WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 We're starting a new sermon series this morning in the book of Exodus. 00:00:04.259 --> 00:00:06.080 Why don't you turn there with me in the Pew Bible. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.700 It's page 45, or if you brought your own Bible, the book of Exodus. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:12.640 Second book of the Old Testament. 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:18.179 So if you're not quite familiar with the Bible, just start flipping and you'll find it soon. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:22.420 We're going to jump around the book a little bit this morning. 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:26.940 So it'll be helpful to have it open before you. 00:00:27.700 --> 00:00:33.300 This morning what we want to do as we start the series is give an overview of the whole book of Exodus. 00:00:34.160 --> 00:00:46.060 If you've ever had the window seat in an airplane, you know that there are some things that you can see and notice and appreciate at 10,000 feet up in the air that you can't quite see or notice or appreciate when you're down on the ground. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:53.060 So hopefully this morning we'll get the big sense of this great book before we get down into the details in the coming weeks. 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:58.020 Before we do that, let me just say a couple thoughts about why we're studying this book. 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:04.700 Exodus is probably one of the most foundational books in the whole Bible, really. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:11.800 You might say that the rest of Scripture is sort of just stamped and impressed with the themes of this book. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:26.420 So this morning if you're exploring Christianity, then I think this book will help you see really who God is according to the Bible and what Scripture, what Christianity really is all about. 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:37.379 I think one of the most spiritually fruitful things you could do is stick around for a few weeks or a few months and get to know some people and see what this book and see who this God is all about for yourself. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:51.119 If you're already a Christian, then I think this book will hopefully give you not just a deeper sense of the Old Testament, as foundational as it is to the story of the Old Testament or the whole Bible, but really a richer knowledge of God. 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:59.099 I hope what we'll see in the coming weeks is that the book of Exodus helps us to know God better. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:05.640 And ultimately help us to do that because the book of Exodus ultimately helps us to know Jesus better. 00:02:07.339 --> 00:02:15.240 Jesus himself in many ways understood and spoke of himself as the fulfillment of what we are going to find here in the book of Exodus. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:29.140 In other words, when you get this book, when you really get it, when you see it, then the gospel, who Jesus is and what he's done, will probably start to light up for you and be brilliant and beautiful to you in ways that maybe you've never noticed before. 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:36.680 Now this morning we're going to take our 10,000 foot overview of the book of Exodus in three big steps. 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:41.780 Because the book of Exodus itself sort of falls into three main parts. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:45.500 We always like that as preachers when things have three main parts. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.159 Helps our sermons have a nice little arc to them. 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.800 But I think you'll see, I think you'll appreciate that that is definitely true of the book of Exodus. 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:55.360 There are three main moments, three main movements. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.840 Briefly, what we're going to see first is that God, who is God? 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.259 Exodus shows us that God is the God who saves. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:07.099 He rescues his people when they're helpless to do so themselves. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.460 And then second, what we're going to see is that God is the God who instructs. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:18.060 He reveals himself and his laws and his ways and he shows his people how to live flourishing lives and good lives. 00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:22.139 And then third, we'll see that God is the God who dwells with us. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:27.439 God chooses to be present with his people in communion with them, dwelling in their midst. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:30.759 That's the big arc of where we're going. 00:03:30.860 --> 00:03:34.259 One pastor put it this way and I thought it was so good, I have to share it with you. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:39.840 He said, Exodus is about the God who saves, the God who speaks, and the God who stays. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.539 So let's look first then at the God who saves. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.219 We see this in chapters 1 through 18 of Exodus. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:49.460 That's the first big chunk. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:54.819 And this part of Exodus is probably the most familiar terrain in the book. 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:58.039 The people of Israel oppressed in slavery under Pharaoh. 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:00.480 The calling of Moses at the burning bush. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:01.520 The ten plagues. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:02.560 The parting of the Red Sea. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.199 This is the stuff of Hollywood movies, chapters 1 through 18. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:08.459 Not always good Hollywood movies, but there you go. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:12.599 But why don't we pick up with the opening paragraph. 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:14.819 Exodus chapter 1 verses 1 through 7. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.959 And again, if you're kind of new to the Bible, the big numbers are the chapter numbers. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:20.459 The small numbers are the verse numbers. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:22.259 So Exodus 1, 1 through 7. 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:27.339 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:29.439 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:31.279 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin. 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:32.279 Dan and Naphtali. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:33.060 Gad and Asher. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:35.780 All the descendants of Jacob were 70 persons. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:37.680 Joseph was already in Egypt. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:39.220 Then Joseph died. 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:40.160 And all his brothers. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:41.040 And all that generation. 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:43.459 But the people of Israel were fruitful. 00:04:43.899 --> 00:04:44.860 And increased greatly. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.660 They multiplied and grew exceedingly strong. 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:49.779 So that the land was filled with them. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:57.279 Now, what we see here is that the story of Exodus picks up right where the book of Genesis left off. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:08.759 In Genesis, God had promised to repair and rescue his broken and fallen creation somehow, someway, through Abraham's family. 00:05:09.899 --> 00:05:17.279 Through this single family, God's blessing, his favor, his grace, intimacy and relationship with him, righteousness before him. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:22.239 All of that would come to all people through this single family. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:25.099 God promised Abraham that he would be a great nation. 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:27.679 That he would give them the land of Canaan. 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:30.799 And then somehow, someway, all peoples would be blessed in his offspring. 00:05:31.619 --> 00:05:33.559 And what do we see here as Exodus begins? 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.799 Well, we see that this first part of that promise to Abraham is coming true. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:37.840 No. 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:46.939 This nomadic family of 70 people has now multiplied and grown exceedingly strong, the book of Exodus says. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:53.340 Now, if you're familiar with the opening chapters of the Bible, you're probably catching an echo there, right? 00:05:53.960 --> 00:05:56.439 This is a definite echo of Genesis chapter 1. 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:59.500 In creation, God blessed the man and the woman and told them what? 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.080 Be fruitful and multiply. 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:09.519 And here in Exodus, like an act of new creation, in the midst of the old, God's people are fruitful and they're multiplying. 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:15.579 Some of the language there even says that they're swarming, which is creation, which is Genesis 1 language. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.719 As the life that God creates just starts to swarm and burst forth with life. 00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:27.159 And it seems that this creation mandate, the creation purpose of God is back on track with the people of Israel. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:31.000 But then, Pharaoh enters the scene. 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:35.259 And Pharaoh enslaves and oppresses the people. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:40.899 Which is not just an act of tyranny and cruelty, although it is certainly that. 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:47.099 But seen in the context of this story, what Pharaoh's doing is essentially opposing God. 00:06:47.459 --> 00:06:49.479 And opposing God's creative purposes. 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:54.180 It's an anti-God, an anti-creation move on Pharaoh's part. 00:06:55.479 --> 00:06:59.180 And so as chapter 1 unfolds, the situation is bad. 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:00.639 Very bad. 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:02.699 God's people seem trapped. 00:07:03.579 --> 00:07:07.479 And God's plan to rescue the world seems on the brink of failure. 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:08.539 Right? 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.879 The people are far from the land of promise. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:13.279 They face systematic extinction. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:18.379 Every male child, Pharaoh commands, throw him into the Nile. 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:23.100 Because then, the only ones who would be left would be women. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:24.519 And they would intermarry with the Egyptians. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:28.779 And the whole race would be obliterated in probably a generation or two or less. 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:38.659 But with that scene set, the story of Exodus shows us the God who saves. 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:42.640 And first, we see that God saves with compassion. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.120 Turn to Exodus chapter 2, verses 23 through 25. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:50.720 This will be a good paragraph to just sort of plant on as we cover this first main movement of the book. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:55.660 Exodus chapter 2, verses 23 through 25. 00:07:55.660 --> 00:08:02.920 Verse 23. 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:05.220 During those many days, the king of Egypt died. 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:10.420 And the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. 00:08:10.900 --> 00:08:14.420 Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.439 And God heard their groaning. 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:20.800 And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:22.819 God saw the people of Israel. 00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:24.600 And God knew. 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:31.920 God hears and God knows the suffering of his people. 00:08:32.180 --> 00:08:33.980 Their cry and their groan. 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:35.340 It's compassion. 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:39.940 And God remembers his covenant, his binding oath to Abraham. 