Exodus 13-14

Review…

• the plagues of Egypt…
  • inconvenient plagues: FIRST – FOURTH – Nile / Frogs / Lice / Flies…
  • devastation plagues: FIFTH ^– EIGHT – Death of livestock / Boils / Hailstorm / Locusts…
  • The NINETH plague – Darkness – God is greater than the greatest god of Egypt – sun god Ra!
  • the TENTH plague…
  • The Passover – the picture of how God would save the world from sin…
    • In almost every aspect – looking forward to Jesus and the cross – the solution for sin!
    • We were all in bondage to sin (Egypt) and God set us free through Jesus (the Lamb)!
  • A new beginning – Passover became the FIRST month of the year – II Corinthians 5:17
    • Choosing the lamb – TENTH day – Palm Sunday – the day God choose His Lamb…
    • The sacrifice – FOURTEENTH day – blood of the lamb on the door…
    • Just as the Lamb of God was sacrificed so death would PASSOVER us…
    • Last Supper – Jesus took the wine – this is my blood – the New Covenant!
  • Unleavened bread – for SEVEN days – no one could eat bread with leaven…
    • Leaven in the Bible is a picture of sin – the Passover pictures sin being taken away…
    • He gave His life for ours – paid the price for our sin – so we might become sinless!

Stand Still… (4 points)

• 1^st – Remember this day… vs. 1-16
  • 1^st – The Lord commanded Moses… vs. 1-2
    • CONSECRATE (piel / imperative) – [קַדֶּשׁ] – to be HOLY or set apart…
    • Every FIRSTBORN child or animal that was born in Israel (more on this in a moment)!
  • 2^nd – Moses commanded the people… vs. 3-5
    • REMEMBER – the day God delivered them out of the HOUSE of BONDAGE…
    • Month of Abib (barley) – referring to the harvest – later known as Nissan (flight) …
    • They were delivered – NOT just from Egypt – but from bondage / slavery to the world!
    • REMEMBER – the day God delivered us…
    • August 23 – 1990 – the day God saved a sinner at a Petra concert in Western New York!
    • You may not remember the date – though it is a good idea to know roughly when…
    • Because there will be those days when we wonder – did God really deliver me…
    • Satan would love to try and convince us – that we were never really saved…
    • When we know – we can look back and say with confidence – I remember the day!
    • REMEMBER – because when you enter the Promised Land – flowing with milk and honey…
    • The thought being they would enter a land of great prosperity and wealth…
    • The danger being once they had grown rich – and carefree – they would FORGET!
    • Deuteronomy 8:12-14 – “When you have eaten and are full and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them… and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you FORGET the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
    • The truth is – when we have NO needs – NO problems – we FORGET about God…
    • When life is easy – going great – NO worries – we are NOT on our knees or in our Bibles…
    • We might ask – why does the Lord NOT bless me with LOTS of money and stuff…
    • The answer is He loves us too much – it is in our weakness – we depend on the Lord!
    • If we do not REMEMBER – where we came from – what God delivered us out of…
    • Ephesians 2:1-3 – “Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air…”
    • We have the tendency to look at the past with nostalgia – we forget the bondage…
    • But when we remember what we were saved from – sin and death – power of satan…
    • We hold on all the tighter to Jesus – determined never to go back!
    • If we do not REMEMBER – we think we are better than others…
    • There is also the danger of FORGETTING we are no better than anyone else…
    • We can become judgmental of others – holier than thou – super spiritual…
    • Forgetting we are just a sinner – redeemed by GRACE from the bondage of the world!
  • 3^rd – The feast of Unleavened bread… vs. 6-10
    • The Lord gave Israel TWO things to help them never FORGET how the Lord saved them!
    • FIRST – Keep the Feast of unleavened bread EVERY year…
    • To help keep Israel from sin – to REMIIND them of their great need for God…
    • God had them hold the feast the commemorated the taking away of sin…
    • For SEVEN days they could eat no leaven (a picture of sin) – Galatians 5:9
    • It will be a SIGN on your hand – a MEMORIAL between your eyes…
    • The FEAST was to be a practical way to REMIND the people every year…
    • How God had brought them out of Egypt / BONDAGE – by His strong hand!
    • Bread without leaven – matzah – is rather hard to eat – tasteless / bland…
    • You were in fact suffering – a little – for a week by not eating good bread…
    • Inevitably the kids would ask – why are we eating this tasteless bread!
    • Can you imagine if for one week every year you did not eat rice…
    • Your kids would inevitably ask you – why are not eating tasty rice!
    • This gave the opportunity to REMEBER what God had done for Israel…
    • Retell the story of how He had saved them from bondage!
