Get Out! Series

Series: THE STORY GOD IS TELLING

Title: “Get Out!”

Text: Exodus 12:29-31

29 And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.

30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, [I’m going to paraphrase the rest of this] “Get out of my sight! I don’t want to ever see you alive again.”

Introduction:

A. “GET OUT!” If you’ve lived any time at all … and I believe most of us have … we’ve probably heard these words before.

1. Hopefully they were spoken to us … and not by us.

2. Clearly Pharaoh is upset … we can understand why, and it is not without cause.

3. He is, of course, the cause.

B. It has been over four centuries since Joseph’s king invited Israel to dwell in Goshen.

1. There God’s people prospered … to the envy of the Egyptians.

2. Finally their king decided that enough was enough.

3. “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we … in the event of war they might join our enemies and fight against us … therefore they set taskmaster over them to afflict them with their burdens.”

4. And so the guests became slaves … let that be a lesson to heed, don’t overstay your welcome.

C. Today’s message is the third is our series … THE STORY GOD IS TELLING.

1. It is the story of the Exodus … Part One.

2. From my earliest years I have loved to read of Moses and the Exodus … especially the parting of the Red Sea.

3. I think Cecil B. DeMille recreated that scene exactly as it happened … no marsh could sink 600 chariots plus cavalry and foot soldiers.

4. And I’m still awed by the resemblance of Moses and Charlton Heston … amazing!

Central Idea: Israel exodus from Egypt was wrought with adventure. Each taught God’s people a great lesson … and taken together they teach us an even greater lesson. I’m going to share four of these adventures with you … and then reveal the “greater” lesson.

I. Adventure #1 is Found in Exodus 14—Israel’s Crossing of the Red Sea.

A. The Incident …

1. Israel’s exodus from Egypt came only after a hard fought campaign between the Lord and the gods of Pharaoh.

2. Each of the infamous “Ten Plagues” marked the defeat of an Egyptian deity. Among Egypt’s gods you will find …

a. Nechebt—the serpent.

b. Apis—the bull, and Amon—the cow.

c. Horus—the god of the sky, and Ra—the god of the sun.

d. Set—the crocodile god, and the goddess Heka—a frog.

e. The Nile itself was sacred … as was Pharaoh [and the god in waiting, his first-born son].

3. The death of the king’s son was the final straw … Exodus 12:31-36.

31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said.

32 "Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also."

33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, "We shall all be dead."

34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing.

36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

4. But Pharaoh’s favor didn’t last. The Lord wasn’t through with this king. So God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he sent 600 chariots chasing after Israel.

5. They caught up with God’s people as they were encamped along the shore of the Red Sea.

6. Pharaoh believed he had Israel trapped. Moses had led them to a place between two mountain ranges … so there was no escape to the north or the south. From the west Egyptian chariots were raising great clouds of dust … and they couldn’t cross the sea to their east without boats [which they had no time to build].