Holiness typology...

Preface

We send forth these pages with the prayer that all that meets the approval of Christ may be blest to the upbuilding of His Zion, and that all mistakes may be overruled and may not make any lasting impression upon the reader's mind. If any one is disposed to seek for mistakes, we can save him the trouble of looking, for they are here, and one can generally find what he is looking for. So let the critical mind save itself time and labor by handing the book to some hungry soul, who will evidently have wisdom enough to choose the wheat and not attempt to feed on the chaff.

We do not claim entire originality in this work. ^' There is no new thing under the sun.

'^Is there any thing whereof it may be said. See, this is new? it hath been

6 PREFACE

already of old time, which was before us." EccL I : pj lo.

We know of no work devoted exclusively to holiness types of the Old Testament, and knowing that it would be quite impossible to send out a book on the subject of holiness in general, and expect one to find in it anything that is not found in other books, and in much better and more readable style, we have ventured to give this little volume a chance in the world, to fill any niche the others may not have found.

We kindly ask the prayers of the reader for God's blessing on this work.

W. E. S.

Contents

Chop. Page

1 . From Egypt to Canaan — Getting Started ... 9

2. From Egypt to Canaan — Crossing the Red

Chapter I. From Egypt To Canaan — Getting Started

In treating this subject, which, so clearly illustrates Christian experience, we notice four very important epochs in the journey of the Israelites to the land of Canaan.

1. Getting started from Egypt.

2. The deliverance at the Red Sea.

3. The defeat at Kadesh-Barnea.

4. The crossing of the river Jordan. In all these we find types of human

experience. '^Now all these things happened unto them (the Israelites, in their journey) for ensamples (margin, types): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of' the world are come." / Cor, 10:11. Egypt is a type of the world : its bondage illustrates the sinner's bondage to sin; Pharaoh symbolizes the devil ; crossing the Red Sea, lO HOLINESS TYPOLOGY

justification ; and crossing tlie Jordan, sanctification. We will notice first tlie difi&culties in starting from Egypt. There are five things worthy of note in these difficulties. The first is Pharaoh's pointblank refusal to let them go, and the other four are his concessions. When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh asking him to let the people go, he flatly refused.

^^And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go." Exodus 7:14* Of course he refused. They were his subjects. He would not relinquish his claim on them, for they were of too much service and brought in too much revenue into his coffers. Here we find the first difficulty in the way of the sinner seeking salvation. He feels that he needs and wants deliverance from the thraldom of sin. The devil has been a hard taskmaster. Surely he has been in the bondage of the devil.

^'To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Acts 26:18. *'He that committeth sin is

HOLINESS TYPOLOGY II

of the devil." i John. j:8. Will the devil let his subjects go? Will he quietly submit and say, '^All right, if you wish to be a Christian, I have no objections "? No. He will refuse, like Pharaoh. He will bring his infernal machinations to bear upon the seeker, to deter or persuade or frighten him from his purpose.

When Pharaoh saw that his refusal was unheeded he made a proposition.

CONCESSION NUMBER ONE.

^^And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God zn the land. And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: Lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us." Ex. 8:25-27.

Sacrifice in the land. Pharaoh was quite a schemer. He wanted to overthrow God's plan of deliverance. Egyptians regarded cattle as sacred. He knew, and so did Moses, that if tlie Israelites sacrificed cattle ^4n the land/' in sight of the Egyptians, it would bring forth their displeasure and the result would be a complete failure in their deliverance.

How like Satan ! When he sees that his refusal is unnoticed and his subjects are bound to leave him, he yields a point and proposes a compromise. ^'If you really mean to be a Christian, all right, but remain in the world." How many have heeded the compromise and are now sacrificing ^^ in the land "! They were honest in their desire to be Christians, but they failed to get clear away from the world. They have joined the church, have been baptized, are doing religion, but they are still '^in the land." They mingle with the world, act like the world, talk like the world, and dress like the world. They are simply in the world. Multitudes of such are deceived, and are crowding the broad way to hell. How miserable one must be who is trying to hold on to Christ with one hand and the world with the other ! But these two are too far separated to cling to both at once.

