WEBVTT

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 Now, let's turn together to Exodus chapter 7. So we've been thinking about this as a book where

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 God makes himself known to his people and to Egypt, and we're going to see more of that today,

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 asking ourselves the question, how do I respond to the God of all the earth?

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 So let's hear God's word from Exodus 7. Then the Lord said to Moses,

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 See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say

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 everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of

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 his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt,

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 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt, and with mighty acts of judgment I will

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 bring out my divisions, my people, the Israelites, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord,

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 when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it. Moses and Aaron did

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 just as the Lord commanded them. Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron 83, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

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 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, When Pharaoh says to you, Perform a miracle, then say to Aaron,

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 Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake. So Moses and Aaron went

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 to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and

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 his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian

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 magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff, and it became a

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 snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard, and he would not

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 listen to them, just as the Lord had said. Then the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is unyielding.

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 He refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront

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 him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake.

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 Then say to him, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you, Let my people go,

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 so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. This is what the

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 Lord says, By this you will know that I am the Lord. With the staff that is in my hand, I will

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 strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the

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 river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink its water. The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron,

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 Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the streams and canals,

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 over the ponds and all the reservoirs, and they will turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in

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 Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone. Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded.

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 He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile,

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 and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that

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 the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt. But the Egyptian magicians did

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 the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh's heart became hard. He would not listen to Moses and

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 Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Instead, he turned and went into his palace and did not take even this

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 to heart. And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink

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 the water of the river. Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile. Amen. This is God's word for us

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 this morning, this evening. Okay, let's pick it up. So, I guess most of us will maybe have spotted with

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 different degrees of interest that the date for the king's coronation is now in May the 6th. Perhaps

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 is already marked in some people's calendars. For others, maybe all we hope for it is that we might

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 get another public holiday. And do you know when it comes to this king's coronation? That's okay.

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 We can have different opinions about that. But our response to the king of kings, the king who we're

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 presented with in the book of Exodus, this matters in a life and death way. So, Exodus and its missionary

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 aim, God has been saying in so many ways, I am the Lord. And here is what I am like. He's been saying

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 that for the benefit of Israel. He's been saying it for the benefit of Egypt and for the nations.

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 And one way that we're seeing this theme emerge is through two characters and two questions that

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 have been asked. So, obviously, one of the main characters in the book of Exodus is Moses. Moses,

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 who was called by God to be the deliverer of his people. And Moses, in chapter 3, we see him asking

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 the question a number of times. He wants to know exactly who the Lord is. You can see that, for example,

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 in chapter 3, verse 13. He has faith, but he's seeking understanding. He wants to be able to communicate

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 who is God to the rest of the Israelites. But there's been another character asking another

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 question in a very different tone. So, chapter 5, verse 2, we have Pharaoh, who is the Lord, that I

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 should obey him and let Israel go. I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.

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 Here's a question based on defiance. I refuse to acknowledge the authority of this king.

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 Okay. So, chapter 7 is going to help us to answer these two vital questions. Who is God? And that's

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 going to take up most of our time. But then, really importantly, how do I respond? And we're going to

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 see how Moses and Pharaoh are so very, very different. And it invites us to reflect on our

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 own response to God. So, let's begin asking the question, who is the Lord as we find him revealed in

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 chapter 7 of the book of Exodus. And there are at least four truths that we can identify. Let's begin

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 by thinking about God's mighty hand. That's the language of verses 4 and 5, especially verse 4,

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 I will lay my hand on Egypt. End of verse 5, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the

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 Israelites out of it. So, this strong hand, mighty hand of God used in two ways. One, against Pharaoh.

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 And if you look at the verses, there's the language that's inviting us to think here is God as commander.

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 He's leading Israel as army divisions out of Egypt in victory. Of course, it's God alone who has

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 powerfully saved. Israel simply has to stand and watch. But this mighty acts of judgment that God

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 brings on Egypt are intended to be proof to Pharaoh and to Egypt that the Lord, he is God. The one that

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 Pharaoh is fighting against is the one true God. But the same hand that's against Pharaoh and Egypt

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 is the same hand that is working for Israel, working to shelter Israel, working to save and to guide.