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:49.220 And so it's as if Exodus is saying there is no chance that God is immune or aloof from the dire straits that his people are in. 00:08:49.640 --> 00:08:52.200 And there's no chance of his plan being thwarted. 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:54.220 God has bound himself to them. 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:56.560 His steadfast love has been placed on them. 00:08:56.800 --> 00:08:59.000 And he's overflowing with compassion for them. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.220 He sees and he knows. 00:09:02.760 --> 00:09:04.160 So God saves with compassion. 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:07.080 And then we see that God saves through judgment. 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.620 Starting in chapter 3, God calls Moses, sends him to Pharaoh. 00:09:12.060 --> 00:09:15.620 And when Pharaoh refuses to let the people go, what happens? 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:17.600 God's judgment is poured out. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:23.320 We'll see in a few weeks when we get to chapter 7 through 12, the 10 plagues. 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:29.580 And we'll see that these plagues are not just an act of judgment on Pharaoh. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:34.240 And they're not just an act of judgment on the Egyptian sort of deity structure. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:42.419 But they're a massive act of uncreation by the one true God. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:49.019 It's almost as if the creator God of Genesis is now exercising his judgment in an act of decreation. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:54.519 God is the creator after all. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:01.500 And when his creatures rebel against him, God is fully just to give them what they are asking for. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:06.840 The chaos and desolation and darkness of a world without a creator. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:08.860 Of creation undone. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:18.480 And one by one, the plagues intensify until in the tenth and final plague, death comes to all the firstborn sons in Egypt. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.840 Do you remember the creation story? 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.700 What was the pinnacle of the creation story? 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:23.720 The creation of humanity. 00:10:25.060 --> 00:10:29.279 And now, what's the deepest darkness of uncreation? 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:31.019 The death of humanity. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:42.419 And it's very interesting, this last plague, unlike all the rest, it actually comes near to the people of Israel as well. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:47.539 You see, up till now, in the plagues, God made a clear distinction between Israel and Egypt. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.939 When the hail fell on the Egyptians, it didn't fall on the Israelites. 00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:54.699 When the plagues came, Israel was safe. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.319 But now, in this last plague, it seems as if the plague is coming near. 00:10:57.320 --> 00:11:00.020 That they too are threatened by the destroyer. 00:11:01.680 --> 00:11:05.200 But God makes a way to save them through the judgment. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:07.280 He says, 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:13.020 In the place of your firstborn sons, take a lamb and sacrifice it. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:15.320 And mark your doorposts with the blood. 00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:21.220 And when God sees the blood, he will pass over and let them live. 00:11:22.900 --> 00:11:25.200 You see, the lamb functions as a substitute. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:31.400 In mercy, God lets his judgment fall on the lamb instead of on the son. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:34.520 And he saves his people through the judgment. 00:11:37.400 --> 00:11:39.320 Last thing we see is that God saves in power. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:44.980 If you flip ahead to chapter 12 and 13, the Israelites depart from Egypt at last. 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:47.759 They go out. 00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:51.240 And then in chapter 14, they find themselves hemmed in. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:55.120 As they flee Egypt, they find themselves hemmed in. 00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:58.340 By the Red Sea on one side. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:02.340 And Pharaoh's armies chasing them on the other side. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:04.320 And what do they do? 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.320 What is God going to do, they say? 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.299 They cry out in fear. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:10.500 They start blaming Moses. 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:12.759 What have you done? 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:25.740 But then, just as God separated the waters in creation, God now, in a redemptive act of new creation, separates the waters of the Red Sea. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.039 And the people escape on dry land. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.460 In power. 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:32.639 In power, God saves his people. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:35.559 And in power, God delivers them once and all. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.019 Once and for all from their enemies. 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.939 The Israelites escape through the sea. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:44.159 But as Pharaoh's armies go in, they drown as the waters fall back again. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:51.740 So this opening movement shows us a God who saves in compassion, in judgment, in power. 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:56.659 That is, God saves with perfect love, with perfect justice, and with perfect strength. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.639 So what about us today? 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:04.120 Friends, do you believe in the God who saves? 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:14.340 You know, as I've been thinking about it, I've been thinking of what good news these opening chapters of Genesis are. 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:22.379 On the one hand, we see that God saves us even when the wait seems long. 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:26.539 God saves us even when the wait seems long. 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:33.519 Exodus 2040 tells us that the people of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years. 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:36.339 430 years! 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:38.959 And most of that time was spent in slavery. 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:48.819 But even though the wait seemed long, unbearably long, at the right time, God rescued them. 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:59.840 I wonder if you have a friend or a family member and you've been praying for their conversion for a long time. 00:14:01.040 --> 00:14:06.060 And as the years go by, you start to doubt whether God really is a God who saves. 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:15.599 Or maybe you're stuck in some besetting sin and you keep failing and falling again and again and again. 00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:17.859 And you ask, is God really a God who saves? 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:32.740 But Exodus is telling us this morning that even when the wait seems long, God with perfect love, perfect justice, perfect power is a God who saves. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.580 I mean, think about this on a cultural level. 00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:40.580 You know, this weekend we're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, right? 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:49.000 On Monday, who stood up in the name of Christ and opposed injustice and racism in our country for the sake of the gospel. 00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:52.720 One of the great heroes of our faith in many ways. 00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:59.520 And yet still, we wrestle and we battle with these injustices and with slavery and with racism. 00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:04.400 And we think, oh, the wait is so long. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.920 God, are you going to save? 00:15:06.020 --> 00:15:06.980 Are you going to rescue us? 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:18.060 But, with perfect love, perfect justice, perfect power, God continues to be a God who saves even though we wait. 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:27.360 Friends, how much greater confidence can we have today than the Old Testament people had today in the fact that God saves? 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.340 Even though the wait seems long. 00:15:29.400 --> 00:15:29.860 Think about it. 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:39.700 As the story of the Bible continues, the 400 years of slavery and Exodus are then matched at the end of the Old Testament by 400 years of silence. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:47.700 After the last prophet Malachi spoke of a coming deliverer, 400 years, the people waited and waited and waited. 00:15:50.060 --> 00:16:02.780 But then at last, when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:09.419 You see, the wait seemed unbearably long, but at last Jesus came and redeemed us. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.139 Redeemed us. 00:16:10.199 --> 00:16:10.639 Redemption. 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.220 That's Exodus language. 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:18.759 So, friends, for us today, the greatest wait is actually over. 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.100 Our sins have been forgiven. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.860 God's Spirit has been poured out. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:40.399 God's Spirit has been poured out. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:43.019 Even when the wait seems long, God saves. 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:51.759 We also see from this first part of Exodus that God saves even when the way seems impossible. 00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.740 Even when the way seems impossible. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:03.299 After all, what chance, what chance did this oppressed group of refugees, the Israelites, have against the greatest empire of that day? 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.500 The Egyptians. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:07.819 What chance did they have when they stood facing the Red Sea? 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.039 The way seemed impossible. 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:14.819 Maybe you wonder the same. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:27.039 If God were to really take stock of your life, if he were to really judge you by your moral efforts, 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:32.839 and how well you've loved him as your creator with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, 00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:37.559 and how well you've loved your neighbor as yourself, how would you fare under that examination? 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.899 You know, if we took just the last few months of your life, 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.920 if we took just the last few months of your life or my life, 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:52.599 and we projected not just your deeds, but we projected your words and your thoughts sort of around the room 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.819 in the place of these stained glass windows, 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:58.339 sort of on a running loop so that everyone could see, 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:02.940 that would be an uncomfortable experience to say the least. 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:11.259 You might doubt whether anyone in the room would look at you favorably if they saw all that. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:17.160 And the people viewing the tape would be flawed and infallible human beings just like you and just like me. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:23.180 But now, friends, imagine standing before a holy God, your creator, 00:18:23.320 --> 00:18:25.740 the God of perfect love, justice, and power, 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.000 with your whole life on view before him. 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:36.759 And you think, how could he possibly view me with favor? 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.559 How could he possibly accept me, 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.400 given how far short I've fallen, 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.799 of loving him as he deserves, 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.940 and loving my neighbor as myself? 