WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:12.540 Amen. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:20.640 That song's a beautiful retelling of the story that we're actually looking at in Exodus this 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:20.980 morning. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:29.140 It's another story of God's redemption, but it's not just one more story. 00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:35.539 As we look through several of them together this summer, this is the foundational, the 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:40.320 prototypical story for God's Old Testament people. 00:00:40.579 --> 00:00:47.579 The story they tell over and over in so many ways about their redeeming God. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:54.219 I remember as a kid memorizing the midnight ride of Paul Revere. 00:00:54.219 --> 00:01:00.479 I'm learning about the Boston Tea Party and the events surrounding that. 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:07.579 Hearing about that famous Patrick Henry speech, give me liberty or give me death. 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:11.359 And I heard those stories over and over. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:15.879 They're passed down to our kids, right? 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:17.680 We learn about them. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:23.720 They're stories that defined and shaped a nation that was built on freedom, right? 00:01:25.240 --> 00:01:26.880 We tell them over and over. 00:01:27.520 --> 00:01:29.600 We pass them down through the generations. 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:35.800 We share them to give our kids heroes to look up to. 00:01:36.940 --> 00:01:41.860 Well, the stories that functioned like that for God's people were those of the Exodus. 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:51.239 When they were freed from slavery in Egypt by their hero, Yahweh, their redeeming God. 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:55.439 Let me pray for us and then we'll enter into this story together. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:01.519 Father, we love these stories. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:03.980 We're thankful for them. 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:10.259 Even more than that, we love you, God, our Father. 00:02:11.420 --> 00:02:13.219 The one who cares for us. 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:15.520 The one who teaches us by his Spirit. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:20.860 And so we ask that you this morning would show us more of yourself. 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:22.759 Not just a story. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:25.900 But show us you, Father. 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:28.939 We ask it in Jesus' name. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:30.259 Amen. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:30.379 Amen. 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:30.460 Amen. 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:39.199 I want you to actually experience being a part of this story that many of you have probably heard before. 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:41.639 So I want to ask you to do something this morning. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:43.919 If you'll close your eyes for just a minute. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:48.780 You won't have to keep them closed the whole sermon unless you enjoy sleeping through my sermons. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:56.620 But as you have your eyes closed, imagine yourself as one of the Israelites in ancient Egypt. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:06.099 Whoever you are, a young woman, an older man, a young child, a parent, a grandparent. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:12.939 There you are in Egypt in your sandals and your cloak. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:18.580 There's dust all around blowing through the air. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:22.480 It's under your fingernails and all over. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:32.099 Day after day, you wake up to make bricks again under the baking sun. 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:36.179 It's almost like making sandcastles for your kids at the beach. 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:38.560 But no, it's not like that. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:39.479 Lose that picture. 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:41.199 It's very different from that. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:42.439 You're not smiling. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:48.400 You're not free to go inside and cool off. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:55.780 Your Egyptian captors are cruel and harsh and you're forced to work even when your body aches. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:00.120 As far as you can remember, it's always been like this. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:06.579 Day after day, year after year, your parents and your grandparents for generation after generation, 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:08.439 they tell the same stories. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:10.259 This is what you've done. 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:15.439 You've heard perhaps about a God, Yahweh. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:23.079 He loves you, has promises for you, you've been told, but they seem like a distant fairy tale. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:25.920 Perhaps just stories to make you feel better. 00:04:27.039 --> 00:04:31.740 You've never seen anything remarkable or certainly not miraculous. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:40.660 Just day after day after day, slaving away in the hot Egyptian desert. 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:50.040 But one day this man shows up claiming to have talked with Yahweh and saying he's going to lead you out of Egypt to God's promised land. 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.120 And you and the rest of your friends ignore him. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.480 Oh, come on, stop messing with us. 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:56.660 Stop teasing us. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:06.199 Exodus 6 says they wouldn't listen to him because the harsh slavery had broken their spirits. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:11.079 You've lost hope in God. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:17.139 Is that part of the story easier for some of you to picture, perhaps? 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:21.399 You can open your eyes if you haven't already. 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:26.459 Some of you are very, very patient with me and you kept your eyes closed that whole time. 00:05:27.599 --> 00:05:32.620 But keep thinking of yourself through this sermon as that Israelite. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:36.740 What happens after you laugh him off? 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:41.100 Moses leaves and heads over to Pharaoh and the plagues begin, right? 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:44.280 This is Exodus 7-10. 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:49.379 Over the next few weeks, the break from the normalcy of your life is incredible. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:52.800 You experience things you've never seen or imagined before. 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:59.259 The powerful Nile River is turned to blood before your eyes. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:07.339 Frogs, then gnats, then flies, later locusts covering Egypt. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:12.959 Hail like you've never seen before coming hour after hour. 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:22.659 And time after time, you just marvel as Yahweh displays his unrivaled power over creation. 00:06:23.659 --> 00:06:29.000 And over all the other Egyptian gods you've heard about. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:33.599 Of course, turning the Nile to blood takes a swipe at Egyptian power. 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:35.719 But so does some of the other plagues. 00:06:36.099 --> 00:06:37.399 Especially the ninth one. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:42.259 Three days of darkness covering the land. 00:06:43.599 --> 00:06:46.599 A land supposedly ruled by Ra. 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.500 The God of the sun. 00:06:49.659 --> 00:06:57.039 The highest Egyptian god who can do absolutely nothing about the darkness. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:03.800 You see firsthand Yahweh's mighty hand and outstretched arm. 00:07:04.140 --> 00:07:13.100 The plagues themselves are a series of remarkable events that you're going to talk about and tell your children about for generations to come. 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:15.420 For the rest of your life, you're going to remember. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:24.300 And you respond with awe and full of just amazement and humility. 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:32.580 How amazingly powerful and glorious and utterly unique is our God. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:34.300 There's nobody like this. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:39.040 How small and weak must we be compared to Him? 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:50.540 But then there's a final plague that shows you that this powerful God is not just powerful out there somewhere, 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.400 but He's worthy of your exclusive trust. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:08:06.019 I want to suggest as Professor D.A. Carson does that you imagine yourself in a conversation with another Israelite the day before the first Passover. 00:08:07.359 --> 00:08:10.339 You can be the fearful one or the confident one. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:11.539 Either way is fine. 