SucIl a one has no real sympathy or help from either. They are something like the bat. It seems the bat wanted to mingle with the mice, but was refused because it looked so much like a bird. Then it took to the birds, but was likewise rejected, seeing it looked so much like a mouse. Away with your bat religion. Be one thing or the other.

A certain professor was specially versed in entomology. The students decided to play a j oke on him . They obtained the body of one bug, the head of another, wings of another and legs of another, and placing them properly together made a fine specimen of a bug. Presenting it to the professor they asked him its name. After taking a good look at it, he finally remarked, 'Well, boys, I think that is a humbug." A little religion, no real salvation, a good deal of the world, somewhat of the devil, a good sprinkling of morality, some sanctimonious piety, well placed together, and you have a good type of a humbug Christian. Such people behold the joy and blessings and service of real Christians and wonder why they are not more blessed. They see the Christian's growth and wonder w^hy they do not grow in grace. They look with longing eyes as the saint runs up the shining way, and are disappointed when they see that in their experience they get nowhere. They are much like the two men who crossed a certain river one night just above a waterfall. They tied their boat to a stump and proceeded to have a good time. Late in the night, after getting under the influence of liquor, they got into their boat to return home. They rowed for a long time, but did not gain the other shore. They feared to stop rowing, as the current might take them over the falls below. So they rowed, and rowed, and rowed, all the remaining night, and when morning dawned, lo, and behold, they were still tied to the old stump.

Now, you who are going through the motions of religion, without enjoying salvation; w^ho have tried to start but got nowhere; have joined the church and have your name on its roll without joining the Lord and having your name written in heaven ; who are afraid to cease striving, for fear the current will sweep you over the falls, do you not see why you make no progress ? You are still tied to the old stump. You are hooked on to the world. You are yet ^^in the land."

Cut the shore line and launch out.

CONCESSION NUMBER TWO.

^^And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness ; only ye shall not go very far away. " Ex. 8:28. What a schemer ! He knew if they did not get very far away, he would not have very far to go after them. And Moses knew, if they were not far away, and saw hard times and got hungry, they would be so close to the leeks and garlic and fleshpots which they had left behind, that there would be a strong temptation to cross over and have a feast.

Thus, Satan, when he sees that he can not persuade one who desires to be a Christian to remain in the world, will propose for him to go only a little distance away. '' Live on the border land, then I shall not have far to go and bring you back. Live close to the world, and when you do not get enough from above to satisfy your longings, just step across and go to the theatre or card party or social dance, or if that is too worldly get up a fourth-class theatre or frolic in your church, for you must have some pleasure, especially when young, so be border-land Christians. " Thus he speaks, and thus he succeeds in, alas, too many instances. Oh, the sad failure in so many lives by hovering around the border line ! Sometimes in and sometimes out; sometimes with a ray of joy and light, and sometimes in the darkness of Egypt ; one day of resolving to do better, the next day down in the dumps.

Too much mixture, brother. Too near Egypt. ''Ye cannot serve God and mammon. "

Move away from the border. You are subject to too many allurements and too near the enemy's quarters. The story is told of a certain man who lived on the border line between the North and South during the war. He was an ''all things to all men'' sort of a make-up, in the wrong sense of that term. One day, looking down the road, he saw a party of soldiers having on them blue j ackets . He thought the Union men were coming and would ask him on which side he was, so he was ready with his answer as they put the question. On replying that he was a Union man and that his sympathies were with the North, they were glad they had met a friend, and so helped themselves to such as he had. Later, he spied another squad of soldiers, but they had on gray jackets. When they asked him who he was he replied that he was a Confederate, and that his sympathies were with the South. Being glad to find a friend, they likewise helped themselves and passed on.

But imagine his dilemma when, upon another occasion, he beheld a company of soldiers, some of them wearing blue coats and some of them gray. He felt sure they would soon ask him what he was.