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 Like a father taking a child by the hand to guide his child out of danger. And this act of deliverance

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 by God's mighty hand, too, stands as proof of who God is, both to Egypt and to Israel. So, the mighty hand of

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 God is really significant for knowing our God. So, do we see the mighty hand of God? Where do we see the

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 mighty hand of God? Perhaps we can begin by thinking about what we sometimes call common grace. Do we

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 recognize every good thing that we enjoy comes from the hand of God? Do we recognize every experience of

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 God's mercy? It's very easy for us to walk through life not thinking about where all these good things, where God's

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 mercy comes from. There's an evangelist in the States called Randy Newman, and he writes about an apologetic of joy,

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 by which he means one way into fruitful conversations with our non-Christian friends and family members might be

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 to show how we have learned to show how we have learned to see God in the good things, in the simple everyday

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 things of life, to show that God is part of everyday life. Do we see God's mighty hand in his common grace?

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 Do we see God's mighty hand in his acts of providence? Do we have that understanding that all the events of

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 history, all the circumstances in the story of our lives are in God's hands? With the hymn writer, can we be glad

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 that our times are in God's hands? Because when we know that God is powerful and God is good,

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 that God is in control and he is for his people, then there's something profoundly comforting,

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 an invitation to trust. And then do we see God's mighty hand in his acts of salvation?

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 Think about the Lord Jesus as he's presented in John's Gospel. John speaks about the signs of Jesus,

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 those miracles as signposts to the identity of Jesus that we might know that Jesus is the Son of God and

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 the Savior of the world. When we look at the cross, do we see that mighty act of God?

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 As he pours out judgment on his Son instead of it falling on his own people. As he gives salvation

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 by grace, as he makes a way for our sins to be forgiven. And then do we recognize in that great sign,

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 the resurrection, that promise that sin and death has been defeated, that victory has been secured,

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 that eternity is guaranteed for the people of God. So as we learn to see the mighty acts of God in our

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 lives, there is a call constantly to believe and to worship and to have thankfulness.

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 So that's one way we're invited to know our God. Secondly, we can see in this chapter much that speaks of

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 God's total supremacy. God is in absolute charge. So one of the big themes in Exodus is this conflict

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 theme, at least for the first 15 chapters. And the plagues, which begin here in chapter 7,

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 come as a demonstration that I am a Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me.

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 Pharaoh was fighting against that. Pharaoh presumed the false gods of Egypt were equal to the God of

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 Israel. And so chapter 7 and God's acts here show otherwise. Firstly, we see in verse 3 that God is

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 supreme over people. We see it there when it says, but I will harden Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh, the most

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 powerful man of his day, but the Lord is in control. And we're going to think about the hardening of

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 Pharaoh's heart in a moment. But just to recognize that the Lord rules over the most powerful king

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 on the planet. And that's still the case. And also God announces that he will bring his people out. He is

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 supreme over his own people. The Lord rules over kings. The Lord rules over nations.

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 We're also invited to remember that God is supreme over creation. All of the plagues are a reminder

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 that God is the creator. God is at work. Verses 19 and 20. You can turn there and you can see that

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 quite clearly. So here we have the river Nile, the mighty river Nile, the source of life for Egypt.

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 Irrigation was there. Trade happened there. Wealth was tied up with the river Nile. But also remember

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 that it was Pharaoh who issued the decree that little baby boys should be drowned in the river Nile.

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 The place of life in Pharaoh's eyes was to become a place of death. And what does God do?

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 God issues judgment, turns the place of life into the place of death. And it becomes really clear

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 that it's God's own hand that's working this act of judgment, this plague.

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 Verse 20. It's as Aaron raises his staff and strikes the Nile. Instantly it's changed into blood.

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 Now some people perhaps try and reason it away and say, well perhaps further upstream there was some

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 sort of red clay or soil that kind of came into the water system and made its way down.

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 And so Moses, just in case we're thinking that, includes in verse, end of verse 19,

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 blood will be everywhere, even in vessels of wood and stone. This is not a naturally occurring

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 incident. This is the Lord who created, it's the Lord who is commanding.

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 And we also are invited to remember, and again this has very much to do with the plagues,

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 that the Lord is supreme over the false gods, over the false gods of Egypt. Verse 10 to 12.

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 And we're back with the snakes and the significance of the snakes. So remember,

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 Pharaoh had the cobra crown. His rule was very much associated with his claim to be godlike.

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 Well here there is this action that happens in the palace. And what do we see? We see a battle

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 between two powers. Incidentally, the word for snake, so when Moses performed this miracle the

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 first time for the people of God, it was like the regular word for a snake. But this word for a

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 snake is more similar to the word for a dragon. So we're not invited to think of just a small snake,

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 maybe like a grass snake or a corn snake. We're invited to think of one of those huge snakes,

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 like anaconda, boa constrictor, some kind of king cobra going on here. Because this is warfare

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 between Pharaoh and between God. And in this contest, what happens? Aaron's staff becomes a snake,

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 so do Pharaoh's magician's staffs, but of course Aaron's staff swallowed theirs up. There is no contest

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 because God has no rivals. God is supreme. Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch theologian, once said,

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 there is no square inch of all creation over which God does not say mine. We see it here in Exodus 7.

