You Have Led Forth Your Redeemed People

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation” (Exodus 15:11-13).

This song of praise is a continuation of the preceding verses, celebrating the fact that God had freed, led and guided His people. The Lord had led the Israelites with great care (Exodus 13:17-18), avoiding “the land of the Philistines,” lest war should break out and the people would change their minds and retreat to Egypt. He knew the limits of their growing faith, and rather than select the quickest way for them, He chose the safest. As the psalmist later commented, He “guided them in the wilderness like a flock” (Psalm 78:52).

Redemption is the recovery of something that had been lost, usually by the payment of a price or ransom. It might have been freedom that was lost, when someone was enslaved or captured, or else it might have been a possession that was lost through poverty or debt. Israel’s need of redemption was evident when they lost their freedom and were made a nation of slaves. But the Lord redeemed Israel in that He brought them emancipation. Israel’s new life had started.

However, redemption continued to be an important feature of their national life. For instance, “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold” (Leviticus 25:25). This kind of redemption was usually carried out by a next of kin, and such a person was called a kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:48-49; see also Ruth 4:1).

In a future day, God will redeem Israel spiritually, for, “with the Lord . . . is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:7-8; compare Romans 11:26).

In the New Testament, the idea of spiritual redemption is prominent. God redeemed Israel from Egypt by power, (Nehemiah 1:10); men could redeem property by payment, (for example, Jeremiah 32:7); but Christ redeemed us by His “precious blood” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Israel’s experience was, “the Lord . . . redeemed you . . . from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:8). In our day, the believer has been redeemed from, “the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13); from “every lawless deed,” in other words, all iniquity, (Titus 2:14); and from our “aimless conduct” (1 Peter 1:18).

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.