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:14.239 The fearful one says, 00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:16.500 Hey, how are you feeling about tonight? 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:19.719 And the friend says, 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:21.560 Tonight? What do you mean? 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:25.180 Well, the first one says, 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:26.600 I'm pretty anxious. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:30.360 The death of the firstborn, it sounds pretty scary. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:37.740 I mean, there's been some pretty strange stuff around here lately with all the flies and locusts and the hail. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:41.759 I'm just pretty nervous about this whole angel of death thing. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.659 I mean, I love my kids. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:49.120 Well, didn't you kill a lamb? 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:53.740 And put the blood on your doorposts like Yahweh told you to do? 00:08:54.839 --> 00:08:56.959 Well, yeah, of course I did. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.579 But I'm just saying I won't be sleeping much tonight. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:02.120 This Yahweh seems pretty powerful. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:05.799 And I'm still pretty fearful about how that plays out for me. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.059 And your friend says, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:09.980 Well, I've got to tell you, I'm going to sleep well. 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:11.740 Yahweh told us what to do. 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:13.519 I've done it and I trust Him. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.340 We've got nothing to worry about. 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:22.819 Now fast forward to the next morning after Passover has happened. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.500 Let me ask you a question. 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:28.980 Which one of those, you or your friend, which one lost his firstborn son? 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.939 Neither, right? 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:34.460 Neither. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:35.079 Why? 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:40.340 The angel of death passes over every one of those Israelite homes. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:40.879 Why? 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:46.379 Because one family had a really strong faith and always trusted God and never wavered? 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:51.179 Because there were no doubts and fears present in that home? 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:52.220 No! 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:52.860 Why? 00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:57.500 Because of the blood of the Lamb. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:03.000 Put the blood of the Lamb on the doorway and death will pass right over. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.720 It's the blood of the Lamb. 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.399 And so you wake up and you're all alive. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.000 And you're rejoicing. 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:12.399 You're celebrating with your friends and neighbors in the streets. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.159 And then you hear something else. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:15.139 You're leaving Egypt. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:19.279 All of you peck quickly. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:20.759 You plunder the Egyptians. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.639 You walk out of captivity together. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:25.699 Thanks not to your great ingenuity. 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:28.860 Not because of your power. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:34.639 But because of a God you've learned you can trust. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:39.639 He redeems you from a situation you thought you would never escape. 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:47.139 Kids, maybe some of this Passover stuff is a little bit confusing to you. 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.879 What that means and how that works. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:57.120 And that's okay because it will help you imagine what it would have been like to be a six-year-old or an eight-year-old or a ten-year-old. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:06.659 That first Passover and all of a sudden instead of waking up in Egypt every day as a slave your life changes overnight. 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:11.799 Everything is different and you don't really understand what's going on. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:22.120 And the fact that you would be confused or wouldn't understand is one of the main reasons why God tells us to keep telling this story. 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:27.899 The Passover actually becomes a new first month for God's people. 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:29.820 This is the beginning of chapter 12 now. 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:31.899 Their whole year has changed. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.139 In the first month they're going to celebrate what happened. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:39.700 Every year a celebration to remember this special night where they walked out of Egypt. 00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:42.919 Why are we doing this each year? 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.340 You might ask your parents, right? 00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:48.960 Why do we have this big celebration each year? 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.620 Exodus 12 at verse 24. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:56.840 You shall observe this right as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.360 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you as He has promised, you shall keep this service. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:06.100 And when your children say to you, what do you mean by this service? 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.440 What's going on? 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:12.399 You shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:21.480 For He passed over the houses of the people of Israel and Egypt when He struck the Egyptians but spared our houses. 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:27.460 Parents would tell their kids, we are free people. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:37.160 No longer slaves in Egypt, not because we were wise, not because we were well organized, not because we had great heroes, 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:42.320 but because Yahweh is a redeeming God. 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:45.139 The hero of our story. 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.400 Our deliverer. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.299 For even in our darkest days, nothing could stop Him. 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.740 He redeemed us. 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:56.120 He showed us that we could trust Him and that we must trust Him alone. 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:59.279 No other God was even close to Him. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:00.799 And not even ourselves. 00:13:00.939 --> 00:13:02.779 We could never have done what He did. 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:06.679 That's what Passover is about, kids. 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:10.659 And something else happens that day. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:16.819 Perhaps as you're hurriedly packing your bags or beginning to walk out of Egypt, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:19.919 all of a sudden Moses stands up front again. 00:13:20.979 --> 00:13:23.879 Chapter 13, verse 11. 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.759 Moses says, 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:30.299 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your forefathers, 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.500 and shall give it to you, 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:35.899 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:40.519 All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be Yahweh's. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.299 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.700 or if you'll not redeem it, you shall break its neck. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.879 Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:53.860 And when in time to come your son asks you, 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:55.679 what does this mean? 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:58.200 You shall say to him, 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:04.059 By strength of hand, Yahweh brought us out of Egypt from the house of slavery. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:07.279 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:10.299 Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:13.240 both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:18.620 Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first opened the womb, 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:21.799 but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:25.919 It shall be as a mark on your hand, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:29.060 or frontlets between your eyes. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:31.919 For by a strong hand, 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:35.379 Yahweh brought us out of Egypt. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.759 He's saying this God who delivered us 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.460 is worthy not merely of a ceremony 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:45.000 in the first month of the year, 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.879 but my wholehearted devotion 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.960 every moment of every day. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.720 Here's another thing we're to do, 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.960 Moses says, 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.360 with the goal that you'll not forget 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.039 that this will shape your life. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.740 Write it on your hand. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.379 Some of you do that with your homework. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:05.659 Why do you write yourself reminders on your hand? 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:06.799 Because you think, 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:07.879 I can't forget that, 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:10.120 and it washes off in the shower anyway sometimes. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.919 But it's supposed to be right there where you won't forget. 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.379 Why would you put something right between your eyes? 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.679 So that you'll always see it, 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.960 and always remember, 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:21.740 no matter what you're doing and where you are, 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.899 so it's always there in front of you, right? 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:27.480 Here's another thing that's going to do that. 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:31.120 Dedicate the firstborn to Yahweh. 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.139 Why? 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:37.340 Another chance to remember and tell the story 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:40.120 of which he is the hero. 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.360 I mean, imagine, 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:43.740 here you are a few years later, 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:47.120 and your family's had some tough financial years, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.279 and your cow gives birth, 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.139 finally, 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.500 to a calf. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.539 Yes! 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.699 Finally! 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:58.039 We're going to be okay in a little while. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.299 We'll be able to eat. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.740 We'll have resources. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.620 And your father says, 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.139 hey, you know what we're going to do? 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:06.560 Let's sacrifice it to the Lord. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.039 What? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.919 Why? 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.879 Come on, Dad! 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.060 Because, daughter, 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:17.419 it's even more important 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:19.460 than being financially stable 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.620 to remember, 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:23.039 we owe him everything, 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.600 and we can trust him. 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.159 When your firstborn son is born, 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.959 rather than kill him, 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.039 sacrifice a lamb 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:37.139 to redeem your son. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.879 Why? 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.819 We need that. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:41.620 Why? 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.919 Because what's way more valuable 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:45.159 than that lamb 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.039 is being defined 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.039 as a people 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.459 wholly devoted to Yahweh 00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:52.000 in all of life. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.600 Write it on my head, 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:55.000 between my eyes, 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:56.159 on my hand, 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.319 on my front door, 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.200 everywhere I go. 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.940 I must remember that. 00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.820 My children are his. 00:17:03.140 --> 00:17:04.840 My finances are his. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.740 My days and my hours are his. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.120 Oh, God, 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.920 don't let me forget who I am. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.920 How much I owe to you. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.000 May that story shape 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.360 every moment of every day. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.279 We're so excited about it. 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.220 We're so thankful. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:27.779 But the joy of God's deliverance 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.880 is short-lived for you, 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.259 isn't it? 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.860 Just a few days after 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:34.019 walking out of Egypt, 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.420 you hear something behind you. 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:36.759 It's hoofbeats. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.200 A lot of them. 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.539 There's a whole stampede 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.319 of something coming 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.500 and you look out 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.539 across the desert 00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:46.079 and you see the armies of Egypt 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.180 and horses and chariots 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.839 chasing after you 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.079 and you're stuck 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.519 between them, 00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:54.299 a faster, 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.439 stronger fighting force 00:17:56.439 --> 00:17:59.299 and the raging waters 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.299 of the Red Sea 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.839 on the other side. 00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:04.899 Deep down, 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:06.119 you knew it was too good 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.019 to be true, didn't you? 00:18:08.439 --> 00:18:09.659 Why did you let yourself 00:18:09.659 --> 00:18:10.579 get your hopes up? 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.959 I'm so angry 00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:13.720 and I'm scared. 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.679 All that can happen now, 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.659 it's just a question 00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:18.079 of whether I'm going to drown 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.339 or be killed with a sword. 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.240 Pharaoh drew near, 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.179 the people of Israel 00:18:25.179 --> 00:18:26.240 lifted up their eyes 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.039 and behold, 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.159 the Egyptians were marching 00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:28.779 after them 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:30.179 and they feared greatly 00:18:30.179 --> 00:18:31.859 and the people of Israel 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:33.559 cried out to the Lord 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.960 and said to Moses, 00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:36.519 is it because there are 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.599 no graves in Egypt 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.859 that you've taken us away 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.960 to die in the wilderness? 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.359 What have you done to us 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:43.939 in bringing us out of Egypt? 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.599 Is not this what we said 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.240 to you in Egypt? 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.299 Leave us alone 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.200 that we may serve 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.900 the Egyptians 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.400 for it would have been better 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.900 for us to serve the Egyptians 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.920 than to die 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.200 in the wilderness. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.400 Some deliverer, 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.279 this Yahweh is, 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.900 just taunting us, 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.140 made us think 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.359 something good was happening 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.259 and it's just getting worse. 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:05.059 Look around. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.200 There's no way out. 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.539 There's no way 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:11.559 Yahweh could deliver us 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.680 here. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:16.740 And Moses says, 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.480 now you're right 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.340 where Yahweh needs you to be 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:23.440 to see who He really is. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.160 Keep reading verse 13. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.799 Moses said to the people, 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.180 fear not. 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.440 Stand firm 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.240 and see the salvation 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.240 of the Lord 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.980 which He will work for you today. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.720 For the Egyptians 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.840 whom you see today 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.759 you shall never see again. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:43.480 Yahweh will fight 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.660 for you 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:46.259 and you have 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.920 only 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.700 to be silent. 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.940 You only thought 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.099 you had learned 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.240 to trust Yahweh 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.819 that Passover night. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.279 Sit back, 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:57.900 relax, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.299 watch how great 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.339 a deliverer 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.099 He is. 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:03.240 He is the redeeming God 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.319 even when you look around you 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.359 and you're sure 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.079 that He's not. 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:10.559 He can rescue 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.339 even when you look 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.419 at what's going on 00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:13.960 in your life 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.399 and say, 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.960 it can't get any worse. 00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:17.379 It could never get better. 00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.599 Nothing can rescue me. 00:20:19.679 --> 00:20:20.939 There's no hope. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.720 You know the story. 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.019 God 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.019 parts the Red Sea. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.240 Those 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.019 Israelites 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.059 who trusted 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.319 and never wavered 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.960 in their faith 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.639 walk through 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.939 on dry ground 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.779 while you 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.380 and the rest 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:36.799 of those 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.299 who grumbled 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.019 against God 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.059 are destroyed 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.799 under the waves 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.620 of the Red Sea. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.460 Nope, 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:43.820 nope, 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.420 that wasn't it. 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.620 That's not how it goes. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.460 All of you, 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.140 all of you 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:50.640 walk 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.580 and feel 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:52.660 the dry 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.460 ground 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.900 beneath your feet. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:57.420 every single 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.500 one of you, 00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.040 most of whom 00:21:00.040 --> 00:21:00.519 have just 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.420 grumbled 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.460 against God. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.300 You walk 00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:04.019 through the Red Sea 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.580 with the wind 00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.019 blowing 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.080 and the sea 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:06.600 roaring 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.460 and walls 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.380 up on either 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.300 side of you. 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.660 Can you imagine 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.140 that, 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:12.240 walking through there? 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:14.420 The miracle 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:16.200 of God's provision 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.800 and maybe 00:21:17.800 --> 00:21:18.780 what's equally 00:21:18.780 --> 00:21:19.820 remarkable to you 00:21:19.820 --> 00:21:20.200 is that 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.720 you're walking 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.440 through it. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.019 You doubted 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.720 Him yesterday. 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.140 You yelled 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:26.640 at Him. 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.540 You gave up 00:21:28.540 --> 00:21:29.080 on Him. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.080 And 00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:32.259 you still 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.200 find yourself 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.060 safe 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:34.920 in Him, 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.080 cared for 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:37.600 by Him. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.900 And it's your 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:39.280 enemies 00:21:39.280 --> 00:21:39.860 who are 00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.900 crushed 00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.380 by the waves 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.940 returning 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.680 over them. 00:21:43.780 --> 00:21:44.320 You're really 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.100 safe 00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:45.700 now. 00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:48.400 So, 00:21:48.540 --> 00:21:49.120 put yourself 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.320 there. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.580 What happens 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.320 when your foot 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:52.240 hits the ground 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.140 on the other 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.680 side 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.800 of the Red Sea? 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.960 What do you do? 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:58.060 You sing, 00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:59.040 of course. 00:22:00.040 --> 00:22:01.420 You're pent up 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.420 anxiety 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.300 and fear 00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:04.900 and just 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.120 overwhelmingly 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.320 bursts out 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:08.720 in passionate 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.420 worship 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:11.060 to Yahweh. 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:12.920 That's what 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.240 happens. 