WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.419 Good evening, Church of the Advent. 00:00:03.060 --> 00:00:05.560 Okay, I'm going to try that one more time. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:08.740 This doesn't count against my sermon time. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:09.679 I'm just saying good evening. 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:11.859 Good evening, Church of the Advent. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:14.120 All right, amen. 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:18.260 It's good to be back with you again this week 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:23.179 to open God's Word and bring a message from the book of Exodus. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:26.379 As you can see, and as Pastor Dan has said, 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:29.820 our message comes from our Old Testament reading. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.259 This evening, Exodus chapter 2, verses 1 through 10. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:37.700 And the title of the sermon is 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:41.159 Two Mothers, One God, and a Savior. 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:44.480 Two Mothers, One God, and a Savior. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:46.899 And as we will see in this message, 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:49.780 as we work our way through this text, 00:00:49.900 --> 00:00:55.719 is that God is pleased to regularly work through the ordinary 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:59.359 to bring about His extraordinary purposes. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.780 Would you bow your heads and pray with me as I begin? 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:11.879 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name belongs the glory. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:17.859 We thank you for this, your Word, that is not dead, but that is living, active, 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:20.519 sharper than any double-edged sword. 00:01:21.020 --> 00:01:25.659 Lord, that pierces to the division of soul and spirit and joints and marrow 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:30.060 and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:33.920 Lord, we are all naked and exposed to you, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:35.840 the one to whom we must all give account. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:40.180 So be pleased, Lord, through the preaching of your Word 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.980 to meet us where we are and give us what we need, 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:46.219 faith and encouragement, hope and love, 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:49.740 correction, conviction, whatever it is, Lord God, 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:54.560 that we would be people who live not for our praise, 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.780 but for the glory and praise of Jesus Christ, our King. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.280 Amen, amen, and amen. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:07.780 Well, James Weldon Johnson is probably most well-known 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:13.360 as the man who wrote the lyrics to the song that came to be known 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:17.780 as the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:23.379 However, almost 95 years ago, in 1925, 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:28.000 he and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:30.500 published a two-volume work called 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:34.060 The Books of the American Negro Spirituals. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:38.599 They labored to compile all the Negro spirituals 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:40.400 into this two-volume work 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.340 and set them to appropriate musical arrangements. 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:48.020 And unlike other Christian hymnals, 00:02:48.700 --> 00:02:52.759 there aren't any authors listed for any of the songs. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:56.620 That's because no one knows who first penned the words 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:58.000 of any of the spirituals, 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:01.659 but they came to be embraced by a community 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:03.620 that was enduring suffering. 00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:08.180 James Weldon Johnson opens the preface to the book 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:10.300 with the words of a poem that he had written 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:12.920 20 years before the book was published. 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.399 The title of this poem is 00:03:15.399 --> 00:03:17.879 O Black and Unknown Bards. 00:03:18.619 --> 00:03:21.000 And here's some of what he writes in that poem. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:25.039 Heart of what slave poured out such melody 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:27.339 as steal away Jesus? 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:31.979 On its strains his spirit must have nightly floated free, 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:35.119 though still about his hands he felt chains. 00:03:35.799 --> 00:03:37.839 Who heard great Jordan roll? 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.459 Whose starwood eye saw chariots swing low? 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:44.379 And who was he that breathed that comforting, 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:45.820 melodic sigh? 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:48.719 Nobody knows the trouble I see. 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:50.900 What merely living cloud, 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.100 what captive thing could up toward God 00:03:53.100 --> 00:03:55.200 through all its darkness grope 00:03:55.200 --> 00:03:57.420 and find within its deadened heart 00:03:57.420 --> 00:03:59.920 to sing these songs of sorrow, 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.280 love and faith and hope. 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:05.120 And he ends the poem with these words. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:08.240 You sang far better than you knew. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:13.700 The songs that for your listeners hungry heart sufficed still live. 00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:16.500 But more than this to you belongs. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.759 You sang a race from wood and stone to Christ. 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:25.259 The words of this poem were on my mind 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:29.100 because of this question that Johnson asks in the poem. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:32.780 What captive thing could up toward God 00:04:32.780 --> 00:04:34.800 through all its darkness grope 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:36.920 and find within its deadened heart 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:40.120 to sing these songs of love and sorrow, 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:41.580 faith and hope? 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.120 There is a reason why 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.040 the black American slave 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.280 found particular intimacy 00:04:48.280 --> 00:04:49.540 with the book of Exodus 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:52.560 and the plight of the children of Israel in Egypt. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.579 We have in our text 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:59.000 what we might call the audacity of hope. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:01.839 We see two mothers in our text. 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:06.199 One who is groping through the darkness of captivity 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:10.360 with the audacity in her desperation to have hope. 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:14.120 The other who is in the seat of privilege 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.360 but whom God uses to answer that hope 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:21.000 with the most surprising form of help. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:25.620 Through this help, God brings a hero. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:29.800 Those are the three H's I want to talk to you about 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:30.579 this evening. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.040 Hope, help, and the hero. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.839 And I also want to invite you 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:38.420 to see another H in our message 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:41.600 even though it's not one of my points. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.740 There is a deep, deep humanity 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:48.959 that permeates this passage of Scripture. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:53.779 We don't just go looking for theological facts 00:05:53.779 --> 00:05:56.039 or life application points. 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.459 I want us to come into 00:05:58.459 --> 00:06:02.519 the rich human experience of this story. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.939 God is not mentioned at all 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.560 in these ten verses. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:11.659 He's there but he is behind the scene 00:06:11.659 --> 00:06:13.639 putting before us the people 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:17.839 and how he directs lives for his good purpose. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.719 And we're clued into this 00:06:19.719 --> 00:06:22.099 in the very first verse of the passage. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:24.819 We're told that a man from the house of Levi 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:27.719 went and married a daughter of Levi. 00:06:28.219 --> 00:06:30.319 And this is not a throwaway verse. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:32.679 It's significant because the Levites 00:06:32.679 --> 00:06:34.219 are going to be the tribe 00:06:34.219 --> 00:06:36.019 through whom the priests come. 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:37.979 It's the tribe of Levi 00:06:37.979 --> 00:06:40.419 that will have the responsibility 00:06:40.419 --> 00:06:43.559 over the holy objects in the tabernacle. 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:46.060 The priests from the tribe of Levi 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:48.240 will stand as intercessors. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.939 That is, they will stand between God 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:53.740 and the people offering sacrifices 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:55.459 on behalf of the people 00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.340 and bringing them before God 00:06:57.340 --> 00:06:59.120 in prayer and worship. 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:01.500 They are specially set apart 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:02.620 for God's service. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:04.660 And even though that hasn't happened yet 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:06.199 in the story in Exodus, 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:08.259 it would have been a clear indication 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:09.779 to the original readers 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:12.959 that they were about to see a man 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:16.539 set apart by God for special service. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:19.500 And this message, it comes 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:23.739 in the middle of the most desperate of situations. 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:27.179 The woman conceives in verse 2, 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:27.859 it says, 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.500 and she gives birth to a son 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:32.739 when she saw him, 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:34.859 that he was a fine child, 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:36.319 the ESV translated, 00:07:36.619 --> 00:07:38.279 some other English translations, 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:39.919 that he was beautiful. 00:07:40.159 --> 00:07:42.439 She hid him for three months. 00:07:44.739 --> 00:07:46.899 She gave birth to a son. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.579 The description that he's a fine child 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:53.099 or a beautiful child 00:07:53.099 --> 00:07:54.559 is giving us insight 00:07:54.559 --> 00:07:57.039 into how this mother felt 00:07:57.039 --> 00:07:58.779 about her baby boy. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:03.199 This is a passion-filled statement. 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:04.899 Her love for him 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:07.859 leads her to act in hope 00:08:07.859 --> 00:08:09.979 that things could be different 00:08:09.979 --> 00:08:10.939 for her son. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.299 She gave birth to a son 00:08:14.299 --> 00:08:17.019 stands in direct contrast 00:08:17.019 --> 00:08:18.819 to Pharaoh's decree 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:21.179 in chapter 1, verse 22, 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:22.979 when Pharaoh says, 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:26.159 every son shall be cast 00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.099 into the Nile. 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:29.819 It's not as though Moses 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:31.679 was the only beautiful 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.419 or fine or healthy 00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:35.879 Hebrew newborn baby boy. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.779 What's emphasized here 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:40.299 in Exodus chapter 2 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:42.580 is mom's love, 00:08:42.680 --> 00:08:44.740 her love for her son 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.519 that drives her to hope 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.539 for something better for him. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:50.440 Her hope causes her 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:52.460 to stand in opposition 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.060 to the king of Egypt. 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:57.440 She opposes the king's law, 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.060 just like the midwives 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:00.080 in chapter 1, 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:02.460 mom is on God's side. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.280 How many of you know 00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:06.440 that it is hard 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:09.660 to find a human love 00:09:09.660 --> 00:09:10.800 that is stronger 00:09:10.800 --> 00:09:12.140 than the love 00:09:12.140 --> 00:09:13.660 that a mother has 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:14.720 for her child? 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:17.500 That motherly love, 00:09:17.520 --> 00:09:20.040 it images God's own love. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.160 In the 131st Psalm, 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.440 David pictures himself 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.400 at rest and peaceful 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:28.419 as someone who's received 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:29.899 that kind of love 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:30.539 from God. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:32.399 He says in the second verse 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.419 of the 131st Psalm, 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.860 but I have calmed 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.939 and quieted my soul 00:09:37.939 --> 00:09:39.720 like a weaned child 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:40.600 with its mother, 00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:42.439 like a weaned child 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:44.819 is my soul within me. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.919 He's saying that 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:48.720 like that weaned child 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:49.559 is content 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:51.179 to just live 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:52.620 in his mother's presence, 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.000 he is content 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.559 as a faithful worshiper 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:57.059 with God's presence. 00:09:57.199 --> 00:09:59.139 He compares the love 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.079 and peace 00:10:00.079 --> 00:10:00.559 that he receives 00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:02.339 from God 00:10:02.339 --> 00:10:03.000 to that 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.559 of a mother's love. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:07.799 Do you know, 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:08.459 mothers, 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.699 that in your love 00:10:11.699 --> 00:10:12.559 for your children, 00:10:13.839 --> 00:10:15.939 you are imaging God? 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:18.579 Not only that, 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.759 but look at how God works. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.739 We're going to see this again 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:24.500 in the second point, 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.820 but the Lord loves 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:28.419 to use the ordinary truths 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:29.919 that he has put in place, 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:31.080 that he has wired 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:32.220 into the fabric 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.340 of our being 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.279 to bring about 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.120 his extraordinary purposes. 00:10:36.560 --> 00:10:38.480 God has got a greater purpose 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.080 for Moses. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:42.539 Moses was going to be a savior. 