Exodus, Part 1
Exodus 1:1-7
Introduction
- Exodus is an incredible study of God's faithfulness to man
-- It is also a great encouragement to see man's ability to be faithful to God
- The series title is "Redeemed to Worship"
-- From this day forward, it is my prayer that title would stick to you
-- We, in 2018, have been redeemed for one purpose: to worship
- God's has given us an incredible Redeemer to celebrate, Jesus
-- In this study, we will see the promises of God that we can stand on
-- We will see God's glory as He is pleased by His creation
- However, we will also see God's anger/frustration at His creation
-- Re: He is a just and righteous God … His ways are Holy and complete
- Written by Moses - great lawgiver/deliverer of Israel
" Faithful servant, with his own issues (we'll see them clearly)
- Probably composed between 1446 and 1406 BC
" Moses was 120 at his death
" Spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, 40 years leading Israel desert
" Moses knew Israel's history; understood importance from upbringing
o He was educated, knew the history, and knew it's value
" FYI: Probably wrote Genesis near the same time as Exodus
" IMP: God is the real author here; Moses is secondary to that fact
- Exodus is written first to Israel … and then to all of us
" Written to give us an example/warning of how not to live
" Written to teach us through scripture we should have a great hope
- Exodus has 3 very specific purposes for us to absorb
1. Historical:
a. To teach Israel its God-given purpose (chosen as His people)
b. To teach Israel there is only one God
c. To teach Israel that God's promised seed would be through them
2. Doctrinal:
a. To teach great promise of God
b. To teach wonderful nature of God
c. Teach salvation is based on the blood of the lamb
d. Also (IMP), to show us the depravity of man
e. Show us the need for a mediator between us and God
3. Christ-centered Purpose
a. That Moses shows Israel their need for a Savior
b. That the Passover Lamb represents Christ
c. That mankind can NOT obey God's Law (need advocate)
d. Man can only enter God's royal tent (tabernacle) by His instruction
So, let's dive into this incredible book
Read Exodus 1:1-7 / Pray
Point 1 - The Deliverance of Israel
- The greatest theme of Exodus is the word: deliverance
-- Exodus is God's promise being fulfilled to His People … what was promise?
-- To make them a great nation!
- God delivered Israel in the past; He will deliver them in the future
-- FACT: God always saves His people … it is who He is
-- No matter what you are dealing with - His promise is to save you as well
" Sickness
" Depression
" Suffering
" Loneliness
" Broken heart
" Unemployment
- APP: Even if you feel hopeless; God will deliver and save you
- So, why was Israel sent on this path in Exodus?
1. There was moral decay in the family
" They were living immoral, violent, and lawless lives
" Gen 34, 37, and 38 are testimonies of this
- Because of that …
2. The family was being immersed in the worldliness of their environment
" They were falling into the lifestyle of what was around them
" Surrounded by Canaanites, the 70-member family was falling into their ways
" Canaanites were ungodly people, without morals and obedience to God
" Danger: Jacob and his sons were about to be lost to this world
- God moved to protect what was His
-- Re: He had made a promise to Abraham, He was going to see it through
- Therefore, God made three specific things happen:
1. God took one the sons of Jacob and set him up as Egypt's ruler (Joseph)
a. 2nd only to Pharoah
b. Able to make decisions for citizens
2. God used a famine to drive the family away from the Canaanites
3. God placed them around a people who hated who they were
a. Because of this, intermarriage and intermingling would be curbed
b. His people would keep their identity (set apart for God)
c. They'd be isolated and forced to keep godly ways intact
- In v2-5, we see that every member of Jacob's family moved; 70 persons (v5)
-- They were obedient to God because their love of God was more important
-- APP: Knew life would be tough … but to not obey God would be worse
- TRANS: God delivered His people to Egypt intentionally
-- He saved His people by removing them out of the corruption
- APP: Soemtimes God does the same to us - job, life, etc.
-- And in turn, these people truly believed Him and followed His ways
- Honest question: Why would anyone, leave everything, to follow God? B/C…
Point 2 - God's Faithfulness
- God appointed Israel to be a great nation because He wanted:
" A people whom He could send a Savior (Jesus) through
" A people who would spread His word into the world
" A people who would love, honor, cherish, and worship Him faithfully
" A people through who He could demonstrate His love and grace
- Explore how God promised this to several men -
- Adam
-- Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
- Noah
-- Gen 8:17, "Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you-the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground-so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it."
Abraham
-- Gen 12:1-2, "The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."
- Isaac (Abraham's son)
-- Gen 26:2-5, "The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions."
- Jacob (Abraham's grandson)
-- Gen 46:2-3, "And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied. "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there."
- FACT: Once God sets something into motion; it will happen
-- This is the promise that we see before us … people being moved to follow God
- In the end, this nation would grow to be over 2 million people
-- Israel, through God's leadership, was becoming a mighty people who…
" would believe and follow God
" were to be His great witnesses on Earth
o Re: From 70 people to 2,000,000
But, why is this important to the story of Exodus?
Big Idea: God is always going to be faithful to His promises - FOUNDATIONAL
- Our challenge: Do we see God's faithfulness?
-- God was faithful … IMP: to His promise … to His people
-- No matter what, He doesn't renege on His faithfulness or promises
- FACT: God is not a liar; therefore, He is incapable of not following through
-- Once we begin to look for weakness in his promise; we doubt Him fully
- Want to give three promises we can stand on today:
1. Fear not: - Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
2. God protects: - Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
3. He is our companion - Matt 28:20, "… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
- Again …
- HUGE: God doesn't renege on His faithfulness … even when we mess up
- If God was faithful to 70 people to make them into a mighty nation
-- Wouldn't He be faithful to take care of us as well?
-- Can't He handle our needs today? The answer is YES! What do you need?
- Pray
** Special thanks to "The Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible" for notes **
