I also noticed that I had not posted the notes from Exodus…here they are.
Introduction:
· Hero - a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
· Who is the hero in the story of Exodus?
· Romans 9:14-18: The Mission of God: the powerful proclamation of his name for those he rescues.
· Exodus 3: 13-25
o I am that I am – literally “to be” connected to YHWH – literally “to be the Lord”.
o The Covenant Name of God – YHWH. This name became so holy that at some point in Israel’s History they replaced it with Adonai – my Lord. It is translated – the Lord. It is not a mere title – but it is linked to his character as the God who makes the gracious commitment of himself to his people.
o Moses will go to Pharaoh armed with the power of God and the authority that comes with the name of God. Pharaoh and all of Egypt will eventually know the name of the Lord.
· Do you know the Lord as the God who saves, who makes a gracious commitment to all those who put their trust in him? I pray that today you will understand more about who the Lord is, and how he has a initiated a mission to rescue a people, who will live for eternity in God’s special place, under his rule.
I. God Raises up Nations to Powerfully Proclaim His Name
a. Egypt – the greatest empire in the world. The Pharaoh was the most powerful ruler in the world.
b. Israel - God Brings Joseph to Egypt, setting the stage to make them a great nation.
c. Moses – an unlikely leader
i. Saved in the river, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, raised in Pharaoh’s courts, murders an Egyptian, flees to the wilderness. He stutters, He is scared, and Argues with the Lord
ii. Exodus 4:10-14
d. God works through unlikely circumstances, using undeserving characters, to accomplish his mission in the world.
II. God Rescues His People to Powerfully Proclaim His Name
a. God demonstrates his incomparable power over all other “god’s” through the plagues.
i. Exodus 10:1-2
b. God demonstrates his incomprehensible sovereignty over the will of Pharaoh.
i. God Hardens the heart of Pharaoh – Exodus 4:21, 7:3,9:12,10:1
ii. Pharaoh Hardens his heart (8:15;9:34)
iii. The sovereign plan of God and Human responsibility are intertwined yet never compromised. This is not something beyond our powers of understanding.
iv. In the context of this passage we must recognize that God is sovereign over all events, even human agency, and does everything to magnify the power of his name.
v. Notice that this Pharaoh is anonymous in history, but God is famous.
c. God demonstrates his initiative to save when He frees his people from their bondage in Egypt.
i. Exodus 6:2-8 – God’s promise to save
ii. The Passover – Exodus 12:1-13
1. The people of Israel now had to take God at his word, follow his instructions, or they will also face judgment
2. We must trust that the only way God will Passover and forgive us for our sin is by the blood of Christ, the perfect lamb.
3. As God gave Israel the Passover feast, he has given us the Lord’s Supper to remember what Christ has done. We no longer look back to a national redemption, we look back to a permanent redemption in Christ.
iii. The Red Sea – Redemption complete as the evil rule of Pharaoh is devastated.
1. God leads Israel right to a dead end, the Red Sea.
2. Exodus 4:13-18 – God fights for his people! He shows himself strong even when we grumble and complain and fail to trust him.
3. He does this for his own glory!
d. God Remembers His Covenant and Establishes a Nation as a Powerful Proclamation of His Name.
i. He gives Israel the law to show them how to live in a covenant relationship with the Lord.
1. Exodus 20:2 – God is serious about HIS NAME
2. Covenant treaty – Stipulations imposed by a conquering king on a subdued people because they had already been made his subjects.
3. The law stems from and are a reflection of God’s Character
a. We are supposed to be separate, distinct people, not to earn God’s favor, but to reflect his character as God special people.
4. The law reflects the nature of God’s intended relationship with mankind at creation and how people are to relate to one another.
ii. He gives Israel the tabernacle as the powerful place of his presence with is covenant people.
1. Moses is on the mountain for 40 days and nights and the people rebel
2. God relents in wiping them off the face of the earth
3. Exodus 33:1-16 – Who are we without God’s presence?
iii. He shows Moses his glory as a powerful declaration of his goodness and grace in the midst of a rebellious people. (33:17-23)
III. Conclusion:
a. Exodus 34:5-9
b. In Exodus God has powerfully declared his name, but this is only a foreshadow of a greater proclamation of his name.
i. The bondage of Israel is nothing compared to the every person’s bondage to sin.
ii. God’s rescued Israel from slavery to Egypt, he has also rescued us from our sin , not through the blood of a lamb, but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
iii. The law has been completely fulfilled in Christ and he is present with us through the indwelling of His spirit in our very lives.
iv. Do we see God for who is he is? Do we want to see his glory pass by?
