WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.679 We're going to read together from Hebrews 11, verses 23 to 28, and then David is going to come after we sing and preach for us. 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:21.059 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw that the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:33.899 By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:41.739 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:49.960 By faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured a seeing him who is invisible. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:58.719 By faith, he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:00.880 This is God's holy word. 00:01:02.120 --> 00:01:07.680 Over the past couple of months, we've been making our way through the text of Hebrews 11. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:11.439 It's a chapter, a famous chapter in the Bible. 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:18.540 It's sometimes been described as a portrait gallery of faith. 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:30.420 And as we've made our way through, we've been taking time to stop and consider these pictures of faith that our author has selected for display. 00:01:31.300 --> 00:01:35.560 The first room, I suppose, that we walked through in this portrait gallery. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:44.880 We might have called that the Genesis Gallery, lining the way some of the great Old Testament saints from the opening book of the Bible. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:51.539 Abel, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. 00:01:52.519 --> 00:02:01.620 And the lives of these men and women are really held up as a powerful witness to God's faithfulness and keeping grace. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:11.240 They lived and died in faith as they looked forward to that city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:20.939 Amid a sometimes hostile, antagonistic world, they each lived by faith in the power and promises of God. 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:29.280 And this evening, however, we step, as it were, from the Genesis Gallery into the Exodus Gallery. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:35.419 And if the main portrait hanging in our first gallery was that of Abraham, 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:41.280 then here in the Exodus Gallery, it is the figure of Moses that dominates. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:52.620 And in these verses tonight, our author wants us to stop and consider the life and faith of one of the most significant figures in all of the Old Testament. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:03:00.060 He wants us to hear what the life of Moses, this great leader of God's people in the Exodus from Egypt, 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:03.639 has to tell us about living by faith. 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:10.159 And in this section that Corrie read for us that reads from verse 23 to 28, 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:16.079 you might notice that there are really four pictures that are presented to us, 00:03:16.079 --> 00:03:19.119 each beginning with the words, by faith. 00:03:19.839 --> 00:03:24.060 I want to consider each of those in turn tonight. 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:28.979 And the first that we see here is not really to do with Moses' own faith, 00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:32.179 but rather with the faith of his parents. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:34.520 We have that in verse 23. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.240 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:46.939 because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:53.879 Faith does not fear worldly power. 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:58.140 Faith does not fear worldly power. 00:03:58.139 --> 00:04:06.659 The reference here of verse 23 takes us back to Exodus chapter 2, 1 and 2, really. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:13.339 As I mentioned, it relates not to Moses' own faith, but rather to the faith of his parents, 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:15.899 Amram and Jochebed. 00:04:16.479 --> 00:04:22.680 And if you're familiar with the story, you might recall how in Egypt there arose a pharaoh 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.019 who, we're told, knew not Joseph. 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:34.420 Because of the increasing numbers of Hebrews, this pharaoh embarked on a course of government-sponsored 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:42.139 genocide, decreeing that all the male children born in the Israelite community should be drowned in the Nile. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:48.259 However, Moses' parents didn't comply with the king's edict. 00:04:49.099 --> 00:04:56.139 Instead, they hid their baby son for some three months before eventually launching him down the river 00:04:56.139 --> 00:05:01.039 in a basket to be found by the daughter of Pharaoh. 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:06.279 An act of faith, not fear. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:11.500 And that little phrase that we read there, they saw that the child was beautiful. 00:05:12.239 --> 00:05:16.539 I think it's to be understood in the sense that they saw that their child was special. 00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:18.599 Well, we all think our children are special. 00:05:19.479 --> 00:05:23.739 But I think the sense here is that he had a particular destiny to fulfill. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:29.699 They saw and believed that God's favor in some way rested upon him. 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:37.180 And the writer of Hebrews sees that there was faith at work in the actions of Moses' parents. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:44.079 They were prepared to defy the law of the land in order to preserve and keep their child safe. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:48.719 Fear did not keep them from doing what was right. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:54.399 Disobeying, I suppose, an edict of the king of Pharaoh was a capital offense. 00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:58.579 If it was discovered, it would have meant their certain death. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:02.300 And yet they acted in faith, not fear. 00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:06.800 They didn't flinch from disobeying the king and his decree. 00:06:07.099 --> 00:06:11.519 They engaged in, I suppose we might say, a policy of civil disobedience. 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.839 They feared God rather than man. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:19.899 They were more concerned to please the king of kings than they were the king of Egypt. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:25.680 They were prepared to anger Pharaoh rather than anger God. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.780 And that's a very important principle. 00:06:28.780 --> 00:06:32.019 And it's one that we see repeated right throughout the Scriptures. 00:06:33.100 --> 00:06:38.900 There are times when traveling the way of faith means that we are compelled, really, 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:45.780 to rebel against what rulers, authorities, or governments may demand of us. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:54.560 Sometimes doing what God wants us to do will bring us into conflict with those in authority and power. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:01.920 However, as Christians, we are duty-bound to obey God rather than men. 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:08.420 Yes, of course, there is a right and lawful obedience that we owe to the state and government 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:12.000 because we recognize God's authority behind it. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:15.540 We discover that in passages like Romans 13. 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:23.780 But we must disobey if the government forbids what God commands or commands what God forbids. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:27.680 Our absolute loyalty and devotion is for God alone. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:32.080 And that's something that we, again, see not just in Scripture, 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:35.460 but right down through the history of the Christian church. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.540 The Reformers, the Covenanters. 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:42.580 We see it today in different parts of the world also. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:47.120 And maybe here in Britain in the near future, 00:07:47.280 --> 00:07:50.620 we might have to face that same kind of challenge. 00:07:51.700 --> 00:07:55.060 Obey God or obey men. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:02.100 We think of things like the proposed conversion therapy ban. 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:09.100 Well, conceivably, it could lead to evangelism and the sharing of the Christian faith being effectively outlawed. 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.280 What might that mean for the church? 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:14.960 What might that mean for us as Christians? 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:19.560 God is the ultimate authority. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.720 The state's power is not absolute. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.520 And so it can't demand of us absolute obedience. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:32.279 If the state commands what God forbids or forbids what God demands, 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:34.639 our duty is to disobey. 00:08:35.699 --> 00:08:38.899 And so, back in the book of Exodus, in Exodus 1, 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:40.879 the Jewish midwives there, we're told, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:43.519 feared God and disobeyed the king. 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.539 In Daniel 6, a passage that we looked at, 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:49.559 Corrie looked at a couple of weeks ago, 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:53.699 Daniel prayed to God in defiance of the king's decree. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:56.500 In Acts 5, we read of Peter and John saying, 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:56.960 what? 00:08:57.060 --> 00:08:59.080 We must obey God rather than men. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.940 I don't doubt that Moses' parents were afraid at the prospect 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:07.720 of being executed for their actions, 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.140 but they refused to… 00:09:10.140 --> 00:09:14.740 what they refused to do was allow that fear to shape and control their decision. 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:17.200 They did what God wanted, 00:09:18.040 --> 00:09:20.840 even at risk of their own personal safety. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:26.620 And traveling the way of faith means that sometimes we have to face our fears, 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:31.120 fear of what others may think or even do to us. 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:36.580 Faith does not fear worldly power, 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:41.460 no matter how great or terrifying it may be. 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:45.759 And that brings me to the second thing here. 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:49.360 Faith chooses, you'll notice, 00:09:49.780 --> 00:09:51.700 in verses 24 through 26, 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:55.900 faith chooses to suffer with the people of God. 00:09:56.400 --> 00:09:59.000 By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:02.560 refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:06.320 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.980 than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:14.899 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.139 for he was looking to the reward. 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:23.800 Those verses, I think, are all in one sentence in the original language. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:26.840 And they relate to the fundamental, I suppose, 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.860 the defining decision of Moses' life. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:35.600 And that was his decision to turn his back on the comfort and security of Egypt 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:40.740 and to identify himself with the suffering people of God. 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:46.759 Human life, as we all know, is full of tough choices. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.320 I think it's in this film, 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:52.980 The Bridges of Madison County, 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:55.000 Meryl Streep says to Clint Eastwood, 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:59.259 We are the choices we make. 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.039 That's certainly true here of Moses. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:06.100 In God's providence, he was led to a point of decision, 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.659 a moment of truth. 00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:15.000 And that decision revealed just where his heart truly lay. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.639 And sometimes God brings us, his people, 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.659 to such moments to reveal, to disclose, 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:25.919 just where our loyalties really lie. 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:29.980 What is really important in our lives? 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:36.279 Moses, though a Hebrew, was raised as Egyptian royalty. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.340 Stephen, in Acts chapter 7, 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.620 in his speech there, Acts 7.22, says, 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:47.519 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:51.440 In other words, he had a very privileged upbringing. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:57.340 I have no doubt he was tempted to remain in Egypt 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:59.799 as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:04.320 He would have enjoyed a life of luxury and worldly pleasure. 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:07.820 But a choice had to be made. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:12.000 And God led him into the valley of decision. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:17.639 And the choice he was faced with 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:21.000 was between being called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.700 enjoying the security, safety, 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:25.700 the great treasures of Egypt, 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:28.360 and being mistreated 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:32.980 with the despised, suffering people of God. 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:35.639 Some choice. 