Exodus, Part 7
Exodus 7:14 – 10:29
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
- Today we see God’s judgement upon a nation
-- Lots to see; hang with me … critical that we see how this applies to us at the end
- Read Exodus 7:1-13 / Pray
Point 1 – Confirming Moses’ Calling
- God reminds Moses (and recalls him) to the task ahead
- Very interesting is how he reassures Moses of what He’s said
1. Moses was to be God’s messenger (v1)
2. Moses would not be alone, Aaron would be his helper (v2)
3. God would harden the heart of Pharaoh (to multiply His signs) (v3)
4. God would lay His mighty hand upon this rebellious people (v4)
5. God would show His purpose: that all would know is the Lord (v5)
- APP: Comfort to us … God does not leave us alone when we are sent
- Now, take a look at verse 7 … think you’re too old to serve God?
-- Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron was 83 years old
-- These men were called to go share God’s message – that’s all
- LESSON: We are never too old to serve the Lord
-- Thought … churches should not become funeral parlors for service
- This one verse ought to energize all of us – be willing to GO
-- God will meet your need where you are; when He calls – we need to obey
- TRANS: So, let’s examine the plagues and their meaning
-- Note: Not going to read each – would rather allow you to read, and,
-- See how God works in the discussion as we walk through them
- Will try to give you (prayerfully) some note-worthy things on the screen
Point 2 – The Plagues of God
There are 10 plagues in total – but today we will only cover 9 of them
Plague Scripture Reason for it
1. Water changed to blood
Affect: Contamination of all water supplies
7:14-25 Proof that God is the Lord
He is the only true and living God
Pharaoh: Heart becomes hard (7:22)
2. Frog infestation
Affect: Property ruined
Threat of disease
8:1-15 Proof that God has no equal
IMP: There is no one is like the Lord
Pharaoh: Heart hardened (8:15)
3. Gnats infest the land
Affect: Discomfort of the body; threat of disease
8:16-19 Proof that power of God controls everything
He controls even the smallest animals
Pharaoh: Would not listen (8:19)
4. Flies swarm the land
Affect: Pollution and uncleanliness
8:20-32 Proof that God is able to save/redeem people from anything
FACT: Only He can rescue them from this infestation
Pharaoh: Heart is hardened (8:32)
5. All livestock killed
Affect: Threat of disease; destruction of food source 9:1-7 Proof that hand of God controls every animal on the Earth
Pharaoh: Heart was hardened (9:7)
6. Festering boils on man / animal
Affect: Inability to stand, work, or move about
9:8-12 Proof that God has power over health
Proof that God has control of body
Pharaoh: Heart is hardened (9:12)
7. Severe hail and thunderstorm
Affect: Destruction of property and land
9:13-35 Proof that the Earth is the Lord’s
He can cause it to rain at His will
Pharaoh: Heart was hard (9:35)
8. Locusts swarmed the land
Affect: Destruction of food supply
10:1-20 Proof that the Lord is the great Savior of mankind
Pharaoh: Heart hardened (10:20)
9. Darkness covers the land
Affect: Inability to see, work, or move about
10:21-29 Proof that God has power over the light and Darkness of the Earth
Pharaoh: Heart hardened (10:27)
- TRANS: Why is it important that we see know plagues?
- FACT: God will not allow His people to continue to be walked on
-- BEAUTIFUL: It was always God’s desire that every creation would know Him
- He desires that all created would understand that He is sovereign over ALL
-- Re: Wednesday night: Psalm 47:2, “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”
- Even in these plagues, they are given an opportunity to know God
-- Yet – as their leader rejected God, so did they – instead complained/railed
- Want you to see, specifically, Pharaoh’s response…
-- Exodus 10:28, “Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
- Do we ignore God’s call when He moves us? Sure we do!
-- Each time we tell Him “no”, or “wait”, or “I don’t want too”, or … _______
- This is why these plagues ought to spark in us a desire to obey
IMP … DON’T MISS THIS
• The same God who willingly gave us Jesus to rescue us …
• Is SAME God who unleashed His wrath on His creation for disobedience
Big Idea: Love of God cannot exist without the wrath of God
- FACT: Love of God cannot exist without the wrath of God
-- They are two sides of the same coin – they provide balance for each other
-- They are part of who God is … and the same wrath still exists
- How can I possibly say this? Asked, “Isn’t God all love?” Turn to Revelation 20
- Rev 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
- God is NOT going to wait forever; and our choice to reject Him will catch us
- So, where are you today … do you know Him as Savior?
-- Or, is God still a convenience that you claim when times are tough
- Moses was calling Pharaoh to know God, to repent, to turn to Him
-- Jesus offers us the same call today – to lead us to know the Father
-- He offers us chance to be forgiven and redeemed by Him only (John 14:6)
- A, B, C … we need a Savior, and we need to know Him before wrath catches us
- Pray
** Special thanks to “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible” for notes **
