Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 14:10-14
[2] As in the verses that now follow, the subject treated of is the first temptation of those who had been of the spiritual church, be it known that they could not undergo temptations until after the Lord had glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine, and in this was present with them. If they had been tempted before, they would have yielded, for they who were of the spiritual church were saved solely through the Divine Human of the Lord. The temptations of those who were of the spiritual church, which they were to undergo after the Lord came into the world, and could then from the Divine Human fight for them against the hells, are meant by these words in Malachi:--
The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple, even the angel of the covenant whom ye desire, behold He cometh, saith Jehovah Zebaoth: who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers‘ soap; and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and as silver; and they shall bring unto Jehovah a meat-offering in righteousness. Then shall the meat-offering of Judah and Jerusalem be sweet to Jehovah, according to the days of eternity, and according to the former years (Mal. 3:1-4);
clearly speaking of the Lord’s coming; "the sons of Levi" here denote those who are of the spiritual church, for by "Levi" is signified charity or spiritual good (n. 3875, 4497, 4502, 4503); "the refiner‘s fire" is temptation, whereby is effected purification, which is here meant by "purifying and refining them as gold and silver;" "the meat-offering which they shall bring to Jehovah" is faith and charity "the days of eternity" and "the former years" denote the ancient churches, and the states of worship of the Lord at that time.
[3] As regards temptations, the case with them is as was said above (n. 8131), that the hells fight against man, and the Lord for man; to every falsity the hells inject, there is an answer from the Divine. The falsities which are from the hells are injected and flow into the external or natural man; but the answer from the Divine flows into the internal or spiritual man. This latter influx, which is from the Divine, does not come to the man’s perception so much as do the falsities; neither does it move the singulars of his thought, but its generals, and in such a manner that it scarcely comes to the perception otherwise than as hope and the consequent consolation, in which there are nevertheless innumerable things of which the man is ignorant, being such things as are in agreement with his affection or love, especially his affection or love of truth and good, from which he has conscience.
[4] These things have been said in order that it may be known that by the life of the sons of Israel in the wilderness are described in their series the temptations which those underwent who had been of the Lord‘s spiritual church and had been liberated. They underwent temptations in order that they might be further prepared for heaven; for by means of temptations, and by these as the only means, goods and truths are confirmed and are conjoined; and by means of temptations charity becomes the charity of faith, and faith becomes the faith of charity. That they who are of the church must undergo temptations, is meant by what the Lord has said in these passages:--
He that does not take up his cross, and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me (Matt. 10:38, 39; Mark 8:31-38).
Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Matt. 16:24, 25; Luke 9:23, 24).
Whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:27).
Jesus said to the rich man, Come, follow Me, taking up the cross (Mark 10:21).
Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34).
[5] But be it known that in temptations the man does not fight; but the Lord alone fights for the man, although it appears as if it were done by the man; and when the Lord fights for a man the man conquers in all things. At this day few are admitted into temptations, for the reason that they are not in the life of faith, and therefore not in the conscience of truth; and he who is not in the conscience of truth from the good of life, yields; whereby his subsequent state becomes worse than the former.