He was afraid to say North and dare not say South. While he was trying to settle on something the question came,

1 8 HOUNESS TYPOLOGY

" What are you ?" He hesitated and stammered, and finally said, ''To tell the truth, I ain't nothing and not much of that."

Now, my border-land friend, the lines will be drawn, the question will be put. What will you reply ? That you are '' nothing and not much of that," or will you be all for Christ ? Oh, for an experience which will enable its possessor to say on all occasions, whether thrust v/ith the sinners or Christians, '' I am all for Christ ! "

CONCESSION NUMBER THREE.

^^And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh : and he said unto them. Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go ? And Moses said. We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go : for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. And he said unto them. Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones : look to it ; for evil is before you. Not so : go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord ;

for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence." Ex. 10:8-11,

What a proposition ! Leave the children behind. What a tendenc}^ for the parents to be drawn back where the children were !

When Satan cannot thwart God's plan with souls on the above propositions, but sees they are determined to leave his kingdom, his next move is to hold on to the children. In too many instances has he succeeded. Too many children of saved parents are left in Egypt. Parents may not always be to blame for this, for many have been saved after their children had grown up or got out from under their immediate control. But the promise is for us and our children, and God will not hold us guiltless unless we are claiming His promise and praying daily for them, and doing our best, by holy living and godly example and proper persuading, to bring them from darkness to light. Many parents have seen their children grow up in Egypt in their worldly ways and pleasures and have allowed them to

20 HOWNESS TYPOLOGY

wrap tlie insidious coil of worldliness around their own hearts, until they have been unconsciously drawn back to the same plane on which the children live. Now the children do not see enough in the lives of their parents to induce them to become Christians, and the parents wonder why the children are not saved. May not the answer be, '^ No inducement at home " ?

Many fathers and mothers before they will ever see their children saved will have to confess to them that they have not lived before them as they should, and will have to ask them to forgive their unchristian conduct.

CONCESSION NUMBER FOUR.

^^And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord ; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed : let your little ones also go with you. And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices, and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Our cattle also shall go with us ; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God."

This time they may take their children only leave their flocks and herds, or in other words, their possessions. Any thing to hinder them in their service to God.

Again we see the cloven hoof. If one is determined to be a Christian and get far away from the world, claiming the promise for His children, as a last resort he tries to persuade him to leave his possessions behind. And, as in the foregoing propositions, he frequently succeeds.

Some people will shout and seemingly rejoice in revival meetings ; will praise the Lord with happy hallelujahs, and sing, '' I'm glad salvation's free," and it seems to be with them, for you may approach them anywhere, and bring a glad response, but put your finger on their purse and they draw in and shrink up like a sea anemone when touched. Why is the church so hindered in its finances ? Why is there such a tendency to suppers, frolics and entertainments ; people running after the supper room instead of the '^upper room" ?

For two reasons, viz.: they have not enongh salvation to satisfy their longings, so they go to the world, or rather bring the world to them for it. The other is, the church members have left their possessions in Egypt, and the church has not the necessary means to run expenses, so they act as if God was bankrupt and they had to go to the devil for his assistance. Shame that the church cannot be run without running into the ground (world). Millions of heathen are groping on in superstition and darkness; many missionaries are waiting in vain to carry them the glad news; multitudes of small-salaried preachers are going without their meager stipulations ; numbers of churches are now defunct. Why? Principally because professed Christians have left their ''flocks and herds behind." It seems to be the devil's last hold on a sinner. The proper way is to recognize God's ownership of all our silver and gold, and then see to it that He gets systematically at least one-tenth. ''Will a man rob God?" Of course he will, and multitudes are doing it right

HOLINEvSS TYPOLOGY 23

along, and as a resnlt many precious souls are being robbed of the light and salvation that would come to them. A great deal depends on the start in the Christian race. Get a good start from Egypt. Not in the land, not hovering around the border line, not without claiming the promise for the children and not without our possessions. '^There shall not an hoof be left behind." This is the way to start.

