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All history is prophecy. Knowing what has been, we are far on the way to know what shall be. This is specially true in religious matters. The substance of all dispensations is the same, and even the forms for one occasion answer also to the forms in other occasions. The New Testament began in the Old, and the Old Testament is consummated in the New. This is clearly implied in the text, in which we note —

I. A SACRED BAPTISM. "Baptized unto Moses."

1. It was not an immersion. The Egyptians were immersed and perished; Israel "walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea," and did not so much as wet their feet.

2. It was a baptism of infants as well as adults. Paul says "all" were baptized. "About six hundred thousand on foot, beside children," made that passage.

3. It was a baptism of deliverance from their oppressors. It put the sea between Israel and Egypt, and drowned their pursuers. Every oppressor is gone from him who enters fully into what his baptism signifies and pledges (1 Peter 3:21).

4. It was a baptism into a transcendent change. It transferred Israel from the land of Ham and blackness to shores bordering on the primitive homes — from cruel slavery to blessed liberty — from nothingness to an independent nation. Their baptism was to them a new birth, the beginning of a new style of existence. In all the poetry of this people we find a glad recurrence to these waters as the scene of their bringing forth into the new life unto God.

II. HEAVENLY BREAD. "Did all eat the same spiritual meat?" The manna —

1. Was a direct product of God. It came down from heaven. Christ (John 6.) appropriates it as the type of Himself, sent of the Father, to give His flesh and life for the life of the world.

2. Was a new and miraculous sort of food, distantly resembling something in nature, but far above nature — "bread from heaven," "angels' food"; existing prior to this appearance, and now a marvellous type of our Saviour.

3. Was the sustenance of Israel for all their pilgrimage. Christ is the sustenance of all spiritual life.

4. Had to be gathered and appropriated in its season — each day for its needs, a double portion before the sabbath , but people had to go, collect, appropriate, and use it, or perish. Spiritual life requires constant renewal in our going to Christ and our appropriation of Him.

III. SPIRITUAL DRINK.

1. It was from a rock — a literal rock at Rephidim and in Hebron, yielding plentiful waters. "That Rock was Christ." Rock connects with unchangeable Deity. "Who is a rock save bur God? "And when Paul connects that rock with Christ, he connects Christ with eternal Godhead, as well as makes Him the only source, medium, and outlet of the saving waters of life for thirsting and perishing men.

2. It came through the smiting of that rock.

3. It attended them continually. Wherever they were they could find these waters. The Rock is ever near; and in all the wilderness of this life, wherever a soul thirsts for Him, there the Fountain flows.

4. It was free to all Israel. Salvation is for every one who will take it.Conclusion: It thus appears why the apostle did not wish the Corinthians to be ignorant concerning the fathers.

1. The most vital things of saving religion were involved in those things. To fail in understanding these things was to fail in understanding the way of life.

2. Not to give due heed to our Christian priviliges is to involve ourselves in hopeless condemnation.

(J. A. Seiss, D.D.)

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KJV: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

WEB: Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;