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:48.779 The way seems impossible. 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:52.339 And yet, 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:55.980 just when our way seems lost, 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:59.359 God himself makes a way through the sea. 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:02.599 And when our lives seem lost, 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.399 God himself provides a lamb, 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:05.460 a substitute. 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:11.059 Jesus comes and lives the life that we were supposed to live, 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:13.700 and he dies the death that we deserve to die, 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:16.079 so that if we believe in him, 00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:18.139 God's judgment might pass us over, 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:20.620 and we might walk safely through the sea, 00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:24.680 on the solid ground of Christ's own moral record, 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.400 and not our own. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.380 You see, friends, 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.500 God saves, 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:32.200 even when the way seems impossible. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.700 But the book of Exodus doesn't end there. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:41.620 God saves his people from slavery and death, 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.700 in chapters 1 through 18. 00:19:43.780 --> 00:19:45.360 But what does God save them for? 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.840 In chapters 19 through 24, 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.920 we see that God is not just the God who saves, 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.960 but the God who instructs. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.060 God speaks to his people at Mount Sinai. 00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:58.880 He makes a covenant with them. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.100 He gives them his law, 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.720 his Torah, 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.660 his instruction, 00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:04.759 the core of which are the Ten Commandments in chapter 20. 00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:05.940 And in so doing, 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.060 God makes them a nation. 00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:09.420 He makes them a people with a purpose. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:12.400 Look at Exodus chapter 19, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.759 starting in verse 4. 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.880 This will be the sort of paragraph 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.120 that we kind of camp on 00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:18.279 in this second big section of Exodus. 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.860 Exodus 19, 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.880 verse 4. 00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.539 This is God 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.539 speaking to the people through Moses. 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.420 God says, 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:56.560 God calls them a kingdom of priests, 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:59.539 a royal priesthood, 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.579 the whole people. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.619 They're meant to display 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:06.019 God's glory to all the earth. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.000 Having been saved by God's love 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.079 and justice and power, 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:12.079 now in response to that saving grace, 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:14.259 they're to embody a whole new way 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.019 of being human. 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:17.680 And the way in which they're to order 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:20.000 their life together to do that 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.700 is according to God's own instruction. 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:27.660 So friends, 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:27.960 this morning, 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.920 do you believe in the God 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.720 who instructs? 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.660 Do you believe in the God 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.480 who speaks? 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.440 At 10,000 feet, 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.880 let me just highlight two things 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.299 in this middle section of Exodus. 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.759 And the first thing we see 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.680 is that God instructs us 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.240 for our good. 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.660 God instructs us 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.299 for our good. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.380 He instructs us for our good 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.700 because the heart of the moral law 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.940 shows us how life works best. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.460 If God really is our loving creator 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.920 after all, 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.380 then certainly God must know 00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:56.220 how this human machine 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.259 is meant to run. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.960 Just like the software engineer 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.360 knows best how the program 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.880 she has spent years designing 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.980 is meant to run. 00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:07.980 Now, to be sure, 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.680 some of the rules 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.580 and some of the regulations 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:11.200 here in Exodus 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.299 are intended for Old Testament Israel 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.559 specifically as a nation. 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.700 In chapters 21 through 23, 00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:18.019 in particular, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.940 we have a big block 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.480 of what's sometimes called 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.539 case law. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.839 And these are particular laws 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.779 that are meant to help 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.839 Old Testament Israel 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.220 regulate its national life together. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.359 And today, 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:33.039 as we kind of go back 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.879 in the story 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:35.319 and read those chapters, 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.559 we have to read them 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.599 in light of the whole 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.639 storyline of the Bible. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.059 Now that Christ has come 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.720 and established 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.259 his new covenant church, 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:46.000 these sorts of particular laws 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.599 are no longer directly applicable 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.259 to us 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:50.359 because the fullness 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.719 of God's salvation has come 00:22:51.719 --> 00:22:52.740 and the church is no longer 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.500 a nation state. 00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:55.059 It's a multicultural, 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.099 transnational, 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.059 spiritual family 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.939 united in Jesus. 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.539 Now, however, 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.399 what we're going to see, though, 00:23:01.439 --> 00:23:02.500 is that as we come 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.679 to those chapters in detail, 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.939 that even those case laws 00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:05.939 point us down 00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:07.299 into principles 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.039 of God's loving 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.219 and just character. 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:12.380 and then they can point 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.220 to us 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.440 out some directions 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.500 for how God created us 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.180 to live today. 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.100 But more of that to come. 00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.960 What we really want to see 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.539 this morning 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:22.579 is that God instructs us 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.240 for our good. 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.980 And if that's true, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.819 then we need not be afraid 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.920 that if we heed 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.900 God's voice, 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.539 if we heed the way 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.839 in which he's spoken to us 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.559 through his word 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:37.419 and follow his instructions, 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.599 we need not worry 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.139 that somehow 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.359 we'll be missing out. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.099 Sin, friends, 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:45.220 is very deceptive. 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:48.679 It always promises us 00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:50.159 life and joy 00:23:50.159 --> 00:23:51.059 and happiness 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.000 and security. 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.299 But sin is like 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.399 a computer virus. 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:57.000 On the surface, 00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:57.899 it sort of pretends 00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:59.839 to be this fun little app 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:02.119 optimizing your user experience 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.460 while all the while 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.379 it's sort of destroying 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.500 your operating system 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.559 from the inside out. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.859 Now, of course, 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.799 some of God's instructions 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.539 might seem a little 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.839 counterintuitive at first. 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:16.880 And they will certainly 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.920 seem countercultural. 