WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:23.580 It's one of the worst feelings in the world. 00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:27.260 It starts deep in our gut. 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:30.600 It rises up. 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:33.439 We feel it. 00:00:33.480 --> 00:00:37.520 Our pulse begins to speed up, beat faster. 00:00:39.160 --> 00:00:43.100 Maybe perspiration will break out on our brow. 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:52.420 We begin to look side to side, up and down, both literally sometimes and metaphorically. 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:55.859 Is there any way of escape? 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:57.200 Is there any way out? 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:05.219 The feeling of being impossibly trapped is a terrible, terrible feeling. 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:11.319 Sometimes we feel this physically, but much more often in life. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.459 We feel this in our life circumstances. 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:21.679 Maybe someone has come and confronted you and laid bare a lie that you have told. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:29.960 Maybe you've been married for years and it's never gotten better. 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:34.839 And it rises up in you, this feeling of being trapped. 00:01:36.919 --> 00:01:41.379 Maybe you know a deadline is looming, whether at work or at school. 00:01:41.379 --> 00:01:48.879 And the number of hours that you have is insufficient to accomplish the work that you have to do. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:56.799 Maybe your bank account continues to drop lower and lower. 00:01:56.839 --> 00:01:59.519 And the bills continue to come in. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:07.959 Impossible situations make us feel this kind of trapped. 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:12.500 And sometimes we feel trapped because we've been foolish. 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:14.919 Because we have sinned. 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:18.479 And it's left us in a bad place. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:23.939 Sometimes we feel trapped by circumstances that are completely beyond our control. 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:26.879 Have no moral bearing. 00:02:27.339 --> 00:02:28.719 They just are. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:29.919 But they're hard. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:33.539 Sometimes it's a mix of both. 00:02:34.059 --> 00:02:37.339 In those moments of panic, in those moments of terror, 00:02:38.019 --> 00:02:41.299 when you're facing a situation where it seems like there's no way out, 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:42.759 where do you turn? 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:47.560 Some of us will dig deep. 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:52.859 We'll find inner strength to go the extra mile. 00:02:52.859 --> 00:02:59.419 We will find the indomitable human spirit and we will try to gut it out. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:04.459 Some of us will look for an escape. 00:03:04.899 --> 00:03:06.599 For some kind of compromise. 00:03:06.839 --> 00:03:08.039 Some easy way out. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:12.959 Even though it may cost us our soul and our character to follow that path. 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:22.659 Some of us will crawl up into a fetal position and give up in despair and hopelessness. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.379 And some of us might actually turn to God. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:27.739 This is church after all. 00:03:27.859 --> 00:03:29.779 So that seems like a thought. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:30.679 But you know what? 00:03:30.699 --> 00:03:32.439 When we turn to God, what do we find? 00:03:33.559 --> 00:03:35.359 It doesn't always get better. 00:03:35.579 --> 00:03:36.219 Does it? 00:03:37.299 --> 00:03:39.239 Because when we read the Bible carefully, 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:45.560 we see that God is not a God who has promised to simply make our lives easier. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:48.260 To simply remove the challenges in our life. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.900 To free us from every impossible circumstance. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:55.020 To make our life better as quickly as possible. 00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:55.640 He does not always get people. 00:03:55.640 --> 00:04:01.480 He does not always get his people out of impossible situations. 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:09.399 And in fact, it even seems like he leads them into those situations at times. 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:13.460 So is there any hope for us? 00:04:13.980 --> 00:04:16.180 How are we to think about these things? 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:23.579 Friends, this is what our passage this morning in Exodus is going to help us think through. 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:29.319 So if you want to turn with me, page 55 in your pew Bibles, Exodus chapter 13. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:35.019 And while you're turning there, just to remember what we've been looking at over the past eight or nine chapters, 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:41.060 is God's amazing work of freeing his people who were enslaved in Egypt. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:46.639 Freeing them through his mighty acts of power. 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:51.620 The ten plagues, the famous ten plagues where God, with increasing intensity, 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:57.719 brought judgment upon Egypt to break the hold that they had. 00:04:57.799 --> 00:05:02.699 And to let people of God go free from slavery. 00:05:02.699 --> 00:05:08.779 And right before this passage, we've seen that God has finally done this. 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:12.500 That through the Passover, through the judgment on the firstborn, 00:05:12.659 --> 00:05:17.680 God has finally broken the will of the Pharaoh and he has sent them out. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.279 He said, go, you might be free. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:26.620 And so as we come into this passage, Israel is on their way out the door of Egypt. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.740 And that's where we are in the story this morning. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:31.620 So let's read it together. 00:05:31.620 --> 00:05:34.160 We're going to read a good chunk of scripture. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:35.800 So hang in there with me. 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:38.920 If you feel like you want to stand, actually, why don't I do this? 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:43.019 If you can stand and you're able to, why don't you stand for the reading of God's word? 00:05:43.840 --> 00:05:46.720 If you don't, if you need to sit, that's fine. 00:05:46.840 --> 00:05:52.379 But we're going to read chapter 13, starting in verse 17, all the way to the end of chapter 14. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:54.280 So hang in there. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:55.079 Here we go. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:06:03.479 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, 00:06:03.539 --> 00:06:04.659 although that was near. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:10.579 For God said, lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:15.799 But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea. 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:20.279 And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt, equipped for battle. 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:26.659 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, 00:06:26.859 --> 00:06:32.159 saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here. 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:38.719 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:43.639 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:49.139 and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light that they may travel by day and by night. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:54.800 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:02.099 Then the Lord said to Moses, tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of 00:07:02.099 --> 00:07:10.959 Pi-hahiroth between Migdal and the sea, in front of Baal, Zephon, and you shall encamp facing it by the sea. 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.919 For Pharaoh will save the people of Israel. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:16.019 They are wandering in the land. 00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:17.839 The wilderness has shut them in. 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.759 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:25.299 And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts. 00:07:25.619 --> 00:07:29.039 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:30.679 And they did so. 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.919 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.819 the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed towards the people. 00:07:37.099 --> 00:07:39.959 And they said, what is this that we've done? 00:07:40.099 --> 00:07:43.099 That we've let Israel go from serving us? 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:52.980 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him and took 600 chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 00:07:53.400 --> 00:07:56.200 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:07:56.360 --> 00:08:00.980 And he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:06.879 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:13.740 and overtook them encamped at the sea by Pi-ha-hiroth in front of Baal-zaphon. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:20.300 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:23.100 And behold, the Egyptians were marching after them. 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:24.240 And they feared greatly. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:26.840 And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:27.819 And they said to Moses, 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:33.200 Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:37.220 What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 00:08:37.680 --> 00:08:40.740 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt? 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:44.120 Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:49.779 For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:52.279 And Moses said to the people, 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:53.779 Fear not. 00:08:54.659 --> 00:08:55.899 Stand firm. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:00.159 And see the salvation of the Lord which he will work for you today. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.480 For the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:09.519 The Lord will fight for you and you have only to be silent. 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:12.480 And then the Lord said to Moses, 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.680 Why do you cry to me? 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:16.379 Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:24.060 Lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:27.799 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:32.799 And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, his chariots and his horsemen. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:39.659 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gained glory over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen. 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:46.279 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them. 00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:50.359 And the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:53.339 Coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:55.599 And there was the cloud and the darkness. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.319 And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:04.460 And then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. 00:10:04.520 --> 00:10:07.900 And the Lord drove the sea back by the strong east wind all night. 00:10:08.020 --> 00:10:10.700 And made the sea dry land and the waters were divided. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.879 And the people of Israel went in the midst of the sea on dry ground. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.960 The waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:24.560 Then the Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea. 00:10:24.640 --> 00:10:26.980 All Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:33.879 And in the morning watched the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces. 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:37.019 And threw the Egyptian forces into a panic. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:40.159 Clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.060 And the Egyptians said, 00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:46.300 Let us flee from before Israel for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. 