00:10:43.180 --> 00:10:44.259 He was going to deliver 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:46.240 his people from bondage 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.139 and even more, 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:48.620 God had determined 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.360 that Moses was going 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:52.560 to be a prefiguring 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:54.200 of Jesus Christ, 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.460 that when we looked 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:56.299 at Moses, 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:58.080 what we would be looking at 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.620 is someone 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.259 who is pointing us 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:02.659 to Jesus Christ. 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:05.299 But Moses' mother 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:06.659 doesn't know any of that. 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:09.299 All she knows 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.299 is that she loves her son. 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:13.340 She doesn't care 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:14.820 that she was a slave 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:15.799 with no rights. 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:16.620 She couldn't bear 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.219 the thought 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:18.699 of giving her son up 00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:19.459 to be killed 00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:20.539 and that love, 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.240 it led her 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.639 to a desperate hope 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:24.519 when she was no longer able, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.240 we are told, 00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:26.259 in verse number three, 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:27.519 to keep him hidden. 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.500 She took a little ark. 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:30.839 She took a basket 00:11:30.839 --> 00:11:32.299 of papyrus wreaths 00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:33.500 and made it waterproof 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.839 by sealing it 00:11:34.839 --> 00:11:35.419 with bitumen 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:36.439 and pitch 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:37.679 and she put the child 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.859 in the basket 00:11:38.859 --> 00:11:39.719 and placed it 00:11:39.719 --> 00:11:41.679 among the wreaths 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:42.339 by the bank 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:43.559 of the Nile River. 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.339 How many 00:11:46.339 --> 00:11:48.679 Hebrew baby boys 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:49.699 had been thrown 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:50.639 into the Nile 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.879 as it became 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:53.019 a river of death? 00:11:54.359 --> 00:11:55.979 Here she is 00:11:55.979 --> 00:11:58.059 placing her baby 00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:58.839 at the edge 00:11:58.839 --> 00:11:59.579 of the Nile 00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:01.619 hoping to save 00:12:01.619 --> 00:12:02.439 his life, 00:12:02.619 --> 00:12:04.179 hoping that the waters 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:04.799 of death 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:06.000 becomes a river 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:06.839 of life 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:07.959 for her son. 00:12:08.359 --> 00:12:09.659 Can you feel 00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.579 her heart 00:12:10.579 --> 00:12:12.179 pounding inside 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:13.259 of her chest? 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.599 I've got to do 00:12:14.599 --> 00:12:15.219 something. 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.599 He may die, 00:12:16.739 --> 00:12:17.559 but what else 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:18.299 can I do? 00:12:20.359 --> 00:12:21.579 What was she hoping 00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:22.259 and praying 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.339 at that moment? 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.279 I would imagine 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.719 that she had to say 00:12:26.719 --> 00:12:27.579 and pray 00:12:27.579 --> 00:12:28.799 what every mother 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.639 who trusts 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.419 in the Lord 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.679 will have to say 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.519 and pray. 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.979 At some point, 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:34.519 Lord, 00:12:34.719 --> 00:12:36.019 I place him 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.699 in your hands. 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:39.219 Would you guard 00:12:39.219 --> 00:12:40.059 his life? 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:41.419 I do not have 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.339 control over 00:12:42.339 --> 00:12:43.259 what will happen 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.939 to him, 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:45.239 but you do. 00:12:45.619 --> 00:12:46.399 Take care 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.479 of my child. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:50.439 Mothers, 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.439 have you ever 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.779 had to pray 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.599 like that? 00:12:55.359 --> 00:12:56.879 If you have not, 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.519 yet you will. 00:12:59.959 --> 00:13:00.679 Her hope 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:02.099 had to be 00:13:02.099 --> 00:13:03.279 in the Lord 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.099 even as she 00:13:05.099 --> 00:13:06.059 dispatched 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:07.319 his sister 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.240 to stand 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.300 at a distance 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:10.580 to find out 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:10.980 what would 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:11.940 happen to him. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:13.760 And from the 00:13:13.760 --> 00:13:14.960 most unexpected 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:15.780 place, 00:13:16.260 --> 00:13:17.300 God provides 00:13:17.300 --> 00:13:17.860 help 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:18.740 in response 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:20.280 to her hope. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:20.879 And I love 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.700 the way the story 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:22.660 breaks in the fifth 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.100 verse. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.620 It says, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.399 Now, 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.899 Pharaoh's daughter 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.759 came down 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.620 to bathe at the 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:27.919 river, 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:28.919 and her young 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.860 women were 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:30.700 walking beside 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.200 the river. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.340 And wouldn't 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:32.940 you know it, 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.100 she saw the 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:34.860 basket among 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.460 the reeds, 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.759 and she sent 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.820 her servant 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.919 woman to go 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.580 and get it. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:40.720 Now, 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.259 upon initial 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.639 reading, 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.139 that doesn't 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:42.919 quite sound 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.700 like help. 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:45.700 But when she 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.379 opened it, 00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:46.799 and she 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.200 seized the 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:48.720 child, 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:49.220 it says, 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:50.480 and behold, 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.480 the boy 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.200 was crying. 