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.200 After all, 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.259 if God is the God 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.299 of all creation, 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.279 of all the universe, 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.319 the transcendent God 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.160 of everyone 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.200 and everything, 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.579 then every culture 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.720 is going to find something 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.619 in God's instructions 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.299 that seem a little 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.039 countercultural 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.940 and a little more 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.420 uncomfortable. 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.039 But they will seem 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.059 counterintuitive at first. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.200 After all, 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.859 God is God 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.480 and we are fallen 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.039 human beings. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.599 And yet, 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.140 whether it's the command 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.000 to worship only one God 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.839 exclusively, 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.559 or whether it's the command 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.940 to have sex 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.160 with only one person 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.859 exclusively 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.839 in the lifelong covenant 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.559 of marriage, 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:56.140 or whether it's the command 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.339 to be radically just 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.119 and generous 00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.859 to your neighbors, 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.579 especially the sojourner 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.119 or the widow 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:03.000 or the fatherless 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.599 or the immigrant, 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:07.000 all of God's instructions 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.900 are for our good. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.640 And because they're 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:13.740 saving God's word for us, 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.859 we need not be afraid 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.980 that in following them 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.839 we'll be missing out. 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.460 In fact, 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.440 just the opposite. 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.619 This is how we live 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.779 into our calling 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:24.339 of being a royal priesthood, 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:27.279 of presenting to the world 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.880 the whole new way 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.799 of being human, 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:32.899 to reflect God's glory 00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:33.940 and God's character 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:35.460 the way he created us to. 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.159 But God's law 00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:40.619 is for our good 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.539 in a second sense. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.859 The law is for our good 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.879 because it continues 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.599 to reveal to us 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:48.259 how much we need a savior. 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.000 Now, it is very clear 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.980 in the structure of Exodus 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:54.159 that the giving of the law 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:56.059 comes after the salvation 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.960 from Egypt. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:59.339 God doesn't give Israel the law, 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:00.579 so that they might earn 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.720 or merit his favor 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.480 by keeping it. 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.559 That was never the intent 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.019 of the law. 00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:05.859 God rescues his people 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:07.039 and accepts them 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.419 by grace always. 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.839 But as much as the law 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.859 functions to show us 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.899 how to live in light 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.859 of God's grace, 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.899 it also demonstrates 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:16.959 how much we need 00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.879 God's grace. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.139 After all, 00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:22.399 no one keeps the law perfectly. 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.019 In fact, 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.720 when Jesus came 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.399 and he taught the law, 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.359 he didn't minimize it. 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.119 He actually pointed 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.339 to its deepest implications. 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.939 You shall not murder, 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.579 Jesus said, 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.319 one of those famous 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.019 Ten Commandments. 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.599 He said, 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.000 that's really about your heart. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.740 Do you hold anger, 00:26:37.459 --> 00:26:37.679 bitterness, 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.859 prejudice, 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.119 frustration 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.119 against your brother 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.579 or sister 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.059 or neighbor? 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.399 Do you curse them 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:45.079 in your heart? 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.000 Do you refuse 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.500 to forgive? 00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:48.679 If so, 00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:50.639 then you've fallen 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.980 short of God's design. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.179 You've fallen short 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:55.099 of God's glory. 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:57.579 And you need not 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:59.980 merely try harder. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.059 You need to do more 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.919 than just try harder. 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.839 You need a redeemer. 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.759 You need someone 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.480 who's going to give you 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.179 a new heart 00:27:08.179 --> 00:27:10.379 in place of your old heart 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:12.019 and give you his spirit 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:14.019 to battle your flesh, 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.879 your sinful nature. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.740 You know, 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.319 I think sometimes 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.079 it would do us good 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.659 as Christians 00:27:20.659 --> 00:27:23.000 to have seasons 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.639 when we meditate 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.820 on the Ten Commandments 00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:26.320 and think through 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.720 some of their 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.360 deeper implications 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.180 for how we're meant 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.680 to live. 00:27:30.540 --> 00:27:30.680 You know, 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.280 Jesus himself 00:27:31.280 --> 00:27:32.440 gave the example. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.360 Let's think about 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:33.960 that command 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.700 not to murder. 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.280 Do you see 00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:36.040 how deep down 00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:36.580 it's a command 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.259 not to hate, 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:38.720 not to be bitter, 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.520 not to be angry? 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.520 You know, 00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:43.000 you might try 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.500 taking an exposition 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.580 of the Ten Commandments. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.480 The Westminster 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.500 Larger Catechism, 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.240 something you can find 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.400 very easily online, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.600 takes each of these 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.120 Ten Commandments 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.559 and just blows them out 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:55.959 and shows all the ways 00:27:55.959 --> 00:27:56.659 in which they might 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.759 have ramifications 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.699 for our lives. 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.579 It might be good 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.539 to take one of those 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.639 and do some 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:03.339 spiritual self-examination 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:05.699 to kind of read through it 00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.739 slowly or prayerfully 00:28:06.739 --> 00:28:07.419 before God. 00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:10.039 And the point of that 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:12.339 would not be 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.799 to just wallow in guilt, 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:17.219 but to see afresh 00:28:17.219 --> 00:28:18.379 how desperately 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:19.279 we need a Savior, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.339 how lost we are 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.139 without Christ, 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.960 and then to come 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.399 to a richer appreciation 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:27.920 of how He has lavished 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.339 His grace upon us. 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.399 In Him, 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.099 in Christ, 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:35.000 we have redemption 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.960 through His blood, 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.859 Ephesians 1-7 says. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.279 Note again 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.420 that Exodus language, 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.139 redemption. 