July 31, 2026
Friday, July 31
Years ago, when I was young and foolish, I convinced Carrie to attend a sales pitch at one of those time-share resorts on Lake Conroe. We both knew we couldn’t afford to buy into the time-share, but the invitation was clear: We get either $5000 cash, a new car, or a trip to Orlando. “Worst-case scenario,” I assured her, “we can take the kids to Disneyworld.” So we spent all day with a chain-smoking salesman, feeling a little dirty for what we were doing. In the end, to my lack of surprise, we “won” the trip. But when I called the 800 number to claim our airplane tickets to the Sunshine State, I found that our options were limited to times when it would be highly inconvenient to fly. Plus, the cost of accommodations, food, and transportation in Orlando were not included. When we added those to the financial vortex that is Disney tickets, we knew our “prize” was still out of reach.
That’s the way this world works. Good things are never quite as good as they seem. But the Gospel is different. The Red Sea deliverance shows us: Our deliverance is complete. All-inclusive, you might even say.
Earlier this week, I mentioned that this miracle is referenced several times in the New Testament. One example is 1 Corinthians 10:1-2,
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Paul is comparing our baptism to the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. He’s saying, “When they walked through those waters, they finally knew they were completely free. Before that, they feared that the Egyptians might come and drag them back into slavery, but when they saw the soldiers floating dead in those waters, they knew they were totally free.” When we walk through the waters of baptism, it’s our way of saying we are totally free from the old life we used to live and the old terrors we used to fear. We were already free before that, the day we started following Jesus, but going into that water is just the outward sign that it’s true.
Remember the way Exodus 14 puts it: Israel watched the Egyptian cavalry go into that sea, and not a single one survived. When we are baptized into Christ, we aren’t just celebrating the day our sins were forgiven. We’re also celebrating the fact that evil no longer has any hold on us. Colossians 2:15 says that because of the cross, the demonic powers are disarmed. They can’t touch our soul. There is literally nothing the Devil can do to a child of God unless we allow it to happen.
But there’s more. Remember that the Israelites walked away from slavery carrying loads of Egyptian wealth. Think of it: When Moses first told the Israelites that God was going to deliver them, they were surely thinking, “We’ll be set free. We won’t have to make bricks anymore for people who treat us like dirt.” But God’s deliverance was so much bigger than they expected. They walked away not just free from slavery, but free forever because their enemies were wiped out, and free from poverty, because God provided for their needs. That’s a perfect picture of the Christian life. Jesus promises not just to send you to Heaven when you die. He promises abundant life.
“Thank you, Jesus, for abundant life. Where I am still living in spiritual poverty, show me. Not just so that I can enjoy what you purchased for me at such high cost, but so that others may see how good you are. In your holy name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