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:53.879 she took 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.780 pity on him 00:13:54.780 --> 00:13:55.980 and said, 00:13:56.140 --> 00:13:57.200 This is one 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.440 of the 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:57.800 Hebrews' 00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:58.780 children. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:00.320 The help 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.100 for Moses, 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:01.820 the hope 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.560 of his 00:14:02.560 --> 00:14:03.180 mother's 00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:03.680 prayer, 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.460 is going 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.280 to come 00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:06.400 from Pharaoh's 00:14:06.400 --> 00:14:07.320 own household. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.120 The help 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.060 comes from 00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:09.480 the most 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.300 unexpected 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:10.980 and least 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.140 likely of 00:14:12.140 --> 00:14:13.220 places God 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.100 has determined 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:14.879 to use 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.640 Pharaoh's 00:14:15.640 --> 00:14:16.160 daughter to 00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:16.879 help a 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.800 Hebrew boy 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:18.340 who would 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.080 later deliver 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.680 his people 00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.620 from bondage 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.200 to Pharaoh. 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.280 Pharaoh 00:14:23.280 --> 00:14:24.160 has been 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:25.300 trying to 00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:26.120 play God 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:26.820 and declare 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:27.960 himself as 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:28.640 the one who 00:14:28.640 --> 00:14:29.520 has authority 00:14:29.520 --> 00:14:30.800 over life 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:31.400 and death. 00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:32.160 And the clear 00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:33.160 message of the 00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:34.060 text is that 00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:34.800 no king, 00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:36.060 no leader, 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.960 has absolute 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.440 authority and 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:38.980 power. 00:14:39.140 --> 00:14:40.180 Absolute power 00:14:40.180 --> 00:14:41.060 and authority 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.180 belong to 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:43.320 God and God 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:43.980 alone. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:44.660 He's not 00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:45.460 mentioned in 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:45.879 the text, 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.980 but it's clear 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.120 who is calling 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:48.940 the shots. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.140 Pharaoh can't 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.699 be everywhere 00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.620 and see 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.319 everything. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:53.860 He doesn't 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.519 even know 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.259 what's going 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.899 on with 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.879 Moses and 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.340 his own 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:57.679 daughter, 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.299 but God 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:58.860 does. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.039 How does 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:01.919 God help 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:02.399 Moses? 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.840 The answer 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.019 is through 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.639 the same 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.460 means that 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.360 Moses came 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.399 to be in 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.159 that basket 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.860 in the first 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.039 place through 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.899 a mother's 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.500 love. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.639 The hinge 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.600 in the story 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.080 are the 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.820 words in 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.340 verse number 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:19.940 six, 00:15:20.420 --> 00:15:21.060 she took 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.759 pity on 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.139 him. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.480 This isn't 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.300 her simply 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.860 feeling sorry 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.879 for this 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.279 baby. 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.139 It is pity 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.240 with a deep 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.460 sense of 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.500 compassion. 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.340 One of the 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.240 hardest words 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.399 to appropriately 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:37.560 translate into 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.840 English is the 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.740 Hebrew word 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.060 that is 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:41.060 translated as 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.620 behold. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.360 In verse 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.060 six, it's 00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:44.180 regularly translated 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:45.159 as behold, 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.779 and sometimes 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.500 it's left 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.719 untranslated. 00:15:47.859 --> 00:15:48.479 It can often 00:15:48.479 --> 00:15:49.399 carry the 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.159 sense of 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.139 an assertion 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.839 of truth 00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:53.019 with emphasis, 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.079 which is why 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:54.959 we often see 00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.439 behold. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.479 But to get 00:15:56.479 --> 00:15:57.479 at the reaction 00:15:57.479 --> 00:15:58.459 of Pharaoh's 00:15:58.459 --> 00:15:58.959 daughter, 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.139 behold, 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.099 doesn't quite 00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:01.879 cut it for 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.079 me. 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:04.159 When she 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.819 opens the 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:06.219 basket and 00:16:06.219 --> 00:16:06.959 saw the 00:16:06.959 --> 00:16:08.079 child, her 00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:08.859 reaction is 00:16:08.859 --> 00:16:09.699 like, look, 00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:11.039 look, oh 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.979 my goodness, 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.879 a baby boy 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.659 and he's 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.159 crying. 