    • What do we do – how can we make sure to REMEMBER – what God has done for us…
    • We take COMMUNION – to remember the death of Jesus Christ…
    • We say PRAYER before meals – to remember to give thanks to God for providing…
    • We go to CHURCH on Sunday – to remember what God says to us in His Word…
    • But we can easily get into a habit and FORGET the purpose behind our REMINDERS…
    • The danger is in just doing theses things – not remembering what we do them for!
  • 4^th – The sacrifice of all the firstborn males… vs. 11-16
    • Israel WOULD enter the land of the Canaanites…
    • The Land God swore to give to their Fathers – Genesis 22:18 / 26:4 / 28:13
    • But the Canaanites were a wicked / cursed people – Genesis 9:25)
    • The danger would be once the Children of Israel entered the Land – and compromise!
    • When God redeems us from the BONDAGE of sin – we still live in the world…
    • The challenge is to be a light to the world – rather than blending back into the it…
    • If we stand for what is right – we WILL be mocked or ridiculed – II Timothy 3:12
    • But if we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
    • We are choosing this world RATHER than Jesus – it means we reject Jesus!
    • James 4:4 – “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
    • The SECOND way to help Israel never FORGET how the Lord saved them!
    • Every male ANIMAL had to be sacrificed to the Lord – every SON redeemed…
    • Because when God brought the TENTH and final plague on Egypt – the Death Angel…
    • God spared all the FIRSTBORN sons of Israel through the blood of the lamb…
    • In effect He PURCHASED those sons (both man and animal) by saving them…
    • Therefore – every FIRSTBORN male animal had to be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord…
    • Every FIRSTBORN son had to be redeemed – a sacrifice offered in his place – Luke 2:21
    • This was done as a REMINDER to so in times to come – when their children asked…
    • They could tell them how God brought them out of BONDAGE by His mighty hand!
    • It would be the SIGN on their hand – and FRONTLET (phylacteries) between their eyes!
    • To help keep them from compromise – to REMIND them of the price of their freedom!
    • A picture of Jesus Christ…
    • It seems an odd REMINDER – always having to sacrifice or redeem the FIRSTBORN sons…
    • But it was meant to be a picture that pointed us to Jesus…
    • That only through the sacrifice of the FIRSTBORN Son of God – could we be redeemed!
    • We no longer sacrifice animals – but we can still be reminded not to compromise…
    • We REMEMBER what salvation cost – the FIRSTBORN – Jesus had to die to save us…
    • It was not nails that held Him on the cross – but our sins…
    • When we think of what Jesus gave up for us – it helps us live for Him!
• 2^nd – Not the easy road… vs. 17-22 / 1-4
  • 1^st – Into the Wilderness… vs. 17-19
    • God did not lead Israel by the short road up the coast (land of the Philistines) …
    • It was only an ELEVEN day walk from Egypt to the Promised Land – it took Israel 40 years!
    • God was not interested in taking them on the FASTEST path…
    • Because when times got TOUGH (war) they might run back to Egypt…
    • Instead – God would take them the LONG way – so they could learn to depend on Him!
    • The best way to get where God wants us to be – is the LONG road…
    • God has a PLAN for each and every one of our lives – but He is not is a RUSH…
    • Before God can fulfill His PLANS for our lives – He must PREPARE us!
    • If God told us were was taking us – we might turn around and run away!
    • Before God does a work THROUGH us – He must first do a work IN us!
    • God takes us the long way – so we spend time with Him – learn to depend on Him!
    • Moses brought the bones of Joseph – 400 years later – fulfilling his request – Genesis 50:25
  • 2^nd – LED by the Lord… vs. 20-22
    • God led them into the wilderness – to the Red Sea…
    • They left Succoth (tents) – where they spent their FIRST night out of Egypt…
    • And traveled to Etham – which marked the EDGE of the wilderness…
    • He guided them with a CLOUD by day – and PILLAR of fire at night – always with them…
    • If the pillar moved – so did the people / if the pillar stayed put – so did the people…
    • We are tempted to think – that would be nice – always knowing where to go…
    • But we have one better than a pillar / cloud – we have the Holy Spirit within us…
    • If we are looking for which way to go – wanting to know what we are supposed to do…
    • We only need be open to – listen to – the leading of the Holy Spirit!
    • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
  • 3^rd – LED into a TRAP… vs. 1-4
    • God came to Moses and gave him explicit instructions for Israel… vs. 1-4
    • He was to lead the Children of Israel from Etham to Pi Hahiroth (grassy place) …
    • Between Migdol (tower) and the Sea – opposite Baal Zephon (lord typhon – demon) …
    • Strategically this was a VERY poor place to take MILLIONS of people…
    • It meant you had mountains on the north and mountains on the south…
    • There was only a very narrow pass back to the west towards Egypt…
    • And on the east – was a VERY large (10 miles across) VERY deep (5000 feet) Red Sea!
    • God was leading Israel into a TRAP – a place where there was no escape…
    • Pharaoh would think Israel was lost (niphal) in the wilderness…
    • God would then HARDEN [חָזַק] the heart of Pharaoh to come after the Children of Israel!
    • We are left to wonder why God would intentionally lead His people into a trap…
    • The answer is because He wanted His people to learn to depend on Him!
    • II Corinthians 1:8-9 – “We do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…”
    • If we can depend on ourselves – or others in life – we will…
    • God does and will put us in positions in life – where there is no way out – a TRAP
    • He does it so that we have no other choice – than to trust in and depend on Him!
• 3^rd – Stand still… vs. 5-22
  • 1^st – Pharaoh heard… vs. 5-9
    • When Pharaoh and his savants realized what they had done…
    • By letting Israel go – they had LOST their entire work force!
    • From millions of slaves – they now had NONE – and they wanted them back!
    • Pharaoh mobilized his ENTIRE army to chase Israel…
    • They caught up to Israel at Pi Hahiroth – where they were camped by the Sea…
    • They had 600 chariots (ancient equivalent of tanks) / horsemen / and a HUGE army…
    • To all appearances it would seem he had Israel trapped – with nowhere to run!
    • It is NOT easy to walk away from our old lives – the world – many would like us to go back…
    • Old friends who come up and ask us to hang out – just like the old times…
    • Encouraging us to stop following Jesus – and live like we did before we knew the Lord…
    • We can feel trapped – not knowing how to say NO to old friends or our family!
  • 2^nd – VERY afraid… vs. 10-14
    • When Pharoah drew near…
    • The Children of Israel LOOKED with their eyes – and saw the armies of Egypt…
    • They were VERY afraid – cried out to the Lord – and COMPLAINED to Moses…
    • Where there NO graves in Egypt that you took us out here to DIE in the wilderness…
    • Is this not what we told you – leave (imperative) us alone in Egypt…
    • Better to be a slave in Egypt – than dead here in the wilderness!
    • Moses was NOT upset with the people – the armies of Egypt were a terrifying sight…
    • Instead – Moses told them – do not LET (jussive) yourself be afraid…
    • Fear is not a response – it is a choice – we chose based on what we are looking at…
    • If we are looking at our circumstances – then we choose to be afraid…
    • If we look to the Lord – then we by FAITH – have nothing to FEAR!
    • Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
    • STAND still – and see the SALVATION of the Lord…
    • STAND still (hithpael – causative) – chose to make yourself do NOTHING…
    • Then you will SEE – the SALVATION – [יְשׁוּעָה] – where we get the name Jesus!
    • The ONLY thing the people had to do – was STOP – and let God fight for them…
    • After this day they would never see the Egyptians again!
    • The Lord will FIGHT for you – and you will hold (hiphil) your peace (be silent)!
    • Ephesians 6:10-11 – “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…. that you may be able to stand…”
    • God does NOT expect us to fight a war – He just tells us to STAND…
    • And when we STAND – we SEE Jesus – and FIGHTS the battles for us!
    • Psalm 46:10 – “Be still – and know that I am God.”
    • BE STILL (imperative) – cause our hands to go down and rest…
    • Rest from OUR efforts – OUR solutions – and instead look up and SEE God!
  • 3^rd – MOVE forward… vs. 15
    • Moses went and complained to the Lord…
    • The Lord answered – why do you cry out to Me – SPEAK (piel / imperative) to Israel…
    • SPEAK to them so that they might MOVE (jussive) forward!
    • It was NOT that the people were to do NOTHING – they were STEP out and follow the Lord!
    • Standing for Jesus – does not mean we are supposed to do NOTHING…
    • We are not called to SIT around and wait for God – we are called to follow Jesus!
    • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we WALK by faith – not be sight.”
  • 4^th – Parting the waters… vs. 16-22
    • God commanded Moses – lift your ROD / stretch you hand over the water…
    • The children of Israel will pass through the midst on dry ground…
    • But God would HARDEN [חָזַק] the heart of the Egyptians – to follow Israel…
    • And God would be HONORED through Pharoah – Egypt would KNOW He is the Lord!
    • The Angel of God moved…
    • The pillar of cloud that led Israel – moved to the back – between them and the Egyptians…
    • It became a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians – but lit up the other side for Israel!