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.740 In Him, 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.519 we have redemption 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.319 through His blood. 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.399 And what is that? 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.460 The forgiveness 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.840 of our trespasses 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:50.420 according to the riches 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.420 of His grace 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:53.420 which He lavished 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.500 upon us. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.960 So friends, 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.779 God instructs us 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.380 for our good. 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.180 So God saves 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:05.180 and God instructs, 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.579 but there's one 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.220 final movement, 00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:09.120 one final motion 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.579 in Exodus. 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.579 God dwells 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.140 in our midst. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.900 Chapters 25-40 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.519 of Exodus 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.519 are taken up 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.320 largely 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.740 with the detailed 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.960 instructions for 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.400 and then the building 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.980 of the tabernacle. 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.620 And you think, 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.040 golly, 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.580 that's a lot of chapters 00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.680 on how to just 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.340 build a tent. 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.920 Now, 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.480 what was the tabernacle? 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.759 The tabernacle 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.519 was essentially 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.940 a portable worship site 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.600 that the Israelites 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.320 could take down 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:37.920 and set up 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.580 as God led them 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.120 through the wilderness. 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.220 But the important thing 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.900 to see 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:44.340 about this tabernacle. 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.300 And one of the reasons 00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:47.500 why there's almost 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.500 to us 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.780 just an insane amount 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:51.460 of detail 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.180 for this thing, 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.759 they're almost 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.519 sort of enjoying 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.200 the fact 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.880 that they get 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.460 to design 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.600 and build 00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.880 and construct 00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.800 this tabernacle. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.420 Well, why? 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.280 Why are they taking such, 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.040 why does Exodus 00:30:02.040 --> 00:30:03.080 take such delight 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:03.880 in this thing 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.080 to spend so many 00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:06.140 chapters on it? 00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.560 Well, 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.160 because that's 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.840 the place 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:11.559 where God 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.419 promised 00:30:12.419 --> 00:30:13.980 to dwell 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.339 in the midst 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.439 of his people. 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.079 Let's look at 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.359 Exodus chapter 29, 00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:23.119 verse 43. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.399 Exodus 29, 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.299 verse 43. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.699 This will be 00:30:30.699 --> 00:30:31.459 our third kind of 00:30:31.459 --> 00:30:32.599 little set of verses 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.579 to just camp on 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:35.299 as we think about 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.939 the big themes 00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:36.339 of Exodus. 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:38.720 Exodus 29, 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.439 43. 00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.720 Verse 43 says, 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:41.240 There, 00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.559 there at the 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.220 tabernacle, 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:45.039 I will meet 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.559 with the people 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.039 of Israel 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:47.619 and it shall be 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.379 sanctified 00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:49.339 by my glory. 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.179 I will consecrate 00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:52.779 the tent of meeting 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.319 in the altar. 00:30:54.139 --> 00:30:55.019 Aaron also 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.559 and his sons 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.259 I will consecrate 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.679 to serve me 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.159 as priest. 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.659 I will dwell 00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.619 among the people 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.179 of Israel 00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:01.259 and will be 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.959 their God 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:03.220 and they shall 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.119 know that I am 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.980 the Lord their God 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.899 who brought them 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.380 out of the land 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.780 of Egypt 00:31:06.780 --> 00:31:08.180 that I might 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.360 dwell among them. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.160 I am the Lord 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.820 their God. 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:15.860 Friends, 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.360 in the echoes 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:17.080 of the minds 00:31:17.080 --> 00:31:18.019 of the ancient 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.460 Israelites 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.140 and the echoes 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:20.280 of all of our minds 00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:21.480 is something 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.380 that we've lost. 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.640 Way back 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:26.080 in the furthest 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:26.780 reaches of the 00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:27.600 human story 00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:29.180 there was a garden 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.200 and in that garden 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.019 God dwelt 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:34.060 in the midst 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:34.540 of us 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.200 and we had 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.759 an intimate 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.299 communion 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.879 with him 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.799 that was 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:38.420 unceasing 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.299 and unchanging. 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.240 And now here 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:44.019 in this little tent 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.139 in the middle 00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:46.279 of a dusty 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.200 wilderness 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.480 God says 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.879 I'm reclaiming 00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:52.180 that space 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.519 again 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.420 and I'm going 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.039 to dwell 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.159 in the midst 00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:56.299 of my people. 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.859 The tabernacle 00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.440 was going to be 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.220 the place 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.259 where heaven 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.039 touched down 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.579 to earth 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.619 where the 00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:04.559 infinite God 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.480 condescended 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.379 to dwell 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:06.920 in the midst 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.480 of the finite 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.859 where God 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.740 dwelt in the midst 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.319 of his people. 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.039 You see 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.879 God didn't save 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.819 them from slavery 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.700 merely so they 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.440 would just follow 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.259 his instructions. 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.099 He saved them 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.859 from slavery 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.539 so that he might 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.759 live in constant 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.839 communion with them 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.779 so that they 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.500 might enjoy 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.139 his presence 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.720 and live in 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.379 relationship 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:25.960 with him. 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.159 It's hard 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.940 for us to grasp 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.740 how stunning 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.519 that is. 