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.160 Exodus 15, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.840 Moses and the 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.600 people of Israel 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.860 sang this song 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.420 to the Lord 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.759 saying, 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.660 I will sing 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.220 to the Lord 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.640 for He 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.400 has triumphed 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.099 gloriously. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:21.960 The horse 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.619 and His rider 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.299 He has thrown 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.059 into the sea. 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.039 The Lord 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.859 is my strength 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.680 and my song 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.339 and He 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:27.879 has become 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:28.720 my salvation. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.160 This is my God 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.039 and I will praise Him. 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.039 My Father's God 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.279 and I will exalt Him. 00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.099 Your right hand, 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.400 O Lord, 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.759 glorious in power. 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.819 Your right hand, 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.160 O Lord, 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.779 shatters 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.799 the enemy. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.079 Who is like 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.500 You? 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.579 Yahweh 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:44.339 among the gods. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.319 Who is like You? 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.279 Majestic in holiness, 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.339 awesome in glorious deeds, 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.699 doing wonders. 00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:53.299 You have led 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.500 in Your steadfast love 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.000 the people 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.099 whom You have redeemed. 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.319 You have guided them 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.199 by Your strength 00:22:58.199 --> 00:22:59.459 to Your holy abode. 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.379 The Lord 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.359 will reign 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.179 forever 00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:03.379 and ever. 00:23:04.459 --> 00:23:05.279 What a song. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:08.399 What an event 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:09.379 like that 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.639 or a story 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:13.019 shapes who You are. 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.159 You sing about it. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.240 Did you know 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.559 that Happy Birthday 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.579 is the most commonly 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.859 sung song 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:24.159 probably in your whole life? 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.819 You'll sing it 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.659 more than anything else. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.179 But did you know 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:29.079 what number two is? 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.899 Anybody got any ideas? 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.639 Think. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.019 Number two, 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:36.139 most commonly sung song, 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.619 there are different studies, 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.599 there's some debate, 00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:41.199 but many studies show 00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:42.639 that for many Americans, 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.360 number two, 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:45.560 is the Star Spangled Banner. 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:48.900 Francis Scott Key's song, 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.580 of course, 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:51.040 tells the story 00:23:51.040 --> 00:23:52.620 of a key battle 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.280 for freedom. 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.460 This song's written 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:56.140 200 years ago, right? 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.040 It's a battle 00:23:57.040 --> 00:23:57.700 he witnessed 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.100 in 1814 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.060 from a ship 00:24:00.060 --> 00:24:01.480 in Baltimore Harbor 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.940 where by the dawn's 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.740 early light 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.980 he saw a flag 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.080 waving over 00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.940 Fort McHenry 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.840 and he felt confident 00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:10.279 and proud 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.240 that America 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.980 would continue 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.120 to be the land 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.840 of the free 00:24:13.840 --> 00:24:15.039 and the home 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.519 of the brave. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.420 And that song, 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:20.299 200 years after that, 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.960 has so defined 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.680 and shaped 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.340 the identity 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:24.000 of a nation 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.039 that we sing it a lot, 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.460 don't we? 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.860 We can't even have 00:24:26.860 --> 00:24:27.620 a swim meet 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.740 or a baseball game 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.680 without it. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:33.600 God gives a hymn book 00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:35.560 to his Old Testament people 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.400 that has 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.039 150 songs in it. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.140 You'd be shocked 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.220 at how many of them 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:43.140 sing about the events 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.240 of the Exodus. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.140 They're easy to find 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.920 if you want to just 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.700 search for them 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.440 this afternoon, 00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:49.279 but you could start 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.680 with Psalm 66, 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.740 76, 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.600 77, 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.340 78, 00:24:53.560 --> 00:24:54.080 106, 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.840 136, 00:24:54.840 --> 00:24:55.740 many others 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:57.820 all singing 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.379 about God's 00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.839 redeeming work 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.980 in the deliverance 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.939 from Egypt. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:05.179 This is the song 00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:06.619 that defines 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.960 God's people. 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.240 They are 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.079 blood-covered, 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:13.019 precious children 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.200 of the uniquely 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.079 powerful, 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.720 redeeming God 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.980 who is always 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:19.139 working for their good 00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:20.399 no matter how dire 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.220 things appear. 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:25.319 Is that the story 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.159 that defines 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:26.799 and shapes 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.159 your life? 