40 Days of Faith: Day 29

Hebrews 10:28 – By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

The story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt is their nation’s salvation story. As we have seen, it is one of drama and intrigue. After 400 years of growing as a people, and after many years of enslavement, God sends them Moses, a shepherd and deliverer, who grew up in the king’s palace.

As Moses and Aaron work with the elders of the 12 tribes of Israel, it is clear that they have been sent by God. As noted yesterday, at the occurrence of the tenth plague, Moses warned Pharaoh and also prepared the people.

They believed that the tenth plague was real, and in doing so, took the necessary action to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts. In taking this action, they were spared the judgment of the Angel of Death otherwise known as the Destroyer.

In this salvation story, you have those who hear and believe by acting in faith and those who hear, and do not believe. In this salvation story, you have those who are spared the judgment, and you have those who are not spared judgment. In this salvation story, you have those who are rescued from the oppressive king, and those who are destroyed because they served the oppressive regime.

The story of Exodus for Israel is a picture for all of the nations of what God is doing through Jesus Christ. Because mankind is in Adam, and has inherited Adam’s sin nature, mankind is enslaved to sin, deceived by the oppressor, Satan.

Like the Exodus story, the salvation story through the gospel of Jesus, is one where people avoid judgment by placing their faith and trust in Jesus for the salvation of their souls. But the judgment isn’t just the death of a firstborn. Instead, it is eternal condemnation for all of eternity.

The Scripture describes this place of judgment as Hell. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines Hell as, “Place of future punishment for the lost, unrepentant, wicked dead.”[1] For a broader definition, the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible states:
 “Hell is the final destiny of unbelievers and is variously described by the figures of a furnace of fire, eternal fire, eternal punishment (Mt 13:42, 50; 25:41, 46); outer darkness, the place of weeping and torment (8:12); eternal sin (Mk 3:29); the wrath of God (Rom 2:5); everlasting separation from the Lord, never to see the glory of his power (2 Thes 1:9); the bottomless pit (Rv 9:1, 11); continuous torment (14:10, 11); the lake of fire, the second death (21:8); a place for the devil and his demons (Mt 25:41). The foregoing designations clearly show that the state of those in hell is one of eternal duration.”[2]

 Because of our identity as Adam’s offspring, we needed one who was not born of Adam’s seed to come and rescue us. Just like those who were aligned with Pharaoh also suffered the consequence or Pharaoh’s choices, those who are aligned with the Devil, and those who fail to take action by taking Christ as their savior, will also experience the same fate of the Devil – eternal torment.

 In March of 1748, John Newton, a rebellious sailor and slave trader, found himself caught in a violent storm off the coast of Ireland. As the ship was breaking apart, he cried out to God for mercy—something he had not done in years. Later that night, as he pumped water out of the sinking vessel, he remembered the words of Scripture his mother had taught him as a boy.

 Newton would later look back on that night as the turning point of his life—the moment when he first responded in faith to God’s call and escaped eternal judgment. Though his full conversion and growth in Christ would unfold over time, that storm marked the beginning of his rescue, both physically from the sea and spiritually from sin. Newton would go on to write the hymn Amazing Grace, testifying to God’s mercy in saving “a wretch like me.”[3]

 Faith not only looks to God’s promises of blessing but also takes seriously His warnings of judgment. The Israelites believed God’s word, acted in faith, and were spared. Pharaoh hardened his heart, ignored the warning, and faced destruction. The same choice stands before us today. To reject Christ is to face eternal separation from God. To trust Him is to be covered by the blood of the Lamb and spared from judgment. Friend, do not take lightly what God has said. Believe His word, apply His blood, and walk in the freedom of salvation. Today, take a moment to examine your heart and ask: Have I trusted fully in Christ for rescue? And am I urging others to escape judgment by pointing them to Jesus?

 Prayer:
Lord, I believe that Your Word is true—both in its promises and in its warnings. Thank You for sending Jesus, the Lamb of God, to take away my sin and rescue me from judgment. Help me to live with urgency, not wasting my days, but pointing others to the only hope that saves. Keep me mindful of eternity, Lord, and give me courage to share the good news of Jesus with those still in danger of perishing. May my faith be marked by gratitude, holiness, and a burden for the lost. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, pp 952–955.
[2] Ibid.
[3] John Newton, An Authentic Narrative of Some Remarkable and Interesting Particulars in the Life of John Newton (1764); Bruce Hindmarsh, John Newton and the English Evangelical Tradition (Oxford University Press, 1996).