As we begin this series I must highlight that this is for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a believer or not, whether you have been a Christian for 1 week or 30 years. We were created to follow, if you are not following God then you are following someone else’s dream or vision for your life. There is an exciting path for us all to be on, yet many people are motionless, moving backwards, or trapped somewhere they were never meant to be. God has destiny for each and every one of us and there is nothing more that He wants then to see you fulfilling yours, but it means following His lead, it means being ready to travel. (prayer for the family of boy who killed himself)
The story of the nation of Israel is a picture of our journey of Christianity. As we follow their epic journey from Egypt to the Promised Land we will draw from their experience and see how it applies to our own unique journeys. 430 years had gone by since Joseph’s family walked into Egypt and made it home. Over time the Jewish people became slaves to the Egyptians, who were the world power in those days. By the time Moses walk into Egypt they numbered somewhere close to 1.4 million people now and their prayers for salvation were about to be answered. They would need to be ready when the call came, they needed to be ready for a long journey, and they would have to put their trust in the Lord.
1) You’ll have to be obedient (vs. 6-11)
This was so important for the Israelites because there were some very specific things they had to do in order to be ready to leave and embark on this journey of freedom and promise. They had to follow the instructions of Moses to the letter (read 12:6-11). These people had to obey and be ready for at a specific moment they would be freed and embark on a journey that would last for years. They all knew that this would involve travel, walking, preparation, obedience, submission, and freedom from slavery. As they followed these instructions the time came and everything God had foretold through Moses came to pass. They were leaving slavery for freedom and destiny. This was a new chapter in the life of God’s people now free to worship Him and begin the trip of becoming what He always intended them to become, leaving captivity behind.
It is important for anyone who has been challenged by God to come to Jesus to know what they’re signing up for, which Jesus illustrates in Luke 14:26. God is not a genie where poof you are in one place and the poof you are all fixed up and life is good. God wants to take you on a journey of discovery, a journey of transformation, and a journey of destiny, but it doesn’t just happen. We must be prepared to walk the road that God has planned for us, no matter how trying, challenging or unfathomable. We have been called to follow everyday until we are with him. This means we are not chasing little unfulfilling destinations in life, but a much greater plan with a rich and colourful path until we reach heaven. He expects us to follow, to leave our old life, and be ready to change.
2) You’ll have what you need (vs. 36)
Something amazing was happening in Egypt. Not only was Pharaoh letting his 1 million plus workforce go, but also the Egyptians were giving them clothes, silver and gold because Israel asked nicely. These were their servants and slaves and they were happily handing over riches and supplies to help them escape captivity. It says that they plundered the Egyptians like a triumphant army. What a turn of events. They would never have imagined such an amazing going away party, but when God sets his people free He makes sure they have everything they need for the journey! They had all that they were going to need for their journey to the Promised Land.
One of the fears that people have when speaking about becoming a Christian and following Jesus is the “How am I going to do this and that?” Jesus was very clear about how He would be all sufficient for us just as God had been for the Israelites. Jesus says in Luke 12:24 that God feeds the ravens and we are far more valuable to Him then they are. God is not interested in pumping you up with false expectations and then leave you hanging once you decide to fallow Him. God will give you courage, supply your needs and Hw will make a way, even when you think it’s impossible. As you obey Him he will miraculously begin to provide for you and supply all of your needs as Paul highlights in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus”. He did it for the Israelites, he did it for Paul, He’s done it for me and He will do it for you.
3) You’ll have to have faith (14:5-7; 10-12)
3 days later, after this exciting and memorable exit from Egypt, the Israelites had the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh decided he made a huge mistake and gathered his troops and set out to bring those Israelites back. When the people of Israel saw the army coming they began to panic. They turned to God for help, but then turned on Moses. Oh no, a problem, this isn’t fair. How could they forget so quickly all that God had done to get them out and not believe that He could save them now. God knew what He was doing, but the problem is that they so quickly doubted His ability. Thankfully God still saved them. Even though they doubted so quickly, Moses was ready to trav.
If we are going to succeed in the journey of Christianity then we have got to have faith. This is why your conversion experience must be genuine and personal. If God has genuinely touched your life then your faith will last when obstacles come. If you think about all that had to happen for you to come to the point where you heard the Gospel, all that God did to draw you to Himself, you can have faith that he’s going to give you victory in everything, not some things, EVERYTHING! (Matt. 19:26 all things are possible)You are going to run into things on this journey that you are going to have to believe God for because without Him it will be impossible. If you put your faith completely in Him and release it to Him then you give Him freedom to do something miraculous.
Conclusion
If you are here this morning and you have bought into the dreams of this world and you have found that they never seem to fulfil you then this message is for you. If you are here this morning and you took the initial step to following God, but things got too tuff for you, then this message is for you. There are so many people in this world chasing and following after dreams that society is selling and they are coming up dry and empty, trapped in a life of slavery to poor choices, financial distress, and meaningless lusts. The world promises destiny, but you are always left wanting more. God would say to you today, “come on a journey with me.” If the Israelites had there way that day they would have ran back to slavery, but Moses stepped out in faith. God was about to do something awesome and they would have missed it. The same thing goes for you today, God is about to do something awesome in your life, but if you turn away today you will miss it. Are you ready to travel?