    • We know what God has called us to do – because He LIGHTS the way for us…
    • We go to His Word – His light for our path – so we can see where to WALK by faith!
    • Interestingly – the same Word that is a LIGHT to us – is DARK (hidden) to the world…
    • Before we knew Jesus – the Bible did not make any sense – DARK…
    • It is only because of the Holy Spirit in us – the Word is a LIGHT to us!
    • John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
    • A strong east wind blew all night – and the waters were divided…
    • Do NOT think of a shallow crossing – the Red Sea is upwards of 5000 feet deep!
    • That is why we are told there was a WALL of water on either side – also Exodus 14:29
    • WALL – 131x in OT (first used here) – describes a HIGH fortification for a city!
    • The Red Sea must have seemed to be an impossible problem to overcome…
    • I am sure the Children of Israel looked at the Red Sea – and THEY trembled…
    • Yet the Red Sea looked at God – and IT trembled – it was nothing compared to God!
    • Psalms 77: 16,19 – “When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths… Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” [NLT]
    • Often – we look at our trials / problems in life – and we tremble in fear…
    • Yet our problems look at the Lord – and THEY tremble – they are no match for God…
    • He parts the ocean of our difficulties – stacks them up on both sides of us…
    • He leads us on the path no one even knew was there – through the trials…
    • The Lord does not take away our problems – He leads us through them!
    • Crossing the Red Sea…
    • People have a hard time believing miracles – like PARTING an ocean…
    • They look to explain away the supernatural – bring God down to the level of men…
    • So – there are some who argue Israel crossed the Red Sea – at the Sea of Reeds…
    • The Sea of Reeds is the shallow (three feet deep) northern most section of the Red Sea!
    • If Israel did cross there – the miracle was NOT in them crossing on dry ground…
    • The miracle was drowning the entire Egyptian army in THREE feet of water!
    • On the east side of the Sinai Peninsula – across from Saudi Arabia…
    • The beach at Nuweiba – has a large beach accessible only by a small path – Wadi Watir…
    • There is an underwater LAND BRIDGE there that crosses the Red Sea…
    • There is a matching PILLARS on both sides of the Red Sea here…
    • Thought to have been placed there by King Solomon to commemorate the crossing!
• 4^th – Why the Red Sea… vs. 23-31
  • 1^st – The defeat of Egypt… 23-31
    • The Egyptians PURSUED Moses and the Children of Israel into the Sea…
    • All the chariots of Pharoah / his horsemen / his entire army followed…
    • But the Lord CONFUSED their army – the tires just fell off their chariots…
    • Forcing them to be VERY hard to drive (piel) – especially in MUD!
    • The army cried out – FLEE from Israel – the Lord fights for them!
    • When it was morning – Moses stretched out his hand over the sea…
    • They have found possible remains of chariot wheels in the Red Sea
    • Drowning the entire army of Egypt in a moment – not ONE survived…
    • Israel saw the bodies of the Egyptians wash up onto the shore…
    • Egypt was the FIRST superpower the world had even seen – greatest army on earth…
    • Yet the greatest power of man – was nothing compared to the power of God!
    • As a RESULT – people FEARED the Lord – and BELIEVED His servant Moses!
    • Psalms 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
    • We all tend to look to man for help – money / resources / answers to our problems…
    • It is easier to trust in someone we can touch and see – then to trust in God
    • The problem is men are limited – and cannot always help…
    • Men have limited abilities and resources – only God has limitless!
  • 2^nd – Baptism of Israel…
    • God uses the Nation of Israel as a picture of the Christian walk…
    • Just as Israel was saved from the slavery of Egypt – through the blood of the Lamb…
    • And the FIRST stop on their journey to the Promised Land was – the Red Sea…
    • Israel was no longer a slave to the world – they were now the nation of God…
    • They were baptized into the Red Sea – to show the NEW life God has given them!
    • I Corinthians 10:2,11 – “As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea… All these events happened to them as examples for us…”
    • Our FIRST stop in our new life in Jesus – is to be baptized (Red Sea) – Romans 6:4
    • Water baptism shows the change that occurred when we believed – Romans 10:9-10
    • FIRST – we are buried with Jesus – taken under the water – a picture of our death…
    • SECOND – we are raised up with Jesus – taken out of the water – a picture of new life!
    • Our old man – our old sinful nature – was crucified and buried with Jesus…
    • We were then raised from the dead’– no longer the old sinful man we once were…
    • We were given NEW life – freed from sin to live for God – II Corinthians 5:17
    • We are born again – not to live in sin / but to live in godliness – John 3:3