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.559 And you 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:18.379 picture the 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.039 scene, her 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.259 heart, her 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.600 heart was 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.980 knit to 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.700 this baby 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.279 boy. 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.340 I do not 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.960 know if this 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.659 is the case 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.639 at the 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.259 church of 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.820 the Advent 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.480 here in 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.899 this parish, 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.559 but I know 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.179 that in every 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.240 church that I've 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.039 had the privilege 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.679 of serving, 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.399 either as a 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.279 pastoral intern 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.120 or as a 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.080 pastor to 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.360 this point in 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.019 my ministry, 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.940 we've always 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.900 had some 00:16:43.900 --> 00:16:44.580 adoptive 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:44.980 mothers, 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.760 some women 00:16:46.760 --> 00:16:47.740 who have 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.180 adopted 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.020 children or 00:16:49.020 --> 00:16:50.040 who desire 00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.760 to adopt. 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:51.520 And what 00:16:51.520 --> 00:16:52.400 is it like, 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:52.940 what is it 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.660 like for an 00:16:53.660 --> 00:16:54.200 adoptive 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.960 mother the 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.840 first time 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.300 that she 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.340 lays eyes 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:57.900 on the 00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:58.600 child whom 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.520 God would 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:00.540 bring into 00:17:00.540 --> 00:17:01.660 her home? 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.020 For those 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:04.019 who desire 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.120 to adopt, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.019 what would 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.960 you imagine 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.720 it will be 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.940 like when 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.860 you lay 00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.720 your eyes 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.380 on him 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.079 or her? 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.460 You know 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.360 that God 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.000 will knit 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.960 your heart 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.579 to that 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.120 child. 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.720 You know 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.100 that there 00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:20.620 will be a 00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.700 deep sense 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.660 of compassion 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.960 and love. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.640 If you can 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.680 picture yourself 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.460 in that 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.100 scenario, 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.039 you know 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.620 what happened 00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:30.279 to Pharaoh's 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:30.579 daughter. 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.400 God provided 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.140 Moses with 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:34.839 two mothers, 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.480 a birth 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.019 mother who 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.559 out of a 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.259 deep love 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.920 and a 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.379 desperate 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.839 hope for 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.379 a better 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:43.400 life for 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.140 her son 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.240 was willing 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:45.960 to let go 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.400 of him 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:46.859 and give 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.359 him up. 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:48.700 And he 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.379 provided for 00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:49.900 Moses, 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.379 an adoptive 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:51.759 mother, 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.299 who the 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.019 moment she 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.700 laid eyes 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.160 on him 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.519 knew, 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:56.480 this is 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.180 my son. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.460 But you 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.160 love God 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.279 and how 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.859 he works. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.500 Do you 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:03.940 understand? 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.480 This is not 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.099 a case of 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:06.559 mistaken 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.140 identity. 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.400 Pharaoh's 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.180 daughter knows 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.540 that this 00:18:09.540 --> 00:18:09.820 is a 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.140 Hebrew 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.060 boy and 00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.320 he's 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:11.900 supposed to 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.360 die. 00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:13.600 He's 00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.140 supposed to 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.720 be killed. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.720 But she 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.620 doesn't care. 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.120 His 00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:19.280 ethnicity was 00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.140 not nearly 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:21.259 as important 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.240 to her as 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.660 his humanity. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.780 It's his 00:18:25.780 --> 00:18:27.180 condition that 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:27.740 has reached 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.280 her heart. 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.019 She does 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.740 not care 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.340 what her 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.180 father's law 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.720 is. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.500 And guess 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.860 what? 