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 But we also need to recognize that that includes our hearts and includes your life and includes my life.

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 And it is so important for us to recognize the supremacy of God, the uniqueness of our God,

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 the one who says, I am the Lord. So important for us to recognize the uniqueness of Jesus who said,

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 I am, I am God, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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 We need to come to that point of recognizing no other God can save us.

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 And amazingly, no other God came to save us other than the God who is revealed in the Bible.

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 What else can we say about the Lord from Exodus chapter 7? We recognize one of his great goals

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 in the Exodus is to restore relationship. So look with me at verse 16. This is what they are to say

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 to Pharaoh. The Lord, the God of the Hebrews has sent me to say to you, let my people go so that they

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 may worship me in the wilderness. Okay, so we're in the book of Exodus at the moment. The book before

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 this is the book of Genesis, both books written by Moses. The book of Genesis, and especially the

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 first 11 chapters, one of the things that we see over and over again is what we could call the spreading

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 disease of sin. I actually ended up thinking about maybe you saw at the beginning of COVID.

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 Do you remember those warning videos that were all over the internet, those sort of experiments where

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 somebody would have, I can't remember what kind of chemical it was, and then they'd be put in a room

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 and they'd be touching the light switch and going to pick up a sandwich. They'd be opening the door and

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 then you put the UV light on and you would see the fingerprints everywhere. And it was supposed to

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 remind us germs from hands spread. The infection moves everywhere. That's the point of the book of

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 Genesis. First 11 chapters. We see sin spread from Adam and Eve to their children, then to the whole

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 human race. Except in God's mercy, he calls Moses. He doesn't call Moses, he calls Noah and he calls

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 Abraham. Well, we come to Exodus and we need to remember it's still within that context.

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 This is the reality of life during the Exodus. We are seeing in the chapters before us sinful

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 rebellion taking place, most notably from Pharaoh and from Egypt. We see also that sin separates,

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 and we discover that the sadness, the tragedy that the covenant people of God don't seem to know their

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 God. We meet Pharaoh who has no desire and no will to worship God because of sin.

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 And we're invited to go further still and to recognize it as a picture of every human heart,

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 to understand the spreading disease of sin in our separation from God, in our stubbornness,

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 in our self-worship as we turn in rather than turn up. And then we hear God's grace in verse

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 16. God's grace in bringing freedom. And why does he bring freedom? We've said it before. He's

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 bringing freedom not so they could enjoy a political liberation. They're enjoying freedom to become his

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 people. They're going to experience freedom so they can know their God, so that they can worship the one

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 true God, so they can be restored to life as it was meant to be. We were made to worship. We

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 were made to know and to enjoy God. It's the power of the redemption theme that we find in the gospel.

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 We've been thinking about it so much on our Sunday mornings. The Lord Jesus, by taking on human flesh,

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 by meeting the law's demands and perfectly obeying where we disobey, and then taking the penalty as a

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 lawbreaker in our place, by his living as the true and better Adam, always obedient, always seeking the

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 Father's will, by his dying as a substitute, giving his life as a sacrifice, what has he done? He has

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 secured spiritual freedom for his people that we might know and enjoy him. Sometimes it's good for us to stop

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 and to reflect. I found myself doing that this week. That we can worship in freedom is a massive privilege.

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 We think about the persecuted church around the world.

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 So many tens of millions of believers living in fear that the next time they go to a place to worship could be the last time.

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 So we should never take our freedom to worship for granted. That we have heard the truth of the gospel

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 is an incredible act of God's mercy. There are billions of people described as unreached today

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 who have never heard the good news of the Lord Jesus, who live in nations or tribes or communities

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 where the message of Jesus has not got until this point. And so we are invited to treasure it

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 and to do what we can to see it spread. That in Christ Jesus we are invited to freedom.

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 That's amazing grace.

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 Let's not fight that. Let's not ignore that. Let's not be complacent about that, but rather

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 that we would come gladly to acknowledge Jesus as the only Redeemer. The only Redeemer we need.

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 Another thing that we see about the Lord here in these verses is that he is a God of judgment and mercy.

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 And here we're back in verses 17 to 19. Again, if we pan back a little, we know that God is a holy God.

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 The Bible is really clear on that. And he says, be holy because I am holy.

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 And so we know that God hates sin.