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.039 Revelation tells us 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.039 that singing 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:33.419 of our redeeming God 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:34.059 is not merely 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.599 an Old Testament thing, 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.419 but something 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:37.379 that God's people 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.440 will do forever. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.180 Look at this 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.019 chapter 15, 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.779 verse 3. 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.279 They sing the song 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.039 of Moses, 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.779 the servant of God, 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.200 and the song 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.899 of the Lamb, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.759 saying, 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:47.980 great and amazing 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.799 are your deeds, 00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.599 O Lord God, 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.240 the Almighty. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.339 Just and true 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.079 are your ways, 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:53.220 O King of the nations. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.779 Who will not fear, 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.139 O Lord, 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.359 and glorify your name? 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.299 For you alone 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.839 are holy. 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.579 All nations will come 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.379 and worship you, 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.939 for your righteous acts 00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:03.679 have been revealed. 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.699 They will sing 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:06.099 the song of Moses 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:09.099 and of the Lamb. 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:11.459 It's the same song. 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.939 Because God's redemption 00:26:13.939 --> 00:26:14.699 of His people 00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.699 does one day 00:26:15.699 --> 00:26:16.819 have an event 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:18.639 that surpasses 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.919 all the remarkable events 00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:20.979 of the Exodus. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.480 Yahweh, 00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:24.160 God the Father, 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.700 sends Jesus, 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.099 His Son, 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.259 to die 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:30.220 as the Passover Lamb. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.860 1 Corinthians 5. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:35.720 His firstborn Son 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.880 dies 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:37.860 so that we 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.740 and our children 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.960 may live 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.259 and worship Him. 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.420 In other words, 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.680 the story 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.799 that gives us 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.900 our identity, 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.079 that shapes 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.980 our lives, 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.319 that we sing about, 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.519 that we tell our children 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.299 about over and over, 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:56.220 that we give our lives to 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.139 is the story 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:58.179 of Jesus. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.039 The story 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.179 where He's the hero, 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.319 where He shows Himself 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.879 worthy of our trust, 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.419 our wholehearted devotion, 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.119 our passionate worship. 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.399 The story 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.480 where that same 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.659 redeeming God 00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.899 rescues us 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:12.019 and fills us 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.879 with awe 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:14.339 and humility. 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:17.399 Can you feel yourself 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.220 in that story 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.279 a little bit more 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.919 this morning 00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:21.539 as you feel your feet 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.819 after years 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.740 of painful 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.859 servitude 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:26.859 touching that 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:28.659 soil of freedom 00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.619 on the other side 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.339 of the Red Sea? 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.779 Can you sing 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.720 verse 2 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.659 of that song? 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:36.039 The Lord is 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:37.919 my strength 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:38.759 and 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.659 my song. 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.339 He has become 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.879 my salvation. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:45.220 This is my God 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.720 and I will praise Him. 00:27:47.760 --> 00:27:48.640 My Father's God, 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.860 I will exalt Him. 00:27:50.280 --> 00:27:51.260 Do you come here 00:27:51.260 --> 00:27:51.720 weekly 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.880 and before Him 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.380 daily 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.520 to sing that 00:27:54.520 --> 00:27:55.700 in your heart? 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.520 You realize 00:27:57.520 --> 00:27:58.080 that's what we do 00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.720 as we worship? 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.160 To proclaim 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.280 to ourselves, 00:28:02.540 --> 00:28:03.320 to our children 00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:04.320 and to the world 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.880 that our primary identity 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.880 is as blood-covered, 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.340 yes, 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:11.200 even blood-bought 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.000 and therefore 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.039 precious children 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:16.019 of the redeeming God? 00:28:16.580 --> 00:28:17.340 Do you realize 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.240 that what we're doing 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.100 is we're declaring 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:20.200 to our hearts 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.779 that the redeeming God 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.860 is actually 00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.740 still working 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.600 for our good 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.779 no matter what it looks 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.580 like around us 00:28:26.580 --> 00:28:27.600 and what we're walking 00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:28.620 through on that particular 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.440 day or week? 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.660 Even when we're sure 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.259 He's stopped, 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.759 even when we've given up 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.640 hope that He 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:37.299 still is working 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.360 for us, 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:40.519 our deliverance 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.199 may not be 00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:42.339 as dramatic 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:45.039 or as visibly apparent 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.819 as the Red Sea. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.019 Israel would learn 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.500 that too. 00:28:51.199 --> 00:28:52.599 But this side 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.579 of the Red Sea 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:55.459 and the cross 00:28:55.459 --> 00:28:56.319 of Calvary, 00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:57.219 there should be 00:28:57.219 --> 00:28:58.219 no more denying 00:28:58.219 --> 00:28:59.799 that our Almighty God 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:01.519 is caring for us 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.419 and working 00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:03.639 for our good. 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.579 There should be 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.679 instead singing 00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:06.339 of it, 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.939 rejoicing in it, 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.400 trusting it 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.320 no matter what, 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.680 shaping our entire 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.940 lives around it. 00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.400 There are a lot 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.120 of other stories 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:17.740 out there 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.759 competing 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:20.000 to define 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.500 and shape 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.220 our identities, 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:21.700 aren't there? 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:25.259 Is this one 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.779 the story 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.559 that you're living? 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.100 That you are 00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:29.799 shaping your life 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.880 every day around, 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.620 not just Sunday? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.460 Is it the story 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.779 of God as hero, 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.580 not the one 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.679 where you are 00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.419 or you're trying 00:29:38.419 --> 00:29:38.859 to be, 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:40.179 but also not the one 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.720 where hope is lost 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:43.199 because there seems 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:44.220 to be no way out? 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:47.299 Have His heroic deeds 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:49.159 led you consistently 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.579 into humility 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.359 and trust 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.000 and devotion 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.740 and worship? 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:56.539 And then is this 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.059 the story 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.759 you're telling? 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.920 Telling to your 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.220 neighbors 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.420 and the nations? 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.039 Yes! 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.299 But perhaps 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.440 particularly today, 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.880 telling to our 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.259 children. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.440 Do they know 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.640 that when you 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.460 could do nothing 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.819 to rescue yourself 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.700 from your bondage 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.160 to death, 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.759 God sent His Son 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.980 and gave you life? 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.880 Do they know 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.980 that you're no hero 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.099 compared to God 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.079 and you're not just 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.900 okay with them 00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.420 knowing that, 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.759 but you're passionate 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:29.220 about them seeing 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.339 Him as the one 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.880 worthy of their trust? 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.660 We've got VBS 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.200 this week. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:41.120 Why burn a week 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:41.620 of your summer? 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.279 Really? 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.620 There's so few 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.220 of them anymore. 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.220 Why burn a week 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.860 of your summer? 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:48.099 Perhaps because 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.719 you believe 00:30:48.719 --> 00:30:49.619 that the most 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.219 important thing 00:30:50.219 --> 00:30:50.919 you could be doing 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:52.039 is telling that story 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.019 to the next generation. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.839 I agree. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.199 I'll be here 00:30:58.199 --> 00:30:58.799 enjoying it. 00:30:59.959 --> 00:31:01.079 But if that's true, 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.240 then that should 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.839 impact 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:06.319 every week 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:08.139 of every year 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:10.399 and every moment 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.859 of every day. 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:13.079 We ought to tell 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.699 that story 00:31:13.699 --> 00:31:14.379 to our children 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.079 at home 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.459 daily. 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:19.839 because they hear 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.959 those competing stories 00:31:20.959 --> 00:31:21.459 more often 00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:22.019 than we do. 00:31:24.219 --> 00:31:25.159 We ought to bring 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:25.839 them with us 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.119 to corporate worship 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.679 where they sing 00:31:28.679 --> 00:31:29.559 and hear 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.859 of that story 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:32.659 faithfully. 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:35.279 We ought to pray 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.959 for and serve 00:31:36.959 --> 00:31:37.799 in their Sunday 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:38.579 school classes 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.740 and their nurseries 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.740 where we tell 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.699 them that story 00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:43.559 eagerly. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:47.779 kids, 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.200 will y'all come 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.740 back down here 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.359 to the steps 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.159 one more time 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.740 for just a minute? 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.200 I want to talk 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.879 with you one more time. 00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:01.079 Thanks for coming back. 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:09.799 I want y'all to listen 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.779 really closely 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.519 for me, okay? 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.059 I want to tell you 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.939 something really important. 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:14.839 Do you remember 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.619 when you sat up here 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.539 earlier and I had you 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.279 look out there 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.460 and see a picture 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.859 of how much 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:20.759 God loves you? 00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:21.659 Do you remember that 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.480 when they all stood up 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.240 and you saw that picture? 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.179 I want you to know 00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:26.619 there's another picture 00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.720 of how much 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.339 God loves you 00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:29.119 that you can see 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.879 from right here. 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:31.940 I need somebody 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.780 to help me out though. 00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:33.760 Hey, Jason, 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.560 will you grab that bread 00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:36.640 right there in front of you? 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.560 Will you bring that to me? 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.900 Jenna, will you get the cup 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.960 and bring it over here to me? 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.680 Thanks, Jason. 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.680 I'm going to tell you 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:47.680 about what these are now. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.040 Now, some of you 00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:51.440 already eat this with us 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.180 when we celebrate 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.880 the Lord's Supper. 00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.420 And some of you 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.500 are still just learning 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.260 what it means 00:32:56.260 --> 00:32:57.780 and so you're not going 00:32:57.780 --> 00:32:58.640 to eat with us 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.400 when we celebrate. 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.960 And that's okay too, okay? 00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:03.519 But for all of you, 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.560 what's really important 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.460 is for you to know 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.660 what this means, okay? 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:09.720 When we do this, 00:33:10.080 --> 00:33:10.960 we do this because 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.320 it means that God 00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:14.840 loves you so much. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.400 This tells us 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.700 the story again 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.660 of how much Jesus 00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.980 loves you, 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.519 that he loved you 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.100 so much 00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.840 that he would 00:33:24.840 --> 00:33:26.620 die for you. 00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:28.719 because we're sinners, 00:33:28.959 --> 00:33:29.199 right? 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.599 We don't always 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:33.019 love and obey God, 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.479 do we? 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:35.279 And we were supposed 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:37.179 to die because of that. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.000 Did you know that? 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.559 That's what was supposed 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.859 to happen to us. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:42.179 But you know how much 00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:43.079 Jesus loves you? 00:33:44.239 --> 00:33:45.739 Jesus loves you so much 00:33:45.739 --> 00:33:47.799 that he died instead. 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.319 He took this bread 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.639 and a cup 00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:53.259 with drink in it 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:55.059 and he sat 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.819 with his disciples 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.279 and you know 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.079 what he said to them? 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:59.279 He took the bread 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.339 and he broke it 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:01.559 like this 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.420 and he gave it 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.220 to his disciples 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.700 so that they could 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.319 eat it with him. 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:05.960 But you know 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.480 what he said? 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.259 He said, 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:07.740 this bread, 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:09.179 it's a picture for you 00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.840 of my body 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:13.079 which is gonna be broken 00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:15.139 instead of yours. 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.139 And he said, 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:18.000 every time you eat this, 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.440 I want you to remember that. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.720 Hold this for me. 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.300 Hold one, Joe. 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:27.480 And then Jesus took this cup 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.300 and he said, 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:30.320 this cup is a picture, 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:31.920 my blood, 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:33.539 the promise for you 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.820 and my blood 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:37.900 that when you trust me 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.940 and my death for you, 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:41.800 you will live with me forever. 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.440 Just like the Israelites 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.980 when they put the blood 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.519 of the lamb on the door 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.920 and they didn't die, 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.760 they lived. 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:51.180 When you put my blood 00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:52.640 on your heart, 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:55.800 your sins will be forgiven 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:58.660 and you will live forever 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:00.180 with God. 00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:03.500 Kids, this is the story 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:05.060 that tells you 00:35:05.060 --> 00:35:07.520 that you are always valuable, 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.280 that you're precious to God, 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:13.240 that he loves you so much 00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:15.600 that Jesus would even come 00:35:15.600 --> 00:35:16.640 and die for you. 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.660 Isn't that amazing? 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:19.759 That's what this means. 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.159 Let's pray together. 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:26.579 Jesus, thank you so much. 00:35:28.359 --> 00:35:29.460 Thank you for giving us 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.460 not just a story, 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:33.119 but a true story 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:36.519 of a God who actually loves us 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.920 and who actually came 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.879 and died for us. 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.880 thank you for giving us 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.260 and who loves us. 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:41.760 Thank you for giving us 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.260 and who loves us 00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:44.300 beyond what we can imagine, 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:46.880 that we can trust you 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:49.019 and be with you forever. 00:35:49.700 --> 00:35:50.720 Father, would you use 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.900 this bread 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:53.660 and this juice 00:35:53.660 --> 00:35:56.059 to teach us something 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:56.980 much more important 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:59.320 that we would never forget 00:35:59.320 --> 00:36:01.000 how much you love us. 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.460 in Jesus' name, 00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.079 amen. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:08.159 For more information, 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.460 visit us online 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.760 at southwood.org.