WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:25.440 A master storyteller. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:27.100 Am I on? 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:28.160 Can you hear me? 00:00:28.740 --> 00:00:29.060 Yes? 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:29.560 No? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.579 A master storyteller always delights us and surprises us. 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:40.359 It is no surprise if you've been coming here for a while that I'm a J.R.R. Tolkien fan. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:46.960 And one of the things that I love about the Lord of the Rings is the richness of the story that he tells. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:58.859 And how a path of victory and deliverance takes unexpected twists and turns that are unforeseen by those taking the journey in the story. 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:05.299 And so the fellowship breaks and is scattered and you wonder what will happen. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:20.019 Or Faramir shows up in the middle of the wasteland looking at first like an enemy but instead becoming an essential help and aid along the way of Frodo's journey. 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:22.659 And so on and so forth. 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:27.859 Unexpected twists and turns fill the best of stories. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:39.079 But when it comes to our lives we aren't so thrilled about the twists and turns that come to us do we? 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.459 We don't necessarily like them. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:43.759 They're hard. 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:44.840 They're inconvenient. 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:47.079 They challenge us. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.379 And they leave us confused and uncertain. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:02:00.439 Particularly if we come to it from a perspective as we gather here this morning that we live under a God who is the master storyteller of our lives. 00:02:00.699 --> 00:02:10.960 He is in fact not just the storyteller but the story maker of our lives who leads us in a story of his own making. 00:02:12.419 --> 00:02:15.319 And he is overseeing those twists and turns. 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:21.919 And so when we struggle with the challenges of our lives we struggle in fact with God himself. 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:24.259 We struggle with who he is. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:26.519 You see maybe you're like me. 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:32.099 You think if God is good and God is sovereign God's plan should be pretty straightforward. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.280 How can my life go from good to better to best. 00:02:37.519 --> 00:02:41.060 The straightest line possible without any trials. 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:44.360 Doesn't that sound like a great thing? 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:48.340 We want our lives easy. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:53.060 We want the challenges to be predictable and the outcomes certain. 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:56.780 But it doesn't look like that often does it? 00:02:57.640 --> 00:03:00.960 Not in our lives and certainly not in the Bible storyline. 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:03.719 We're continuing our series in the book of Exodus. 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:06.740 If you want to turn with me there we'll be looking at Exodus 2. 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:10.400 It's page 45 in the Pew Bible. 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:14.920 And as you turn there let me remind you of where we've been. 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:24.580 Exodus is the second book of the Bible and it picks up the narrative of the descendants of Abraham 400 years after Abraham had moved down to Egypt. 00:03:25.979 --> 00:03:31.240 Which at that point was an amazing act of provision by God to save and deliver his people. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:38.240 But 400 years later that provision has become a yoke of slavery. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:45.420 After 400 years that great provision now looks like a prison. 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:47.659 And a terrible place to be. 00:03:48.320 --> 00:03:50.659 Some of the promises of God have been fulfilled. 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:57.280 Surely this one man and him as good as dead now has children and grandchildren. 00:03:57.540 --> 00:04:00.760 In fact he has descendants that now number hundreds of thousands. 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:09.599 In 400 years he's multiplied into a nation such that it creates a threat to the nation of Egypt. 00:04:10.019 --> 00:04:13.719 The leaders are afraid of the political instability that they would bring. 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:18.740 And so they are enslaved and oppressed. 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:22.860 They are the victims of a genocidal plot. 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:27.100 If you didn't listen to Pastor Greg's sermon last week go back and listen to it. 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:30.280 Think about what it has to say to us today. 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:38.780 But then as we saw in the story of oppression and as the people cried out to God. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:42.040 Beginning of chapter 2 there's this story of a baby. 00:04:42.580 --> 00:04:46.680 A baby who is delivered from that genocidal act. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.360 A baby who is delivered miraculously and unexpectedly. 00:04:53.139 --> 00:04:54.720 And so we have a little hope. 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.819 A hope that even though we haven't seen God act obviously. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:03.300 God has only been barely mentioned in the story so far. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:07.199 We have a hope as a reader reading this story that suddenly. 00:05:07.540 --> 00:05:08.980 Okay now there's this baby. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.600 Now this is going to go somewhere. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:16.280 It sets us up for a great deliverance that's at hand. 00:05:18.640 --> 00:05:20.320 Before we go on let me just ask. 00:05:22.760 --> 00:05:26.360 When you are facing times when you are longing for deliverance. 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.040 What goes through your mind? 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:35.520 When you have been enduring some trial that's been going on longer than you think it should. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:42.139 How easy it is for us to imagine how God could snap his fingers and make it all go away. 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:46.639 How easily he could say I can fix this. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:48.620 Because we know that he can. 00:05:49.539 --> 00:05:55.299 And we have a hope and an expectation and a longing that God will show up in the middle of this trial. 00:05:55.300 --> 00:06:03.500 But God is the master storyteller and story maker. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.920 Often takes us on paths that we don't always expect. 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:11.699 And that leads us to our passage today. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:14.500 Exodus chapter 2. 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:15.860 We're starting in verse 11. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.460 Let's read it together and then we'll pray. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:25.500 Exodus chapter 2 verse 11. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:30.839 One day when Moses had grown up he went out to his people and looked on their burdens. 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:35.060 And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 00:06:36.179 --> 00:06:42.199 He looked this way and that and seeing no one he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 00:06:42.919 --> 00:06:47.060 And when he went out the next day behold two Hebrews were struggling together. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:51.480 And he said to the man in the wrong, why do you strike your companion? 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:56.540 And he answered, who made you a prince and judge over us? 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:59.340 Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.139 And Moses was afraid and thought surely the thing is known. 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.860 And when Moses heard of it he sought to kill Moses. 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:11.180 But Moses fled to Pharaoh. 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:15.079 Fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:17.319 And he sat down by a well. 00:07:18.359 --> 00:07:21.180 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. 00:07:21.359 --> 00:07:25.979 And they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:29.199 The shepherds came and drove them away. 00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:33.939 But Moses stood up and saved them and watered their flock. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:38.360 When they came home to their father Ruel, he said, 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:42.160 How is it that you have come home so soon today? 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.439 And they said, an Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds. 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:49.340 And even drew water for us and watered the flock. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.060 And he said to his daughters, then where is he? 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:55.319 Why have you left the man? 00:07:55.819 --> 00:07:57.819 Call him that he may eat bread. 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:00.920 And Moses was content to dwell with the man. 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:04.319 And he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 00:08:05.020 --> 00:08:06.860 She gave birth to a son. 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:08.580 And he called his name Gershom. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:12.420 For he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land. 00:08:13.200 --> 00:08:15.920 During these many days the king of Egypt died. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.980 And the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery. 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:20.879 And cried out for help. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:24.939 Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:27.400 And God heard their groaning. 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:31.879 And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.139 God saw the people of Israel. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:36.939 And God knew. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.179 Let's pray. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:53.399 Father, we acknowledge this morning that your ways are not our ways. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.460 And your thoughts are not our thoughts. 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.220 Lord, that you are high and exalted. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.199 And Lord, we are creatures. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.279 And though, Lord, you have made us to know you. 00:09:06.819 --> 00:09:08.899 Lord, you are much greater than us. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:11.500 Lord, I pray this morning. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:15.159 That Lord, as we explore this passage. 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:18.459 What we will see is you more clearly. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.279 We will understand you more deeply. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:24.379 Lord, we will trust you. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:31.159 Lord, I pray for your help this morning as I speak. 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:34.879 Lord, that my words, Lord, would be useful in your hands. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:39.419 Lord, that you would prepare all of our hearts to receive your word this morning. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.259 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:42.320 Amen. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:42.440 Amen. 00:09:51.040 --> 00:09:55.340 So as we look at this passage this morning, we're simply going to look at two things. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.140 First, we see that on the path to deliverance, there is an... 00:10:00.140 --> 00:10:03.879 On the way to deliverance, there is an unexpected path taken. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:07.920 And secondly, there is an unexpected God revealed. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:12.299 So first, let's look at the unexpected path of deliverance. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:17.399 The unexpected path of deliverance is one in which we see deliverance delayed. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.500 Now, one of the things you want to think about as you're reading the book of Exodus is that 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:25.519 the people who are receiving the book of Exodus know the story. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.179 It was written after the fact, right? 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:33.939 And therefore, everyone who is reading the book of Exodus probably has heard of Moses. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:38.020 And they know that he is the deliverer. 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:42.920 They know that God is going to use him in all the ways that any of us who know any... 00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:47.660 If you're familiar at all with the story of Exodus, you'll know this is the man that God 00:10:47.660 --> 00:10:50.500 is going to use to lead his people out of Egypt. 00:10:52.020 --> 00:10:54.600 But his story does not go as expected. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:11:00.920 As we said, the birth narrative sets us up to think, okay, now something big is going to happen. 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:07.539 And in fact, what we see in verse 11 is Moses goes out and he's grown up and then he goes out. 00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:11.579 The words specifically say he looked on their people. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.339 He went out to his people and he looked on their burden. 00:11:14.839 --> 00:11:19.799 And you have to read this carefully because it wasn't just that Moses was in the palace 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:24.539 and he thought today, oh, maybe I'll stroll among the slaves today and see what it looks like. 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:30.799 The verb actually to go out to them is the word that's used later for the Exodus as they leave people. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:35.120 Moses was actually going out of the palace in a much more profound way. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:41.899 And looking upon his people was not simply detached observation, but it was an engaged examination. 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:44.899 He was saying, what is the status of my people? 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:52.039 I have had this privilege of being raised up in the Egyptian household as a prince of Egypt. 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:57.120 But now I am going to go out and see how it is that my people live. 00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:59.539 And there's a strong sense of identification. 00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:10.299 There's a strong sense of Moses saying, I am now moving away from my Egyptian position to identify with my people. 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:19.439 And in fact, we see this and know this more clearly because in the New Testament, the book of Hebrews reminds us of this. 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:23.339 Hebrews 11, chapter 24, the writer says this, 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:29.019 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:35.700 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:41.379 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:45.200 for he was looking to the reward. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:51.759 As Moses went out and looked on his people, he was making a strong move, 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:56.480 a strong move to identify with the Hebrews who were despised slaves. 00:12:56.920 --> 00:13:04.340 He was leaving behind a position of privilege and of treasures, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us of. 00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:10.220 And as he did that, he saw and he intervened. 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:17.680 What we see from this story is that as we hoped this baby might be an instrument in God's hands, 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.899 we now see Moses living it out. 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.460 He is a deliverer. 00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:31.680 He intercedes and steps in to rescue a Hebrew who is being beaten and most likely going to be killed by the Egyptian. 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:35.700 He steps in and he saves him. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:41.340 His instinct to be a deliverer is on display. 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:43.460 And he knew it would be costly. 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.980 Look with me in verse 12. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.240 Isn't it interesting? 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:51.420 Moses knew that when he was doing this, he was drawing a line in the sand. 00:13:51.640 --> 00:13:56.879 He was doing something that would put in jeopardy his position in Egypt. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.960 Because he looked this way and that way. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.879 Not to see, oh, is someone else going to help? 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:08.139 I think it was to say, if no one sees me, I can get away with this and still be able to keep my position. 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:13.740 And he buried him in the sand because that's the quickest way to get rid of a body in Egypt. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:15.620 Because there's lots of sand. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.779 It's not very hard to dig in. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:25.639 So Moses knew what he was doing as he was taking the step of being a deliverer. 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:32.319 He made a costly choice to identify with God's people. 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:38.279 And as we look through the story, I'm just going to throw out a couple of questions for us to ask. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:43.600 How many of us make costly choices to identify with God's people? 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:57.139 How often are we willing to forsake the riches of position in this world in order to say, yes, I'm one of God's people? 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.279 The story continues. 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:09.660 Moses then, the next day, having done this great act and seemingly having gotten away with it, is thinking, 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:12.959 Okay, I'm stepping into this role as a deliverer. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.519 I'm going to do this. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.339 So he walks among his people again. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:18.459 He sees two Hebrews now who are having a conflict. 00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:20.299 And there's clearly a right and a wrong. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:23.860 Because the passage tells us he speaks to the one who was in the wrong. 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.839 And he says, why are you doing this? 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:31.480 He comes to deliver his people from internal conflict and strife and to rescue them. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:34.899 And we think, oh man, this is it. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:38.379 If you're reading the story and you don't know what's going to happen, 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:40.779 you read the story and you think, okay, this is it. 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:43.860 This is where they're going to say, oh, Moses, you're here. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.980 Our deliverer, our savior. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.679 We praise God that you have sent us. 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:52.799 And we are so glad that you are here to help us solve this little dispute 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.279 and to rescue us from slavery and overthrow Egypt in the process. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:01.539 But that's not what he gets at all, is it? 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:09.120 His instincts to be a deliverer, his instinct to intercede for the good of his people backfires terribly. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.480 The Hebrew in the wrong looks at him and says, well, who made you? 00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:18.000 You know, who died and made you king, right? 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.240 That's what we would say today. 00:16:20.439 --> 00:16:23.079 Who died and made you king of my life? 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:26.860 And then he goes on and he says, are you going to kill me? 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:29.280 Are you going to murder me the way you killed that Egyptian? 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:32.759 It's a strong accusation. 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:36.240 And Moses realizes, I haven't gotten away with it. 00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.960 People know what happened. 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:42.580 Maybe the Hebrew that he saved went back and rejoiced and told all his friends. 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:46.080 Maybe they went back and said, the weirdest thing happened today. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.580 That Moses guy, you know, he lives in the palace. 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:51.500 He came and delivered, like he killed the Egyptian. 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:54.460 And I think it's going to go bad for us. 00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:58.040 Because that was not a good thing. 00:16:58.160 --> 00:16:59.920 I don't know what he was thinking. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.100 And interestingly, I'll just say this. 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:06.059 The Bible never says clearly, one way or the other, 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:09.500 whether there is an affirmation that Moses was doing right 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:12.180 or doing wrong in the killing of the Egyptian. 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:16.299 We don't need to answer that question to know 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:19.500 that God was using it as a display. 00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:22.559 It was a display of his delivering instinct 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:25.960 and his self-understanding. 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:28.319 Interestingly, in Acts, 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.599 if you haven't read Acts 7 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.240 and the speech that Stephen, 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:37.119 the early follower of Jesus, gives 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.799 about the history of Israel, 00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:42.919 you should read it sometime in the next couple of weeks 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.960 because it's a great story 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:46.000 and it will help you understand Exodus a lot more. 00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:49.839 Acts 27 describes Moses' thought 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.940 at this point in the story in this way. 