Introduction: Do you know anyone who is dedicated and loyal almost to a fault? Think of people you know who are like that. A good example may be the men and women of our military, as a whole. Or policemen or firefighters…to serve and protect. All of these individuals train and practice and serve each day in order to achieve a goal. Different goals to be certain but each is committed beyond what we might consider “normal.” They go to extremes, sometimes even laying down their own lives to fulfill [achieve] their goals.
Essential Impact: God goes to extreme lengths to create / produce / cause to exist, for Himself a people through which His promise to Abraham will be fulfilled.
Scripture records this extreme type of work that God does. Exodus is completely dedicated to it…and we see it in the first half when God moves His people out of Egypt in chapters 1 through 18...
Main 1: Appreciate what it means to be redeemed
…and in the process, of redeeming, God shows us three aspects of His being, 3 characteristics…
I. Guidance:
a. their increase: in Exodus 1.7 reminds us what was said to Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3 and the promise of the descendants is being fulfilled…
but they find out that things aren’t always roses because of their numbers the Egyptians become afraid of them and so they are enslaved but even in their slavery God continues to fulfill His promise and they continue to increase even when things are made harder at work. And so finally the Pharaoh has a plan to stop this population growth…He plans their limited extermination by declaring all Hebrew males must be destroyed at birth. But we must recall all of Genesis 12.1-3 ‘Curse those who curse you’…ooops Pharaoh…
if all males die then there will be no nation
if all males die the Messiah will not be born
…Ooops Pharaoh has a problem because now he has placed himself in the “curse Israel” category and God speaks Exodus 4.21-23.
b. Eventually Israel calls on God for deliverance from the fairly oppressive hand of Pharaoh. God hears their cry and God calls on Moses. [Illustration: You call 911 = dispatch for help…dispatch calls County EMS = rescue] During the Divine commissioning, so to speak, God reveals to Moses a personal, significant detail about who He is…when Moses asks whom shall I say sent me…God replies, “Tell them ‘I am’ sent you.”
II. Deliverance:
c. The plagues come and the people are set free…redeemed. Moses is given the job of going to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Jews so that they may worship God freely. You have seen and have read and know the progress of the ten plagues that come upon Israel. The “wise men/magicians” of Egypt recognize God after the first few but Pharaoh continues upon the path of being an enemy of Israel and therefore an enemy of God. And so finally God moves to deliver His people through an incredible act of judgment upon Pharaoh’s house…* Passover * And the people are set free.
III. Preservation / Protection:
d. While they are leaving Egypt and in the wilderness God moves in many ways to preserve them and to protect them…some of the high points are…
1. from Egyptian military [chapter 14]
2. from thirst [chapter 15]
3. from hunger [chapter 16]
4. from defeat [chapter 17]
Before we move on to the second half of Exodus we need to pause and look a bit more closely at the idea of redemption and how this theme winds its way through the entire Bible…after all this is a sermon series on the entire Bible and we will meet redemption again and again.
Main 2: Redemption through the Bible
In today’s Christian culture the term redemption has come to be equated with God’s plan and work of salvation but Biblically speaking it is only one aspect of the whole plan and work of salvation. The idea / process of redemption involve the release of people and / or things from bondage / tyranny / oppression with the necessity of an outside agent / source. This is commonly achieved by a financial interaction. [Illustration: redeem your prize] Redemption cannot be achieved under one’s own auspices. “God helps those who help themselves”…not when it comes to redemption. [Illustration: Scene from Star Wars where Padmay, Annikan, and Obewan are prisoners in the gladiator ring and about to be devoured by monsters. They do pretty well in fighting the monsters but then as the other Jedi arrive to rescue them all the Jedi are in trouble and about to be destroyed but at the last second Yoda arrives with the clone army…the outside source of rescue.]
Exodus is the paradigm of redemption as to the work of God. First, God intervenes to free slaves from under Pharaoh who holds them against their will. Second, He breaks the cruel oppressive grip of Pharaoh upon Israel not by a monetary repayment but simply by force. Finally, God acts because of His prior relationship with Israel, “The God of your ancestors Exodus 3.6, 15-16. This role of God is echoed through the Psalms 19.14, 78.35. Isaiah and the Prophets use this picture repeatedly for the exiles and those Israelites who are judged of God.
Redemption can also simply mean to rescue from danger / death. And in Scripture not only does God do this: 2 Samuel 4.9, Job 5.20, Psalm 103.4, 25.22, 31.5, Lamentation 3.58 but friends may also “redeem” from danger as rescuers; 1 Samuel 14.45 and Job 6.23.
Before we turn to redemption in the NT there is one more thing to consider about redemption in the OT. Although limited in references there is the idea that redemption is also from sin. Psalm 130.7-8 have the most far reaching example but Isaiah 44.22-23 and 59.20 support this aspect of redemption as well.
In the NT the Gospels are quite sparse with reference to redemption although Mark 10.45 ransom is directly related to financial redemption Luke is the only other Gospel writer to use the idea of redemption. [Luke 1.68, 2.38, 24.21] Redemption is, on the other hand, prominent in Paul’s writings. Galatians 3.13 and 4.5 are particularly strong in this regard. See also 1 Corinthians 6.20 and 7.22. A final note comes from Revelation 5.8-9 and 14.3-4 where these two songs incorporate redemption as part of the praise of God.
Returning now to the Exodus and the way in which God goes to extreme lengths…
Main 3: Develop in your relationship with God as He reveals Himself through the Covenant Law
a. Why God gave the Covenant [19.3-6] 3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
b. The Big Ten plus other regulations
c. God is revealed [24.9-11] 9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
d. Where to meet with God [Tabernacle]
e. a rough start where the people don’t do it
f. a better progress
*** g. God fills the Tabernacle 40.34-38
APPLICATION:
1. The extreme length of revealing Himself personally. Believers are God’s children…when He tells Moses His name, YHWH, He is revealing something personal about Himself. There is much to His name but one thing is for certain, there is an implication that we know God personally. Do you know Him personally. Do you relate to God in a personal way? Talking with Him, finding out about Him, listening to Him…
2. God’s promise to Abraham…curse those who curse you…Pharaoh puts himself in that position. The permanence of this promise can be watched from a believers perspective in History and in Modern Times.
3. The Passover is the divine act of redemption [rescue from death and danger as well as bondage] = Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Direct link and we need to understand the redemptive work of Christ. Those in bondage to sin can only be redeemed by Christ.
4. As God filled the Tabernacle with His presence what would your response be to such a magnificent display of His glory? What is your response to the display of His glory in Christ today in this place. We will be singing a song about redemption in just a moment…consider all the extreme lengths that God has gone to in order to redeem a people, you, unto Himself and respond appropriately in song.
5. Develop your relationship with God on His terms; as He has revealed Himself to truly be.
6. God reveals Himself and brings a people unto Himself to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Do you know the main function of ‘priests’?” Priests serve.
7. God has revealed Himself here in Exodus and ultimately in the person of Jesus. Read all about it…pick up and read.
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