Commentary by Felicia A. Trecek
(Revised May 11, 2005)

The nation of Israel was baptized into Moses on the 18th day of the first month of Abib when they walked through the Red Sea. (1 Corinthians 10:2). Although, Moses was not able to give them spiritual life.

NUMBERS 33:2-3,5-8

1. On the 15th day of the first month (Abib), the Israelites departed from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
2. They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which was on the edge of the wilderness.
3. They departed Etham and turned back to Pihahiroth and camped near Migdol.
4. They departed from before Pihahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

On the 18th day of the first month, the children of Israel were in the wilderness and found no water. (Exodus 15:22, Exodus 14:1-28). I believe this event was significant, because in contrast, Messiah was waved on the 18th day of the month. Messiah was the reality of the symbolic wave sheaf, and He was/is the conduit for living water - the Holy Spirit. Living water, the Spirit, in that specific day in time was available to mankind. (John 20:22) {For further reading about the wave sheaf, read "When Do We Begin The Count Unto Pentecost?")

John 7:37 reads, "Messiah stood up and cried, saying, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.'" (Also read John 7:38-39.) John 4:14 reads, "...And the water that I (Messiah) give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'" This point is significant because it shows the Children of Israel during the Exodus were baptized unto death. They were only promised good things in this temporary physical life. Although, they will have another chance to be baptized into the living water (Messiah) at a later time in the plan of YHWH. (Read Ez 37 and Isaiah 26:19 for the resurrection of the Israelites to physical life in the second resurrection.)

For a chronology of the Messiah's resurrection during the Passover/unleavened bread festival overlapping the timing of the nation of Israel's exodus out of Egypt during the Passover/unleavened bread festival, download the Passover Chart in PDF (Portable Document File). You may download Acrobat Reader for free from Adobe.com to read the file if you don't already have it installed.