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.399 He says, 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.980 he supposed that his brothers would understand 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:57.779 that God was giving them salvation by his hand, 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.059 but they did not understand. 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:04.319 So Stephen affirms what we guess about Moses, 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:06.559 that he knew he was there to be their deliverer 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.859 and that God had raised him up 00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:11.940 uniquely to have this position and this role. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:16.600 But they didn't see God's hand in it either 00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:18.840 and they rejected him. 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.700 And the story of what Moses had been done 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.100 became known 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:25.759 and it came to the ears of Pharaoh 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.980 and Pharaoh, 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.700 in whose household Moses had been raised 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:32.460 and who, as we see further on in the story, 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:35.480 Moses looks like an Egyptian to everyone else. 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:40.900 Pharaoh went after him. 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:45.400 He knew that this was a betrayal of his loyalty to Egypt 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.980 and he went after him 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.160 and Moses was afraid 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.839 and he fled. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:55.899 One of the interesting patterns we see 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:57.720 is that this is one of the first places 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:02.539 where we see God's people rejecting God's deliverer. 00:19:04.199 --> 00:19:05.959 Moses had a contentious relationship 00:19:05.959 --> 00:19:07.720 ongoing with the people of Israel. 00:19:08.199 --> 00:19:09.599 You'll see it in chapter five 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.819 when Moses comes back to Egypt 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:14.179 and tries to deliver them 00:19:14.179 --> 00:19:16.500 and their work is increased 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.819 and they grumble and complain 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.759 about Moses 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.079 and his interceding and delivering 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.880 and how much trouble it's causing for them. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.299 And then after God takes them out of Egypt 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.359 with a mighty hand 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.720 through the plagues 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.420 and through the Red Sea, 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.579 then in the desert, 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.799 they don't have food one day 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.279 and they grumble and complain. 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:39.119 And the next time, 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.920 they don't have water 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.940 and they grumble and complain 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.099 and then they don't have food again 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.119 and they grumble and complain 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:44.140 and then they grumble and complain 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:45.200 about the food they do have 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.440 and then they grumble and complain again 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:48.000 because there isn't water in another place. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.279 And they grumble and complain 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.799 over and over and over again 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.259 against the very thing that God is doing, 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:57.400 the very helper that God has given them. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:04.500 Friends, I want us to ask ourselves 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:06.380 as we think about our lives, 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.920 do we grumble and complain 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:11.900 and resist God's saving work in our lives? 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:14.820 Are we too proud to accept his help? 00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:19.259 Are we too committed to our sense of being in control 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:22.639 to allow him to work in a way that we don't expect? 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.899 Do we have faith and eyes 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:30.319 to see God sustaining and delivering us 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.980 when it doesn't feel like it? 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:38.139 How often are we like the grumbling Israelites? 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:40.860 So the deliverer is rejected. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:44.500 His deed becomes known and he flees Egypt. 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:47.720 And he flees to a place called Midian. 00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:51.360 Now Midian is best described as the backside of nowhere. 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:54.920 Technically, it's probably on the eastern side 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.720 of the Sinai Peninsula above where the water is. 00:20:58.780 --> 00:20:59.800 But it's not, 00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:03.960 the Midianites were actually nomadic people. 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:06.720 They were also long lost relatives. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.940 Midian was a son of Abraham 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:13.380 by Abraham's second wife in Genesis 25 too. 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.460 You can look it up. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.840 So they were Semitic people, 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:19.380 but they were not part of the covenant community. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.079 But at this point, 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.900 the distance must have been very great. 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:25.680 So he's going out to a different people. 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.380 And what we see in this next story 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:30.680 is Moses continues in his character 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:33.920 of wanting to be a deliverer. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.680 He comes upon a well 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.220 and at this well, 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.280 there are women, 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.340 these girls are watering. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:42.900 And if you've ever seen the description, 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.520 this helped me see this 00:21:44.520 --> 00:21:46.220 because it's described really well 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.600 in verses 16 and 17. 00:21:47.760 --> 00:21:48.760 They drew water. 00:21:49.040 --> 00:21:50.480 So in order to water their flock, 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.600 they had to go to the well 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:54.140 and pull the water up out of the well. 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.180 And then they had to put it 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.860 in some kind of feeding trough 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:59.479 so that the sheep could then come and take it. 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.559 And what happened is 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:02.099 these shepherds would come, 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.819 let the women do all the work 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.219 to get the water ready. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.039 And then they would come 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.579 and drive off the sons of Jethro, 00:22:08.719 --> 00:22:09.539 who's also Ruel, 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.479 and drive them off 00:22:11.479 --> 00:22:13.039 and then take the water for themselves. 00:22:13.199 --> 00:22:15.699 So these girls would have to draw water twice, 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.559 once for the evil shepherds, 00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:19.000 and then they'd have to do it again 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.859 for their own thing. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.240 That's why Jethro said, 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:23.219 how is it that you're back so early? 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.359 Because usually they had to do it twice. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:30.519 Moses steps in and intervenes, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.259 and he delivers them. 00:22:32.719 --> 00:22:33.859 And you see again, 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.740 this same instinct, 00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:36.539 this same, 00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:40.119 and the storyteller is wanting us to remember, 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.979 this is the deliverer 00:22:41.979 --> 00:22:43.740 that God saved from the water. 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:45.399 This is the deliverer 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:48.039 that God protected in the palace of Egypt. 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:49.659 This is the deliverer 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:51.179 that God is going to use. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:53.700 But right now, 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:56.779 he's on the backside of nowhere. 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:01.220 And not only is he on the backside of nowhere, 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.380 but God is providing in ways 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:05.259 it looks like he's going to settle in there. 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.080 He isn't just there, 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:08.180 and they say, 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.539 hey, that's great, thanks. 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.700 Why don't you have a cup of water 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.600 and be on your way? 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:14.100 They say, come, eat with us. 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:18.480 Come, take my daughter as your wife. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.839 Come, bear children. 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.640 I'm going to give you a livelihood. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.319 I'm going to give you a home. 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:25.480 I'm going to give you everything you need 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.700 to settle in. 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:34.480 The story seems to have hit a dead end. 