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 And so we know that God hates the oppression that's going on in Egypt.

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 He hates the murder of the innocents that Pharaoh has sought to bring about.

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 He hates the injustice and the willful rejection of his name and his glory.

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 And so as we come to begin looking at the plagues, we can see them as a pattern.

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 You know, the Bible talks about the wages of sin being death.

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 And these first nine plagues stand for us as a picture of the misery of life in a fallen world

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 and life under the judgment of God leading up to plague 10, the plague of death.

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 And so the book of Exodus reminds us that God is the judge of all the earth and God will do what is right.

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 But God also shows mercy.

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 God extends the invitation to mercy even to Pharaoh and to Egypt.

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 So there's a pattern with the plagues.

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 Sometimes we can overlook it.

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 Do the plagues just happen?

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 So this first plague where the Nile turns to blood.

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 Are the people just down there one day and they're collecting the water to drink

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 and they're going down there to bathe and then all of a sudden without any warning,

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 the nice clear water has turned blood red?

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 No.

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 They are given a fair warning.

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 They are told.

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:40.940
 So Moses through Aaron delivers the message of God.

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.920
 This is what will happen.

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:50.600
 They have an opportunity to listen.

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:55.019
 Pharaoh has the chance to do the right thing

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:58.500
 and to let God's people go.

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:02.200
 God is not unjust.

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:06.960
 Rather like a parent or a teacher

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:09.579
 issuing a warning to a child,

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:13.500
 there is built within that the chance to change,

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:17.400
 the chance to escape those consequences.

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.599
 So there is mercy.

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.059
 And we'll see later on in the plagues

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.799
 that some of the people do listen

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:25.799
 and they find mercy where others don't listen.

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.159
 They experience judgment.

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:32.500
 But there's absolutely mercy for Israel, isn't there?

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.139
 There is mercy for Israel

00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:37.039
 in that they are spared,

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.059
 they are saved,

00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:41.399
 they are taken out to enjoy

00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:45.359
 covenant relationship with their God.

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:48.980
 There is judgment and there is mercy

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.500
 from the hand of God.

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:53.079
 The Bible tells us

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:56.900
 of God's eternal plan of salvation.

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.920
 Such a mystery to that.

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.900
 We're told that the Father and the Son and the Spirit

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:03.980
 established the plan of salvation

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.480
 before the world was ever made.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:09.720
 Sometimes it's called the covenant of redemption.

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.779
 And in that covenant of redemption,

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.319
 God by His grace freely chooses

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.680
 to save some guilty sinners

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:19.299
 by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus,

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:21.079
 and by sending the Spirit

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:23.039
 so that some will respond in faith.

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:26.700
 And then in the fullness of God's timing,

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:29.019
 the Son of God came into the world

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:31.379
 and He was made subject to the law.

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.879
 And He paid the ransom price for sin

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:35.220
 and for sinners on the cross.

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:37.259
 And He rose again in victory

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.899
 and vindication.

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.460
 So that,

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:44.160
 by faith in Christ Jesus,

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:49.060
 there will be no judgment on us

00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:50.120
 for our sin.

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.220
 There is therefore no condemnation

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.660
 for those who are in Christ.

00:25:54.820 --> 00:25:55.280
 Instead,

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.960
 trusting in Jesus,

00:25:58.800 --> 00:26:00.940
 we experience God's mercy,

00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:03.220
 the mercy of being reconciled to God,

00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:06.120
 the mercy of being adopted

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.300
 into the family of God,

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:09.019
 the mercy of being established

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:10.960
 in this covenant relationship with God.

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.279
 And so,

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.700
 Jesus speaks in the Gospel

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:15.819
 and He says,

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.819
 come to Me.

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.919
 Trust in Me

00:26:18.919 --> 00:26:20.240
 as Lord

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.019
 and as Savior.

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.200
 So this is the Lord.

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.759
 This is the Lord

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.659
 of the mighty hand.

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.059
 This is the Lord

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:32.879
 who is supreme over all.

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:35.079
 The Lord who restores relationship.

00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:37.099
 The Lord of judgment and mercy.

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:37.699
 This is the Lord.

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.639
 Now, the question is,

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:41.079
 how do you and I respond

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.399
 to the Lord?

00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:47.119
 To think about chapters 5 to 7

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.379
 together for a moment,

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.500
 we can think about them

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:51.679
 as a crossroads moment.

00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.099
 We know what we mean

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.679
 when we talk about

00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:55.059
 a moment of crossroads,

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.359
 you know,

00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.059
 for driving.