. The sons of Israel lifted up their eyes. That this signifies the mind’s intellectual part and its thought, is evident from the signification of "eyes," as being the intellectual part of the mind (n. 2701, 3820, 4403-4421, 4523-4534); therefore "to lift up the eyes" denotes mental view, perception, and thought (n. 2789, 2829, 3198, 3202, 4083, 4086, 4339). . And behold the Egyptian marching after them. That this signifies the grievousness of falsity continually increasing, is evident from the signification of "the Egyptian," as being those who are in falsities from evil, thus also the falsity itself from evil (n. 8132, 8135, 8146, 8148); and from the signification of "marching after them," as being a nearer influx and communication. By "Pharaoh drew nigh" was signified the influx of falsity from evil (n. 8159), therefore by "marching after them" is signified influx still nearer, thus more grievous; hence it is that there is signified the grievousness of falsity continually increasing. In what presently follows is described temptation, and as this arises through an influx of falsity from evil from the hells, its approach is now described, that is, its increasing grievousness. . And they were sore afraid. That this signifies a horrible dread, is evident from the signification of "being afraid," when predicated of temptation, as being horror, or horrible dread. That "fear" denotes a horrible dread, is because when temptation assails, the conscience--thus the internal man, for conscience is of the internal man‘s disheartened by reason of falsities and evils; whence comes horror, which is aversion conjoined with the fear of spiritual death. Horror arises from the mere influx of falsity and evil with those who have conscience, for conscience is from the truth and good of faith, thus from those things which make the spiritual life. Falsities and evils are destructive of that life, and thus endeavor to inflict death, that is, damnation; and from this comes the horrible dread. . And the sons of Israel cried unto Jehovah. That this signifies supplication for aid, is evident without explication. . And they said unto Moses. That this signifies the height of temptation when there is despair, is evident from the words that follow, for they are involved in "they said;" that the following words are words of temptation, when this comes to its height, and when there is despair, is evident. It is said "despair," because for the most part this is the end, or is at the end, of spiritual temptations (n. 1787, 2694, 5279, 5280, 7147, 7155, 7166). Inasmuch as at this day few undergo spiritual temptations, and consequently it is not known how the case is with temptations, I may say something further on the subject. There are spiritual temptations, and there are natural temptations. Spiritual temptations belong to the internal man, but natural ones to the external man. Spiritual temptations sometimes arise without natural temptations, sometimes with them. Natural temptations exist when a man suffers as to the body, as to honors, as to wealth, in a word, as to the natural life, as is the case in diseases, misfortunes, persecutions, punishments, and the like. The anxieties which then arise, are what are meant by "natural temptations." But these temptations effect nothing whatever toward man’s spiritual life, neither can they be called temptations, but griefs; for they arise from the wounding of the natural life, which is that of the love of self and of the world. The wicked are sometimes in these griefs, and they grieve and are tormented in proportion to the extent of their love of self and of the world, and the life they have from this source.[2] But spiritual temptations belong to the internal man, and assault his spiritual life. In this case the anxieties are not on account of any loss of natural life, but on account of the loss of faith and charity, and consequently of salvation. These temptations are frequently induced by means of natural temptations, for if when a man is in these--that is, in disease, grief, the loss of wealth or honor, and the like--he begins to think about the Lord‘s aid, His providence, the state of the evil in that they glory and exult when the good suffer and undergo various griefs and various losses, then spiritual temptation is conjoined with natural temptation. Such was the last temptation of the Lord in Gethsemane, and when He suffered the cross, which was the most frightful of all. From all this it is evident what natural temptation is, and what spiritual. There is also a third kind, namely, melancholy anxiety, the cause of which is for the most part to be found in an infirm state of the body or of the lower mind. In this anxiety there may be something of spiritual temptation, or there may be nothing of it.
. Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us to die in the wilderness? That this signifies that if there is damnation it would be all the same whether it came through the falsities of the infesters, or through a state of temptations in which they would yield, is evident from the signification of "graves," as being damnation (n. 2916, 4564); from the signification of "Egypt," as being infestations (n. 7278), for by the Egyptians and Pharaoh are represented those who in the other life infest by means of falsities (n. 7097, 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142, 7317); from the signification of "dying," as also being damnation (n. 5407, 6119, 7494); and from the signification of "the wilderness," as being a state of undergoing temptations (n. 8098); whence "to die in the wilderness" denotes to yield in temptation, and consequently to be damned. From all this it is evident that by "Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us to die in the wilderness?" is signified that if there is damnation it would be all the same whether it came through the falsities of the infesters, thus in the state in which they were before, or through temptations in which they would yield, thus in the state into which they come afterward.[2] That these words are words of despair is evident. Moreover those who are in despair, which is the last of temptation, think such things, and then they are as it were on the slope, or are as it were sinking down toward hell. But at this time such thought does no harm whatever, nor do the angels pay any attention to it, for every man’s power is limited, and when the temptation arrives at the furthest limit of his power, the man cannot sustain anything more, but sinks down. But then, when he is on the downhill course, he is raised by the Lord and thus liberated from despair; and is then for the most part brought into a clear state of hope and of the consequent consolation, and also into good fortune. It is said "damnation through a state of temptations in which they would yield," because they who yield in temptations come into a state of damnation; for temptations are to the end that truths and goods may be confirmed, and may be conjoined together, in order that faith and charity may ensue; but this end is attained only when the man conquers in temptations; whereas when he yields, in this case truths and goods are rejected, and falsities and evils are confirmed, whereby such come into a state of damnation.
