Passing through Judgment

Exodus 14 has to be one of those landmark chapters in the Bible. It recounts one of the greatest events in salvation history and has much to teach about theology and life.
From the beginning of the chapter (vs. 4) God makes it very clear what His purpose is in orchestrating this event. He says, "I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." God was doing something spectacular as a display of His glory - as an out shining of His true essence - and those who saw it would come away knowing that He alone was Lord.
To set up this event God placed Israel in a difficult position. Having just escaped Egypt they were now trapped by the Red Sea on one side, and a pursuing Egyptian army on the other. This is so like our God to display His glory in the midst of our trying times. In fact, when we are experiencing challenges or situations which highlight our weakness we ought to look at them as opportunities for God to display his strength to His glory.
This is exactly what happens in this story. Unable to do anything to save themselves, Israel is thrust on the mercies of God. Moses, their leader, cries out to the Lord and the Lord acts on their behalf, and acts in such a way so as to display His majesty. He causes a wind to blow and part the sea and dry up the ground. This allows Israel to pass through the waters unharmed. Then God compels the Egyptians to follow them in, leading to their quick and devastating demise. The response of the people to this display of God's power was fear and belief. God was glorified and shown to be Lord just as He intended.
But I think there is something more in this account than history. I think this event foreshadows what the Lord would do for His church. Like Israel we all helpless before God. We are deserving of perishing in the waters of judgment. We are hounded by our bondage to sin. But God in His mercy acts on our behalf to display His glory. Because of our connection to Christ we are able to pass through judgment and arrive safely into newness of life, while at the same time our old self is being crucified or put to death. That is the symbolism of this event as well as the symbolism of the rite of baptism. We pass through the waters of judgment into the newness of life while our old self is crucified with Christ. And when God does such a work in our midst He is again glorified and seen as Lord.
Have you experienced the mercies of God in this way? Have you passed through the waters of judgment into newness of life in Christ? If you have exult in those mercies and seek to live in light of His Lordship. If you have not, today is the day of salvation. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ who is a strong deliverer and glorious Lord.