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.019
 There's two roads

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.460
 and we have to make a decision

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.679
 and the decision that we make

00:26:59.679 --> 00:27:00.579
 will set the direction

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.759
 for the rest of the journey.

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:06.220
 Well, for Moses and Pharaoh,

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.720
 rather,

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.559
 they find themselves

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.079
 at a crossroads.

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:12.319
 There is a point of decision

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.079
 for them

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.720
 as to how they will respond

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.579
 to God.

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.460
 And we will see

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.700
 two very different responses.

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.279
 Today,

00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.579
 for us,

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:24.259
 whenever we hear God's Word,

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.220
 whenever we hear the Gospel,

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:28.079
 we find ourselves again

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.519
 at a crossroads.

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:32.500
 Am I going to obey

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.619
 or to disobey

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.920
 what I hear today?

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.500
 Am I going to trust

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.779
 or am I going to doubt

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:40.220
 God's promise today?

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.720
 Am I going to receive

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.700
 or am I going to reject

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:47.240
 Jesus the Savior today?

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.200
 There are crossroads moments

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.379
 every time

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:53.579
 we read and we hear

00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.319
 God's Word.

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.240
 So let's consider

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.940
 what happens with Pharaoh

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.639
 and with Moses

00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.840
 so that we might learn

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.560
 from them.

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.420
 First of all,

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.420
 let's think about

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.060
 stubborn,

00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:06.040
 hard-hearted Pharaoh.

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.720
 And we're invited

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.720
 to think of him that way

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.360
 because it's a recurring theme

00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.380
 in chapter 7.

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.340
 Verse 3,

00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:14.360
 I will harden

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.460
 Pharaoh's heart.

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.460
 Verse 13,

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.259
 Pharaoh's heart

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.300
 became hard.

00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:21.480
 Verse 22,

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.160
 Pharaoh's heart

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.300
 became hard.

00:28:25.040 --> 00:28:25.740
 Verse 23,

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.059
 he did not even

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.900
 take this

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:29.059
 to heart.

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.620
 I read a study

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.240
 this week

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.920
 looking at

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.480
 the power

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.720
 of choices

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.000
 and the way

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.900
 that choices

00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:41.500
 made repeatedly

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:43.660
 at a certain point

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:45.200
 create fixed habits

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.500
 and can even

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.519
 create addictions.

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.700
 So the study

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.559
 was all focused

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:52.620
 on our phones.

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:54.379
 apparently the average

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.000
 phone user

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.739
 is making

00:28:55.739 --> 00:28:57.419
 2,000 touches

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.399
 to their phone

00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.699
 every day.

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.519
 And so this study

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.299
 was saying

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.299
 it's little wonder

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.779
 then

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.039
 that we find

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.539
 our eyes

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.159
 and our minds

00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:07.959
 being drawn

00:29:07.959 --> 00:29:08.819
 towards our phone.

00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:09.500
 They take

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.099
 our attention

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:12.599
 and they can set

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.539
 our behavior.

00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:14.979
 Choices

00:29:14.979 --> 00:29:15.519
 can create

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.339
 fixed habits.

00:29:16.959 --> 00:29:17.539
 That study

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.079
 was saying,

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.559
 well,

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.459
 what do we see

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.319
 in Pharaoh?

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.720
 We see

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.579
 a fixed

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.340
 choice

00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.420
 from him

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.360
 to say

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.779
 no to God

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:29.460
 at every point.

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:32.019
 In verse 3,

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.920
 he is stubborn

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.860
 and hard-hearted

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.700
 towards

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.779
 God's

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.799
 words.

00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.620
 And we're told

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.140
 that again

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:41.120
 in verse 14.

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.579
 Having seen

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.700
 God's greater

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.240
 glory

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.480
 with the snakes

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.319
 at the palace,

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.720
 he is hard-hearted

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.660
 towards God's

00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.820
 power and God's

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.140
 rule.

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.340
 And even

00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:54.680
 as the first

00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.060
 plague appears

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.300
 with its threat

00:29:57.300 --> 00:29:58.080
 of judgment,

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.779
 Pharaoh hardens

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.200
 his heart

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.740
 to that

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.860
 also.

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.640
 Pharaoh

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.460
 wants to

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.519
 enter into

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.880
 war with God.

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.040
 Even as it

00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:10.920
 becomes clear

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.700
 to everyone

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.400
 around him

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.340
 this is a battle

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:14.620
 he cannot win.

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:18.500
 the story

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.039
 of Pharaoh's

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.559
 hard heart

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.299
 is told

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.319
 from two

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.879
 different

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:22.659
 points of

00:30:22.659 --> 00:30:23.019
 view.