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:33.500 Friends, 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:33.900 what we know 00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:34.440 from the whole 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.080 Bible is that 00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:35.779 the triune 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.180 God 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.820 exists 00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:39.240 and will 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.360 exist eternally 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.799 in infinite 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.580 fullness 00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:43.460 of joy 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.620 without a 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:46.220 single need 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:47.480 at all 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.759 for perfect 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.259 happiness. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.880 And that God 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.460 who doesn't 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.080 need us 00:32:52.080 --> 00:32:53.140 one bit 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:54.620 chooses to 00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:55.360 condescend 00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:56.019 and stoop 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.880 to dwell 00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:58.000 in our midst 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:01.059 how radically 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:03.400 fascinating 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.680 and thrilling 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.359 is that? 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.259 And again, 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.759 I want to just 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.500 point out two 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:14.180 applications of 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.519 sorts 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:16.039 of this 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:16.640 tabernacle 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.640 section of 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:17.920 Exodus. 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:20.039 I think we see 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.480 at least two 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.019 things at the 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.759 big picture level. 00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:23.960 First, 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.539 God dwells 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.119 with us 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:27.200 no matter 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.839 where we are. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:30.440 no matter 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.059 where we are. 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.759 Essentially, 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:32.319 God is saying 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:32.740 to Israel 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.359 at this point, 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.220 okay, 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:35.680 you dwell 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.200 in tents, 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.440 I'll dwell 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:37.900 in a tent. 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.700 And then 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:39.980 when they're 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.339 settled in 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:40.720 the promised 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.019 land, 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.339 as the Old 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:41.819 Testament story 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.700 goes forward, 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.119 he'll say, 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.019 you dwell in 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.319 houses, 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.660 okay, 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.079 I'll dwell 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.660 in a house. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.480 And the 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.019 temple in 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.279 Jerusalem 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.980 replaces the 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.500 tabernacle. 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.200 You dwell 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.579 in tents, 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.019 I'll dwell 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.359 in a tent 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:52.740 with you. 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.519 You dwell 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.000 in a house, 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:54.900 I'll dwell 00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:55.299 in a house 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.819 with you, 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.619 to be with 00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:56.879 you. 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.279 But it 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.619 doesn't even 00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.039 end there. 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:00.979 In the 00:34:00.979 --> 00:34:01.399 New Testament, 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:01.859 we see that 00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.199 God goes 00:34:02.199 --> 00:34:02.659 even further. 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:03.199 In the 00:34:03.199 --> 00:34:03.599 Gospel of 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:03.739 John, 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.159 chapter 1, 00:34:04.199 --> 00:34:04.739 verse 14, 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.459 he writes, 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:05.659 and the 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.259 word became 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.819 flesh and 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.839 dwelt among 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.319 us, 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.920 as if God 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.159 said, 00:34:10.259 --> 00:34:10.739 you dwell in 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.079 flesh, 00:34:11.299 --> 00:34:11.739 I'll dwell 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.259 in flesh, 00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.679 to be with 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:13.900 you. 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.480 And that 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.059 word dwell 00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.819 in John 00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:20.119 is the 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.599 same word 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.440 for tabernacle 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.880 in the Old 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.619 Testament Greek 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:24.960 version, 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.880 as if God 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.179 were saying 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.420 the word 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.139 became flesh 00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:29.420 and tabernacled 00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.000 among us. 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.599 When the 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.159 word became 00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.719 flesh, 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.099 when Jesus 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.880 walked the 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.139 earth, 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.659 God literally 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.139 dwelt in 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.559 our midst. 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.539 He was 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.299 fulfilling what 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.000 that tabernacle 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.659 was all about. 00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.259 The tabernacle 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.900 all along was 00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.539 pointing ahead 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:43.039 to the day 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.719 when God 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.539 would really 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.480 come and 00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:45.799 dwell in 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.199 our midst. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:46.839 And note 00:34:46.839 --> 00:34:47.199 how John 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:47.619 goes on, 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.259 if you're 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:48.739 familiar with 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.099 that passage, 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:49.299 you don't 00:34:49.299 --> 00:34:49.519 need to 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:49.839 turn there. 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.179 He goes 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.460 on and 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:50.799 says this, 00:34:50.839 --> 00:34:51.179 he says, 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.179 the word 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.759 became flesh 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.079 and dwelt 00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.500 among us 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:53.820 and we've 00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:54.619 seen his 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.199 glory. 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:56.840 Glory as 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.059 of the 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:58.960 only son 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.320 from the 00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.639 father, 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.659 full of 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.500 grace and 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:01.980 truth. 00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:06.780 You know, 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.079 the end of 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:07.400 the book of 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:07.699 Exodus, 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.199 the book of 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.940 Exodus ends 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.340 with God's 00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:12.019 glory filling 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.780 the tabernacle. 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.320 A glory so 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:14.679 heavy, 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.880 a glory so 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.719 powerful, 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:18.000 a glory so 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.760 thick and 00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.539 weighty that 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.380 Moses can't 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.079 even enter 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.659 the tent. 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.920 That same 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.900 glory would 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.340 come down 00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:26.559 on the 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.420 temple in 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:27.940 Solomon's 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:28.139 day and 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.460 the same 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:28.739 thing would 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.519 happen as 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:29.840 if God 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.280 was saying, 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.519 I'm here 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:32.420 in your 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:32.780 midst. 