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.880 She doesn't 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:34.280 know what 00:18:34.280 --> 00:18:35.019 God has in 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.440 store for 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.180 Moses either. 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:38.140 the Lord 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:39.660 decided to 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.900 provide Moses 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.340 the protection 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.039 and the 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.100 covering that 00:18:44.100 --> 00:18:44.980 he needed by 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.820 giving him 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.920 an adoptive 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.240 mother. 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.400 Praise God 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.180 for mothers 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:49.860 who adopt. 00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:53.820 Look at 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.420 the covering 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.799 and protection 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.480 that Moses 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.759 receives because 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.500 of Pharaoh's 00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:58.799 daughter. 00:18:59.080 --> 00:19:00.160 His sister 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.000 has been 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.680 standing at 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.320 a distance 00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:04.500 waiting in 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.039 the wings 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.500 if you 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.819 will. 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:06.359 And when 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.119 she sees 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.079 what happens 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.859 she goes 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.980 to Pharaoh's 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.619 daughter and 00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.899 says do you 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.059 want me to 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.799 go and get 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.240 one of the 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.879 Hebrew women 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.680 to nurse the 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.579 boy for you? 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.779 Because of 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.879 Pharaoh's 00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.139 decree there 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:21.700 are probably 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.899 any number 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.720 of Hebrew 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.460 birth mothers 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:24.899 who are 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:26.200 available to 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.940 nurse a 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.639 baby because 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:28.220 their own 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.119 son has 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.759 been killed. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.940 But his 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.700 sister knows 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.639 exactly who 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.259 she's going 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.700 to get. 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.619 The birth 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.299 mother and 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.960 the adoptive 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.740 mother meet. 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.480 One a 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.119 slave and 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.579 the other 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.640 royalty. 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.480 Nurse him 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.019 for me 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.039 she says 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.480 and I will 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.299 give to you 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.680 your wages. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.279 Moses' 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.519 birth mother 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.440 gets paid 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.420 to nurse her 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.299 own son 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.920 and help 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.539 raise him. 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.460 She can do 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.359 it out in 00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:58.940 the open 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.319 without fear 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.440 because he's 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.200 being adopted 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:02.840 into the 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.620 royal family. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.580 No Egyptian 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.480 is going to 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.059 come and 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.539 kill him 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.960 now. 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.900 Because of 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.680 this adoption 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.680 the hero 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.420 is able to 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:12.759 live. 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:14.319 Moses is the 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:14.580 hero. 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.539 Make no 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.279 mistake about 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.420 it. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:16.900 He's the 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.500 one who's 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:17.840 going to 00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.340 grow up 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.160 and save 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.799 his people 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.759 but he is 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.319 a hero 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.240 who needed 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.819 help. 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.420 He is a 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.360 hero who 00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:26.140 was vulnerable 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:27.180 and who 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.100 needed God's 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:28.660 protection 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.460 through the 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.100 love of 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.799 two mothers 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.019 and even 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.740 in this 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.039 listen 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.960 even in 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.340 this 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.500 he directs 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.620 our gaze 00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:37.640 toward Jesus 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.279 Christ. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.519 For when God 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.360 wanted to save 00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:41.500 us from our 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.779 desperate condition 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:44.059 of enslavement 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.860 to our own 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.980 sinful hearts 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.680 when he 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.480 wanted to 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:49.019 save us 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.420 from the 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.299 path of 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.140 destruction 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:51.680 that our 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.019 sinful rebellion 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.960 against him 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.039 has us on 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.779 he sent 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.900 his son 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.140 born of 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.759 a woman 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.720 born as 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.259 a baby 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.700 as the 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.460 Bible says 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.200 for unto 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.940 us a 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.960 son is 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.460 born a 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.000 child is 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.600 born unto 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.500 us a 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.580 son is 00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.060 given. 00:21:09.620 --> 00:21:10.160 His name 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.700 is Jesus 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.340 Christ. 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.900 The story 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.460 of Exodus 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.220 chapter 2 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.200 is repeated 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.720 in our 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.520 gospel reading 00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:17.220 from Matthew 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.320 chapter 2 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:19.300 King Herod 00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:20.480 is threatened 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.259 by the birth 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.340 of the one 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:22.860 who has been 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.920 born king 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.720 of the Jews 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.180 and he 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.240 institutes 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.259 the same 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.180 murderous 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.859 program 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.539 killing 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.519 all the 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.339 male children 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.940 in the 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.599 region of 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.319 Bethlehem 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.640 who were 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.339 two years 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:34.940 old or 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.599 younger 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.079 and the 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.680 angel of 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.079 the Lord 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:37.799 warns 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.460 Joseph 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.960 Jesus' 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.160 adoptive 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.640 father 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.019 in a 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.359 dream 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.879 and the 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.259 family 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.879 runs away 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.339 to Egypt 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.000 to escape 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.940 the murderous 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.359 decree. 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:45.940 Listen, 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.839 the salvation 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:48.079 that God 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.900 provides, 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.960 the deliverance 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.519 that God 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.180 provides 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.839 comes through 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.299 the vulnerability 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.539 of our 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.019 savior 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.519 Jesus 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.220 Christ. 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.779 God 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.879 had Moses 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.559 go into 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.279 the Nile 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.279 into the 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.879 place 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.599 of his 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.500 people's 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.200 suffering 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.559 that he 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.000 might be 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.480 able to 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.319 identify 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.099 with their 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.859 sufferings 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.460 but the 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:11.940 ultimate 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.460 hero 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.399 is not 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:13.980 Moses 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.919 the ultimate 00:22:14.919 --> 00:22:15.559 hero 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.359 is Jesus 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:16.859 Christ. 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:17.680 God 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.639 had Jesus 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.720 enter the 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.339 sufferings 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.740 of his 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.180 people 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.919 to bring 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.480 to us 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.180 an even 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.660 greater 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.420 salvation. 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.039 The 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.960 deliverance 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.420 that Jesus 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.200 brings 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.580 is greater 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:32.500 than the 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.100 deliverance 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.100 Moses brought. 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.100 As the 00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:36.580 writer to 00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.060 the Hebrews 00:22:37.060 --> 00:22:37.880 says in 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.220 Hebrews 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.140 chapter 2 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.940 and verse 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.360 3, 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.580 Jesus has 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.360 been counted 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.660 worthy of 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.680 more glory 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.700 than Moses 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.460 as much 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.300 more glory 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:48.080 as the 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:48.700 builder of 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.140 a house 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.600 has more 00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.480 honor than 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.039 the house 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.560 itself. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.639 Moses was 00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:53.940 faithful in 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.700 all God's 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.419 house as 00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:56.099 a servant 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.019 to testify 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.519 to the 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.980 things that 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.419 were to be 00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.539 spoken later 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.399 but Christ 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.559 is faithful 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.740 over God's 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.399 house as 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.099 a son. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.599 The 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.099 Savior 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:09.119 Jesus 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.740 Christ 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.440 the hero 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.059 who came 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.779 to us 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.740 as a 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.440 vulnerable 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.759 baby boy 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.879 in need 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.619 of God's 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:18.220 protection 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.319 in order 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.059 to enable 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.099 him to 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.699 identify 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:22.740 with us 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.719 in every 00:23:23.719 --> 00:23:24.240 way. 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.039 He is a 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.839 greater hero 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.279 with a 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.259 greater salvation 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.879 than Moses 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:29.139 because he's 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.139 building a 00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:30.859 house for 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.399 God. 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:33.419 And this 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.219 house is 00:23:34.219 --> 00:23:35.599 built with 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.419 you and I 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.539 with living 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.599 stones, 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.799 people that 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.439 God 00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:41.839 indiscriminately 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.019 brings in 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:44.019 from every 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.939 ethnic group 00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.980 and social 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.819 class. 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:49.019 do you 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.439 know 00:23:49.439 --> 00:23:51.099 what every 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.099 member 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.519 of Jesus' 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.639 house has 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.220 in common? 00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:56.500 Do you 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.259 know other 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.659 than the 00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.000 fact that 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.500 we're people? 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.819 We all 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.500 come in 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:01.859 through 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.339 adoption. 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.799 We all 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.639 come in 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.679 through 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:06.720 adoption, 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.559 through 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.679 Jesus. 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.019 God 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.980 bestows 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.579 on us 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.539 that love 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.460 we see 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.579 in adoptive 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.319 mothers who 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.180 lay their 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.880 eyes upon 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.120 children in 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.099 need of a 00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:20.660 home and 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.640 say, I'm 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.259 bringing her 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.059 in, I am 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.240 bringing him 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.680 in. 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.640 If you belong 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.539 to Jesus 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.339 Christ, do you 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.039 know that is 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:32.059 the kind of 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.700 love that 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:34.140 God looked 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:35.099 at you with? 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:37.299 faith, you 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.159 are lost and 00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:39.000 going astray 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.679 and God 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:41.779 says, I 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.619 take pity 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.639 on you, move 00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.359 with a deep 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:45.359 sense of 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.799 compassion for 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.899 you as you 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.459 are and 00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:49.199 says, I'm 00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:49.699 bringing you 00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:49.959 in. 00:24:50.719 --> 00:24:51.480 I'm bringing 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.019 you in. 00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.019 Do you 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.359 know, do 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.099 you know the 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.039 adoptive love 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.500 of God who 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.000 has entered 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.559 into our 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.039 suffering? 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.259 Are you 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.819 able to 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.879 rejoice tonight 00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:03.279 in being 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.219 adopted by 00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:04.740 God? 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.740 through faith 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.259 in Jesus 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.339 Christ, knowing 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.619 that once 00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:09.659 you're in, you're 00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.439 never out. 00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:11.839 Once you're in, you 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.259 will never be 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.759 cast out. 00:25:13.939 --> 00:25:14.679 No one is 00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.919 strong enough, not 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.939 even you in your 00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:18.319 own fight against 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.419 your sin is 00:25:19.419 --> 00:25:20.579 strong enough to 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.679 take yourself out 00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.980 of God's adoptive 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.339 love. 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:26.159 Amen, amen, and 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:26.459 amen. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.119 Would you pray 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.079 with me?