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.199
 And I think

00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:24.559
 it's helpful

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.099
 for us to

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:26.299
 recognize that.

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:26.859
 So let's just

00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.219
 think about that

00:30:27.219 --> 00:30:27.919
 just very briefly.

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.799
 The Bible

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.579
 absolutely

00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.259
 presents

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.819
 Pharaoh

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.839
 as someone

00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.339
 who is

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:33.899
 making

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.839
 his own

00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.719
 moral

00:30:35.719 --> 00:30:36.519
 choices.

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.639
 He is

00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:39.259
 freely,

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.039
 deliberately

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.759
 choosing

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.079
 to say

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.700
 no to

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.200
 God,

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.259
 to turn

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.980
 his back

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.819
 on God,

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.660
 and he

00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.240
 has been

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.759
 acting

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.420
 deliberately

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.119
 to try

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.920
 and destroy

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.920
 and make

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.279
 life

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.160
 miserable

00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:53.359
 for the

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.799
 people of

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.099
 God.

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:59.579
 But we

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.279
 also

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.299
 are invited

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.699
 to see

00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:01.980
 it from

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.659
 the Lord's

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.099
 point of

00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:03.319
 view.

00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.000
 And what

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.559
 we discover

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.079
 there,

00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:06.679
 verse 3,

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.119
 the Lord

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.579
 hardened

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.019
 Pharaoh's

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:08.179
 heart,

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.579
 we are

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.259
 invited

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.519
 to

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.959
 recognize

00:31:09.959 --> 00:31:10.500
 the Lord

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.019
 is the

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.639
 moral

00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:12.319
 ruler

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.879
 over

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.199
 Pharaoh,

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:13.639
 over

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.399
 everybody.

00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.819
 And so

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.319
 the Lord

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.819
 has a

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.339
 right to

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:18.719
 pass

00:31:18.719 --> 00:31:19.459
 judgment

00:31:19.459 --> 00:31:19.939
 on

00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:20.459
 Pharaoh.

00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:22.019
 The Lord

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.559
 in his

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.099
 wisdom

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.079
 decides

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.179
 when Pharaoh

00:31:25.179 --> 00:31:25.919
 reaches the

00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.439
 point of

00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:27.339
 no return,

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.240
 when his

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.079
 rejection of

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.460
 God has

00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.079
 become a

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.839
 fixed habit,

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.240
 and so

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.599
 what the

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.579
 Lord does

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.919
 is to

00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:34.439
 give him

00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:35.399
 up to

00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:35.899
 his

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.699
 desire.

00:31:37.899 --> 00:31:38.539
 And what

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:38.919
 will become

00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:39.579
 clear for

00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.279
 us as

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.919
 the chapters

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.779
 go on

00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.960
 is that

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.159
 one reason

00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:45.299
 behind that

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.379
 is so

00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:47.259
 that God's

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.480
 glory will

00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.259
 be seen

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.019
 all the

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.279
 more

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.960
 clearly.

00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:52.759
 God

00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.539
 could have

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.159
 acted

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:55.000
 instantly

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.319
 to

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.059
 transform

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.659
 Pharaoh's

00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.059
 heart,

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.879
 could have

00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.259
 acted

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.980
 with such

00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.779
 force

00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.779
 that

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.139
 Pharaoh

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.500
 would

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.000
 instantly

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.659
 have let

00:32:02.659 --> 00:32:03.099
 the people

00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:03.639
 go,

00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.180
 but by

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.659
 God's

00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:06.180
 design,

00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:06.899
 he was

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.440
 giving a

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:07.980
 repeated

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.980
 lesson

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.039
 to Israel

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.500
 and to

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:10.940
 Egypt,

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:11.879
 I am

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.359
 the Lord

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.379
 and there

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:13.759
 is no

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.059
 other.

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.779
 And so

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.200
 there is a

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.759
 hardening

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.119
 towards that

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.619
 end.

00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.739
 God

00:32:19.739 --> 00:32:21.019
 asked

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.639
 Moses

00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.419
 to

00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:22.779
 write

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.179
 three

00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:23.919
 times

00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.819
 about

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.359
 Pharaoh's

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:25.719
 hard

00:32:25.719 --> 00:32:26.159
 heart.

00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.639
 Surely

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.819
 as a

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.359
 warning,

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.019
 perhaps to

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.479
 himself,

00:32:32.719 --> 00:32:33.419
 absolutely to

00:32:33.419 --> 00:32:33.759
 the people

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.259
 of Israel,

00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:35.859
 remember

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.379
 Pharaoh,

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.299
 remember what

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.919
 happens if

00:32:37.919 --> 00:32:38.379
 you harden

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.000
 your heart

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.979
 to God.

