Focus: Even when we have an almost non-existent faith, God will fight for us & save us from our enemy
Function: To increase the faith and hope of the hearers in a God who saves them so they can move forward in their walk with God
Text: Exodus 13:17-14:31
I. Introduction A. Sometimes when you say too much, it doesn’t go over well B. Is it possible to say too much to God? II. God leads the people away from Egypt A. Not the most direct route to avoid the Philistines B. God tells them to "turn back" and camp by the sea (14:1-4) 1. This a foolish strategic move from a military standpoint 2. Pharoah pursues them and boxes them in (14:5-9) 3. Israel now wishes they were “safe” back in Egypt .... safe in slavery 4. Notice: NO ONE took God seriously, Israel or Egypt a. Egypt pursues Israel even after seeing all those plagues b. Israel has no faith even after seeing all those plagues C. Have you every felt boxed in? D. What can you do? ...... NOTHING III. Does God or Moses have anything to say? A. (14:13-14) Moses cries out to the people 1. Stand by (take your stand, stand firm) 2. See the salvation of the Lord (Hebrew: Salvation="yeshua", which is Jesus) 3. You will never see the Egyptians again 4. God will fight for you if you keep silent... JUST SHUT UP B. (14:15) God speaks 1. Why are you crying out to me? 2. Stop praying. SHUT UP and move forward 3. There are times for long prayers, and times for action C. They are to move forward. To where? Will God make a way? IV. God makes a way through the sea and drowns the Egyptians A. This becomes the ultimate contest of power 1. Chariots & horses were the stuff of mighty armies. God defeats them 2. Ancient Egyptian inscription concerning Pharaoh: “He is sekhmet (a powerful goddess) against him who transgresses his command; how whom he hates will bear sickness. Fight on behalf of his name and be scrupulous in the oath to him, that you may be free from a taint of disloyalty. He whom the king has loved will be a revered one, but there is no tomb for a rebel against his majesty, and his corpse is cast into the water.” a. Notice how God turns all this against Pharoah b. God is the one with the power, not Pharaoh B. Israel sees the corpses wash up on the shore in the morning C. How does Israel react? (14:30-31) 1. They believed and feared the Lord 2. Their belief/faith was strengthened by experiencing God’s salvation D. Neat story. What is its purpose? V. Hearing this story in Israel A. Would not say it is a story of Israel’s faith B. This is the story of God’s deliverance C. As a Christian, we can say this is the paradigm of God’s deliverance D. This story was modfied and transformed and changed. How? VI. Take a tour of other Exoduses in the Bible A. Isaiah 51:9-11 - Israel's Exodus from Babylon 1. Rahab/Sea Monster = Chaos/evil = Pharaoh and Egypt 2. Egypt is now Babylon 3. Another Exodus will happen when they return from exile 4. God will destroy Babylon (Isaiah 14) B. I Cor 10:1-2 - Christian Exodus 1. Paul compares the forming event of Israel to our forming event 2. Israel was “baptized” into Moses and the cloud in the sea 3. We are baptized into Jesus in water C. Matt 2:15 quotes Hosea 11:1 - Out of Egypt I have called my son 1. This "son" is Jesus (yeshua). Our Salvation has become a person 2. Mt 4:1-2 - Jesus was 40 days in the wilderness a. Israel spent 40 days in the wilderness b. Like Israel, Jesus was tested in the wilderness, but he overcame 3. Lk 9:28-31 - Jesus on mount of transfiguration a. His appearance changed as Moses' appearance changed on the mountain b. Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his "departure" - Departure is the word “exodov” Exodus - Jesus was about to "depart" experience an Exodus 4. Heb 6:20 - When Jesus departed, he became a “forerunner” to Heaven a. Heb 3 - Jesus is a better Moses who leads us out of bondage b. He leads us to our “exodus” as a forerunner when he ascended to Heaven D. Along with Jesus' exodus is the defeat of the enemy 1. John 12:31-33 - Ruler of this world (Satan) is about to be cast out 2. 18:21 - “Babylon” (which is Rome) detroyed in the sea just like Egypt 3. 19:20;20:10 - All the enemies destroyed in a lake........ of fire 4. 21:2ff - We come to the New Jerusalem, our promised land E. So we have experienced an "Exodus" and await another crossing into the promised land VII. What can we say about all of this? A. Even with micro-faith, God will destroy our enemy and save us B. If you feel boxed in, stop complaining and move forward, God will make a way 1. Some have already experienced your Exodus 2. Wandering in the wilderness 3. We will come to another Exodus when we pass over to the home Jesus prepared for us. C. Some are still standing on the bank wondering what to do. 1. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know what to do, oh my oh my 2. Stop talking and Move forward........ into the water. You’ll pass through safe. 3. Some are still in Egypt, some are in the wilderness. Others have made it to the promised land. 4. God will take you there. Move forward.