the fear of God in us, so that we may reflect on it and see how God can punish and overthrow the wicked and impenitent, as He is doing here to Pharaoh and Egypt. Therefore Joshua says in chapter 4, v. 23, 24: "God dried up the Red Sea for this reason, and let them pass through, so that all the peoples of the earth would know the hand of the Lord, how mighty it was, and that they would always fear God the Lord" 2c.
(58) Now we must also treat the last part as the saying of St. Paul, 1 Cor. 10:1, 2, where he says: "Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized under Moses, with the cloud and with the sea," which in the same place is not a mystery or allegory, but a history. But if anyone desires to make secret interpretations, to interpret a history, and to draw it into an allegoriam, let him draw it on the divine word, and see how one deals with faith and conscience. St. Paul uses it as an example and history for himself, as if to say: "Our fathers were baptized in the sea, just as we are; that is, they also had God's word at that time, that they were told to die and enter eternal life through Christ; that they were therefore redeemed through the word and faith in Christ. Therefore, through faith in the word they have attained the same righteousness.
1) Eisleben's: the clouds.
which we also have. Abraham also entered eternal life and was baptized through the word of God to Christ.
(59) Being baptized in this place and several other times in the Scriptures (as when Christ told the two sons of Zebedee in Matthew 20:22, "Can you be baptized with baptism, that I may be baptized?") means and understands in itself every man's peril, challenge or work, commanded and imposed by God. This is his baptism. For he has God's word, and is led into many adversities, from which God helps him through the word, and all his suffering and temptation becomes like baptism to him.
60] But that St. Paul [1 Cor. 10:6] says, "All these things happened to them as an example," has been interpreted by some as if the example were an allegory or spiritual interpretation, but it is wrong; rather, it says, "All these things happened to the Jews, and this deed, as the passage through the Red Sea, happened as a figure, an example, and an example, to show that it will happen to us also. For just as they had their adversity and peril, from which God saved them, so we also have our adversity and baptism, from which we are saved. As if he should say: Whoever wants to be a true Christian and be saved must be baptized, that is, rolled, armored and afflicted, Apost. 14:22, of which we have many examples in the Scriptures. And it costs more to learn the Scriptures correctly than to learn them, as the idiots and false spirits themselves dream, so they soon get tired of the Scriptures.
61 The example here is not called a mystery, it was not a figure, but a great earnestness; God's word, which gives life [Ebr. 4:12], and the right faith were there; therefore it was not done to them in appearance, but the deed itself was there. The figure or example must not be drawn and interpreted on the spiritual interpretation alone; it was an example, that as they have done, so must we also do.
62) Although all histories have their interpretation, so that they signify Christ, they are also serious in themselves, and are
not only the shells, but also the core. St. Paul 1 Cor. 10:4 says: "They had the same drink with us," that is, the same faith in Christ as we have. How could they have led a meaning alone, and not have caught Christ Himself? Yes, indeed. So learn that it is not a meaning or figure, but an example.
Every man must walk in his sea of red if he is to bathe in it. Then learn how to divide the red sea, and
make a safe road for you. Do not look around at your good works, but take the staff, that is, the divine word. When you do this, the wind comes, that is, the Holy Spirit comes with the word and makes way, so that you can say: If it had not been for this calamity, I would have been there, and I would not have passed through as I have now. The water must help the children of Israel and be their wall; thus, what otherwise wants to hinder us and be harmful, that must prosper us to benefit and all good.