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.159
 Also,

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.239
 it's included

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.759
 for us,

00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:46.220
 isn't it?

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.720
 Don't

00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.400
 harden our

00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.599
 hearts to

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.059
 the biblical

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.839
 warnings that

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.400
 we find

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.339
 throughout

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.339
 Scripture.

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.000
 The warning

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.500
 that sin

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.059
 is real

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.599
 and judgment

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.180
 is real,

00:32:58.120 --> 00:32:58.779
 that eternal

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.539
 punishment in

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.039
 hell is

00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.440
 real,

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.880
 that we

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.660
 cannot presume

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.000
 on the

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.579
 mercy of

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.039
 God,

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.819
 and we

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.180
 shouldn't

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.720
 harden our

00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.299
 hearts to

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.720
 our God

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.019
 and our

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.400
 Saviour.

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.740
 The Puritans

00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:12.700
 used to

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.079
 say that

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.500
 the same

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.140
 sun that

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:14.660
 melts the

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.059
 ice,

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.339
 also

00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:17.180
 hardens the

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.559
 clay.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.380
 Every time

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.180
 we hear

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.700
 the Word

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.440
 of God,

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:23.859
 some

00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.220
 people's

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.680
 hearts are

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.700
 made soft,

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.680
 and some

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.059
 people's

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.500
 hearts are

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.079
 hardened.

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.200
 We're being

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.980
 invited to

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.420
 see from

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.000
 the example

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.480
 of Pharaoh,

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.480
 don't resist

00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.359
 God's Son,

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.120
 don't resist

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.640
 the light

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:36.980
 and the

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.359
 life that

00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:39.079
 he brings.

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.180
 Rather,

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.220
 that we

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.680
 would be

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.500
 like obedient

00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:42.880
 Moses.

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.279
 He's like

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.660
 the flip

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:43.880
 side,

00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.160
 he's the

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:44.559
 picture of

00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.059
 the soft

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.419
 heart.

00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.819
 So since

00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.639
 chapter 3,

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.039
 if you've

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.399
 been with

00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:48.579
 us,

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.059
 we've seen

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.460
 the Lord

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.779
 has been

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.220
 calling

00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.619
 Moses,

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.440
 he's been

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.019
 revealing more

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.399
 of himself

00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.899
 to Moses,

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.259
 he's been

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.159
 making promises

00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:54.799
 and issuing

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.419
 commands,

00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:56.440
 and Moses

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.159
 up until this

00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:57.480
 point,

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.679
 we've seen

00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.980
 him feel

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.659
 of self-doubt,

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.740
 we've seen

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.399
 him aware

00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:01.940
 of his own

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.740
 failures,

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.419
 we've seen

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.000
 some of his

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.759
 fears come

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.019
 out,

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.519
 but Moses

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.919
 has reached

00:34:07.919 --> 00:34:08.579
 a crossroads

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.159
 as well.

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.460
 Very simple

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:10.799
 verse,

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.440
 7 verse

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.019
 6,

00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.019
 Moses and

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.539
 Aaron

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:16.140
 did just

00:34:16.140 --> 00:34:17.039
 as the

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.460
 Lord

00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.080
 commanded

00:34:18.080 --> 00:34:18.420
 them.

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.300
 And Moses

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:22.820
 from this

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.220
 point,

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:23.960
 this is what

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.560
 we'll see.

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.340
 We're going

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:25.700
 to see him

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.380
 walk with

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.980
 God in

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.460
 faith and

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:27.760
 obedience.

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.200
 We're going

00:34:29.200 --> 00:34:29.720
 to see a

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.260
 newfound

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.340
 confidence in

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.740
 the Lord.

00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:32.980
 We're going

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.260
 to see that

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:33.920
 he's confident

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.600
 that he has

00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:35.760
 God's word.

00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:37.180
 Now,

00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:38.700
 his identity

00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.739
 isn't all

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.480
 about himself.

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.039
 Oh,

00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:42.759
 I failed in

00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.139
 the past,

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:43.319
 oh,

00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:43.759
 I feel so

00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.059
 terrible,

00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:44.579
 I'm a

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:44.759
 nobody.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.519
 Now his

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:46.099
 identity is

00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:46.539
 rooted in

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:46.960
 God.