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.000 And John 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.539 says in the 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.039 New Testament 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:38.139 that the 00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:38.719 glory of 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:40.579 God is 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:40.780 found 00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.320 ultimately 00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.280 and finally 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.480 in Jesus 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.019 Christ. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.960 And one 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.260 day, 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:48.599 Christ will 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:50.079 return in 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.219 glory and 00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:51.760 the glory of 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.119 God will 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:52.440 cover the 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.240 earth like 00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:53.619 the waters 00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.039 cover the 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.320 sea. 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.039 And the 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.240 book of 00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.579 Revelation 00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:57.519 says in 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:57.740 the new 00:35:57.740 --> 00:35:58.079 creation, 00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:58.480 there's not 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.920 going to be 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:00.019 a tent or 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.420 a temple 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:01.659 because God 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.240 will be there 00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:03.079 and we will 00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:03.420 be in his 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:03.760 midst. 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:07.840 But you 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:07.920 know, 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.559 even now, 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.119 even with 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.840 Christ ascended 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.260 to the right 00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:10.639 hand of the 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:10.960 Father, 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.539 as we await 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.019 that great 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.340 day, 00:36:14.200 --> 00:36:14.800 his presence 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.360 has still 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:18.579 not left 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:18.840 us. 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:21.400 Jesus 00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:21.760 has sent 00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:22.380 his spirit 00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.380 to abide 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.920 with us. 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:24.780 And because 00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:25.340 we're united 00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:25.820 to Christ 00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.480 by faith 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.059 and filled 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.440 with his 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:27.780 spirit, 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:28.640 God now 00:36:28.640 --> 00:36:29.000 dwells in 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.280 our midst 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:29.600 no matter 00:36:29.600 --> 00:36:30.059 where we 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:30.380 are. 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.640 And this 00:36:31.640 --> 00:36:32.260 all connects 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:32.640 to that 00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:33.360 tabernacle 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:33.960 and temple 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.680 storyline of 00:36:34.680 --> 00:36:34.900 the Old 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.240 Testament. 00:36:35.640 --> 00:36:35.880 Do you 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.440 not know, 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.460 Paul said 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:37.680 to the 00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:38.400 church in 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.920 1 Corinthians, 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.340 do you 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:40.920 not know 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.100 that you 00:36:42.100 --> 00:36:42.800 yourselves 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:44.640 are God's 00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:46.240 temple and 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:46.740 that God's 00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.460 spirit lives 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:47.840 in you? 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.400 It's no 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.980 longer a 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.619 tent in 00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.000 the wilderness 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.840 or a 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.360 temple in 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:53.659 Jerusalem. 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.300 Those things 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.699 are as 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.619 obsolete now 00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.519 as an 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:56.980 eight-track 00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:57.380 tape. 00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:58.940 And you're 00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.159 thinking, 00:36:59.260 --> 00:36:59.539 what's an 00:36:59.539 --> 00:36:59.940 eight-track 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.280 tape? 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.139 Exactly! 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:05.440 Because the 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:05.800 risen Lord 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.240 Jesus has 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.760 ascended to 00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:07.119 the Father 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.559 and poured 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:07.900 out his 00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.159 spirit, 00:37:08.240 --> 00:37:08.519 no matter 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.539 where the 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:09.760 church 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.280 gathers, 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.220 no matter 00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:11.559 where the 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:11.980 individual 00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.480 Christian 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.320 finds herself 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:13.960 or himself, 00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.720 there God 00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:16.780 dwells. 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:20.980 there is 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.840 something more 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.340 spiritually 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:23.920 powerful and 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:25.159 beautiful and 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:27.039 amazing in a 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:28.000 simple gathering 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.420 of Christians 00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:30.740 than in the 00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.659 most elaborate 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:33.679 temple in 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.059 all the 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.440 world. 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.619 Right there, 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.139 God takes up 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.659 intimate 00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:43.500 relationship with 00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:44.019 his people, 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:45.320 with you, 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:46.980 if you're in 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:47.400 Christ. 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.019 This is why 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.559 the earliest 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:53.360 Christians could 00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:55.099 sing hymns in 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.780 prison cells. 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:59.039 This is why 00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.740 Christians could 00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:00.980 do something as 00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:02.219 counterintuitive as 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:03.420 civil disobedience, 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:05.260 because no matter 00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:07.139 where they were, 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:08.860 nothing could 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:09.800 separate them from 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.599 the love of God, 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.960 the presence of God, 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:12.440 the intimate 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.960 dwelling of God in 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.780 Christ Jesus our 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.360 Lord, no matter 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:16.420 where they were, 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.260 God was there. 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:23.280 Second thing to 00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:24.380 point out is 00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:26.460 this, God 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.280 dwells with us 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:28.240 not just no 00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:28.840 matter where we 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:30.140 are, God 00:38:30.140 --> 00:38:30.880 dwells with us in 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:32.660 full knowledge of 00:38:32.660 --> 00:38:33.460 who we are. 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:36.180 God dwells with us 00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:37.079 in full knowledge of 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.700 who we are. 00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.180 You know, if you've 00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:38.920 been keeping track, 00:38:39.620 --> 00:38:40.019 you may have 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.180 realized that there 00:38:41.180 --> 00:38:41.860 are two pretty big 00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:43.180 parts of Exodus that 00:38:43.180 --> 00:38:43.640 we haven't really 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:44.359 highlighted yet. 00:38:45.779 --> 00:38:46.859 The grumbling in 00:38:46.859 --> 00:38:48.000 the wilderness of 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.879 chapters 16 through 00:38:48.879 --> 00:38:51.639 18 and the making 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:53.420 of the golden calf in 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:54.839 chapters 32 and 34. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:56.799 Now, when you view 00:38:56.799 --> 00:38:57.699 the book as a whole, 00:38:58.279 --> 00:38:59.519 you notice that each 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:00.839 of these episodes is 00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:02.400 preceded, comes right 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.980 after, an incredible 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:05.339 display of God's power 00:39:05.339 --> 00:39:05.819 and love. 00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:08.079 He parts the Red Sea. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:10.420 He comes down in a 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.699 blaze of smoke and 00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:12.460 lightning on Mount 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.139 Sinai. 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:14.719 And how do we 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.400 respond? 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:19.840 After seeing God 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:21.619 split an ocean for 00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:23.500 us, we grumble 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.799 that he's brought us 00:39:24.799 --> 00:39:26.159 into the wilderness 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:26.779 to starve. 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.579 After seeing God's 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:31.219 incomprehensible glory 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:34.079 on Sinai, we erect 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:35.239 a golden calf, an idol, 00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:36.299 and worship him how we 00:39:36.299 --> 00:39:36.679 please. 00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:39.899 And in full 00:39:39.899 --> 00:39:41.199 knowledge of our 00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:42.879 grumbling and our 00:39:42.879 --> 00:39:45.339 idolatry, when God 00:39:45.339 --> 00:39:47.199 would be right and 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:48.799 just to abandon us to 00:39:48.799 --> 00:39:50.440 our own aching stomachs 00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.259 and our own false 00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:53.219 gods, when God ought to 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:54.879 leave us, the end of 00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:56.879 Exodus says, God 00:39:56.879 --> 00:39:57.460 stays. 00:40:00.339 --> 00:40:02.379 When we blamed God for 00:40:02.379 --> 00:40:03.819 our hungry stomachs, 00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:05.700 and when we traded God 00:40:05.700 --> 00:40:08.039 for a false idol, and 00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:09.180 when we took God in our 00:40:09.180 --> 00:40:10.500 own hands and condemned 00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:11.680 him and beat him and 00:40:11.680 --> 00:40:13.059 crucified him and mocked 00:40:13.059 --> 00:40:15.240 him, still God stayed. 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:18.660 Even on the cross, God 00:40:18.660 --> 00:40:19.039 stayed. 00:40:21.300 --> 00:40:25.140 In love, God stays to 00:40:25.140 --> 00:40:27.480 bear away our sin, to 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:28.940 create a holy people for 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:31.059 himself, and to 00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:32.760 magnify the unspeakable 00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:34.800 glory of his grace. 00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:37.880 God dwells with us in 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:39.260 full knowledge of who we 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:39.639 are. 00:40:42.679 --> 00:40:43.940 Let that sink into your 00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:44.820 hearts this week, 00:40:45.260 --> 00:40:46.200 brothers and sisters, as 00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:47.280 you go out into the world, 00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:49.679 and as you feel the shame 00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:52.260 of your failures and the 00:40:52.260 --> 00:40:54.720 dings and bruises and 00:40:54.720 --> 00:40:56.000 scrapes and scratches of 00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:57.159 trying to live for Christ in 00:40:57.159 --> 00:40:58.159 the world, yes, God 00:40:58.159 --> 00:40:59.199 dwells with you in full 00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:00.579 knowledge of who you are, 00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:02.259 and he stays. 00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:07.279 And so that's Exodus. 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.819 God saves, and he 00:41:09.819 --> 00:41:11.859 instructs, and he dwells in 00:41:11.859 --> 00:41:12.319 our midst. 00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:15.219 And as we've been seeing 00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:16.659 throughout, Exodus itself is 00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.920 an unfinished story. 00:41:19.199 --> 00:41:20.839 The last word in our English 00:41:20.839 --> 00:41:21.739 translation of Exodus, 00:41:21.859 --> 00:41:22.719 anyway, is the word 00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:25.940 journeys, which means that 00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:26.880 there's still a lot of road 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:27.760 ahead, right? 00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:31.019 But where does the story, 00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:32.139 where does the journey find 00:41:32.139 --> 00:41:32.740 its climax? 00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:34.760 It's not in the conquest of 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.599 the land in the book of 00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:35.920 Joshua. 00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:37.220 It's not in the reign of 00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:39.079 David in 1 and 2 Samuel. 00:41:39.159 --> 00:41:40.300 It's not in the return from 00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:41.360 exile in the prophets. 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.840 No, the climax goes even 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:47.000 further to Jesus Christ, 00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:49.159 because he is the one who has 00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:50.280 saved us in compassion 00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:51.820 through the judgment of the 00:41:51.820 --> 00:41:53.019 cross and the power of his 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.480 resurrection. 00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:55.039 And he is the one who 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.960 instructs us and dwells with 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:58.760 us through his word and 00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.360 through his spirit. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:02.260 So if we want to see the 00:42:02.260 --> 00:42:05.219 glory of God, the glory of 00:42:05.219 --> 00:42:07.059 God of Exodus in its greatest 00:42:07.059 --> 00:42:10.659 detail, we look to the face of 00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.420 Jesus Christ. 00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:15.539 Friends, where else can you 00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:16.340 find such a God? 00:42:18.219 --> 00:42:19.940 You know, perhaps you will find 00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:22.000 a religion or a God who 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.820 instructs. 00:42:24.019 --> 00:42:25.260 Maybe that's your view of God. 00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:27.179 God lays down laws and rules 00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:28.360 and spiritual principles to 00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:28.659 follow. 00:42:32.340 --> 00:42:33.280 But you know, at the end of the 00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:34.260 day, when you fall short of 00:42:34.260 --> 00:42:36.119 those instructions, or when the 00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:37.420 spiritual practices don't seem 00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:39.980 to satisfy, those kinds of 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:42.960 gods rarely ever save. 00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:46.840 Perhaps you have a God who 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:48.980 dwells in your midst, who's 00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:50.980 present, who's there. 00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:53.820 But often that God is so 00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:56.280 nameless and so faceless and so 00:42:56.280 --> 00:42:59.440 general that you can't really 00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.940 have a relationship with it. 00:43:01.800 --> 00:43:03.519 It's more of a force to 00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:06.000 harness than a person to love. 00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:11.039 But look at Exodus, and through 00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:14.139 Exodus, look at Jesus Christ and 00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:18.579 see the God who saves and who 00:43:18.579 --> 00:43:20.779 instructs and who dwells. 00:43:22.879 --> 00:43:25.679 And if you see him, worship him. 00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:28.000 And in worshiping him, trust him. 00:43:28.839 --> 00:43:32.420 And trusting him, love him and 00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:32.960 follow him. 00:43:34.099 --> 00:43:34.799 Let's pray. 00:43:34.799 --> 00:43:34.879 Amen. 00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:42.800 Father, we thank you that at the 00:43:42.800 --> 00:43:46.260 heart of the scriptures, you 00:43:46.260 --> 00:43:47.960 reveal yourself as a God who 00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.420 saves. 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:52.619 Lord, you saved your people from 00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:55.160 the terrible tyranny of Pharaoh 00:43:55.160 --> 00:43:55.900 and slavery. 00:43:57.660 --> 00:43:59.400 And Father, wonder of wonders, you 00:43:59.400 --> 00:44:01.340 have rescued us from the slavery and 00:44:01.340 --> 00:44:03.860 the tyranny of sin and death 00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:05.800 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:10.780 Oh Lord, we pray that our hearts 00:44:10.780 --> 00:44:13.860 would be softened by your spirit 00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:16.980 to trust you and to love you and to 00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:17.579 follow you. 00:44:20.100 --> 00:44:21.800 Lord, especially this weekend as we 00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:24.100 think about celebrating tomorrow, 00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:30.539 we pray that you would make us a 00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:32.839 church that in all the ways in 00:44:32.839 --> 00:44:34.839 which those who've gone before us, 00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:36.839 like Dr. King, have stood up in the 00:44:36.839 --> 00:44:39.980 name of Christ to proclaim your 00:44:39.980 --> 00:44:41.900 liberty and to want to see that 00:44:41.900 --> 00:44:43.199 liberty lived in our midst. 00:44:43.339 --> 00:44:45.279 Oh God, give us the courage to 00:44:45.279 --> 00:44:46.339 continue that legacy. 00:44:49.019 --> 00:44:52.779 Help us to be freedom people, that 00:44:52.780 --> 00:44:54.680 in the freedom of Christ, we would 00:44:54.680 --> 00:44:58.620 go out and really pray and speak in 00:44:58.620 --> 00:44:59.360 love for freedom. 00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:02.640 We ask all this in Jesus' name. 00:45:02.780 --> 00:45:03.000 Amen. 00:45:06.200 --> 00:45:08.880 Well, friends, after we place our 00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:10.940 faith in Jesus, then what? 00:45:12.560 --> 00:45:14.060 One of the first things that Jesus 00:45:14.060 --> 00:45:15.860 tells us to do is to be baptized. 00:45:17.160 --> 00:45:19.240 And that is what Abby Stevens and 00:45:19.240 --> 00:45:20.460 Fallon Lampert are going to come up 00:45:20.460 --> 00:45:21.220 to do today. 00:45:23.420 --> 00:45:26.139 Baptism is a sign of what Jesus has 00:45:26.139 --> 00:45:28.340 done for us, and it's a sign that 00:45:28.340 --> 00:45:29.659 we've been united to him through 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.039 faith. 00:45:30.740 --> 00:45:32.559 Jesus died and rose again. 00:45:33.500 --> 00:45:35.079 And through faith, our sins have been 00:45:35.079 --> 00:45:36.760 washed away in his death, and our new 00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:38.360 life has begun in resurrection. 00:45:38.360 --> 00:45:39.820 And so, baptism... 00:45:39.820 --> 00:45:40.539 And so, baptism... 00:45:41.099 --> 00:45:41.519 ... 00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:48.940 ... 00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:50.599 ... 00:45:50.599 --> 00:45:53.400 ... 00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:55.780 ... 00:45:55.780 --> 00:45:57.519 ... 00:45:57.519 --> 00:45:58.660 ... 00:46:00.240 --> 00:46:03.820 ...