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:37.740 How is God's deliverance 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.480 and God's deliverer 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:41.059 going to do anything for God's people 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:44.000 while he's watching a bunch of smelly sheep 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.480 on the backside of nowhere 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:50.000 settling in to raise his family? 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:55.400 And the literary form of this is beautiful 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.799 because it leads you to this 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:59.559 dead end of the plot line, 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:02.559 except, look with me at verse 22. 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.920 The son that was born 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:08.599 to Moses and Zipporah, 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:10.319 the one who probably would have, 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.720 in human terms, 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.680 nailed the, 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:14.720 put the last nail in the coffin of, 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:16.400 okay, I am now a Midianite. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.740 I'm going to stay here forever. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:20.960 God has taken me out of whatever happened before 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.980 and he's got me here 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.120 and this is where I'm going to be. 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:28.220 But Moses names him Gershom, 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.100 which sounds like, 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.519 I've been, 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:35.259 sounds like the Hebrew word sojourner. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.360 Moses indicates that even then, 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:43.439 even though the whole flow of the plot line 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:46.699 is Moses the deliverer being sidelined, 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:50.379 led into a dead end where there's no way out, 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.679 Moses himself still has this sense. 00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:57.039 This is not my home 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.419 and these are not my people. 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.679 I'm just here a while. 00:25:00.939 --> 00:25:02.379 That's what it means to be a sojourner. 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:04.000 I'm just here for a while 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:09.140 because my people are back in Egypt 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:12.000 and my true home, 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.579 well, 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:15.559 Moses has yet to find where his true home will be. 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.500 He's living in exile, 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.240 both from the home he grew up in 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.400 and from the people that he identified with. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:28.799 So he too is living in this place of uncertainty 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.500 with unexpected twists. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:33.299 No, it never says it. 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.839 It's possible Moses himself 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.400 was asking the question, 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:39.279 God, what are you going to do here? 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.180 I know I belong somewhere else, 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.640 but what are you going to do here? 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.380 And the narrator, 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.140 in a brilliant narrative form, 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.619 then leaves us there. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:53.799 Leaves Moses on the backside of nowhere, 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.960 raising his family and raising his sheep 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.900 in the household of Jethro 00:25:57.900 --> 00:26:00.440 and makes a turn. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.960 Moses will be there for 40 years, 00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:07.060 according to Acts. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.820 Again, I want to ask, 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.400 stop, 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:15.040 just ask a question for a minute. 00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:17.160 How hard is it to wait 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:19.180 for God's deliverance in our lives? 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.480 When we're facing a hard situation, 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.820 when we're looking at something 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.380 and we think, 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:26.280 God, I don't know how to get out of this. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.960 I don't know what it's going to look like. 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:30.019 I don't see how you could ever 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.119 redeem this situation. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.720 I've reached a dead end. 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:38.139 What areas of your life 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:39.980 are you longing for deliverance? 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.579 How long has it been? 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:45.899 Will you submit your storyline 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:50.259 to the story that God has written for you? 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:53.619 Will you trust him? 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.720 Of course, you might ask, 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.160 why? 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.299 Why would I trust him? 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.400 If you were Moses, 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.059 you'd think, 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.259 okay, God, I don't get it. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.619 I don't see you, 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:09.440 and I'm here for a long time 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.980 wondering what the heck you're doing. 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.180 We feel that way too. 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:18.360 But the narrator knows this, 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.600 and he set us up 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:22.160 for verses 23 through 25, 00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:24.680 because having walked 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:26.460 this unexpected path 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:29.279 where deliverance has been delayed 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:31.000 and seemingly derailed, 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:33.680 we then come to the end of the story, 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:36.299 and the narrator helps us turn the corner 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:38.299 to see why we should trust God 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.880 even in the middle of it. 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:43.140 Because what we see in verse 23 through 25 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:47.100 is the unexpected God of deliverance revealed. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:53.080 If it were a movie, 00:27:53.260 --> 00:27:56.820 the lens changes from Midian back to Egypt. 00:27:57.800 --> 00:28:01.040 But the story there doesn't look good either, does it? 00:28:01.260 --> 00:28:02.820 It's actually gotten worse. 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:04.780 In two verses, 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:08.960 the writer uses terms 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:11.639 for groaning and crying out twice. 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.639 It's not the same term. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.339 There are actually four different words 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.160 that are used here 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:18.139 to describe the plight 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:20.279 of God's people in Israel, 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.379 or God's people, 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.799 the Israelites in Egypt. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.819 They are enslaved. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.940 They are oppressed. 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.599 They are groaning 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:30.420 under the weight of their oppression. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:32.500 And they are crying out, 00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.660 please help us. 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:37.359 Please save us. 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.859 The narrator says, 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:42.639 a new Pharaoh has risen up. 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:45.039 Maybe that leaves the door open 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.220 for Moses to come back. 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:51.299 But the people, meanwhile, 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:54.680 just as Moses had gone off to a dead end, 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.819 the one thing they knew 00:28:57.819 --> 00:29:00.879 that God had delivered this one baby boy 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:03.180 who maybe could be their deliverer, 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.759 he's now gone. 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:06.460 For a generation, 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.539 40 years, 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.399 he's gone. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.119 But God is not gone. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.160 And you see, 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:17.819 for the first time in Exodus, 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.599 oh, there are a few mentions of God 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.720 in chapter one 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:24.099 as he relates to the Israelite midwives 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.220 and how they rescued 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:27.000 some of the Hebrew boys. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.380 but really for the first time, 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.539 for the first time, 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:34.680 God becomes a major actor in the story. 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.759 And it's such a striking thing. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.640 If you read this with literary eyes, 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.839 it's such a striking thing 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:42.460 because 23 talks about the slavery 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.740 and the groaning and the crying. 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:45.019 At the very end, 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:47.660 it says that the cry of rescue for slavery 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:49.119 came up to God. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:51.779 And it's not as if God had never heard it before. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.639 It's not as if God was deaf 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:55.819 and suddenly decided that he would listen 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:58.220 or that he was somehow unable to hear 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.059 and now he was. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.879 But what it means is that God 00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.879 in his perfect timing 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:03.779 was now willing to pay attention. 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.639 God was now willing to hear 00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:09.180 and respond in a particular way. 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.740 He was now, 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.339 in his timing, 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.440 going to engage with their cries 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.619 and with their situation. 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:17.559 And there are four action verbs 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:19.759 in verses 24 and 25 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.979 that are beautiful 00:30:20.979 --> 00:30:23.899 because of what they tell us about God. 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.819 Verse 24, 00:30:25.959 --> 00:30:27.779 and God heard their groaning. 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.759 It wasn't just that he heard the thing 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.719 for the first time, 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.419 but that he was, 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:35.459 his ears were open to them 00:30:35.459 --> 00:30:36.979 and he engaged with them 00:30:36.979 --> 00:30:39.279 on the basis of what he heard. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:42.859 And not only did he hear their cries, 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:45.079 but he remembered. 00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:47.599 He remembered his covenant. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.019 Now this does not mean 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.039 that God has forgotten. 00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.979 It doesn't mean that God thought, 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.959 oh gosh, that's right, 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:55.019 that thing with Abraham. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.259 What did I say? 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.459 Oh right, 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.939 about a people and a land 00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:00.859 and a, yeah. 00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.379 Oh, I gotta go back 00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:03.519 and look that up in Genesis 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.059 so I remember what that's about. 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:08.439 God didn't forget. 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.359 But what it means 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.719 is that God remembers 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.880 in a way that is now 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.339 moving him to action. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.759 God is remembering the promises 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:18.519 that the descendants of Abraham 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:20.579 would be blessed by God 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:22.180 and be a blessing to the world. 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.579 That he would make them 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:25.059 into a great nation. 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.559 That he would deliver them 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:28.100 into a promised land 00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:29.079 where they would enjoy 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:31.120 all the bounty and the fruit 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.900 and the blessing 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:33.680 of being his people. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.700 And he would be their God 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.539 and through them 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.720 he would display 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:40.360 his glory to all the world 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.740 that the nations would come 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.539 and know what a great God, 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:45.000 the God of the Hebrews is. 00:31:46.179 --> 00:31:47.299 This is the covenant 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.619 that he promised them. 00:31:48.979 --> 00:31:50.839 That he would do these things. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.740 And they are as far from it 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.679 as you can imagine. 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.379 They're an enslaved people 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.479 in a foreign land. 00:31:56.939 --> 00:31:59.199 But God remembered that covenant 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.779 and is ready now to act. 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:06.860 25 keeps going about who God is. 00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:08.299 Because he doesn't just hear 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.519 and he doesn't just remember. 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.180 But he sees. 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.180 Maybe you know what it's like 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:16.680 when someone sees you 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.620 in your situation 00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.680 with understanding. 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.740 Where someone gets 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:23.580 the depth of your trial. 00:32:24.580 --> 00:32:26.460 The hardness and the pain 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:28.000 that you've endured and suffered. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.640 the confusion 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.859 and the questions 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:32.900 that have run through your brain. 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.500 What it's like 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:37.619 when someone really sees you. 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.839 This is what this means here. 00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:42.420 Just like Hagar 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.880 as she fled from Abraham 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.920 and Sarah 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:46.319 after their failed attempt 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.660 to fulfill God's promises 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.720 in their own way. 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.640 As she fled into the wilderness 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:52.480 thinking she was going to die there. 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.640 She met with God. 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.099 El Roy. 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:59.019 The God who sees. 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:03.079 The God who will look after her. 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:08.480 God who sees and acts 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:10.719 on their behalf. 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:12.059 And then finally 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.639 God doesn't just see them 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:15.000 but he knows them. 00:33:15.699 --> 00:33:17.279 Maybe you all know this already 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.000 but if you don't 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.919 you should know this. 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.719 The Hebrew word to know 00:33:20.719 --> 00:33:21.699 is not simply 00:33:21.699 --> 00:33:23.519 capacity for intellectual 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.099 understanding. 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.899 understanding. 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:26.319 It is not simply 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.119 gathering more information. 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.299 Knowing in Hebrew 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.699 is almost always 00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:33.079 a relational term. 00:33:33.439 --> 00:33:34.439 It is used 00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:35.819 for a deep intimacy 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.819 of knowledge. 00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:38.539 Usually with people 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.399 that has this 00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:40.959 sense of connection. 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.419 It's used 00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:43.279 for what happens 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.240 when a husband and wife 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.159 come together 00:33:45.159 --> 00:33:46.099 physically 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.819 and in all other ways 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.500 in union 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.279 in marriage. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:51.019 that they know 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.819 one another. 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.639 And after we've seen 00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:58.000 God take his people 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.139 and his deliverer 00:33:59.139 --> 00:34:00.399 on a very unexpected 00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:01.019 journey 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.319 to seemingly 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.279 a dead end 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:05.879 the writer of the story 00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:06.440 comes back 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.019 and he says 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.519 God knows. 00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:10.340 God knows 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.159 what he is doing 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.079 and he is intimately 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.639 connected 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:14.079 with his people 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.199 through it all 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.539 and he is now 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.739 ready to act. 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.159 Deliverance 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:20.799 is on 00:34:20.799 --> 00:34:21.839 the way 00:34:21.839 --> 00:34:23.119 because God 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.719 is now 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.759 ready to act. 00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:26.099 He has not 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.119 forgotten his people 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.399 or his deliverer 00:34:28.399 --> 00:34:29.939 and Nick 00:34:29.939 --> 00:34:30.779 will have the privilege 00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.500 of telling us 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.179 how God is going 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:32.899 to show up 00:34:32.899 --> 00:34:34.559 and turn the corner 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.919 in this grand story. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:41.200 Friends 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:41.960 as we walk 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.760 through our paths 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.340 of life 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.400 and when we go 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.220 through the periods 00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:46.059 where we wonder 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:47.000 whether God 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.539 has led us 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.360 to a dead end 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.180 and we wonder 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.119 and cry out 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.200 and groan 00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:51.800 to him 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:54.099 about our situation 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:56.800 it is God's character 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.039 that he has not 00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.500 forgotten 00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.559 or abandoned us 00:34:59.559 --> 00:34:59.960 that is 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.860 the basis 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.599 of our hope. 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:03.579 When it seems 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.539 like God is absent 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.440 when we can't 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.420 see his plan 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.960 when we can't 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:08.700 see his hand 00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:09.340 at work 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:11.579 when it feels 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.519 like our current 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.440 place of suffering 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.380 is not only that 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.679 but it is in obscurity 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:18.099 we wonder 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.980 why God's plans 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:20.019 are so strange. 00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.659 Friends 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.280 the reason 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:25.200 why God's plans 00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:26.000 are so strange 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.700 is simply 00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:27.519 this 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:30.800 God doesn't 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.220 work 00:35:31.220 --> 00:35:32.940 in this story 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.119 so that we would 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.400 think 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.420 Moses is going 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.220 to be the great 00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:36.940 deliverer 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.440 of Israel 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:41.420 this story 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.280 God takes 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:42.720 Moses 00:35:42.720 --> 00:35:43.320 on this 00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:44.019 unexpected 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.639 journey 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.440 because he wants 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.099 to remind 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.579 Moses 00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:49.019 and his people 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.619 that Moses 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.440 is not the 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.099 deliverer 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:52.860 of his people 00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.320 God 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:54.940 is the 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.599 deliverer 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.380 of his people 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.420 God 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.300 is the main 00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:58.820 character 00:35:58.820 --> 00:35:59.940 in this story 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.659 God 00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.300 is the 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:01.820 savior 00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:03.000 of his people 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.760 and he 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.300 is doing 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:04.900 all of 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.639 these things 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.539 so that 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.320 we would 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.119 see and 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.539 know 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.860 this God 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.480 as our 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.219 deliverer 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:11.860 and that we 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.340 would not 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.019 fall into 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.780 the oh so 00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.880 human desire 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.860 that someone 00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:16.739 else would be 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.300 our savior 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:17.900 and someone 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.639 else would be 00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.400 our deliverer 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.059 and that some 00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:21.059 human agent 00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:22.280 can step in 00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:22.980 and actually 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.820 fix our 00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.400 story 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.580 and change 00:36:25.580 --> 00:36:26.300 our trajectory 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:27.120 and rescue 00:36:27.120 --> 00:36:27.620 us from 00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:28.180 dead ends 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:28.560 and from 00:36:28.560 --> 00:36:29.260 obscurity 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:33.460 Moses 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.480 has 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:35.420 characteristics 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.380 of how 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:36.820 God's 00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.300 deliverance 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:37.580 is going 00:36:37.580 --> 00:36:37.920 to look 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.200 like 00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.019 he has 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.720 instincts 00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:40.360 to deliver 00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:40.840 he has 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.800 a courage 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.660 to identify 00:36:43.660 --> 00:36:44.260 with his 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:44.700 people 00:36:44.700 --> 00:36:48.840 but even 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.280 then 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:50.160 even in 00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:50.820 this story 00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.700 part of 00:36:51.700 --> 00:36:52.019 what we 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:52.400 see 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.580 is a 00:36:53.580 --> 00:36:54.280 storyteller 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.920 telling the 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.180 story 00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:55.559 so we 00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:55.860 say 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.900 oh it's 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.280 God 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:57.500 who's 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.760 going to 00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:58.140 deliver 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:58.800 not 00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.360 Moses 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:00.320 and we 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:00.700 know 00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:01.519 more broadly 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:01.980 from the 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.480 storyline 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.480 of the 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:03.840 Bible 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:05.000 that Moses 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.559 though he 00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.300 delivered his 00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:07.059 people from 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.640 Egypt 00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:08.519 did not 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.160 deliver his 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:09.580 people 00:37:09.580 --> 00:37:10.620 from sin 00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.800 Moses 00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:12.580 delivered his 00:37:12.580 --> 00:37:13.180 people to 00:37:13.180 --> 00:37:13.559 the brink 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:13.820 of the 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.200 promised 00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:14.660 land 00:37:14.660 --> 00:37:15.260 and yet 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:15.620 his 00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:16.180 failures 00:37:16.180 --> 00:37:17.000 and his 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.480 weaknesses 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.059 and his 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.460 sin 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:19.019 and the 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.500 sin of the 00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:19.800 people 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.420 continued 00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:20.800 and they 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.159 grumbled 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.900 and complained 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.539 and did 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.119 not trust 00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:23.440 God 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:24.079 even after 00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:24.360 he had 00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:24.539 done 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.079 great 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:25.519 things 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.119 for them 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:28.619 because 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.159 in the 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:29.700 grand 00:37:29.700 --> 00:37:30.139 plan 00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.780 of God's 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.460 deliverance 00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:32.460 even 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.039 this 