. Why hast thou done this to us, in leading us forth out of Egypt? That this signifies that it was in vain that they had been liberated from infestations by falsities, is evident from the signification of "why hast thou done this to us?" as being that it was all in vain; from the signification of "to be led forth," as being to be liberated and from the signification of "Egypt," as being infestations (n. 8165). . Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying? That this signifies that some such thing was thought of when they were infested by falsities, is evident from the signification of "is not this the word that we spake?" as being that such a thing was thought of, for by "this word" is signified this thing, thus some such thing, and by "speaking" is signified thinking. "To speak" denotes influx and the consequent reception, (n. 5797, 7270, 8128); therefore also thought, (n. 2271, 2287, 2619); and from the signification of "Egypt," as being infestation by falsities (n. 8165). . Cease from us, and let us serve the Egyptians. That this signifies that they would not be withheld from surrendering, is evident from the signification of "to cease from us," when said of infestations, as being not to hinder, and not to withhold; and from the signification of "serving the Egyptians," as being to surrender to those who infest by means of falsities. That "to cease from us," when said in a state of infestations, and also in a state of temptations, of the influx of truth Divine represented by Moses, denotes not to hinder, and not to withhold, is because in these states two forces or powers are acting, one of which is from the falsities that are injected from the hells into the external man, and the other of which is from truths that are insinuated by the Lord into the internal man (n. 8164). These two forces act reciprocally against each other. The falsities injected from the hells have their force and power from the love of self and of the world, which are in the man; but the truths insinuated by the Lord have their force and power from love toward the neighbor and love to the Lord. When the man conquers, the internal force or power always prevails, because this is Divine; and it does not admit the force or power from falsities to be increased further than it can he repelled. Therefore when these two forces act, the internal force which is from the Lord continually as it were withholds the man and hinders him, lest the falsities drag him down, thus causing him to yield; for it is a general rule that when two forces act in opposition to each other, one draws and the other draws back. In the spiritual world, forces are the affections which are of the loves; and the instrumentalities by which they act are truths, and in the opposite sense, falsities. . Because it is good for us to serve the Egyptians, rather than that we should die in the wilderness. That this signifies that damnation by the violence of falsity in a state of infestations was to be preferred to the damnation which comes by yielding in a state of temptations, is evident from the signification of "to be good rather than that," as being that it was to be preferred; from the signification of "serving the Egyptians," as being a yielding to the falsities of the infesters; for "to serve" signifies subjugation (n. 6666, 6670, 6671), thus a yielding, here to the falsities of the infesters; from the signification of "dying," as being damnation (n. 8165); and from the signification of "the wilderness," as being a state of undergoing temptations (n. 8098). From all this it is evident that by "it is good for us to serve the Egyptians, rather than that we should die in the wilderness," is signified that to yield to falsities when they were infested would be preferable to yielding in temptations. Moreover it is true that to yield in the former state is preferable to yielding in the latter; for to yield in temptations is to be confirmed in falsities and evils against the truths and goods of faith; whereas to yield in a state of infestations is to be confirmed in falsities and evils, yet not manifestly against the truths and goods of faith. Hence it is evident that in yielding in temptations there is a blaspheming of truth and good, and sometimes profanation; and the greatest and most direful damnation of all is that which comes from profanation. . And Moses said unto the people. That this