Revelation 7
Being a disciple is a lot like the history of the Exodus. In
the Exodus God’s people were assembled, led and cared for by God through a
difficult and what from a human perspective seemed to be a helpless scenario or
journey. The Exodus is a useful metaphor for being a disciple. In Revelation 6
we see the world through which we travel as disciples, which can also seem to
be a hapless journey. But in Revelation 7 we see the rest of the metaphor. We
see the complete number of God's people sealed and protected. We see that
numerically they can't be counted. We see these people are the worshipping community
who has been made righteous because of the cross of Christ. We see them
protected in God's presence. We see them free from hunger, thirst, and the
sun's misery and heat because of the Lamb’s care. We see the Lamb as the Shepherd
taking them to water and setting them free from anything that would cause a
tear.
When we look at this passage with the lenses of the Exodus
it becomes simply beautiful. As disciples we are traveling through our own
Exodus and wilderness wanderings. Living as a disciple is not easy. We are not
blind to nor immune from the hardships of life just as Israel was not immune
from the hardships of the desert. But as Israel was cared for in the Exodus so
we are cared for in our life as a disciple.
It has been said that it took God 10 plagues to get Israel
out of Egypt, but it took Him 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. Why is it
that we do not experience a total life of bliss as soon as we become a follower
of Christ? Why do we face so many struggles as we follow? The answer is in the
symbol of the Exodus; in the process God is changing us. Sometimes in the
process we become discouraged. When that happens we turn to Revelation 7 and we
see that we will make it. Cared for, protected and comforted by the Lamb, we
are not alone on this journey.
It is interesting to note that in this chapter of the tribes
Dan and Ephraim are not mentioned. We can't say specifically why, but we can say
viewing this chapter through the lenses of the Exodus when it came time for Dan
and Ephraim to receive their inheritance they rejected God's provision for
them. By not including the tribes of Dan and Ephraim in this list we see
a fantastic symbol that even though God can and will lead us through our Exodus
there are some that will not remain faithful and will miss out.
Questions to ponder
How would you feel if you had a caregiver that was
very careful to meet all of your provisional needs? What if that caregiver was
able to make universes by the power of His will? How comforting would that be?
There is no doubt that the life of a disciple and the church
through history has been filled with tribulations just as Israel they struggled
during the Exodus. What lesson from Israel's Exodus makes the most sense for
you as you walk as a disciple?