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.659
 He knows

00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.139
 he's sent

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:49.619
 by God,

00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:50.000
 he knows

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.399
 he's come

00:34:50.399 --> 00:34:50.939
 to speak

00:34:50.939 --> 00:34:51.319
 God's

00:34:51.319 --> 00:34:51.500
 words,

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:51.799
 he's going

00:34:51.799 --> 00:34:52.139
 to do

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.579
 what God

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.059
 says and

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.419
 God's

00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:53.559
 going to

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:53.939
 be with

00:34:53.939 --> 00:34:54.219
 him.

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.099
 So he

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.419
 becomes

00:34:55.419 --> 00:34:55.919
 this model

00:34:55.919 --> 00:34:56.519
 of faith

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.500
 and

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.599
 obedience

00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:58.939
 and he

00:34:58.939 --> 00:34:59.279
 becomes a

00:34:59.279 --> 00:34:59.639
 model of

00:34:59.639 --> 00:34:59.939
 faith and

00:34:59.939 --> 00:35:00.179
 obedience

00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.859
 for us

00:35:00.859 --> 00:35:01.679
 as well.

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.259
 That we

00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:04.839
 are invited

00:35:04.839 --> 00:35:05.699
 also to

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:07.099
 trust the

00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:08.059
 promises that

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.579
 we find

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:08.840
 in the

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.159
 Bible,

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.119
 to trust

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.460
 the promise

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:12.840
 of a

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.319
 Lord who

00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:14.079
 saves,

00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:15.239
 of a

00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:15.739
 Lord who

00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.599
 watches over

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.219
 his people,

00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:18.519
 a Lord who

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.299
 promises to

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:19.739
 be with

00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.139
 us,

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.319
 who promises

00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:22.219
 to supply

00:35:22.219 --> 00:35:23.159
 all we

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.659
 need,

00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.519
 who will

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.319
 continue what

00:35:25.319 --> 00:35:26.000
 he started

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.679
 in his work

00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:27.460
 of salvation,

00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:28.659
 who will

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.420
 help us in

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.019
 times of

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.380
 trial and

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.019
 temptation.

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.460
 So as we

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.759
 find ourselves

00:35:37.759 --> 00:35:38.219
 today,

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.440
 under the

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.840
 word of

00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.119
 God,

00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:40.819
 a cross

00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:41.920
 road in

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.960
 our lives,

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:45.159
 what path

00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:45.460
 will we

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.019
 choose?

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:48.679
 Let's

00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.000
 choose the

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.759
 path that

00:35:49.759 --> 00:35:50.579
 Moses chose.

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:51.900
 Choose the

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.340
 path of

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:52.799
 faith and

00:35:52.799 --> 00:35:53.199
 obedience.

00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:54.619
 Let's

00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:56.039
 choose to

00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.239
 follow the

00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:57.539
 Lord.

00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.460
 Let's pray

00:35:59.460 --> 00:35:59.920
 together.

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:02.700
 Lord, we

00:36:02.700 --> 00:36:03.260
 thank you

00:36:03.260 --> 00:36:03.960
 that you

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.220
 are a

00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:05.420
 God who

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:05.940
 reveals

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.800
 yourself to

00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:07.360
 us in

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:07.840
 your word

00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:08.360
 in so

00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:08.579
 many

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:08.920
 different

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.400
 ways,

00:36:10.240 --> 00:36:10.820
 to

00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:11.300
 encourage

00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:12.059
 us towards

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.119
 faith and

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.760
 obedience.

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.400
 Lord, we

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:16.200
 recognise so

00:36:16.200 --> 00:36:16.639
 much of

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.159
 ourselves,

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:18.819
 love and

00:36:18.819 --> 00:36:19.219
 you

00:36:19.219 --> 00:36:19.839
 get

00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.299
 on to

00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:20.739
 what

00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.899
 do

00:36:21.899 --> 00:36:22.739
 on to

00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:23.699
icio

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.619
 things.

00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.299
 Hold on,

00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:25.960
 walk one along.

00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:27.059
 Eastern

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.819
 Highway

00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:29.539
 forward, we

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:29.859
 smash one of ce

00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:30.799
 hard, have

00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:31.279
 worked ahead of

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:31.679
 someone who

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.379
 will

00:36:32.379 --> 00:36:33.099
 come to

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.779
 his

00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:33.960
 heart down,

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.599
emon treasury

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:34.920
 and

00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.819
 faith and

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:36.539
шь across

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.339
 believe oh,

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:37.920
 you

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.379
 know,

00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:38.859
 his

00:36:38.859 --> 00:36:39.440
 life is

00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:39.859
 amazing,

00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:40.779
 that he

00:36:40.779 --> 00:36:40.879
 ok?