signifies elevation from a state of despair by means of truth Divine, is evident from what now follows, which Moses "said," and which involves elevation from a state of despair. It is said "by truth Divine," because all elevation in a state of temptations is effected by means of truth Divine. In the internal representative sense truth Divine is meant by "Moses," (n. 6752, 7010, 7014, 7089). . Fear ye not. That this signifies that they must not despair, is evident from the signification of "fearing," as being to feel horror (n. 8162), here to despair; for spiritual fear in temptations is first a horrible dread, and finally is despair. Spiritual fear is fear on account of damnation. . Stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah. That this signifies salvation from the Lord alone, and not at all from them, is evident from the signification of "standing still and seeing," as being to have faith. "To see" denotes to understand, acknowledge, and have faith, (n. 897, 2150, 2325, 2807, 3863, 3869, 4403-4421, 5400); and from the signification of "the salvation of Jehovah," as being salvation from the Lord. Here, where the subject treated of is liberation from temptations, the meaning is salvation from the Lord alone, and not at all from them. That "Jehovah" in the Word denotes the Lord, see above, (n. 1343, 1736, 2921, 3023, 3035, 5041, 5663, 6281, 6303, 6905, 6945, 6957). It is here said that they must have faith that salvation is from the Lord alone, and not at all from them, because this is the main thing of faith in temptations. He who when he is tempted believes that he can resist from his own strength, yields; the reason is that he is in what is false, and that he therefore attributes merit to himself, and thus demands to be saved of himself, and thus shuts out the influx from the Divine. But he who believes that the Lord alone resists in temptations, conquers for he is in the truth, and attributes the merit to the Lord, and perceives that he is saved by the Lord alone. He who is in the faith of charity ascribes everything of salvation to the Lord, and nothing to himself. . Which He will do for you today. That this signifies which is to eternity, is evident from the signification of "today," as being what is eternal (n. 2838, 3998, 4304, 6165, 6984). . For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. That this signifies that the falsities which are once removed will be removed to eternity, is evident from the signification of "the Egyptians," as being those who are in falsities from evil (n. 8132, 8135, 8146, 8148), thus also the falsities themselves from evil; and from the signification of "seeing no more," when said of falsities, as being to be removed, for the falsities in man are not cast out, but are removed, man being withheld from evils and the falsities therefrom, and being held in good, by the Lord (n. 1581, 2256, 2269, 2406, 4564); and from the signification of "forever," as being to eternity. . Jehovah shall wage war for you. That this signifies that the Lord alone sustains the combats of temptations, is evident from the signification of "to wage war for you," when said about Jehovah in temptations, as being that He sustains alone the combats of temptations. "Jehovah" denotes the Lord, (n. 8172). That the Lord alone sustains the combats of temptations, and conquers, is because the Divine alone can conquer the hells. Unless the Divine acted against them, they would rush in like a vast ocean, one hell after another, for the resisting of which man is of not the slightest avail; and the less so because in respect to what is his own, man is nothing but evil, thus is hell, from which the Lord then withdraws him, and afterward withholds him (n. 1581, 1661, 1692, 6574). . And ye shall keep silence. That this signifies that from their own strength they will effect nothing at all, is evident from the signification of "to be silent," as being to acquiesce, and as temptations are treated of, as being not to think or believe that they effect anything by their own strength. (n. 8172, 8175). Nevertheless they ought not to slack their hands, and await immediate influx; but ought to fight as from themselves, and yet acknowledge and believe that it is from the Lord, (n. 1712, 1937, 1947, 2882, 2883, 2891). EXODUS 14:10-14 previous - next - text - summary - Exodus - Full Page
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |