…all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea
— 1 Corinthians 10:1-2

We continue our journey from Egypt to the promised land. The next interesting event on this journey is the baptism of the children of Israel. On the subject of baptism [in water, in fire and in the Holy Spirit] there are also many different theories and interpretations. I won’t even give examples. They don’t interest me, because they are man-centred, not Christ-centred. It is written that our [Jewish] fathers, the children of Israel, were under the cloud and passed through the sea. What is the meaning of these events, and what do they point to?

To be baptised means to be immersed. The Israelites were immersed in the Red Sea when they crossed it, and immersed in the cloud when it came down on them, for it is written: “under the cloud”. We know when they passed through the sea, but when were they under the cloud? They were immersed, or baptised, in the cloud when the Lord came down on Mount Sinai in fire. [Exd.19:18] The people were baptised, as it is written, into Moses, or into the law, for it was there that the Law was given.

The people of Israel in this story are a type of Jesus Christ. Just as the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, so Jesus was immersed in the river Jordan when John the Baptist baptised Him. Jesus said to him: “for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” [Mat.3:15] Fulfil what righteousness? The righteousness of the law, of which Moses writes: “The man who does those things shall live by them“. [Rom.10:5] That is why Jesus said to John the Baptist: “fulfil”. Just as the Lord then came down on Mount Sinai in fire and smoke and baptised Israel into the law, so the Holy Spirit came down on Jesus in the form of a dove and baptised Him into the Spirit. Why did the Holy Spirit come down on Jesus after His water baptism? Because He had fulfilled the law. That is why Paul writes: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” [Gal.5:18] After the Holy Spirit came down on Jesus, He was led by the Spirit, and the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted [Mat.4:1], just like the Israelites.

So what is the result, and what vitamins have we got from eating this dish? Jesus, as the representative of all people, by being baptised fulfilled the law for all of us, so that all of us could be led by the Spirit, for Paul wrote: “all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea.” All means all!