Chapter II. From Egypt To Canaan — Crossing The Red Sea

The children of Israel were determined to leave Egypt, and leave they did. Six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty, ^'from twenty years old and upward," besides the women and children, take up their march from Egyptian serfdom. The deliverance at the Red Sea clearly represents the sinner's deliverance from his sins. ^^They were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual." Ex, I2:jg. Every sinner should hurry away from sin, for he may drop into hell any minute. No preparation is necessary, he cannot make himself better by tarrying.

' * If you tarry till you 're better, You will never come at all. "

The Lord did not lead them througli by way of tlie Philistines lest they shonld see war and get discouraged and go back. He knows just how to lead the sinner. He does not let too much hardship come at once or let the light on too fast, lest he should be disheartened and turn back. The pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night went before and was their guide. The Lord always goes before and guides the footsteps of the sinner. Enough light w^ill always be shed on his way to lead him through. The wise men followed the star, the light from the East, and it lead them to the very spot where Christ was.

When they got to the Red Sea they were in a great dilemma, or rather trilemma. They looked back and saw the Egyptians following them; they looked forward and the Red Sea was in front ; they looked around and behold the mountains.

If there was ever a time when the sinner saw the magnitude of his sins and realized them pressing in hard upon him and no way out, it was when he strove to forsake them. When they saw the Egyptians they were sore afraid. Oh, that sin would alarm the sinner likewise ! And they cried unto the Lord. A very good thing to do. The best thing a sinner can do is to cry unto the Lord for deliverance. But they nearly got discouraged and thought it better if they had not started from Egypt.

How many times have we seen tfie sinner almost get discouraged and feel like giving up just before victory came!

The heartless wail, ^'IVe tried once and didn't get through," has been repeated by thousands.

Moses now told them to^ 'stand still and see the salvation of God." There comes a time to stand still, quit struggling, and see what God will do.

A man fell overboard and struggled for life. A stalwart sailor stood by and seemed ready to jump in and help him out, but let the drowning man sink and rise and then sink again and rise; and as he sank the third time, in jumped the sailor and rescued him. Those looking on wondered why the sailor did not rescue him at first, and his reply was that he had to wait until he ceased struggling, otherwise he would have drowned them both.

Sinner, stop your struggling and let Christ save you.

^^The Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever." Comforting words ! ''And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. io:iy. ''I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.' ' Isa. 4J : ^5.

The next announcement was that the Lord would fight for them and they should hold their peace. Surely no man can save himself — the battle is the Lord's and Christ is our Captain. He will do the sa\H^ng.

''Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." But how can they go forward ? Does it not mean death to venture into the Red Sea ? While there comes a time for the sinner to stand still, there follows also the command to go forward. It seems impossible, for doubt and fears loom up ahead to hedge up the way.

" But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it : and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

So God would say to the poor soul who sees only darkness and doubt ahead :

''Lift thou up thy hand of faith and stretch it out over the sea of difficulties and take hold of the promise, and the obstacles will roll away and you will see your way clear to pass through."

Christ will surely divide the sea and make a way through.

"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them." The angel of God and a pillar of cloud stood between the Israelites and Egyptians long enough to give the Israelites a chance to venture out by faith and get the victory.

So God gets in between the sinner and his sins so he can step out by faith and get deliverance.

Notice this peculiar fact, that it was dark night just before they crossed through to the other side. The old adage says, ^^It is darkest just before day."

The darkest time for the seeking sinner is just before the daylight of God's salvation breaks in upon him.

God caused the sea to separate and the children of Israel passed through to the other side. But the Egyptians marched on after them, right into the sea. Moses again stretched out his hand and ''the Lord overthrew them in the midst of the sea." How beautiful the type! ''He will subdue our iniquities ; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19- God buries them beneath the waves. With the Egyptians it reads, "there remained not so much as one of them." When God blots out one's sins He does not leave one, all have to go down. Glory to God !

"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians." Thus the Lord saves his people from their sins. "And thou shalt call his name Jesus (Savior): for he shall save his people from their sins." Matt, i :2i.

"And Israel saw the Egyptians dead

Upon the sea shore.'' Separated from them, could not harm them any more. Separated from sins — deliverance at last, dead.

