Calvary Church • 11338 Ozga Road • Romulus MI 48174 • 734.941.0236 • calvary@calvaryromulus.org
. . .You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Psalm 138:2 NKJV
God Shows His Power
4. The Exodus
Next: The Law
Next: The Law
Exodus 6:2-8
Abraham’s descendants became known as Israel. They went to Egypt, and there they were made slaves for about 400 years. But God had not forgotten His pledge to Abraham. God saved His people Israel from slavery in Egypt by bringing them through the Red Sea.
In the years between Abraham and the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt, the Bible records the birth of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers. However, God caused him to gain favor in Egypt and he eventually rose to the second highest position in the government of Egypt. God used a famine in Israel to bring Joseph’s brothers to Egypt in search of food. Joseph moved his family to Egypt and Jacob lived the remainder of his life there.
The Israelites multiplied greatly in Egypt until a king that had not known Joseph arose. This king became afraid of God’s people and made them slaves. When they continued to multiply, he commanded that every male child born to an Israelite family should be put to death. When Moses was born, his parents trusted God to save him and put him in the river in a basket. He was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, nursed by his own mother and then raised in the king’s house.
Moses demonstrated a passion to help his people when he murdered an Egyptian who was abusing an Israelite. However, he was ahead of God’s plan. He became a fugitive in Midian, married Zipporah, had one son and spent 40 years tending the flocks of his father-in-law until God called him to go back to Egypt and lead his people out of slavery.
The plan of God marches on, moving closer to the Cross and the Redeemer that will restore perfect fellowship with God. The spiritual battle predicted in Genesis 3:15 continues. God told Abraham about slavery and conflict that would come in Egypt. (Genesis 15:13-14; Exodus 6:2-8) This story, as with all the stories of the Bible, is about God – not the Israelites, Moses, the Egyptians or Pharaoh.
God is demonstrating His power to deliver His people and to bring judgment on His enemies – those who oppose Him.
God revealed Himself to Moses through a burning bush Exodus 3:6,10
God revealed Himself to the Israelites through Moses Exodus 3:16-17
God revealed Himself to Pharaoh through Moses
God gave Moses the “heads up” Exodus 3:19-22
Here’s what happened: Exodus 5:1-2; 7:5; 12:12
This sets up the “battle of the gods” so to speak – the Plagues on Egypt.
The plagues were preceded by Aaron’s rod becoming a serpent that ate the
serpents of the Egyptian magicians – not a good sign for Pharaoh. Each of
the plagues that followed was a direct affront to one or more of many the
gods of Egypt, as God had predicted when He said, “against all the gods of
Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” (Exodus 12:12)
- Water turned to blood Exodus 7:19
- Multiplying frogs Exodus 8:-4
- Dust turned to lice Exodus 8:16
- Swarms of flies Exodus 8:21
- Disease on livestock Exodus 9:3
- Boils (severe sores) on humans and animals Exodus 9:8-9
- Thunder, lightning and hail killed livestock Exodus 9:18
- Locusts ate everything green Exodus 10:4-5
- Darkness Exodus 10:21-22
- Death of the firstborn Exodus 11:4-5
God delivered His people by opening the Red Sea to allow them to cross and destroying the Egyptians when they attempted to follow Exodus 14:13-31
APPLICATION: WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT GOD
God exists and is the same God eternally – “the God of your fathers”
Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
God has an eternal plan that He is continuing to carry out
It is still about God and we are part of it
There is always a spiritual battle – the conflict continues Ephesians 6:10-20
God is always working for His glory which results in our good Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6
God uses difficulties to draw us to Him and cause us to grow
Heartache, hardship, pain, suffering do not always mean we are out of God’s will or that we are sinning. The Israelites were suffering IN God’s plan. So also did Joseph, Job, and the Apostle Paul. While we can’t know all of God’s reasons, some are apparent.
To cause us to trust Him alone as our only hope and salvation 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To show us how weak and frail we are
To remove pride and strip the idols of our heart away
To cause us to depend completely on Him & delight in Him
To become more like Christ (character qualities) Romans 8:28-29
To draw us to support and encourage each other Hebrews 10:23-25
God is always aware of His people Matthew 10:29-31; 6:24-34
God’s people are always safe with Him John 10:27-30
God is always faithful to keep His promises Hebrews 10:23
God always offers opportunity to repent and trust Him Matthew 11:28-30
God always receives those who come to Him John 6:37