WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799
 I hate to break it off when you guys are having such a good time enjoying one another's company,

00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.919
 but let's turn in our Bibles to Exodus.

00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:13.980
 We're back in Exodus today, chapter 5, starting in verse 1.

00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.019
 We'll go all the way to chapter 6, verse 9.

00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:22.559
 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

00:00:24.900 --> 00:00:29.000
 Heavenly Father, just as you revealed yourself to Moses,

00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.300
 and to Israel,

00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:37.759
 we know that today you are revealing more of yourself to us from your Word.

00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:46.200
 So we incline our ears and our hearts to you.

00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:52.400
 Show us that you are the faithful God,

00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:55.480
 the God who is with us,

00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:58.959
 the God who is completely trustworthy,

00:01:00.299 --> 00:01:04.479
 even when every circumstance seems to indicate otherwise.

00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:12.699
 Renew our faith in you and our love for you.

00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:14.739
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:15.739
 Amen.

00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:19.679
 Exodus chapter 5.

00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:24.859
 Afterward, Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh,

00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:28.179
 Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,

00:01:28.839 --> 00:01:30.219
 Let my people go,

00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:33.060
 that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.

00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:35.539
 But Pharaoh said,

00:01:36.419 --> 00:01:37.599
 Who is the Lord,

00:01:38.419 --> 00:01:42.399
 that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?

00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:44.980
 I do not know the Lord.

00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:47.859
 And moreover, I will not let Israel go.

00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:49.980
 Then they said,

00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.000
 The God of the Hebrews has met with us.

00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.140
 Please let us go a three days journey into the wilderness,

00:01:57.540 --> 00:01:59.620
 that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God,

00:02:00.160 --> 00:02:03.280
 lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.

00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:07.219
 But the king of Egypt said to them,

00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:09.699
 Moses and Aaron,

00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.479
 Why do you take the people away from their work?

00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:14.379
 Get back to your burdens.

00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:15.879
 And Pharaoh said,

00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:18.319
 Behold, the people of the land are now many,

00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.599
 and you make them rest from their burdens.

00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:24.180
 The same day,

00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:27.599
 Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen,

00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:31.199
 You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks,

00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:32.259
 as in the past.

00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:34.679
 Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:37.639
 But the number of bricks that they made in the past,

00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:39.019
 you shall impose on them.

00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:40.979
 You shall by no means reduce it,

00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:42.019
 for they are idle.

00:02:42.899 --> 00:02:43.919
 Therefore, they cried,

00:02:44.019 --> 00:02:46.479
 Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.

00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:49.139
 Let heavier work be laid on the men,

00:02:49.259 --> 00:02:52.599
 that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.

00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:56.439
 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people

00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:57.699
 went out and said to the people,

00:02:58.239 --> 00:02:59.799
 Thus says Pharaoh,

00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:01.799
 I will not give you straw.

00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.920
 Go and get your straw yourselves,

00:03:04.040 --> 00:03:05.100
 wherever you can find it,

00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:07.960
 but your work will not be reduced in the least.

00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:12.000
 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt together,

00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:13.160
 stubble for straw.

00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:15.760
 The taskmasters were urgent,

00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:16.180
 saying,

00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:17.600
 Complete your work,

00:03:17.760 --> 00:03:18.820
 your daily task,

00:03:18.920 --> 00:03:19.560
 each day,

00:03:19.820 --> 00:03:21.140
 as when there was straw.

00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:24.099
 And the foremen of the people of Israel,

00:03:24.179 --> 00:03:26.179
 whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had said over them,

00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:27.839
 were beaten and were asked,

00:03:28.279 --> 00:03:32.099
 Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday,

00:03:32.299 --> 00:03:33.139
 as in the past?

00:03:33.799 --> 00:03:37.000
 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh,

00:03:37.679 --> 00:03:40.279
 Why do you treat your servants like this?

00:03:40.739 --> 00:03:43.039
 No straw is given to your servants,

00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:44.379
 yet they say to us,

00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:45.280
 Make bricks,

00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:46.159
 and behold,

00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.840
 your servants are beaten,

00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.039
 but the fault is in your own people.

00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:52.799
 But he said,

00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:54.399
 You are idle.

00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:55.699
 You are idle.

00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:57.099
 That is why you say,

00:03:57.239 --> 00:03:58.859
 Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.

00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:00.500
 Go now and work.

00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:02.000
 No straw will be given you,

00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:04.879
 but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.

00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.780
 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said,

00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.879
 You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks,

00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:15.219
 your daily task each day.

00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:17.360
 They met Moses and Aaron,

00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:19.819
 who were waiting for them as they came out from Pharaoh.

00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:21.459
 And they said to them,

00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:23.819
 The Lord look on you and judge,

00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:27.360
 because you have made a stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants,

00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.560
 and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.

00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.019
 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said,

00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:35.099
 O Lord,

00:04:35.419 --> 00:04:37.539
 why have you done evil to this people?

00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.199
 Why did you ever send me?

00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:43.259
 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name,

00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:45.479
 he has done evil to this people,

00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:48.959
 and you have not delivered your people at all.

00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.759
 But the Lord said to Moses,

00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:55.839
 Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh,

00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:58.659
 for with a strong hand he will send them out,

00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:02.500
 and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.

00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:05.360
 God spoke to Moses and said to him,

00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:07.399
 I am the Lord.

00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:12.379
 I appear to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty.

00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:17.240
 But by my name, the Lord, I did not make myself known to them.

00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:21.660
 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,

00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:24.139
 the land in which they lived as sojourners.

00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:27.420
 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel,

00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:29.160
 whom the Egyptians hold as slaves,

00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:31.000
 and I have remembered my covenant.

00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:33.720
 Say therefore to the people of Israel,

00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:35.300
 I am the Lord,

00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:38.500
 and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,

00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:41.180
 and I will deliver you from slavery to them,

00:05:41.320 --> 00:05:44.020
 and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm,

00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:45.600
 and with great acts of judgment.

00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.140
 I will take you to be my people,

00:05:48.260 --> 00:05:50.060
 and I will be your God,

00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:53.780
 and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,

00:05:53.960 --> 00:05:56.540
 who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:01.160
 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham,

00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.879
 to Isaac, and to Jacob.

00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:05.379
 I will give it to you for a possession.

00:06:05.960 --> 00:06:07.960
 I am the Lord.

00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:12.420
 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel,

00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:14.780
 but they did not listen to Moses

00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:19.540
 because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.160
 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:30.840
 Perhaps a few of us have lived what others would describe a charmed life.

00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.960
 You haven't really encountered much suffering in or setbacks in your life,

00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:37.880
 smooth sailing most of it.

00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:39.760
 You come from a solid family.

00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:40.900
 You've always been healthy.

00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:42.160
 You went to a prestigious school,

00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:43.260
 found a wonderful spouse,

00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.480
 and now you make a lot of money,

00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.560
 and you're well loved by everyone around you.

00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.240
 But most of us,

00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:53.920
 and probably even those of us who appear on the outside to have such a charmed life,

00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:58.720
 have experienced significant pain and brokenness in our lives.

00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:04.279
 Maybe you have an incurable disease that God has not healed you of.

00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:06.480
 Maybe you have had miscarriages.

00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:08.840
 Maybe you feel lonely,

00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.500
 but God hasn't answered your prayer for a spouse.

00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.840
 Maybe you have asked God to lift the cloud of depression or anxiety from your mind,

00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.700
 but you still remain under its dark shadow.

00:07:21.640 --> 00:07:24.560
 Perhaps you've faced a lot of rejections in your life,

00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:26.000
 many disappointments,

00:07:27.020 --> 00:07:27.980
 perhaps even abuse.

00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:30.660
 So we become,

00:07:31.020 --> 00:07:32.400
 because of these experiences,

00:07:32.580 --> 00:07:35.460
 increasingly pessimistic and cynical

00:07:35.460 --> 00:07:38.680
 as our pains linger unabated.

00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:43.759
 And the Israelites were familiar with that experience.

00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:46.360
 It says here in Exodus 6-9

00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.400
 that they did not listen to Moses

00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:52.580
 because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:55.319
 They had been oppressed for so long,

00:07:55.640 --> 00:07:57.720
 disappointed so many times,

00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:59.620
 that their spirit is broken.

00:07:59.780 --> 00:08:01.020
 That's literally in Hebrew,

00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:02.680
 the shortness of spirit.

00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:03.759
 In the same way,

00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.379
 when we're exercising strenuously,

00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:07.680
 you experience shortness of breath.

00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.180
 Here, due to the unrelenting oppression of the Egyptians,

00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:13.400
 they're experiencing shortness of spirit.

00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:15.259
 They lack courage.

00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.259
 They lack life.

00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:17.819
 They lack vitality.

00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:18.840
 They lack hope.

00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:22.060
 They're anguished and crushed in spirit.

00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:24.680
 But in this passage,

00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:27.120
 the Lord reminds such people

00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.280
 that he is the Lord who keeps his promises

00:08:31.280 --> 00:08:33.299
 despite appearances to the contrary.

00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:34.799
 And we're going to see reasons

00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.539
 why we can continue to trust in him

00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:37.480
 and hope in him

00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.360
 even when you're in those places in your life.

00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:43.320
 First, we're going to see the failure of God's promises

00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:44.580
 in verses 1-23,

00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:46.519
 or the seeming failure.

00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.379
 And then we're going to see the fulfillment

00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:50.440
 of God's promises in chapter 6,

00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:51.960
 verses 1-9.

00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:54.780
 It's been two weeks away from Exodus,

00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:56.560
 so let me remind you what happened

00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:58.040
 last time when we were in chapter 4.

00:08:58.560 --> 00:09:00.940
 When God sent Moses to go into Egypt

00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:02.200
 and gather the elders of Israel

00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:04.560
 to tell them about God's plan to deliver them,

00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:07.600
 Moses protested to God in chapter 4, verse 1,

00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:09.680
 Behold, they will not believe me

00:09:09.680 --> 00:09:10.940
 or listen to my voice.

00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:13.139
 Despite the fact that God assured him

00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:14.800
 that they will listen to his voice.

00:09:15.420 --> 00:09:16.139
 But of course,

00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.419
 when Moses obeys,

00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.779
 they actually do listen to him.

00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:21.919
 And Moses is pleasantly surprised.

00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:23.779
 And so at this point,

00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:25.559
 he's kind of on cloud nine.

00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:28.639
 His meeting with the elders of Israel

00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.480
 went much better than he anticipated.

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.179
 And now he feels,

00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:33.799
 he and Aaron feel like they're on a roll.

00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:36.519
 So with daring confidence,

00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:38.360
 they march into Pharaoh.

00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:40.519
 And this is what they say

00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.700
 in chapter 5, verse 1.

00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:44.539
 Thus says the Lord,

00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:46.059
 the God of Israel,

00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:48.600
 let my people go

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:50.699
 that they may hold a feast to me

00:09:50.699 --> 00:09:51.199
 in the wilderness.

00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.879
 There are a couple problems

00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.139
 with this grand announcement.

00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.500
 Because first,

00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.580
 originally in chapter 3, verse 18,

00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:01.039
 God had instructed Moses

00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.059
 to go with the elders of Israel

00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:04.000
 to confront Pharaoh.

00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:06.000
 But here, according to verse 1,

00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:07.879
 he goes by himself with Aaron.

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:09.699
 And then second,

00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.759
 what they say to Pharaoh

00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:11.960
 is not at all what God

00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:13.200
 had told them to say to Pharaoh

00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.759
 earlier in chapter 3, verse 18.

00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:16.740
 Because God had told them to say,

00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:17.319
 the Lord,

00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.159
 the God of the Hebrews,

00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:19.200
 has met with us.

00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:19.919
 And now,

00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:20.399
 please,

00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:22.500
 let us go on a three days journey

00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:23.279
 into the wilderness

00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.439
 that we may sacrifice

00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.399
 to the Lord our God.

00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:28.939
 much like the way you hold your cards

00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:29.699
 close to your hand

00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:30.539
 when you're playing a game

00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:31.779
 and you don't let others

00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:33.480
 figure out what you're planning

00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:34.120
 or doing.

00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.279
 Or like the way an army

00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:37.419
 lays an ambush

00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.620
 with the, you know,

00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:39.720
 enduring war

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.500
 to trick an enemy

00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.600
 into making a blunder.

00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:43.920
 This was a strategic calculation

00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:45.779
 to begin with a more diplomatic

00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.500
 and palatable request

00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:49.680
 of a temporary leave of absence

00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:52.659
 before leaving Egypt permanently.

00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:54.960
 So it was a way to test Pharaoh

00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.920
 to show how stubbornly opposed

00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.659
 he was to worship of the Lord.

00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.620
 But perhaps,

00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.500
 in their overweening confidence,

00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.460
 Moses and Aaron skip all of that

00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:06.240
 and they go straight to the end game.

00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:08.080
 There's no please,

00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:09.379
 there's no let us go

00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.399
 on a three days journey,

00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:12.980
 simply the unqualified demand,

00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:15.179
 let my people go.

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.759
 But they run into a brick wall

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.700
 and Pharaoh responds in verse two,

00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:23.120
 who is the Lord

00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:26.240
 that I should obey his voice

00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.179
 and let Israel go?

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:29.360
 I do not know the Lord

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:32.679
 and I will not let Israel go.

00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.500
 The kings of Egypt back then

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.559
 were considered to be gods

00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:40.419
 and they gladly indulged that fancy.

00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:41.979
 As I mentioned a few weeks ago,

00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:42.919
 Rachmir,

00:11:43.079 --> 00:11:44.619
 who served as prime minister

00:11:44.619 --> 00:11:46.179
 under Pharaoh Thutmose III

00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:47.799
 and Amenhotep II

00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:48.879
 in 5th century BC

00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.379
 described Pharaoh this way,

00:11:50.479 --> 00:11:51.299
 what is the king

00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:52.599
 of upper and lower Egypt?

00:11:52.979 --> 00:11:54.019
 He is a god

00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.799
 by whose dealings one lives,

00:11:56.239 --> 00:11:58.039
 the father and mother of all men,

00:11:58.359 --> 00:11:59.519
 alone by himself,

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.959
 without an equal.

00:12:02.219 --> 00:12:03.419
 The famous Pharaoh,

00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:04.000
 Ramesses,

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:06.099
 his name means born of Ra,

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:08.300
 the Egyptian deity of the sun

00:12:08.300 --> 00:12:10.279
 and he claimed to be the,

00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.120
 formed in the image of Tatanen,

00:12:13.180 --> 00:12:14.060
 the father of the gods.

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.200
 So considering these realities in Egypt,

00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.259
 Pharaoh's disdainful response

00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.019
 to Moses is not at all surprising.

00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.120
 He's basically saying,

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.379
 who is Yahweh?

00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:25.200
 I've never heard of him.

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.740
 I'm the god of these lands.

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.120
 I'm the one in charge.

00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:32.320
 Why should I listen to him?

00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:35.940
 Pharaoh thinks he's a somebody

00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:37.560
 while the Lord is a nobody.

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.080
 So there's no way

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.760
 he's going to let the Israelites go.

00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:44.660
 And Pharaoh's response aptly captures

00:12:44.660 --> 00:12:47.080
 the heart of human rebellion against God.

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.520
 We have all sinned

00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:50.660
 and rebelled against God

00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:51.760
 in the same way.

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.379
 Even though we were created

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.340
 to worship God

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.360
 and to live for him,

00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:55.920
 we say,

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.140
 who is the Lord?

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:59.920
 And that I should obey his voice.

00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.019
 I do not know the Lord.

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.379
 Rather than acknowledging

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.839
 God's authority as our creator,

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.919
 we declare ourselves

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.360
 to be the authority

00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:09.219
 of our own lives.

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.919
 We live like autocrats

00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:13.559
 who rule our own little victims.

00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.639
 As Romans 1.25 says,

00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:17.979
 we have worshipped and served

00:13:17.979 --> 00:13:19.979
 the creature rather than the creator.

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.219
 We did not see fit

00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:24.199
 to acknowledge God as God.

00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:27.620
 But Pharaoh's denial,

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:29.319
 I do not know the Lord,

00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.800
 anticipates the refrain

00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:32.220
 of chapter 6, verse 7,

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:32.760
 which says,

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.040
 you shall know

00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:36.720
 that I am the Lord your God.

00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:38.540
 Knowing God

00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:40.100
 is a major refrain

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.300
 throughout the book of Exodus.

00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:43.200
 Again and again in the book,

00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:44.800
 the Lord says to the Israelites,

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:46.420
 you shall know

00:13:46.420 --> 00:13:48.460
 that I am the Lord your God.

00:13:48.900 --> 00:13:49.879
 And again and again,

00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.980
 he says to the Egyptians,

00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:53.080
 the Egyptians shall know

00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.620
 that I am the Lord

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.360
 when I stretch out my hand

00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.100
 against Egypt

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.780
 and bring out

00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.720
 the people of Israel.

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.539
 So already,

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.240
 Moses here gives us

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.720
 a clue to this reality

00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.639
 that they will come

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.299
 to know the Lord.

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.120
 Even though Pharaoh's asking

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.299
 who is the Lord,

00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:09.459
 ironically,

00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:10.579
 in this passage,

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.919
 God is named

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.439
 by his personal name,

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.120
 Yahweh,

00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.939
 over and over again.

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.899
 Remember that whenever

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.899
 the word Lord

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:20.039
 appears in all caps,

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.079
 it's a translation

00:14:21.079 --> 00:14:22.379
 of God's personal name

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.740
 in Hebrew.

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:25.639
 So in chapter 6,

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.139
 verse 2,

00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:27.200
 the Lord reiterates

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.480
 how he has revealed himself

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.080
 to his people

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.259
 as Yahweh,

00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.240
 but Pharaoh,

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.000
 on the other hand,

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.759
 is never named.

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.460
 Not in this passage

00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.060
 and not anywhere else

00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:37.680
 in the book.

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.440
 Pharaoh thinks

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.379
 he is somebody

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.240
 and that Yahweh

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.899
 is nobody,

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.899
 but the reality

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:44.019
 is exactly the opposite.

00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:46.659
 The Lord is known

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:48.320
 and he will be known,

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:50.340
 but Pharaoh remains unknown

00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:52.000
 to the readers of Exodus.

00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:55.019
 The Lord will be remembered forever,

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.280
 but Pharaoh will be forgotten.

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.440
 And before long,

00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:01.240
 Pharaoh himself

00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.780
 will come to this conclusion.

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.780
 He will soon learn

00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:05.220
 that he, the Lord,

00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:06.580
 and not himself,

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.720
 is the authority in Egypt

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.180
 and everywhere else.

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.019
 And when he learns this,

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:15.080
 Pharaoh's unqualified no

00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:15.980
 in this instance

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.060
 will be changed

00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:19.100
 to an unconditional yes.

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:23.160
 The same is true for us,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.040
 whether you know

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:24.879
 the Lord or not.

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.879
 Whether you acknowledge

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.580
 him or not.

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.899
 The day is coming

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.680
 as prophesied

00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:31.780
 in Habakkuk 2, verse 14,

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.560
 when the earth

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.639
 will be filled

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.879
 with the knowledge

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.139
 of the glory of the Lord

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.220
 as the waters cover the sea.

00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:40.259
 The day is coming

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:42.100
 when we will have no choice

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.300
 but to acknowledge

00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:44.379
 the Lord as God.

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:46.519
 Every knee will bow before him.

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.420
 Every tongue will confess

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:50.259
 his name and swear allegiance

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.919
 to him.

00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:53.199
 The choice before us

00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:54.740
 is whether we will do it

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.899
 as his willing subjects now

00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:00.399
 or as his subdued enemies later.

00:16:02.079 --> 00:16:03.419
 If you don't know the Lord,

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.459
 this is an opportunity

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:06.419
 for you to heed his word

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:08.139
 because he's speaking now from it.

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:11.179
 And after getting this hard no

00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:12.379
 from Pharaoh in verse 2,

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.579
 we see Moses and Aaron

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:15.079
 kind of walking back

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.960
 their bold proposition

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.620
 of verse 1

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.980
 and qualifying their demand

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.980
 in verse 3.

00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.340
 Then they said,

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.879
 the God of the Hebrews

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.139
 has met with us.

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.000
 Please let us go

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.259
 a three days journey

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.940
 into the wilderness

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.040
 that we may sacrifice

00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:30.139
 to the Lord our God

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:32.580
 lest he fall upon us

00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:33.700
 with pestilence

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.500
 or with the sword.

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.600
 So now they're saying

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.379
 something closer to

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.160
 what God had originally

00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:40.220
 commanded them to say

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.100
 in chapter 3.

00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.800
 So gone is the bold,

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.900
 thus says the Lord.

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.919
 And now they explain meekly

00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.100
 the God of the Hebrews

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.100
 has met with us.

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.419
 Oh, you don't know the Lord?

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:53.559
 Well, he's the God of the Hebrews.

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.620
 You know them.

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.279
 You know us.

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.199
 You're slaves.

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.539
 Gone is the triumphant.

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.759
 Let my people go.

00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:03.039
 Now they say,

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.779
 please let us go

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.960
 on a three days journey

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.559
 into the wilderness.

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.039
 That's not too much

00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.000
 to ask, is it?

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:12.079
 But that's not all they say.

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.139
 Moses and Aaron

00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:15.519
 also add their own touch.

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.519
 They portray the Lord

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.519
 as this vindictive deity

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.559
 who would punish the Israelites

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.679
 with pestilence

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:24.159
 or with the sword

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:25.399
 if they fail to go out

00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:25.919
 into the wilderness

00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.980
 to offer sacrifice.

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.539
 Look at what they say.

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:31.419
 Lest he fall upon us.

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.539
 The whole time in this verse

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.859
 us refers to the Israelites,

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.019
 not to all of Egypt.

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.220
 So he's saying,

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.519
 have pity on us, Pharaoh.

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.019
 It's not because

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.720
 we really want to do this.

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.660
 Our God is a little temperamental,

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.200
 you see.

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.359
 Prone to lose his temper.

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.680
 He might kill us

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.379
 if we don't go out

00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:50.940
 into the wilderness.

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.279
 Please let us go.

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.359
 But Pharaoh doesn't budge.

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.619
 It says in verses four to five,

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.059
 but the king of Egypt

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.799
 said to them,

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.099
 Moses and Aaron,

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.400
 why do you take the people

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.480
 away from their work?

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.279
 Get back to your burdens.

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.579
 And Pharaoh said,

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.500
 behold,

00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.460
 the people of the land

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.240
 are now many

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:10.700
 and you make them rest

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.680
 from their burdens.

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.680
 The Jews are a sizable workforce

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.119
 and Pharaoh doesn't want

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.920
 any supply chain issues.

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.359
 He wants enough bricks

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:22.519
 for all the building projects

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.619
 that he is working on.

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.720
 And this response shows

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.379
 just how oppressive

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:29.359
 of a tyrant Pharaoh really was.

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.819
 He treats Israelites like cattle.

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.579
 Their only value to them,

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.720
 to him is their labor.

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.779
 He doesn't care

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.059
 how heavy their burdens are.

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.480
 He's upset that Moses

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.819
 wants to make them rest

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.660
 from their burdens.

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.039
 This word rest

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.360
 is the verbal form

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:46.019
 of the Hebrew word for Sabbath.

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.700
 Later in Exodus 20,

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.860
 in the Ten Commandments,

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.700
 God will specifically

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:53.299
 command them to rest.

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.600
 Remember the Sabbath day

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.420
 to keep it holy.

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.240
 Six days you shall labor

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.100
 and do all your work,

00:18:59.160 --> 00:18:59.860
 but the seventh day

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:00.539
 is a Sabbath

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.680
 to the Lord your God.

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.960
 On it you shall not

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.799
 do any work.

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:07.140
 And then in Deuteronomy chapter 5,

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.380
 where the Sabbath command

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.039
 is repeated,

00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:11.279
 Moses specifically gives

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.079
 this rationale

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.460
 for the command to rest.

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.460
 Quote,

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.539
 You shall remember

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.759
 that you were a slave

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.900
 in the land of Egypt,

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:19.440
 and the Lord your God

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.519
 brought you out from there

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.600
 with a mighty hand

00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:22.819
 and an outstretched arm.

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.880
 Therefore,

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.940
 the Lord your God

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.539
 commanded you

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:27.140
 to keep the Sabbath day.

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:30.059
 Pharaoh is a cruel

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.400
 and selfish master

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.980
 who demands work

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.120
 seven days a week.

00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:35.480
 But the Lord

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.900
 is a gracious master

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.880
 and he commands

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.620
 his people to rest.

00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:42.460
 God says we should not

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.340
 work all the time.

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.500
 Why?

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.640
 Because we're not

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:47.120
 slaves anymore.

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.640
 Who or what,

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.100
 if I may ask you,

00:19:52.540 --> 00:19:53.300
 is the Pharaoh

00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:54.220
 that you are enslaved

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.080
 to in your own life?

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:58.579
 Are you living

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.659
 for people's approval

00:19:59.659 --> 00:20:01.679
 or for the applause of man?

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:03.139
 Do you want to accomplish

00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:04.599
 big things in life

00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:07.199
 so that you can finally

00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:08.079
 be recognized?

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.539
 So you can prove yourself

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.159
 to others?

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.980
 Who is your Pharaoh?

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.899
 Are you living to please

00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:16.519
 or satisfy other people?

00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:18.399
 If we serve

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.539
 any other master

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:21.019
 but the Lord God

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:24.839
 who promises us

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.119
 rest for our souls,

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.740
 then we will be

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.539
 run into the ground.

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.339
 We will have to work

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.059
 without rest.

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.379
 In the Academy Award

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.139
 winning film

00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:38.039
 Chariots of Fire,

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.059
 there's a poetic contrast

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:42.000
 between two gold medal

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.180
 winning Olympic sprinters,

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.039
 Harold Abrams

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.119
 and Eric Little.

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.500
 Harold Abrams

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.519
 runs for himself

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.680
 so he works

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.599
 tirelessly

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.799
 and even though

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.359
 he is incredibly successful,

00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:55.679
 he feels empty

00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.799
 and can't shake off

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.359
 this feeling

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.619
 of existential crisis.

00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.539
 He says in the movie,

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.259
 and now in one hour's time,

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.619
 I will be out there again.

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.799
 I will raise my eyes

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:07.259
 and look down that corridor

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.419
 four feet wide

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:09.919
 with ten lonely seconds

00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:11.019
 to justify

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.939
 my whole existence.

00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:14.659
 But will I?

00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.259
 Eric Little,

00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.099
 on the other hand,

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.299
 runs for God.

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:22.559
 And when he finds out

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.980
 that the opening heat

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.259
 for the hundred meter dash

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.419
 is set for Sunday,

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:28.759
 he decides that he will not run

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.339
 on the Sabbath,

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.699
 not even in the Olympics.

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.959
 And so he skips the race

00:21:33.959 --> 00:21:35.159
 and goes to church.

00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:37.839
 I'm not necessarily endorsing that,

00:21:37.959 --> 00:21:39.119
 but that was his conviction.

00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:42.579
 I respect him for it.

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:43.879
 Why?

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.039
 Because he doesn't need

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.779
 to prove himself.

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:49.779
 He doesn't need the Olympic gold medal

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.759
 to justify his existence

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.039
 so he can rest.

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:57.119
 He ends up winning the gold medal anyway

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.000
 in a different event

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.420
 that was not even his best event.

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.960
 Only God can give rest for us

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.660
 from our burdens.

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:06.720
 You cannot justify your own existence.

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:09.539
 You must find your identity

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.240
 and fulfillment

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.960
 in God,

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.620
 in Christ.

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.000
 You cannot save yourself.

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.400
 You must believe in Jesus

00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.839
 alone for your justification

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.700
 and salvation.

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.600
 Our gracious Lord,

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.180
 and Master,

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:23.019
 he's offering us rest

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.819
 from our burdens.

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.019
 But are you living

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.880
 like a servant

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.940
 of the Lord

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:29.559
 or like a servant

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.759
 of Pharaoh?

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:34.720
 The previous Pharaoh

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.379
 in chapter 1

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.579
 thought that he could control

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.420
 the fast-growing

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.299
 Israelite population

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.099
 by keeping them

00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.180
 under his thumb,

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.900
 under slavery.

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.920
 And this new Pharaoh's mentality

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.740
 is no different.

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.259
 He thinks the best way

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.200
 to keep the Israelites

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.240
 and put them back to work

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.379
 is to double down

00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:49.839
 and be even harsher with them.

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.200
 So it says in verse 6-9,

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.720
 the same day,

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.460
 Pharaoh commanded

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.180
 the taskmasters

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:55.799
 of the people

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.420
 and their foremen,

00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.740
 you shall no longer

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.819
 give the people straw

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.700
 to make bricks

00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.480
 as in the past,

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.359
 let them go

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:01.980
 and gather straw

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.640
 for themselves.

00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.019
 But the number of bricks

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.099
 that they made in the past,

00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.240
 you shall impose on them.

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.359
 You shall by no means

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:07.980
 reduce it,

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.940
 for they are idle.

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.599
 Therefore they cry,

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.400
 let us go and offer

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.799
 sacrifices to our God.

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.400
 Let heavier work

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.200
 be laid on the men

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.400
 that they may labor at it

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.299
 and pay no regard

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.660
 to the lying words.

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.720
 So straw,

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.480
 during those days,

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.599
 was added to clay

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.799
 because straw

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.940
 is this, you know,

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:26.799
 fibrous,

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.920
 linear fiber

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.480
 that makes the brick

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.480
 more, I guess,

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.059
 stable

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.599
 instead of crumbling apart.

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.519
 And so that's why

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.519
 they put straw in there.

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.779
 And Pharaoh had a store

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.339
 of straws,

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.900
 but they are now

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.279
 refusing to give the straws.

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.960
 And the result

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.559
 is predictable.

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.400
 The Israelites

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.779
 failed to meet the quota,

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.259
 but then they get,

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.819
 the foremen get beaten up

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:48.440
 and it's the demand

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.180
 of them to bring

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.960
 the same amount

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.220
 of bricks.

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.259
 And notice how

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.559
 they make this announcement,

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.400
 the taskmasters.

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:55.900
 They say,

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.600
 thus says Pharaoh

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:59.759
 in verse 10.

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.540
 It's the exact contrast

00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:02.259
 from verse 1.

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.220
 Thus says the Lord.

00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.240
 There's an ongoing

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.480
 tension and conflict

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.380
 here in this passage

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.500
 between the Lord God

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.340
 and Pharaoh

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.620
 who is the anti-God.

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.840
 And Pharaoh's decree

00:24:14.840 --> 00:24:16.880
 exposes his cruelty.

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.000
 It says that the Israelites

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.720
 in verse 12

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.340
 have to scatter

00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:20.060
 throughout the land

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.660
 together,

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.040
 stubble for straw.

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.660
 So stubble is

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.740
 what's left over

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.620
 after the harvest

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:27.140
 for straw is already done.

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.940
 The leftover part,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.860
 the small part that's over.

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.360
 So that means

00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.240
 the Egyptians

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.480
 already took all the straw.

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.860
 They harvested it all,

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.759
 put it in storage,

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.900
 and now they're refusing

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.880
 to give it to the Israelites.

00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:37.300
 Instead,

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.880
 they're making,

00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:38.840
 sending them back out

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:40.040
 to go get the leftovers.

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.980
 No wonder they can't

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:43.080
 find enough straw.

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.380
 And not only that,

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.080
 they're turning

00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:47.519
 the Israelites against them.

00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.240
 Notice that they

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.480
 appointed Jewish

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.960
 foremen

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.579
 to oversee the labors.

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.120
 They're from the people

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.579
 of Israel.

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.079
 They beat the foremen

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.420
 demanding that they bring,

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.339
 they produce the same

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.059
 number of bricks

00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:02.220
 so that they themselves

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.200
 are forced to crack

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.319
 the whip on their own people

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.779
 to save their own backs.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.500
 And the desperate

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.160
 Jewish foremen

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.960
 cry out to Pharaoh

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:11.220
 in verses 15 to 16,

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.480
 why do you treat

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.980
 your servants like this?

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.380
 No straw is given

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.480
 to your servants,

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.779
 yet they say to us,

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.620
 make bricks,

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.279
 and behold,

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.279
 your servants

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.000
 are beaten,

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.039
 but the fault

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:23.079
 is in your own people.

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:26.079
 Notice how sadly

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.200
 servile the Israelites

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.099
 are in this verse.

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.980
 Three times,

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.099
 they reiterate

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.259
 their loyalty to Pharaoh

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.599
 by describing themselves

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.500
 as your servants.

00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:38.500
 That's the noun form

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.220
 of the Hebrew verb

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.740
 that means

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.359
 to serve

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.420
 or to worship,

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.819
 and that's the word

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.879
 that God will use

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.379
 repeatedly,

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.480
 starting in Exodus 7,

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:45.900
 16,

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.360
 to say,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.599
 let my people go

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:50.220
 that they may serve me.

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.779
 Running through

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.640
 the book of Exodus

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:55.460
 is this overarching question,

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:57.599
 whom will you serve?

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.099
 Will the Israelites

00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.799
 serve Pharaoh

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.079
 or will they serve

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.839
 Yafu'e?

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.639
 And at this point,

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.899
 they are decidedly

00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:06.299
 choosing Pharaoh.

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.179
 We're your servants,

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.519
 Pharaoh.

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.119
 But these verses

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.839
 also make clear

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.419
 that they're choosing

00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.819
 the wrong person

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.559
 because it says

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.179
 in verse 15

00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:16.559
 that they cried out

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.179
 to Pharaoh.

00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:19.059
 And you saw

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.439
 Pharaoh's harsh response.

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.500
 But remember

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.139
 what happened

00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:23.039
 earlier in the book

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.919
 in chapter 2,

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.019
 23 to 24,

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.019
 when the people

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.480
 of Israel

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.439
 cried out

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.880
 to the Lord,

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.559
 he said

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.799
 that their cry

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.340
 for rescue

00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:32.960
 from slavery

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.080
 came up to God

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.640
 and God heard

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.259
 their groaning

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.440
 and God remembered

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.080
 his covenant

00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:38.940
 with Abraham,

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:39.559
 with Isaac,

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.200
 and with Jacob.

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.440
 God saw

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.420
 the people of Israel

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:44.000
 and God knew.

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.900
 That's what happened

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.620
 when they cried out

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.220
 to the Lord.

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.960
 They were heard,

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.860
 they were remembered,

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.900
 they were known

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.680
 by God.

00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:53.820
 But when they cry

00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.580
 out to Pharaoh,

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.180
 they get nothing

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:58.060
 but harsh oppression.

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.600
 Who are you

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.340
 crying out to

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.620
 for relief

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.779
 in your own life?

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.180
 In the pains

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.620
 and struggles

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.279
 of your own life,

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.220
 who are you

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.220
 crying out to?

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:09.860
 Are you crying out

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.539
 to the Lord

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.779
 who is attentive

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.640
 to even your faintest groans?

00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.080
 Who is listening

00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.580
 to you?

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.180
 Who is responding

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.420
 to you?

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.200
 Who hears you

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.160
 and sees you

00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.120
 better than anyone

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.900
 else in the world?

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.740
 Or are you

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.320
 crying out to man?

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:27.700
 And since Pharaoh

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.480
 won't listen to them,

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.579
 the distressed Israelites

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.740
 confront Moses and Aaron

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.559
 in verse 21.

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.819
 The Lord look on you

00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.460
 and judge

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.519
 because you have made

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.659
 a stink in the sight

00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:37.019
 of Pharaoh

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.679
 and his servants

00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:39.439
 and have put a sword

00:27:39.439 --> 00:27:39.939
 in their hands

00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:40.619
 to kill us.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.399
 And then Moses

00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:44.079
 turns around

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.220
 and blames God,

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.000
 attributes evil

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.500
 to God

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.319
 in the same way

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.200
 he attributed evil

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.439
 to Pharaoh.

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.259
 So it seems like

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.980
 the situation

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:54.180
 is getting only worse.

00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.000
 It seems like

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.740
 God's promises

00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.820
 have faltered

00:27:56.820 --> 00:27:58.100
 and Moses asked,

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.640
 why did you send me here

00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.620
 in the first place?

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.360
 But the Lord assures us

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:04.519
 in chapter 6

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.340
 that his promises

00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:06.320
 have not failed.

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.880
 Earlier in chapter 3,

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.680
 19 to 20,

00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.420
 God said that

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.360
 the king of Egypt

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.740
 will not let you go

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.600
 unless compelled

00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.600
 by a mighty hand

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:16.059
 so I will stretch out

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.720
 my hand

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.559
 and strike Egypt

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.420
 with all the wonders

00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.360
 that I will do in it.

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.240
 After that,

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.079
 he will let you go.

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.059
 He says the same thing

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.959
 here in chapter 6,

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.659
 verse 1.

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:24.899
 He says,

00:28:24.979 --> 00:28:26.019
 now you shall see

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.479
 what I will do

00:28:27.479 --> 00:28:28.019
 to Pharaoh

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.939
 for with a strong hand

00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:31.079
 he will send them out

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:32.679
 and with a strong hand

00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:33.479
 he will drive them

00:28:33.479 --> 00:28:34.719
 out of his hand.

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:37.259
 It's a little ambiguous here

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.219
 whose strong hand

00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:38.859
 they're talking to.

00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.819
 It could be referring

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.179
 to the Lord's strong hand.

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:43.159
 Because of the Lord's strong hand,

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.039
 the Pharaoh will let

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.639
 the Israelites go

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.379
 and drive them out.

00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:46.779
 That's how a lot

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.719
 of translations have it.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.419
 But the ESV

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.380
 intentionally leaves it

00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.759
 ambiguous

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.519
 and I think that's good

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.620
 because it could also

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.279
 be ironic.

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.820
 Later in Exodus chapter 12,

00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.279
 33,

00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:57.759
 it says that the Egyptians

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.480
 were urgent with the people

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.960
 to send them out

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.580
 of the land

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.860
 in haste

00:29:02.860 --> 00:29:03.500
 for they said,

00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.720
 we shall all be dead.

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.980
 And the word

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.940
 translated urgent

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.279
 there is the exact same word

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.019
 that's translated here

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.680
 as strong.

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.360
 So they were strong.

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.580
 The Egyptians were strong

00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:13.259
 with the people

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.259
 to send them out

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:14.700
 of the land

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:16.140
 in haste

00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.240
 because they're so afraid

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.819
 of further punishment

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.740
 that might come to them.

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.019
 So remember what I said

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.960
 to you a few weeks ago

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:24.160
 that one of the frequently

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:25.620
 used titles for Pharaohs

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.319
 back in those days

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.140
 was the Lord

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.460
 of the strong arm.

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.559
 And so here,

00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:33.080
 that very title,

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.299
 that very reputation

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.480
 is being challenged.

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.140
 The strong hand

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.019
 of Pharaoh

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:41.079
 is not going to be used

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.480
 to keep the Israelites

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.660
 enslaved,

00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:44.700
 but instead,

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.200
 he will use his strong hand

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.119
 to release them.

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.379
 Instead of keeping them

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.359
 in his iron grip,

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.440
 in his strong hands,

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.759
 Pharaoh will have no choice

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.940
 but to send them away.

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.379
 I think this is a great image.

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.240
 Imagine like

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:59.379
 an arm wrestling champion,

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.779
 like Matthias' brother

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:04.339
 is an arm wrestling champion,

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:07.200
 and he imagined this,

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:07.879
 you know,

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.120
 enormous forearm

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:10.640
 with bulging biceps,

00:30:11.340 --> 00:30:12.860
 and then he starts

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:14.160
 arm wrestling someone else,

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:16.440
 and his opponent

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.500
 is so strong

00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:19.240
 that this champion

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:21.640
 just is getting thrown around

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.460
 like a rag doll.

00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.900
 That's what's happening

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.460
 here to Pharaoh.

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.460
 The Lord of the strong arm

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:31.900
 used to liberate

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.780
 the people of Israel.

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:36.980
 That's what mighty king Pharaoh

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.960
 is going to look like.

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.279
 That's what the so-called

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.220
 God king is going

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.079
 to be reduced to.

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.059
 He will be thoroughly

00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:44.140
 defeated and humiliated.

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.400
 And what follows

00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.240
 in verses 2-8

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.360
 is a remarkable set

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:48.039
 of reminders

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.559
 and promises by God.

00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.220
 In verses 2-5,

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.500
 God reminds Moses

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:55.059
 of the four things

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.720
 that he has already done.

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.140
 He says,

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.339
 I appeared to Abraham,

00:30:59.500 --> 00:30:59.860
 to Isaac,

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.360
 and to Jacob

00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:01.120
 as God Almighty,

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:01.839
 but by my name,

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.299
 the Lord,

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.380
 I did not make myself

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.180
 known to them.

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:05.220
 Second,

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.299
 I established

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.400
 my covenant with them

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:07.880
 to give them

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.759
 the land of Canaan,

00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.720
 the land in which

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.900
 they lived as sojourners.

00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.620
 Third,

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.500
 I have heard

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.019
 the groaning

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.100
 of the people of Israel

00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:15.039
 whom the Egyptians

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.960
 hold as slaves.

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:16.900
 And fourth,

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.960
 and I have remembered

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.400
 my covenant.

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.160
 So four things

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.279
 God has already done.

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.960
 And then in verses 6-8,

00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:24.100
 God instructs Moses

00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.380
 to tell the people of Israel

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:26.420
 that he will

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.840
 specifically fulfill

00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:29.160
 all of his promises.

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.840
 And there's seven

00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.480
 powerful

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.799
 I will statements.

00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.799
 I will bring you out

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.740
 from under the burdens

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.380
 of the Egyptians.

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.259
 I will deliver you

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.519
 from slavery to them.

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:41.160
 I will redeem you

00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:42.460
 with an outstretched arm

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.240
 and with great acts

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.680
 of judgment.

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.220
 I will take you

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:45.960
 to be my people.

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:47.480
 I will be your God.

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.660
 I will bring you

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.200
 into the land

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.220
 that I swore to give

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.720
 to Abraham,

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.460
 Isaac,

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:51.960
 and Jacob.

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:54.059
 I will give it to you

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.059
 for a possession.

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.680
 And note well

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.900
 that from the beginning

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.519
 to the end,

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.660
 the whole speech

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.279
 is about what

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.440
 the Lord will do

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.339
 and not about

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.519
 what Moses and Aaron

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.000
 will do.

00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.799
 Only the Lord

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.799
 can deliver Israel

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.619
 from their slavery

00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.539
 and bring them

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.460
 into the promised land.

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.200
 Salvation belongs

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.759
 to the Lord

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.379
 from the beginning

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.220
 to the end.

00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:16.160
 And this idea

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.819
 is reinforced

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.859
 by the repetition

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.940
 of the phrase,

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:21.079
 I am the Lord.

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:22.960
 Look at that.

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.839
 What God says

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.259
 to Moses

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.759
 begins with the assurance,

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.160
 I am the Lord.

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.480
 And what God says

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.400
 to the people of Israel,

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.680
 begins and ends

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:31.779
 with the same phrase,

00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:33.379
 I am the Lord.

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.579
 And then smack dab

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.279
 at the center

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.180
 of what God says

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.619
 to Israel

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:38.259
 is the only statement

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.660
 of what the people

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.119
 will do

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:40.819
 and it's this,

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.720
 you shall know

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:44.180
 that I am

00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:45.079
 the Lord,

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.000
 your God.

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.779
 That's the heart

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.440
 of what God

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.420
 is trying to communicate

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:48.779
 here.

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.279
 And why is God

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.660
 so emphatic about this?

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.440
 God, we get it.

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.559
 We know who you are.

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.779
 Why does he say it

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.900
 over and over again?

00:32:57.900 --> 00:33:00.100
 We find the reason

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:00.720
 in verse 3,

00:33:00.820 --> 00:33:01.860
 I appeared to Abraham,

00:33:02.080 --> 00:33:02.519
 to Isaac,

00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.120
 and to Jacob

00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:04.560
 as God Almighty.

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.940
 But by my name,

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.620
 the Lord,

00:33:07.300 --> 00:33:07.680
 Yehovah,

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:08.940
 or Yahweh,

00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.620
 I did not make myself

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.259
 known to them.

00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:13.940
 This is an allusion

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.480
 to Genesis 17, 1

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.920
 and Genesis 35, 11

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:18.100
 where God reveals himself

00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:19.240
 to Abraham and Jacob

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.800
 respectively

00:33:19.800 --> 00:33:21.680
 as God Almighty

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:23.080
 or El Shaddai.

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:24.960
 And in both

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.139
 of those contexts,

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.759
 the name of God

00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:28.579
 is connected to

00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.980
 making the Israelites,

00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:30.599
 the patriarchs,

00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:31.740
 fruitful and multiply.

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.519
 And that's a promise

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.639
 that's already been fulfilled

00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:35.379
 as we've seen

00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:37.079
 in the first few chapters

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:38.119
 of the book of Exodus.

00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:41.259
 But it's not that

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.619
 the patriarchs

00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.759
 were completely unaware

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.980
 of the name Yahweh.

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:47.279
 God did reveal himself

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.559
 as that to them

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.919
 at two specific points

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.420
 in Genesis 15, 7

00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:53.480
 and Genesis 28, 13.

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.480
 Again, to Abraham

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.740
 and Jacob respectively.

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.560
 And interestingly,

00:33:57.820 --> 00:33:59.320
 in both of those instances

00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:01.100
 where God reveals himself

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.519
 to them as Yahweh

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.620
 prior to the Exodus,

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.519
 that name is connected

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.600
 to his promise

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.800
 that they will enter

00:34:07.800 --> 00:34:09.019
 into the promised land.

00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.059
 And that promise

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.059
 is not yet fulfilled.

00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.480
 And I think that's the reason

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.960
 why there's this emphasis

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:17.099
 on the name of God

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.599
 because the times

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.680
 of Abraham, Isaac,

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.139
 and Jacob

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.480
 were the era of promise.

00:34:21.879 --> 00:34:23.339
 But now is the time

00:34:23.339 --> 00:34:24.000
 of fulfillment.

00:34:24.899 --> 00:34:26.299
 Those patriarchs lived

00:34:26.299 --> 00:34:27.039
 as sojourners

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:28.019
 in the promised land.

00:34:28.379 --> 00:34:29.219
 But you,

00:34:29.419 --> 00:34:29.940
 the Israelites,

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:32.019
 will now live as owners

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:34.599
 and possess it as your own.

00:34:35.859 --> 00:34:36.819
 And it's the name,

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.279
 the Lord, Yahweh,

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.379
 that guarantees

00:34:39.379 --> 00:34:39.980
 the fulfillment

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.759
 of these promises.

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.399
 It's like,

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.419
 it's a declaration.

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.899
 I am the Lord.

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.579
 It's like God's signature

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:48.219
 on the dotted line.

00:34:48.319 --> 00:34:49.559
 He's telling the Israelites,

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:51.319
 you can go and cash

00:34:51.319 --> 00:34:52.779
 this check in the bank

00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:55.099
 because I am the Lord.

00:34:57.319 --> 00:34:57.859
 Why?

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.379
 Do you remember

00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.460
 what the name means?

00:34:59.539 --> 00:34:59.919
 It means,

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.480
 I am who I am.

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.239
 It can also mean,

00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:05.460
 I will be who I will be.

00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:06.759
 It's timeless.

00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:09.000
 And that's completely

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:10.539
 intentionally communicates

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.519
 God's presence

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.199
 in the past,

00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:12.779
 presence,

00:35:12.879 --> 00:35:13.379
 and the future.

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.839
 He's the same yesterday,

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.500
 today,

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.019
 and forever.

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.679
 He was and is

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.679
 and will be.

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:19.840
 So another way

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.760
 to describe God

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:22.519
 is that He is unchanging.

00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.400
 He is faithful.

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.179
 He is always true

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.739
 to Himself

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:28.239
 and to His promises.

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:30.099
 And that means

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:31.440
 His promises,

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.739
 His words,

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.320
 never fall to the ground.

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:38.080
 So the name of the Lord

00:35:38.080 --> 00:35:39.380
 suggests that He is not only

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.200
 a promise maker,

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:42.120
 but He's also a promise keeper.

00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.420
 And likewise,

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.559
 the name Yahweh,

00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.559
 which means I am who I am,

00:35:46.600 --> 00:35:48.080
 is derived from the Hebrew verb

00:35:48.080 --> 00:35:48.740
 to be,

00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:50.039
 and that's connected

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.340
 to God's promise to Moses

00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.019
 in chapter 3,

00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.600
 verse 12,

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.880
 I will be with you.

00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:56.320
 That's the very meaning

00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:59.440
 of God's proper name.

00:35:59.580 --> 00:36:02.340
 God's name is God with us.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.460
 He is the God

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:05.039
 who is with us.

00:36:05.160 --> 00:36:06.120
 That means He has

00:36:06.120 --> 00:36:07.620
 bound Himself up

00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:08.680
 irrevocably

00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:10.240
 with His people

00:36:10.240 --> 00:36:10.920
 by the covenant.

00:36:12.600 --> 00:36:13.300
 This is why

00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:14.180
 over and over again

00:36:14.180 --> 00:36:15.019
 throughout the scriptures,

00:36:15.220 --> 00:36:15.840
 God's people

00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:17.400
 appeal to God's deliverance

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:17.740
 saying,

00:36:18.120 --> 00:36:19.900
 for the sake of your great name

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.019
 do such and such.

00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.420
 Psalm 25, 11,

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.880
 for your name's sake,

00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.300
 O Lord,

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.460
 pardon my guilt.

00:36:26.120 --> 00:36:26.860
 Psalm 31, 3,

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.200
 for your name's sake,

00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:29.740
 you lead me and guide me.

00:36:30.160 --> 00:36:31.280
 Psalm 143, 11,

00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.480
 for your name's sake,

00:36:32.540 --> 00:36:32.920
 O Lord,

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.560
 preserve my life.

00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:36.500
 Why does the psalmist

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.180
 think that

00:36:37.180 --> 00:36:38.380
 pardoning his guilt

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.500
 and leading him

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:41.080
 and preserving his life

00:36:41.080 --> 00:36:42.440
 is for the Lord's name's sake?

00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.519
 Because the name

00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.040
 of the Lord

00:36:45.040 --> 00:36:46.400
 is on him.

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:49.240
 Because he belongs

00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:50.920
 to God's chosen people.

00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:54.480
 Ezekiel 20, 44

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.940
 is particularly helpful here

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.660
 where the Lord says,

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.619
 you shall know

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:58.899
 that I am the Lord

00:36:58.899 --> 00:37:00.379
 when I deal with you

00:37:00.379 --> 00:37:02.379
 for my name's sake,

00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:03.839
 not according to

00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:05.019
 your evil ways,

00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.440
 not according to

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.619
 your corrupt deeds,

00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.480
 O house of Israel.

00:37:11.399 --> 00:37:12.539
 He acts

00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.339
 for the sake

00:37:13.339 --> 00:37:14.519
 of his holy name.

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.420
 Let's say that

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.079
 your father

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:18.319
 agrees to sign,

00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.779
 to be a cosigner

00:37:19.779 --> 00:37:21.000
 on your mortgage loan.

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:23.860
 If you default

00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:24.820
 on that loan,

00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:25.800
 your father

00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:27.119
 must assume

00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.300
 legal responsibility

00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:29.599
 to repay that loan.

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.699
 Because his name

00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:34.420
 and his credit

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.579
 is now

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.480
 on the line.

00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.900
 In a similar way,

00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:40.579
 it falls

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:42.340
 on the Lord's name

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.539
 to bring Israel

00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:44.739
 into the promised land.

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.519
 Because he has made

00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.059
 a covenant

00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.820
 with his people

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.579
 and said,

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.579
 these are the people

00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:51.279
 on whom my name

00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:52.099
 rests.

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.199
 Perhaps some of you

00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:57.319
 are in a similar season

00:37:57.319 --> 00:37:57.819
 in life

00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:59.940
 like these Israelites

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.500
 in Egypt.

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:03.219
 You have a broken spirit,

00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:06.000
 maybe a prolonged sickness,

00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:07.099
 repeated failures

00:38:07.099 --> 00:38:07.920
 and disappointments,

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.099
 persistent loneliness,

00:38:09.299 --> 00:38:10.059
 and you're doubting

00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.299
 God's goodness.

00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:13.719
 But despite all appearances

00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.619
 to the contrary,

00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:15.940
 remember that the Lord

00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:17.259
 is with you.

00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:18.820
 His name

00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:20.140
 is on you

00:38:20.140 --> 00:38:21.080
 and that means

00:38:21.080 --> 00:38:22.140
 His promises

00:38:22.140 --> 00:38:22.700
 to you

00:38:22.700 --> 00:38:23.720
 are guaranteed.

00:38:25.820 --> 00:38:26.460
 And so he says

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.040
 in verse 6,

00:38:27.120 --> 00:38:28.280
 I will redeem you

00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:29.620
 with an outstretched arm

00:38:29.620 --> 00:38:30.580
 and with great acts

00:38:30.580 --> 00:38:31.040
 of judgment.

00:38:32.120 --> 00:38:33.040
 The word redeem,

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:33.840
 what does it mean

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.340
 to redeem?

00:38:34.520 --> 00:38:34.880
 What does it mean

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.920
 to be a redeemer?

00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:37.300
 A redeemer

00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.920
 in Hebrew

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.460
 is literally

00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:40.280
 the family protector.

00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:43.160
 A redeemer

00:38:43.160 --> 00:38:43.960
 was the nearest

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:44.520
 relative

00:38:44.520 --> 00:38:46.120
 of a person

00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.199
 who becomes poor

00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:49.259
 and loses

00:38:49.259 --> 00:38:50.139
 all of his property

00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:51.659
 and has to sell himself

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.359
 into slavery.

00:38:52.839 --> 00:38:53.719
 And if that happened

00:38:53.719 --> 00:38:54.579
 to your relative

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.980
 and you're the redeemer,

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:57.579
 it was the redeemer's

00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:58.119
 responsibility

00:38:58.119 --> 00:38:59.599
 to go and pay the debt,

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.779
 redeem your relative

00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:02.259
 so that he can be free

00:39:02.259 --> 00:39:03.799
 and so that he can live

00:39:03.799 --> 00:39:04.639
 in the land

00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:05.940
 that God has given him.

00:39:07.259 --> 00:39:08.420
 So this is literally

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.179
 what God is saying

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:10.559
 He's doing for us.

00:39:11.319 --> 00:39:12.019
 His people,

00:39:12.179 --> 00:39:13.619
 we have sinned against Him.

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.839
 We have a deficit.

00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:16.119
 We are under slavery

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.539
 to sin.

00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.400
 We have lost

00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:19.059
 what was given to us

00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:20.599
 and yet God says

00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:21.719
 I will redeem.

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:23.599
 I will pay.

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:25.000
 I will sign

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.960
 because my name

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:28.159
 is on that people.

00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:34.099
 I'm so grateful

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:35.900
 that that's the basis

00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:37.400
 for God's promises

00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:38.079
 to us.

00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.219
 Can you imagine

00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:41.359
 if it were up to us

00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:43.800
 how often we sin,

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:45.900
 how often we fail God,

00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:47.980
 how often we fall short

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.200
 of His glory?

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:52.260
 If it were up to us,

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.019
 you think God

00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.039
 can be faithful.

00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:57.059
 If it depended on us,

00:39:57.120 --> 00:39:57.720
 you think God

00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.559
 can deliver us

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.920
 time and time again

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:01.019
 but it does not

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:02.000
 depend on us.

00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:03.940
 The assurance,

00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:04.579
 the basis

00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:05.480
 for our deliverance

00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:07.660
 is not you are worthy,

00:40:08.099 --> 00:40:09.200
 you are lovely,

00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.360
 or you are righteous.

00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:10.840
 righteous.

00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.579
 No, it is.

00:40:11.660 --> 00:40:12.920
 I am the Lord.

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:15.280
 I am the Lord.

00:40:15.700 --> 00:40:16.380
 That's why

00:40:16.380 --> 00:40:17.320
 I will deliver you.

00:40:17.680 --> 00:40:18.220
 That's why

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:19.079
 I will save you

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:20.240
 and that's why

00:40:20.240 --> 00:40:22.320
 I will redeem you.

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:30.059
 That's what God

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.780
 has done for us

00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:31.380
 in Jesus.

00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:33.400
 So He's called

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:34.200
 our Redeemer.

00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.920
 He paid the debt

00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:39.000
 that we could not pay.

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:46.460
 And because of that,

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:49.500
 because our Redeemer

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:51.239
 died on the cross

00:40:51.239 --> 00:40:52.239
 for our sins,

00:40:52.340 --> 00:40:53.320
 because our Redeemer

00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:55.059
 signed the check,

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:57.500
 we are now stamped

00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.800
 with the Spirit of God.

00:40:59.780 --> 00:41:01.159
 It's God's declaration

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:01.960
 on us

00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:04.360
 paid in full.

00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:08.620
 my sin,

00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.140
 oh the bliss

00:41:10.140 --> 00:41:12.240
 of this glorious thought,

00:41:12.620 --> 00:41:13.700
 my sin,

00:41:13.860 --> 00:41:14.660
 not in part,

00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:15.800
 but the whole,

00:41:16.300 --> 00:41:18.019
 is nailed to the cross

00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:20.140
 and I bear it

00:41:20.140 --> 00:41:21.039
 no more.

00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:22.579
 Praise the Lord,

00:41:23.180 --> 00:41:24.000
 praise the Lord,

00:41:24.640 --> 00:41:26.780
 oh my soul.

00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.780
 Let's pray.

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:31.900
 God,

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.680
 we thank you.

00:41:43.680 --> 00:41:44.080
 God,

00:41:44.160 --> 00:41:44.720
 thank you that

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.880
 even though we are fickle,

00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:49.880
 that you are faithful,

00:41:51.560 --> 00:41:53.019
 that you are unchanging,

00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:55.380
 and that your name

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.320
 is the Lord,

00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:57.519
 Yahweh.

00:42:00.780 --> 00:42:01.340
 God,

00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:02.219
 because of that,

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:04.019
 you deserve all glory,

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:07.300
 all praise,

00:42:07.780 --> 00:42:08.519
 all honor,

00:42:10.019 --> 00:42:11.759
 all of our lives,

00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:13.019
 all that we have,

00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:14.679
 all that we are

00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:15.480
 belong to you.

00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:18.860
 You are our gracious master

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:21.320
 and you give us rest

00:42:21.320 --> 00:42:22.260
 for our souls.

00:42:24.620 --> 00:42:25.519
 Thank you.

00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:29.519
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:42:30.220 --> 00:42:30.460
 Amen.