^^And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians." Yes, and when the Lord saved us from our sins we saw it, and as they '^ feared the Lord and believed the Lord and His servant Moses," so we for the first time feared the Lord, and oh, how we believed Him and clung to Him and His servant that led us to Him.

When they got across the sea and found they were indeed delivered they sang and shouted and had a real hallelujah time. So when the Lord delivered us from our sins and took our feet from the miry clay and set us on a rock, He put a new song in our mouths and we shouted His praises and glorified the Lord.

Reader, have you crossed the Red Sea?

Chapter III. From Egypt To Canaan — Defeat At Kadesh-barnea

Some fourteen montlis from their deliverance at tlie Red Sea finds tlie Israelitish. host at Canaan's border. They camp at Kadesh-Barnea. This marks another epoch in their history. God's design was to lead them from this point into Canaan. They had received the law and other lessons and should have moved right into the land.

Their sad failure here shadows forth the fatal results which have come to many Christians when the light concerning holiness comes to them.

Kadesh means holy. God had led them up to this holy spot and from there they might look over into the promised land. Sooner or later God will lead the convert to Kadesh. He will gently lead

3^ him to that holy place from whence he can look over and see the glorious experience of sanctification.

God never intended the convert to wander around from year to year before receiving perfect love, but, like the Israelites, when he has received the law and is properly instructed he should at once press into holiness.

Twelve spies were sent over to spy out the land. Their names were Caleb, Joshua, and — who were the others ? Who can remember them ? The Sundayschool scholar remembers the two above mentioned, but what theologian can recall the others?

And yet their names are all recorded in holy writ. These ten brought back an evil report of the land. They vv^ere all leaders, occupying high positions, and the evil report coming from such a source caused an epidemic of fear and doubt in camp and resulted in the disaster which followed. How many leaders in the ministry and other Christian work have given an evil report of holiness and thus hindered multitudes of God's children from entering into rest ! And these ministers, what are their names ? We read of Wesley, Fletcher, Bramwell, and might write of scores from their day down to the present, whose names, like Caleb and Joshua, are in the mouths of thousands and whose sacred memories linger in our minds, but those evil-report men, have they blessed the land ? have they helped the church ? do their names hang upon our lips ? Who are they ? . Echo answers, ^' Who?" We forget their names. Blessed oblivion ! The land and its products were favorably reported to the camp, but it was the giants and walled cities w^hich caused them to speak unfavorably. Holiness is all right, of course. Who would object to its precious fruit? But these evil reporters see the giant obstacles and are scared out and thus fail to enter in and deter many others. Oh, for more men and women with backbone and bravery and grace and grit, like Caleb and Joshua, who can say, '%et us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it "! Num.

Giants and walled cities. ^^Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." ''AH the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants : and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Num. ij :28^ j^, jj.

Thousands of people to-day would go over and possess the goodly land of full salvation were it not for the giants which show their grim visages, and the walled cities reaching to the skies and exhibiting apparently impregnable barriers against victory.

Why are there not more people sanctified? What are the giants and walled cities which stand in the way ? Perhaps the mention of a few might help the fearful. The leading family of giants to-day is called Fear. There are several brothers of them. Each has his influence.

I. Future Fear. This seems to be

HOIvINESS TYPOLOGY 35

the chief giant of the country. A direct descendant of Mr. Anak. He scares more people than any of his countrymen. Fear of the future. Fear of losing the experience. They would be so glad to get the blessing, but they are so afraid they will not hold out. As if the promise could not hold them up, or God's everlasting arm was insufficient.

We have heard the story related of a man unaccustomed to the ice, crossing the frozen river. He was so afraid the ice would break through that he got down and began to crawl. Looking up he saw a team coming along drawing a load of pig iron. Encouraged and comforted he arose and walked, knowing if the ice could sustain that weight it could surely hold him. Christ is able to hold us up. Paul said he was persuaded that Christ was able to keep that which was committed unto Him against that day. 2 Tim. 1:12.