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.300 was a 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.019 signpost 00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.800 pointing ahead 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:36.360 to something 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:36.780 greater 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.500 even 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.000 these 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.400 acts 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:38.559 of 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.079 deliverance 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.240 are 00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:39.519 pointing 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.079 ahead 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.740 to 00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.159 one 00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:41.760 greater 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:42.500 than 00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:43.059 Moses 00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:45.360 friends 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.039 it points 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.480 us to 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.019 Jesus 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:49.280 Jesus 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.639 who 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:49.880 was 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:50.239 saved 00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:51.000 miraculously 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:51.719 at birth 00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:53.380 Jesus 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:53.739 who 00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.099 lived 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.500 30 00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:54.920 years 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.119 in 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:55.759 obscurity 00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:56.179 as a 00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:56.659 carpenter 00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:59.659 Jesus 00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:01.920 who 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:03.320 at the 00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:03.619 very 00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.059 beginning 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.639 of his 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:05.059 ministry 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:06.239 when it 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:06.800 looked like 00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:07.079 he was 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.739 going to 00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:08.480 blast 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:08.900 out 00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:09.739 in his 00:38:09.739 --> 00:38:10.239 baptism 00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:10.900 and start 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.360 his big 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:11.699 public 00:38:11.699 --> 00:38:12.119 ministry 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:12.579 instead 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.119 was sent 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.599 into the 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:13.960 wilderness 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:17.599 but more 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:18.220 than that 00:38:18.220 --> 00:38:19.900 Jesus 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.519 who came 00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.220 to identify 00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:23.440 with us 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.780 with humanity 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.940 who took 00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:26.460 on flesh 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:26.940 and blood 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:27.619 to identify 00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.400 with us 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:30.300 to take 00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:30.860 on flesh 00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.519 and blood 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.039 he who 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.659 bore 00:38:33.659 --> 00:38:35.159 our sin 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.780 he who 00:38:35.780 --> 00:38:36.500 did not 00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:36.900 sin 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:37.300 but who 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.679 bore 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:38.360 our sin 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:38.940 in 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.559 identification 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.639 with us 00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.720 forsaking 00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:42.599 as Philippians 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:42.980 says 00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.820 the privilege 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:44.640 and the 00:38:44.640 --> 00:38:44.920 honor 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:45.600 that was 00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:46.080 his 00:38:46.080 --> 00:38:46.820 in heaven 00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:48.600 to be 00:38:48.600 --> 00:38:49.539 the equal 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.200 of God 00:38:50.200 --> 00:38:51.100 he 00:38:51.100 --> 00:38:51.760 forsook 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.519 those 00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.340 privileges 00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.420 to take 00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:55.059 on human 00:38:55.059 --> 00:38:55.400 flesh 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:55.780 and blood 00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:56.539 to identify 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.400 with us 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:58.120 so that 00:38:58.120 --> 00:38:58.760 he might 00:38:58.760 --> 00:38:59.380 be our 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:00.200 deliverer 00:39:00.200 --> 00:39:01.039 and he 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.820 delivered us 00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:02.780 from slavery 00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:04.260 to sin 00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:04.860 and the 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:05.400 oppression 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:05.940 and the 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.420 wreckage 00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.680 and the 00:39:06.680 --> 00:39:07.100 pain 00:39:07.100 --> 00:39:07.680 and the 00:39:07.680 --> 00:39:08.080 suffering 00:39:08.080 --> 00:39:08.660 that sin 00:39:08.660 --> 00:39:09.160 causes 00:39:09.160 --> 00:39:09.680 in our 00:39:09.680 --> 00:39:10.300 lives 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:12.460 and he 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.019 delivered us 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.360 from the 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:13.699 penalty 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.259 of sin 00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:14.579 and the 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:14.880 wrath 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:15.480 of God 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.500 that is 00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:16.940 rightly 00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.659 upon it 00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:18.259 because of 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:18.840 our rebellion 00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:19.679 against him 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:22.860 Jesus is a 00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.259 greater 00:39:23.259 --> 00:39:24.340 deliverer 00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:25.840 Jesus is the 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.800 certain 00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:28.099 deliverance 00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:29.780 that by his 00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:30.340 life 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.199 of perfect 00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:31.699 obedience 00:39:31.699 --> 00:39:32.360 so that he 00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:32.920 could stand 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.239 in our 00:39:33.239 --> 00:39:33.599 stead 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.619 by his 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.099 death 00:39:35.099 --> 00:39:35.679 in our 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.099 place 00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:36.800 a substitute 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:37.659 and a 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.159 sacrifice 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:39.179 for us 00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:41.199 so that 00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:41.659 the penalty 00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.199 and power 00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:42.599 of sin 00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.039 are taken 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.339 away 00:39:43.339 --> 00:39:43.659 in our 00:39:43.659 --> 00:39:44.099 lives 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:46.139 and he 00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:46.699 who rose 00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.099 from the 00:39:47.099 --> 00:39:47.419 dead 00:39:47.419 --> 00:39:48.719 so that he 00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:49.159 might be 00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.759 the ultimate 00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:50.279 victor 00:39:50.279 --> 00:39:51.079 over sin 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:51.659 and death 00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.460 in this 00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:52.819 world 00:39:52.819 --> 00:39:53.319 and in 00:39:53.319 --> 00:39:53.579 our 00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:54.139 lives 00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:56.399 this is 00:39:56.399 --> 00:39:56.899 the great 00:39:56.899 --> 00:39:57.519 deliverance 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:57.919 that we 00:39:57.919 --> 00:39:58.339 have 00:39:58.339 --> 00:40:00.139 and friends 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:01.099 we also 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:02.000 still now 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:02.879 because we 00:40:02.879 --> 00:40:03.879 still groan 00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.599 because we 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.239 still live 00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:05.559 in this 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:05.879 fallen 00:40:05.879 --> 00:40:06.399 world 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.160 because we 00:40:07.160 --> 00:40:08.059 still suffer 00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:09.019 because our 00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:09.700 lives still 00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:10.340 have many 00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:10.960 unexpected 00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:11.460 twists 00:40:11.460 --> 00:40:12.360 and turns 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:13.180 and detours 