00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:49.159 And then the Lord said to Moses, 00:10:49.359 --> 00:10:51.859 Stretch out your hand over the sea. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.839 That the waters may come back upon the Egyptians. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:57.379 Upon their chariots and upon their horsemen. 00:10:57.939 --> 00:11:01.419 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:05.519 And the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.839 And as the Egyptians fled into it, 00:11:09.219 --> 00:11:12.500 the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:18.539 The water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.419 Not one of them remained. 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.840 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea. 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:30.580 The waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:36.500 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.019 And Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:44.460 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:46.740 So the people feared the Lord. 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:50.059 And they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.159 And this is God's word. 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:52.819 Amen. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:54.919 Please take a seat. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.579 Let's pray together as we continue to look at this. 00:11:58.139 --> 00:11:59.519 Lord, thank you for this word. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:05.139 Lord, thank you for the way that you display yourself. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.519 And reveal yourself to us in your word. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:12.500 Lord, I pray this morning that as we consider the questions before us, 00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:14.659 Lord, that we would see you more clearly. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.579 That we would love you. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.240 That we would worship you. 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.740 That we would trust you. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.079 Because of the kind of God that you are. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.259 A God who saves. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:27.120 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:28.240 Amen. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.439 Amen. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:29.620 Amen. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:29.700 Amen. 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:38.899 So as we look at this familiar story about God's power and God's deliverance of his people, 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:47.919 what I want to do is explore his work for his people when they were trapped in an impossible situation. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.060 I want to look at three aspects of God's work. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:55.560 I want to look at God's plan, God's presence, and God's power. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:13:03.619 So we're going to look at those in turn as some of the dynamics of what we see from God and in God in this passage. 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:06.059 So first, let's look at God's plan. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.479 The good news is that God has one. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:11.019 God has a plan for his people. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.379 And it's very clear. 00:13:12.479 --> 00:13:14.839 You look back at the end of chapter 13. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.819 And God led them out. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.399 And he led them carefully. 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.159 And by that I mean full of care. 00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:24.119 The easiest way, if you had a map, I'm going to try to do this for you. 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.919 Here's Egypt. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.000 Here's the promised land where they're going. 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:27.679 Okay? 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:36.039 And the easiest way for them to get from here to here is to go along the south, eastern, western, which one is it? 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:41.919 The edge of the sea, the Mediterranean Sea, along the coastline right up into, 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:51.659 it would be across the top of the Sinai Peninsula and through what is now Gaza into Palestine, into the promised land. 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.259 Right? 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:54.819 But the Philistines lived there along the coast. 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:59.639 And the Philistines were well known as a powerful nation with a strong army. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:04.620 And God said, I'm concerned that facing that. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:10.439 Just as a note, when it says that they went out armed, where does it say that? 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:15.019 They went out, verse 18, they went out equipped for battle. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:18.840 Well, that's probably not a great translation of that phrase. 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:22.279 It probably means they went out arrayed like an army. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:26.419 But they didn't have any, there's no reason to believe they actually had any weapons. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:31.340 So arrayed for battle might mean to you they had armor and swords and that sort of thing. 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.720 That's not the picture. 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:38.600 It just meant that they were set apart in companies so that when they traveled, they had an orderly march. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:40.620 March, I believe, is what that means. 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:43.340 So as they went out, they were facing this. 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.580 And God said, I love you. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.340 I'm not going to put you in that position. 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.779 I'm going to take you a different way. 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:48.960 So he leads them. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:51.300 Rather than going this way, he leads them this way. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:56.100 South, probably, out of Egypt, into the Sinai Peninsula. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:04.700 The geographic markers in this passage are notoriously obscure to the 21st century readers. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:07.200 So we don't actually know exactly where they went. 00:15:07.780 --> 00:15:11.680 Most of these places are not on ancient maps, let alone modern ones. 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:14.860 So it is not exactly clear. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:18.480 There's much ink spilled in the commentaries about what this path looked like. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.160 But we're going to go with this. 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:21.020 They went south. 00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:22.740 Seems like the best thing to do. 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:25.120 So God was leading them carefully. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:32.320 But not only did he lead them carefully, but then he led them in, in some ways, in a strange way. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.480 Because he led them down. 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.720 And then he said, oh, now I want you to turn back. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.060 Go back a little bit the way you came. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:42.700 And put yourself in a terribly indefensible position militarily. 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:49.940 Camp against an ocean or against some body of water where when the Egyptians come and get you, 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.120 which I'm telling you they're about to do, you'll be trapped. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.520 It's a very odd thing, isn't it? 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:03.399 And yet the text is very clear in verses 1 through 4 of chapter 14. 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:06.980 Do this exactly the way I tell you. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.319 Camp with your back to the sea. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:13.759 Because I am moving to do something. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:22.399 I have a plan which is to display my glory by defeating Pharaoh one last time. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:29.899 And he is basically baiting the Egyptians with the Israelites in this indefensible position. 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:40.139 God has a plan for his own glory that led his people into a very difficult situation. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.340 This is what we see in the text. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.720 God is leading them into it. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:48.819 And he's leading them with a purpose. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:53.800 But he's leading them into a situation where they will be trapped 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:58.400 between the most powerful army in the world at that time 00:16:58.400 --> 00:17:01.440 and a sea that they're unable to cross. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:09.340 Friends, I wonder if you have felt God leading you into impossible situations. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:14.180 Maybe at your school you're the only Christian that you know. 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:17.000 And you wonder, how could this be God? 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:20.840 How can I do this all by myself? 00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:26.580 Maybe you're a parent and God has given you a special needs child. 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:32.620 Maybe your boss has called you and said, 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:35.400 I'm sorry, we have to let you go. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:39.320 Right after you put the down payment on the house 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:40.860 and the baby's on the way. 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:46.079 Maybe you've chosen to be faithful to the Lord 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:51.199 by remaining pure in your relationships. 00:17:53.439 --> 00:17:55.339 But it's led you to a place where you think, 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.699 I'm never going to get married if I keep doing this. 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.779 There are all sorts of ways in which following the Lord 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:08.700 or the Lord's leading and sovereign control over our lives 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:11.420 puts us in these situations 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:15.240 that feel impossible and we feel trapped. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.139 And isn't God gracious 00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:22.180 to show us the heart of the Israelite people 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.440 so we don't feel alone? 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:26.460 Because look at them in verses 15 through 19. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:27.240 Right? 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.079 What are they... 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.539 I'm sorry. 00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:30.879 In verses 11 through 14. 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.020 In verses 11 through 14. 00:18:32.020 --> 00:18:33.880 Do you see what the Israelites say? 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.760 They say what we say in our hearts 00:18:35.760 --> 00:18:37.380 in those circumstances, don't they? 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:38.600 They say, 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.280 God, what are you doing? 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.980 Why did you lead us out here to die? 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.900 Why did you... 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:47.760 Why didn't you leave us where we were? 00:18:48.020 --> 00:18:49.160 Even though that was terrible, 00:18:49.280 --> 00:18:51.000 at least it wasn't as bad as this. 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:52.980 God, how could you do this? 