00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:14.119 when we 00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:14.740 wonder God 00:40:14.740 --> 00:40:15.360 why can't 00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:15.660 you just 00:40:15.660 --> 00:40:16.039 make the 00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:16.740 path straight 00:40:16.740 --> 00:40:17.099 and the 00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:17.420 end 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.240 easy 00:40:18.240 --> 00:40:22.260 we know 00:40:22.260 --> 00:40:22.599 that he 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:23.160 has promised 00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:23.480 that he 00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:23.820 will come 00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.160 back 00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:25.260 and he 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:26.019 who has 00:40:26.019 --> 00:40:26.460 worked 00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.200 all that 00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:27.840 is necessary 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.460 for our 00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.980 salvation 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.940 he will 00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:30.420 come back 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:30.940 and save 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:31.440 us one 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:31.740 day 00:40:31.740 --> 00:40:32.420 and we 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:32.880 not just 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.539 save us 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.160 individually 00:40:34.160 --> 00:40:34.820 but he 00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:35.340 will save 00:40:35.340 --> 00:40:35.920 this world 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.260 and he 00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:36.700 will make 00:40:36.700 --> 00:40:37.180 it new 00:40:37.180 --> 00:40:38.820 and all 00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.400 evil will 00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:40.039 be punished 00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:40.820 and all 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.340 suffering 00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.059 will end 00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:44.260 there will 00:40:44.260 --> 00:40:44.500 be no 00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:45.200 more tears 00:40:45.200 --> 00:40:46.659 no more 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:47.180 crying 00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:48.800 no more 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.300 sickness 00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:50.380 and no 00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:50.920 more death 00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:53.180 he will 00:40:53.180 --> 00:40:53.619 make all 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.280 things new 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:57.280 and so 00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:57.760 we have 00:40:57.760 --> 00:40:58.240 confidence 00:40:58.240 --> 00:40:58.920 to wait 00:40:58.920 --> 00:40:59.619 for that 00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:00.860 just as 00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.480 the Egyptians 00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.700 could look 00:41:02.700 --> 00:41:03.000 at the 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:03.320 character 00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:03.800 of God 00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:04.340 and wait 00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:05.579 for a 00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:06.300 deliverer 00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:07.220 back 00:41:07.220 --> 00:41:08.500 in their 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.019 time 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:14.120 friends 00:41:14.120 --> 00:41:14.740 God is 00:41:14.740 --> 00:41:15.340 trustworthy 00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:16.780 he is 00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.200 worth 00:41:17.200 --> 00:41:17.680 us 00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:18.300 giving 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.340 him 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:20.880 control 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:21.440 of the 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:21.900 storyline 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:22.460 of our 00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:22.960 lives 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:25.340 we can 00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:26.160 look back 00:41:26.160 --> 00:41:26.680 on the 00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:27.079 work of 00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:27.700 deliverance 00:41:27.700 --> 00:41:28.260 on Jesus 00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:28.820 Christ 00:41:28.820 --> 00:41:30.100 living 00:41:30.100 --> 00:41:30.539 dying 00:41:30.539 --> 00:41:31.100 and rising 00:41:31.100 --> 00:41:31.559 again 00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:32.159 and know 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.840 for certain 00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:33.779 that this 00:41:33.779 --> 00:41:34.079 is the 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:34.420 character 00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:34.739 of the 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:34.980 God 00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.340 that we 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:35.639 have been 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:35.940 called 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.500 to know 00:41:36.500 --> 00:41:36.880 and to 00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.259 trust 00:41:37.259 --> 00:41:40.179 if you're 00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:40.599 here this 00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:40.920 morning 00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:41.340 and you 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:41.960 haven't 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:43.179 put your 00:41:43.179 --> 00:41:43.699 trust in 00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:44.239 this God 00:41:44.239 --> 00:41:45.340 or if you're 00:41:45.340 --> 00:41:45.759 here this 00:41:45.759 --> 00:41:46.059 morning 00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:46.380 and you 00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:46.559 are 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.199 struggling 00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:50.039 I call 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:50.320 you 00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:51.440 to think 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.579 that the 00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.099 God who 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:53.519 leads you 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.299 on unexpected 00:41:54.299 --> 00:41:54.980 paths 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:57.059 and what 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:57.759 seem like 00:41:57.759 --> 00:41:58.340 dead end 00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:58.840 roads 00:41:58.840 --> 00:42:00.539 he has 00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:00.760 not 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:01.180 forgotten 00:42:01.180 --> 00:42:01.480 you 00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.460 and he's 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:02.820 calling 00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:03.240 you to 00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:03.559 him 00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:05.600 to trust 00:42:05.600 --> 00:42:05.920 him 00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:06.480 to put 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:06.980 your faith 00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:07.440 in him 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:08.340 to know 00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:08.660 that what 00:42:08.660 --> 00:42:09.039 he's done 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:09.460 in Jesus 00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:09.960 is for 00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.260 you 00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:12.440 let's 00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:12.740 pray 00:42:12.740 --> 00:42:23.100 Lord we 00:42:23.100 --> 00:42:23.460 thank you 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.000 this morning 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.480 for this 00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:24.840 passage 00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:25.280 and we 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:25.620 thank you 00:42:25.620 --> 00:42:25.960 for your 00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.320 word 00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:27.880 Lord and 00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:28.240 how it 00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:28.760 points us 00:42:28.760 --> 00:42:29.280 to you 00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:31.020 Lord I 00:42:31.020 --> 00:42:31.440 do pray 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:31.820 that by 00:42:31.820 --> 00:42:32.360 your spirit 00:42:32.360 --> 00:42:32.760 you would 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.160 help us 00:42:33.160 --> 00:42:33.660 to see 00:42:33.660 --> 00:42:34.120 you as 00:42:34.120 --> 00:42:34.540 you really 00:42:34.540 --> 00:42:34.900 are 00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:35.980 and Lord 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.280 you would 00:42:36.280 --> 00:42:36.600 give us 00:42:36.600 --> 00:42:37.140 hope this 00:42:37.140 --> 00:42:37.500 morning 00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:39.820 Lord I 00:42:39.820 --> 00:42:40.260 do pray 00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:40.560 that you 00:42:40.560 --> 00:42:41.100 would strengthen 00:42:41.100 --> 00:42:41.640 our faith 00:42:41.640 --> 00:42:42.260 today as we 00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:42.900 look at this 00:42:42.900 --> 00:42:44.080 passage 00:42:44.080 --> 00:42:45.700 Lord that we 00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:46.120 would know 00:42:46.120 --> 00:42:46.760 you to be a 00:42:46.760 --> 00:42:47.140 God who 00:42:47.140 --> 00:42:48.000 hears and a 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:48.380 God who 00:42:48.380 --> 00:42:49.020 remembers 00:42:49.020 --> 00:42:50.120 a God who 00:42:50.120 --> 00:42:51.260 sees and a 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.620 God who 00:42:51.620 --> 00:42:52.560 knows us 00:42:52.560 --> 00:42:54.220 and a God 00:42:54.220 --> 00:42:55.300 who being 00:42:55.300 --> 00:42:56.100 all of those 00:42:56.100 --> 00:42:56.580 things 00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:58.759 has done 00:42:58.759 --> 00:43:00.000 what is 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.699 necessary 00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:01.599 in Jesus 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:02.279 for us 00:43:02.279 --> 00:43:02.659 to be 00:43:02.659 --> 00:43:03.099 delivered 00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:04.799 to be 00:43:04.799 --> 00:43:05.119 delivered 00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:05.779 unto you 00:43:05.779 --> 00:43:06.219 Lord 00:43:06.219 --> 00:43:08.279 Lord we 00:43:08.279 --> 00:43:08.819 pray that you 00:43:08.819 --> 00:43:09.900 would help us 00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:10.420 this morning 00:43:10.420 --> 00:43:11.079 to have that 00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:11.539 confidence 00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:12.619 we pray this 00:43:12.619 --> 00:43:13.000 in Jesus 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:13.440 name 00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:14.659 amen