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:57.240 We doubt, 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.700 God, are you really in control? 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.059 Is your plan really good? 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.480 We question, 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.680 why have you done this to this? 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.240 This seems evil, not good. 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.299 The fundamental question, 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:12.539 God, have you really led me 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:15.920 only that I would suffer and be destroyed? 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:21.120 When we feel trapped, 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:24.400 those are questions that rise up in our hearts, 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:24.840 aren't they? 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:29.860 And Moses speaks to them and to us 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:33.000 these words in verses 13 and 14. 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:36.000 Fear not, stand firm, 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:38.600 and see the salvation of the Lord, 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:40.240 which he will work for you today. 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:43.160 For the Egyptians whom you see today, 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.720 you shall never see again. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:47.019 The Lord will fight for you, 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.940 and you have only to be silent. 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:52.339 Which might mean stop complaining and griping, 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.660 but I actually don't think so. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.420 I think actually what that means is 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:58.120 you have only to be still. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:01.519 You don't have to do a single thing. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.920 Just stand firm 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.720 and watch God do his work. 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:14.700 As we face these impossible circumstances, 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.600 this word comes. 00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.299 Stand firm. 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.039 How can we do that? 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.039 Well, the wonderful thing is that 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.940 not only does God have a plan for us, 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:25.940 but God promises that his presence 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.100 will go with us. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:29.660 As you read this story, 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:32.660 God makes it so clear to his people, 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:35.160 I didn't just free you from Egypt 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:37.559 and then let you loose in the Sinai Peninsula 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:37.960 and said, 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.500 good luck, 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.220 hope that works well for you. 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:43.240 He didn't just sort of push him out of the house 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.779 and say, 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:44.220 okay, 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.960 you're on your own. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.420 No. 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.220 In fact, 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.460 it's the very opposite. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:53.039 God chose to give this incredible manifestation 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.339 of his presence with his people. 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.720 A pillar of cloud and a fire. 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.660 And we don't know what it looks like. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.140 You probably have images, 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.660 whether it's from Charlton Heston 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.920 or from Steven Spielberg 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.740 and the Prince of Egypt. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.240 You probably have some vision of it. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.120 But the fact is, 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:10.259 nobody knows what this really looked like. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:13.240 But it was very clear that it was big 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.259 and it was obvious 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.379 and it was clear 00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:19.059 that God was going before his people. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.579 And by doing that, 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:25.079 this manifestation was reminding them, 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.940 I am with you. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:31.039 I am with you, 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:34.180 the one who did all these things 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.940 to free you from Egypt. 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:38.640 I am with you. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.039 If you remember, 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.740 I am with you 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:44.340 and I will provide for you. 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:46.279 This pillar of cloud 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.900 not only gave them direction, 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:50.320 but it wasn't just like a little will-o-wisp 00:21:50.320 --> 00:21:50.759 saying, 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.100 oh, 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.779 go this way, 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.559 not that way. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.320 Right? 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:57.120 It was also a pillar of fire by night 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.720 so that they had light. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.960 If you've ever traveled in the desert, 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:03.360 you might want to travel during the night, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.220 not during the day some of the time. 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.400 Because it's really hot. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.079 So, 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.519 God gave them light 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:10.079 so that they could travel by night 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.039 if they wanted to. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:14.279 God gave them shade, 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.160 potentially, 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:16.079 during the day. 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.799 It's not clear 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.759 whether the pillar of cloud 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.380 gave them shade, 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.120 but it's possible. 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.920 Not only that, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.059 but that pillar of cloud 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.579 became a shield as well. 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.240 When the Egyptians came 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.720 thundering over the horizon 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:32.000 and the people were afraid, 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.420 it says, 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:36.019 God moved that pillar 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:38.440 to land between 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:41.420 the armies of Egypt 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:43.059 and the people of God. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:46.079 My kids are Star Wars fans. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.180 I'm a Star Wars fan. 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:49.220 Put up a ray shield, 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.079 an impenetrable shield. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:53.140 No bullets could get through. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.859 No chariots could get through. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.920 No people could get through. 00:22:56.920 --> 00:23:00.759 God protected his people 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:02.840 with an impenetrable shield 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:06.080 with his presence. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.180 And not only that, 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.700 but it also comes, 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.680 his presence comes with his promise. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.980 Did you notice back in chapter 13 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.340 the odd little verse 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.500 about Joseph's bones? 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:20.359 Now, if you don't know Joseph's story, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:22.180 go back to our sermon archives. 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:24.059 There's a great bunch of sermons 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:25.019 on those from about 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.900 a year and a half ago. 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:30.460 Joseph, who God led 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.299 in a very circuitous 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:34.039 and very difficult path 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:36.440 where he suffered deeply 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:38.599 and unjustly many times, 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.839 and yet God used him 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.539 in the end 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.920 to deliver his people 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.619 from famine 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:45.539 and to provide for his people 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.879 by bringing them to Egypt. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.480 Joseph was a reminder 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.819 of the kind of God 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:55.659 that the people of Israel knew. 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.259 And not only that, 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.599 but that this God 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.319 was a God 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.859 who would fulfill his promises. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:03.379 Because 400 years earlier, 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.619 Joseph had said, 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.940 you're going to be enslaved, 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.059 but the Lord will come 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.019 and he will deliver you. 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.859 And when that happens, 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.019 take my bones with me, 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.700 with you. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:13.119 That's exactly what he said. 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:15.039 Which is sort of crazy. 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:17.019 But now these people 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.980 are experiencing it 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.720 and they can say, 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:21.359 oh, God is with us. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.960 The God of Abraham, 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:24.519 Isaac and Jacob and Joseph 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.680 is the same God 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.579 who is with us now, 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.139 fulfilling his promises 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.619 to make us his people 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.859 and to take us 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:32.180 into his promised land. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.440 So God's presence 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.159 is a sweet and powerful 00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:40.399 help 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.940 as they face 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.680 these impossible circumstances. 00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.420 I don't know 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.480 if any of you are hikers. 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.780 I like to hike. 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.440 I don't get to hike 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.500 as much as I like to. 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.600 I was never 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.920 a very adventuresome hiker. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.759 I stayed on the clear paths 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.720 with the clear blazes 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.440 and the maps 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.400 and, you know, 00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:59.600 but I have friends 00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.759 who like to be 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.539 more adventuresome 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:03.640 and they'll try 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.400 to find the trail 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.580 that used to be there 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.759 but isn't very well marked. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.360 And one of the things 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:10.420 that I learned from them 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.560 is that when you're hiking, 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.960 a map is good, 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:15.380 but a guide is far better. 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.180 Right? 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.039 Because when you're out 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.580 in the trail 00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.740 and you've lost the blaze 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.380 and you're not sure 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.120 where you are, 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:23.019 a guide who has been 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.759 through those woods 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.659 many times 00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:26.000 will know how 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.459 to address it. 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:28.859 Will know 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:30.279 where the path 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.939 should go 00:25:30.939 --> 00:25:31.719 and how to get you 00:25:31.719 --> 00:25:32.459 back on it. 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.779 A guide 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.719 will know 00:25:34.719 --> 00:25:35.479 what to do 00:25:35.479 --> 00:25:35.899 when, 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.239 like I had one 00:25:37.239 --> 00:25:37.939 hiking adventure 00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.839 where we ran into 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.439 a beehive 00:25:39.439 --> 00:25:40.219 on the trail 00:25:40.219 --> 00:25:40.739 and we, 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.699 the group of us 00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.619 literally scattered 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.359 into the woods 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.159 and then 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.659 our guides 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:46.639 brought us back together 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:46.979 and said, 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.299 okay, 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:48.619 this is what we're going to do, 00:25:48.719 --> 00:25:49.799 this is how we're going to do it 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.979 and he led us through 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.339 because he knew 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.519 better than we 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.960 how to do this. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:57.700 Maybe in another example, 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.599 maybe some of you 00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:00.000 have experienced this 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.740 as you followed your GPS 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.660 through New Haven 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.839 and you realize, 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.900 wait a minute, 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.079 I would rather have someone 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.279 who knows this neighborhood 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.620 tell me how to get 00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.819 from point A to point B 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.059 because the way that 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:13.940 Google Maps gets me there 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.299 or Waze gets me there, 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.980 it might be the most direct 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.579 but this is not the best way 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.279 for me to go. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.819 It may feel unsafe, 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.319 the potholes may be terrible, 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.519 there are all sorts of things 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.639 that Google doesn't know 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:26.740 but someone who lives 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.299 in a neighborhood 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.639 will say, 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.059 oh yeah, 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.019 the best way to go there 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.639 is you go here 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.200 and here and here. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.339 God has said, 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.720 I will be your guide, 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:37.359 I will go with you 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.019 and with my presence, 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:41.439 I will provide both direction 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.819 and leadership. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:45.579 it's like in the Lord of the Rings 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.980 when Aragorn shows up 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.419 at the Prancing Pony in Bree, 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:51.439 meets with Frodo and his friends 00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:53.980 in a time of dire threat 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.919 and says, 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.039 I will go with you 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.980 and I will lead you 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.700 through the wilderness 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:59.859 in the face of great enemies, 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.980 I will take you. 00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:03.619 God, 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.899 even more than that, 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.639 says, 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:08.519 I will go with you. 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.960 And friends, 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.879 isn't this a comfort 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.079 because when we face 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.619 those impossible situations, 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.420 when we feel trapped, 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:17.859 the first thing that we feel 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.339 is, 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.099 I'm alone in this. 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:24.900 I'm alone in whatever the thing is. 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.680 No one can help me, 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.639 nobody knows. 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:30.740 And God comes and says, 00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.920 it's just not true. 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:34.740 I am with you. 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:37.660 He does not abandon us, 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:40.000 but he walks through it with us 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.500 and he makes a way for us. 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:46.040 So we've seen God's plan 00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:48.900 to lead us for his glory. 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:52.000 We've seen God's presence 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.660 to remind us 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:55.240 that he will carry us through. 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.740 But then finally, 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.000 we see God's power. 00:27:58.620 --> 00:28:00.599 God's power to make a way. 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.519 And this is obviously 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.640 at the center of this passage 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.819 that God's power 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:08.079 to save and deliver his people 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.839 is what this passage is all about. 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.460 It's what you see in verses 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:14.480 13 and 14 of chapter 14 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.220 where it says, 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:18.000 stand and watch the Lord's salvation. 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.240 And you see it at the end 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.000 of the chapter again. 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.740 So the Lord delivered 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:25.019 and saved Israel from Egypt. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.700 How did he do this? 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:29.740 He did it by a great display 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.539 of his power. 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.680 Now, you might wonder 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.539 why the Red Sea? 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.700 Why water? 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.799 We don't get it. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.160 Maybe if you're from New Orleans 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.960 or from Houston, 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:42.480 you might get it a little more 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.779 than we do. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:46.180 But in the ancient world, 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:49.980 water was a very fearsome thing. 00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.980 Partly because most people 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.759 didn't know how to swim. 00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:55.259 And so water was the place of death. 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.319 But even more so, 00:28:57.480 --> 00:29:00.039 water had a mythological power 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.779 in the worldview 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.539 of the ancient Near East. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:06.019 I remember my freshman year in college, 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.660 I read the Epic of Gilgamesh 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:10.279 and the place of the sea 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:12.519 as a power of chaos 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.799 and of destruction 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:17.519 and of uncontrolled anger. 00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:19.579 Maybe not anger. 00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.879 Uncontrolled power. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.399 And one of the amazing things 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.859 is when the scriptures come along, 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:26.139 when God begins to, 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.680 when God tells the story 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.039 of how he created the earth, 00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:30.500 what's the first thing he did? 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.139 He took water 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:35.200 and he put boundaries on it, right? 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.299 It's not the first thing. 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.299 But it's one of the major things 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:38.799 that he did 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.940 in the creation story 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.880 is to put water into its place. 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.380 He controlled the seas 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.660 and he put boundaries on it. 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.100 This far and no farther. 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.880 And he brought dry land out of it. 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.920 To an ancient Near East person, 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.880 that story is telling us 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:55.840 God is a greater power 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:57.759 than the thing you most fear. 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:02.820 And God wanted to show that again. 00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:04.080 Just like we saw 00:30:04.080 --> 00:30:07.180 with all of the plagues 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.680 and how they were a decreation 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.580 of some sorts, 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:12.560 a reversal of the creation order 00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:14.259 where Egypt was feeling 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:16.000 the impact of that. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.920 Here God is going to do that 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.960 one more time 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.560 by using water. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:25.180 Now, what water was it? 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:26.640 All right, so 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.580 if you wanted to spend 00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:29.640 a lot of time, 00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.799 you could read about 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:32.360 which body of water 00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.519 do we think was really 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.900 in view here. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:37.000 There are translation questions. 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.140 Is it the Red Sea 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:39.640 or is it the Sea of Reeds? 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.840 There are questions 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:42.180 about how this happened. 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.840 There are questions 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.700 about where this, 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.320 again, the geographic markers 00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:45.779 aren't clear. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:47.140 So there's lots of ink 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:49.120 spilled over these questions. 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.500 And I'm not going to 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.299 solve all of them. 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:52.980 Let me give you 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.700 a couple of things. 00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:54.900 First of all, 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:59.600 whatever the body of water is, 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.640 we need to see 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:03.080 that God used 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.960 both natural 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.380 and supernatural means. 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.520 This is what the text 00:31:06.520 --> 00:31:07.240 actually says. 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.420 Look with me in verse 21. 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:09.800 Right? 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.460 As his people 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.300 with their backs 00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:14.640 to the sea 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.460 and no way 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.320 to get through it, 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.440 God says, 00:31:17.560 --> 00:31:18.020 I'm going to make 00:31:18.020 --> 00:31:18.820 a way through it. 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.520 Right? 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:21.260 It says in verse 21 00:31:21.260 --> 00:31:21.960 that he used 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:23.120 a strong east wind 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.960 that blew all night 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.460 and made the sea dry land 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.580 and the waters were divided. 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.040 So there you see God 00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:30.300 using a natural force 00:31:30.300 --> 00:31:31.640 in his control 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:33.000 to do what he said 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.740 he was going to do. 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.380 But then you keep going 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.680 and send verse 22 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.079 and the people of Israel 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.140 went in the midst 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:39.620 of the sea 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.420 on dry ground 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.700 which in itself, 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.559 have you ever tried 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:46.940 to dry a piece of ground 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.240 after it's been underwater 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.359 like a riverbed 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.940 or a marsh? 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:50.359 You know, 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.900 you can pull out 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:52.200 the biggest fan you want. 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.640 It's not going to get hard 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.559 that quickly. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.440 Typically. 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:55.960 Right? 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:58.759 So God did something 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.920 withdrawing it 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:01.180 that I think is 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.460 beyond what would be 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.519 normally expected 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.519 even if the wind 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.579 blew the water away. 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:07.100 But even more than that, 00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:09.299 the waters being a wall 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.700 to them on their right hand 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.759 and on their left. 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.400 Friends, 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.740 this describes something 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.819 that is supernatural, 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.539 not merely natural. 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:21.240 And if we, 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.700 the week after Easter, 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.339 having celebrated 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:24.980 the belief 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.899 that Jesus Christ 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.879 rose from the dead, 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.119 if we believe 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:29.019 that God can raise 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.000 someone from the dead 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.019 violating the laws 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.579 of nature, 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.460 superseding the laws 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:34.899 of nature 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.700 for his purpose 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.279 and his glory, 00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:37.119 we think that God 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.899 can do it here 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:39.480 by separating the water 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.779 in a supernatural way. 00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:43.039 He may have used 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.819 natural means. 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:45.200 He clearly was also 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.740 using supernatural power. 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:46.779 power. 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.160 Both of these things 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.539 are true 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.319 and we don't need 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:50.339 to fight about it anymore. 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.620 We can just move on 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:53.579 and say God did this 00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:55.000 because both the natural 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.120 and the supernatural 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.500 were in his hand 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.359 and in his control 00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.339 and for his purpose 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:01.019 to show his power 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.799 in delivering people. 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:06.059 And in his deliverance, 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.440 it had two aspects 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.720 because he not only 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:11.259 parted the sea, 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:12.279 but then that sea 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.519 was both a place 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.220 of deliverance 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.980 for his people 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.680 and judgment 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.860 on his enemies. 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.720 Do you see, 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.039 did you hear 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.840 how the Lord 00:33:20.840 --> 00:33:23.200 baited the Egyptians 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.860 to come in? 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:25.039 He held them back 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:26.640 with the pillar of cloud 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.220 for a while 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.100 and so they're 00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:29.100 chomping at the bit 00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:30.380 and maybe they can 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:30.980 see through 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.840 and watch the Israelites 00:33:32.840 --> 00:33:33.940 begin to go through 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.620 and they're chomping 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:35.140 at the bit, 00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:36.500 right? 00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:37.480 And then he finally 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.320 releases it 00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:39.080 and it says that 00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:39.740 he hardened 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.600 the Egyptians' hearts 00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.799 so they went after them 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:43.000 into the sea. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:46.420 And then 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:50.319 their chariot wheels, 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:51.059 which had been 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.680 going along 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.539 on the dry ground 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.259 that the Egyptians 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.480 had been walking on, 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.420 it says that 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:58.039 he then confused them 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.140 and then after he, 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.740 as he confused them, 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.700 their chariot wheels 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.599 got stuck 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:05.220 and they realized 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:07.059 that God was against them 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.000 and that God was 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.840 bringing destruction 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.440 on them. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.700 And interestingly, 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.400 when it talks about 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.559 the waters returning 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.940 to their places, 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:15.619 did you notice 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.099 that it said 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.599 the Egyptians 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.740 fled into it? 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.880 And did that seem 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.920 odd to you? 00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:20.900 I think, 00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:21.960 I may be wrong, 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.240 but I think the picture here 00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:24.360 is that the Egyptians 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.059 are in the middle 00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.559 of the sea. 00:34:25.720 --> 00:34:27.380 They've been thrown 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.079 into chaos 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.800 by the Lord. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.960 They've gotten stuck. 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.920 They're starting to think 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.619 about fleeing 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:33.139 and suddenly the water 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.920 is coming back, 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.119 not just from the side 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.039 but from the shore 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.599 as well. 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:39.360 And so as they're 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.039 fleeing into it, 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.639 they're actually trying 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:42.279 to flee out of the water 00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.239 but they can't flee 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:43.940 out of the water 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.719 because the water 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.639 is coming at them 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:47.619 from all sides. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.299 And God buried them 00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:51.759 in a deluge 00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:52.619 of his wrath 00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.900 and of water. 00:34:55.279 --> 00:34:56.099 And the nation 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:57.420 that stood itself 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:58.920 proudly up 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:00.400 in defiance of God, 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:01.440 the Pharaoh 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.119 who had said, 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:04.519 I am God himself 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:06.840 and I am the ultimate power. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.900 The nation 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.960 that had drowned 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.780 the firstborn of Israel 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.000 in the Nile River. 00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:16.360 Their power, 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.619 their greatest symbol 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.119 of might 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:20.079 was their chariots 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.719 and their army 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:22.340 and God buried them 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.820 in the bottom 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.500 of the ocean 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:25.159 or of the sea. 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.679 So God delivered 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.300 his people 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:30.340 by judging 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.400 their enemies. 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:33.300 but he also 00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.260 delivered his people 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:35.500 by providing a way 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.500 through for his own. 00:35:37.160 --> 00:35:37.700 They walked 00:35:37.700 --> 00:35:38.579 on dry land. 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.639 They had the cloud 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.720 going before them 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:43.400 and they stood 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.039 and saw 00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.780 the salvation 00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:46.119 of God. 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.200 For what happened 00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:48.320 here was final. 00:35:48.700 --> 00:35:49.519 There is no more 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.660 Egypt after this 00:35:50.660 --> 00:35:51.420 in the story 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:51.980 of Israel 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:53.240 for hundreds of years. 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.960 They are now 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.139 across a body 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.579 of water 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.280 that the Egyptians 00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:58.599 cannot cross 00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:00.519 and their power 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.259 has been broken. 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.559 Israel is now 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.279 truly and finally 00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:05.119 free. 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.900 Free to go 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.940 and free to follow 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.380 the Lord 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.860 and free to go back 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:11.099 to the promised land. 00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.799 The victory 00:36:12.799 --> 00:36:13.679 was decisive 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.599 and the salvation 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.360 was clear 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:15.839 and now 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:17.000 as they looked ahead 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:19.880 there was only goodness 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.619 that they would anticipate. 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:24.579 They had been delivered 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.360 from the hand 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.000 of the Egyptians. 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:26.619 Look with me 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.000 at the end 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.940 of chapter 14 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.599 real quickly. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.800 Thus the Lord 00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:31.079 saved Israel 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:31.679 that day 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.320 from the hand 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:33.019 of the Egyptians 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.880 and Israel saw 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.440 the Egyptians 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.639 dead on the seashore. 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:37.920 In verse 31 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.619 I'm going to read it 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.300 a little differently 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:40.320 so watch with me. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.760 Israel saw 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.200 the great hand 00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:44.019 that the Lord 00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.820 used against 00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.440 the Egyptians. 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.079 It's actually 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.659 the same 00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:47.820 it's the same root 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:48.820 it's the same idea. 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.980 God's hand 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.860 that brought judgment 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.760 on Egypt 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:53.980 was the same hand 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.780 that now 00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:55.519 was plucking 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.519 Israel out 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.599 and delivering them 00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:58.420 and leading them. 00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.980 Now 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:02.000 they're in the hands 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.619 of God 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:04.579 not the Egyptians 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.179 anymore. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.119 What a great salvation 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:08.059 this is. 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:09.360 God has shown 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.279 great power 00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:11.119 over the forces 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.719 of chaos 00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:12.239 and nature 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.380 over the greatest 00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:13.920 army 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.380 in the ancient world 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.279 at the time 00:37:16.279 --> 00:37:18.319 he has delivered 00:37:18.319 --> 00:37:18.960 his people. 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.039 Friends 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.719 what good news 00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:22.380 this is. 00:37:23.339 --> 00:37:24.259 What good news 00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:24.579 it is 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.179 is that God 00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:25.819 is a God 00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:27.360 who by his plan 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.659 and with his presence 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.920 and by his power 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.380 deliver his people 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.900 and so now 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:33.819 here we are 00:37:33.819 --> 00:37:34.880 and God's going 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:35.400 to give you 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:35.860 an A 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:37.119 on that exam 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:37.619 that you don't 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.039 have time 00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.799 to study for 00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:39.659 and God's going 00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.279 to give you 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:41.259 that job back 00:37:41.259 --> 00:37:41.819 that you just 00:37:41.819 --> 00:37:42.880 got fired from 00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.880 and God's going 00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.920 to heal your cancer 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.480 and he's going 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.420 to make your marriage 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:46.799 new. 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.380 Wait a minute. 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:52.920 No that's not 00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.400 actually 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:54.539 what it says. 00:37:58.740 --> 00:37:59.240 Friends 00:37:59.240 --> 00:37:59.840 he may do 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:00.460 those things 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.800 he can do 00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.500 those things 00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:04.200 we see in the gospel 00:38:04.200 --> 00:38:06.380 that for his purposes 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.519 and for his glory 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.119 God will 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:10.800 sovereignly 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:11.380 intervene 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:12.340 in our lives 00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.460 to show his power 00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.840 and show his ability 00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:15.400 to save 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:15.980 and deliver. 00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:17.400 You see it 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.200 through the gospels 00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:19.579 as Jesus does this 00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:19.960 to say 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.739 this is what 00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.579 the kingdom of God 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.219 looks like. 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.159 This is what 00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.799 the reversal 00:38:23.799 --> 00:38:24.480 of the curse 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.019 looks like 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:25.539 in the world. 00:38:25.939 --> 00:38:26.539 This is how 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.779 I can deliver you. 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:30.460 But friends 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.480 we must see 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:33.899 that though we can 00:38:33.899 --> 00:38:34.980 ask for these things 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.239 and God may graciously 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:37.239 give them to us 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:39.339 this is not 00:38:39.339 --> 00:38:41.039 the main point 00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:42.179 and application 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:43.279 of this passage 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:45.259 for that is not 00:38:45.259 --> 00:38:45.739 what God 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:47.139 has promised us 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:48.579 most clearly. 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.339 In fact 00:38:50.339 --> 00:38:50.819 what God 00:38:50.819 --> 00:38:51.599 has promised us 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:51.960 instead 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.859 and what the story 00:38:52.859 --> 00:38:53.460 of the exodus 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:54.920 looks forward to 00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:56.819 is a greater 00:38:56.819 --> 00:38:57.599 deliverance 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.559 from a greater 00:38:58.559 --> 00:38:58.980 enemy 00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.460 with a greater 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.579 display of power. 00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:03.719 For the Bible 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.259 tells us 00:39:04.259 --> 00:39:05.079 that the greatest 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.599 enemy 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.599 that we have 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:08.319 is our sin 00:39:08.319 --> 00:39:09.679 and death 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.539 that is the result 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:10.940 of it. 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.639 1 Corinthians 15 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.139 26 00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:13.839 says that 00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:14.839 the last enemy 00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:15.579 of humanity 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.280 is death 00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:18.200 and that death 00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:18.780 is a result 00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:19.460 of sin 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.940 and that sin 00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:21.720 is the greatest 00:39:21.720 --> 00:39:22.160 enemy 00:39:22.160 --> 00:39:22.920 because it is 00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:23.519 the thing 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.240 that separates 00:39:24.240 --> 00:39:25.480 us from God. 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.840 It is the thing 00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:27.680 that keeps us 00:39:27.680 --> 00:39:28.280 from being 00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:29.240 God's people 00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:30.960 and yet 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:32.039 God has not 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:32.700 left us 00:39:32.700 --> 00:39:33.280 in the face 00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:34.300 of that enemy 00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:36.000 without hope 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.780 but in fact 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.720 he has intervened 00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:39.480 in the world. 00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:40.340 He has sent 00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.100 his son Jesus 00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:41.700 to come 00:39:41.700 --> 00:39:42.240 and to be 00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:42.939 the ultimate 00:39:42.939 --> 00:39:43.779 deliverer 00:39:43.779 --> 00:39:44.779 the greater 00:39:44.779 --> 00:39:45.379 savior 00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:47.719 and Jesus 00:39:47.719 --> 00:39:48.159 has come 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.559 and you can 00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:49.119 read through 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:49.459 the book 00:39:49.459 --> 00:39:50.419 of John 00:39:50.419 --> 00:39:51.059 and see 00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.919 how much 00:39:51.919 --> 00:39:52.559 John is 00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.219 telling us 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:54.099 that Jesus 00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:54.899 is the second 00:39:54.899 --> 00:39:55.319 exodus 00:39:55.319 --> 00:39:56.119 and the greater 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:56.599 exodus 00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.439 for his people 00:39:57.439 --> 00:39:59.619 and Jesus 00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:00.319 has come 00:40:00.319 --> 00:40:01.239 and by his 00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:02.079 perfect life 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:02.759 and by his 00:40:02.759 --> 00:40:03.639 death for us 00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:04.279 and by his 00:40:04.279 --> 00:40:05.019 resurrection 00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:07.299 he has defeated 00:40:07.299 --> 00:40:07.939 the power 00:40:07.939 --> 00:40:08.379 of sin 00:40:08.379 --> 00:40:08.959 and death. 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.879 He has died 00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:11.500 a death 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:12.059 that he did 00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.720 not deserve 00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:13.539 so that we 00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.780 who by faith 00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.240 are joined 00:40:15.240 --> 00:40:15.660 with him 00:40:15.660 --> 00:40:16.360 will not 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:17.019 face. 00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:18.660 He bore 00:40:18.660 --> 00:40:19.320 a judgment 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.360 he went 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.160 through 00:40:21.160 --> 00:40:23.760 the valley 00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:24.300 of the shadow 00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:24.820 of death 00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:25.780 and the waters 00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:26.960 of judgment 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:27.780 that God 00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:28.360 poured out 00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:28.920 on him 00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.940 he went 00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:30.720 through those 00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:31.180 for us 00:40:31.180 --> 00:40:31.820 so that we 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.559 would walk 00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:33.760 on the dry 00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:34.460 land of the 00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:34.940 forgiveness 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.460 that he has 00:40:35.460 --> 00:40:36.320 achieved for us 00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:36.880 in Christ 00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:37.980 and he has 00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:38.680 brought us 00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:39.640 through that 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:41.059 that we 00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:41.440 may be 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.000 raised 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:42.480 to new 00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:42.859 life 00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.339 with him 00:40:43.339 --> 00:40:43.719 who is 00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:44.179 not a 00:40:44.179 --> 00:40:44.400 dead 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:44.739 savior 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.239 but a 00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:45.599 risen 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.519 savior 00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:46.980 who has 00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:47.379 passed 00:40:47.379 --> 00:40:47.900 through 00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.400 death 00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:50.420 into now 00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:50.940 eternal 00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.500 life. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:54.819 And friends 00:40:54.819 --> 00:40:55.339 we know 00:40:55.339 --> 00:40:55.739 from the 00:40:55.739 --> 00:40:56.059 passage 00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:56.400 that was 00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:56.940 read earlier 00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:57.500 this morning 00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.339 that this 00:40:58.339 --> 00:40:58.699 is not 00:40:58.699 --> 00:40:58.900 done. 00:40:59.019 --> 00:40:59.579 Just like 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:00.480 Israel 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.239 they are 00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:01.819 now free 00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:02.379 from Egypt 00:41:02.379 --> 00:41:02.759 but are 00:41:02.759 --> 00:41:03.219 not yet 00:41:03.219 --> 00:41:03.500 at the 00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:03.819 promised 00:41:03.819 --> 00:41:04.079 land. 00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:04.440 We are 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:04.839 not yet 00:41:04.839 --> 00:41:05.139 at the 00:41:05.139 --> 00:41:05.440 promised 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:05.759 land 00:41:05.759 --> 00:41:06.139 either 00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:07.219 but we 00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:07.460 know 00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:07.859 that the 00:41:07.859 --> 00:41:08.259 victory 00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:08.960 won at 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.500 the cross 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:09.780 and at 00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:09.920 the 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:10.179 empty 00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:10.559 tomb 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:11.059 will 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:11.599 one day 00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:11.980 fully 00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:12.260 be 00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:12.780 ours 00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:14.159 when God 00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:14.880 will remake 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.500 the world 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.119 and the heavens 00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:16.679 and the earth 00:41:16.679 --> 00:41:17.119 will come 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:17.539 together 00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:18.099 and God 00:41:18.099 --> 00:41:18.679 will dwell 00:41:18.679 --> 00:41:19.699 among his 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:20.179 people 00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:20.860 and there 00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:21.079 will be 00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:21.480 no more 00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:21.840 sickness 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:22.239 and no 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:22.780 more sorrow 00:41:22.780 --> 00:41:23.059 and no 00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:23.559 more sin 00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:23.840 and no 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.260 more death 00:41:24.260 --> 00:41:24.780 and no 00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:25.440 more sea 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:29.619 because God 00:41:29.619 --> 00:41:30.000 will be 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.380 there. 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:34.059 And that 00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.619 friends 00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:35.639 is the 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:35.980 greater 00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.739 deliverance 00:41:36.739 --> 00:41:37.739 that this 00:41:37.739 --> 00:41:38.139 passage 00:41:38.139 --> 00:41:38.559 points 00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:38.779 us 00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.059 to. 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.059 This 00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:40.500 is what 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:40.839 he has 00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:41.199 done 00:41:41.199 --> 00:41:42.699 for us. 00:41:43.779 --> 00:41:44.639 And friends 00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:45.459 that's not 00:41:45.459 --> 00:41:46.059 just hope 00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:46.419 for the 00:41:46.419 --> 00:41:46.719 future 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:47.179 but it's 00:41:47.179 --> 00:41:47.399 help 00:41:47.399 --> 00:41:47.799 now 00:41:47.799 --> 00:41:50.039 because God 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:50.579 does still 00:41:50.579 --> 00:41:50.899 have a 00:41:50.899 --> 00:41:51.299 plan 00:41:51.299 --> 00:41:52.199 to accomplish 00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:53.039 his glory 00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:54.139 in our 00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:54.639 lives 00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:55.659 and God 00:41:55.659 --> 00:41:56.419 still promises 00:41:56.419 --> 00:41:56.979 to be 00:41:56.979 --> 00:41:57.659 with us 00:41:57.659 --> 00:41:58.739 through every 00:41:58.739 --> 00:41:59.339 circumstance 00:41:59.339 --> 00:41:59.939 that we 00:41:59.939 --> 00:42:00.379 face 00:42:00.379 --> 00:42:01.119 as impossible 00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:01.579 as it 00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:02.019 feels 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:05.159 but we 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:05.519 can look 00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:06.159 back on 00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:06.719 the victory 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.380 of the 00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:07.860 resurrected 00:42:07.860 --> 00:42:08.500 Christ 00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:09.480 and look 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.259 ahead to 00:42:10.259 --> 00:42:10.800 the certain 00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:11.300 hope 00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:13.599 of the 00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:14.000 victory 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.900 the final 00:42:14.900 --> 00:42:15.559 consummation 00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:15.920 of that 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.360 victory 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:18.000 and friends 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.420 we can 00:42:18.420 --> 00:42:18.840 endure 00:42:18.840 --> 00:42:19.960 and we 00:42:19.960 --> 00:42:20.420 can look 00:42:20.420 --> 00:42:20.980 for God's 00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:21.340 glory 00:42:21.340 --> 00:42:22.119 and we 00:42:22.119 --> 00:42:22.619 can ask 00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:22.820 him 00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:23.159 God 00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:23.800 show me 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.860 how are 00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.219 you 00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:26.019 bringing 00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.639 glory to 00:42:26.639 --> 00:42:27.079 yourself 00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:27.739 in this 00:42:27.739 --> 00:42:29.280 and there 00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:29.619 are times 00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:29.960 you'll see 00:42:29.960 --> 00:42:30.239 it more 00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:30.639 clearly 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:31.219 and there 00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:31.539 are times 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.099 you won't 00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:33.500 but that's 00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:34.199 the question 00:42:34.199 --> 00:42:35.340 that ought 00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:35.639 to be 00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:35.980 asked 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.340 as you 00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:36.679 cling 00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:37.480 to this 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:38.000 great 00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.659 salvation 00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.920 a God 00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.739 who is 00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.099 able 00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:41.980 to deliver 00:42:41.980 --> 00:42:42.460 you 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:44.300 let's 00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:44.579 pray 00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:46.960 Lord we 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:47.480 thank you 00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:48.219 this morning 00:42:48.219 --> 00:42:50.119 we thank you 00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:50.619 for the 00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:51.039 exodus 00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:51.739 and for 00:42:51.739 --> 00:42:52.279 your great 00:42:52.279 --> 00:42:52.739 display 00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.139 of your 00:42:53.139 --> 00:42:53.460 power 00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:53.980 and glory 00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:55.239 Lord we 00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:55.719 thank you 00:42:55.719 --> 00:42:56.179 for the 00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:56.639 greater 00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:57.840 display 00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:58.159 of your 00:42:58.159 --> 00:42:58.440 power 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:58.880 and glory 00:42:58.880 --> 00:42:59.199 at the 00:42:59.199 --> 00:42:59.599 cross 00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:00.679 how you 00:43:00.679 --> 00:43:01.179 defeated 00:43:01.179 --> 00:43:01.739 sin and 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:02.059 death 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.639 and for 00:43:02.639 --> 00:43:03.199 all who 00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:03.719 by faith 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:04.339 are gathered 00:43:04.339 --> 00:43:05.940 with Christ 00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:06.460 and joined 00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:07.159 to Christ 00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:08.799 Lord that 00:43:08.799 --> 00:43:09.279 we have 00:43:09.279 --> 00:43:09.919 this hope 00:43:09.919 --> 00:43:11.500 this certain 00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:12.079 hope that 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:12.419 we are 00:43:12.419 --> 00:43:13.059 participants 00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:13.839 in your 00:43:13.839 --> 00:43:14.419 victory 00:43:14.419 --> 00:43:15.759 over sin 00:43:15.759 --> 00:43:16.259 and death 00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:16.859 and Lord 00:43:16.859 --> 00:43:17.199 that we 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:17.500 will be 00:43:17.500 --> 00:43:18.019 raised to 00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:18.619 new life 00:43:18.619 --> 00:43:21.299 Lord that 00:43:21.299 --> 00:43:21.659 we will be 00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:22.119 with you 00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.719 in eternity 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:23.500 in your 00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:23.839 ultimate 00:43:23.839 --> 00:43:24.279 victory 00:43:24.279 --> 00:43:24.899 over all 00:43:24.899 --> 00:43:25.399 things 00:43:25.399 --> 00:43:27.699 Lord I 00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:28.179 pray for 00:43:28.179 --> 00:43:28.759 those today 00:43:28.759 --> 00:43:29.460 who are in 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:29.980 impossible 00:43:29.980 --> 00:43:30.900 situations 00:43:30.900 --> 00:43:32.019 Lord that 00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:32.280 you will 00:43:32.280 --> 00:43:32.679 strengthen 00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:33.119 them and 00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:33.679 encourage 00:43:33.679 --> 00:43:34.220 them 00:43:34.220 --> 00:43:37.740 Lord we 00:43:37.740 --> 00:43:38.179 pray these 00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:38.599 things in 00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:39.220 Jesus name 00:43:39.220 --> 00:43:40.079 Amen 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:41.099 thank you 00:43:41.099 --> 00:43:42.480 . 00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.380 yarana