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:41.000 And yet we're told here that Moses turned his back on Egypt 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.740 and on all it could offer him. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.139 He wanted to help his people. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:50.059 He wanted to see his people delivered. 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:53.419 He could have reasoned, I suppose, 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:55.500 that staying in the royal palace, 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.240 working behind the scenes, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.120 might have been the best way to go. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.139 But he resisted that temptation 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:04.560 and turned his back on it all. 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:07.480 Sometimes faith is known 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:10.320 by what it refuses to do. 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:14.539 Faith is known by what it says no to. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:17.940 There is often this negative side 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:20.399 to traveling the way of faith. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.899 Paul says, Titus 2.12, 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:25.079 the grace of God teaches us 00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:27.899 to say no to ungodliness 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:29.399 and worldly passions. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:31.819 The psalmist, Psalm 1 verse 1, 00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:33.579 blessed is the man who walks 00:13:33.579 --> 00:13:35.980 not in the counsel of the wicked, 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:38.620 does not stand in the way of sinners, 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:41.860 and does not sit in the seat of scoffers. 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:46.039 Moses said no to Egypt 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.599 and yes to Israel. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.159 He didn't sit on the fence. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.980 He had a clarity of thought 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:56.659 that saw all the treasures of Egypt 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:58.240 for what they really were, 00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:00.860 the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:14:02.099 --> 00:14:04.659 And he chose to identify himself 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.179 with his people. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.740 Well, that's true of all of us. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.919 We belong in one camp or the other. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:16.620 We belong to Egypt 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:19.860 or we belong to the Israel of God. 00:14:20.979 --> 00:14:24.099 We're either storing up for ourselves 00:14:24.099 --> 00:14:28.099 treasures in heaven or on earth. 00:14:28.719 --> 00:14:30.719 We're either living for God 00:14:30.719 --> 00:14:31.860 or for ourselves. 00:14:33.979 --> 00:14:36.879 I wonder where you stand tonight. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:40.360 I wonder where your heart belongs 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.500 this evening. 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:45.659 Will you stand with God's people? 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:48.379 Even if that means 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:52.019 you won't really fit in 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.100 in this world. 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:56.419 Even if it means you'll be, 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.600 always be a bit of an outsider. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:01.000 Maybe in your work 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.100 or place of employment. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.320 Maybe in your family. 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.519 Maybe in your community. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:09.159 Will you call sin 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.439 for what it really is? 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:13.919 A fleeting and worthless pleasure. 00:15:16.699 --> 00:15:17.840 Or are you someone 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:21.319 trying to keep a foot in both camps? 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:24.919 Pulling out your Egyptian passport 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.340 when it suits? 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.340 Too many of us 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:32.120 are content to live like that. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:35.299 But that's not how faith works. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:40.399 Moses' choice had this twofold aspect. 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:43.700 In order to say yes to Israel 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.860 and God's people, 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:46.580 he had to say no to Egypt. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.240 That is, he had to say no 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.179 to Egypt's values, 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.560 worldview, 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.539 and religion. 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:56.740 He refused to be called 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:58.799 the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.439 What about you tonight? 00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:05.159 What are you saying yes to? 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.699 And what are you saying no to 00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:09.620 in your life? 00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:13.779 Moses certainly chose 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.959 a hard and difficult path. 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:18.419 He chose to suffer 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:20.299 with the people of God. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.879 Exodus 2 verse 11, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.439 we read, 00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:24.819 one day when Moses had grown up, 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.039 he went out to his brothers 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:28.879 and looked on their burdens. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.179 By faith, 00:16:31.219 --> 00:16:32.299 he chose a path 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:34.299 that meant for him 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.559 shame and his grace. 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:39.659 Following Jesus Christ 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:42.000 does not mean 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.980 following the path 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.899 of least resistance. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.939 It means identifying 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.980 ourselves wholeheartedly 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:49.659 with the people of God, 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.959 with the church of God. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.000 God. 00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:57.420 Back in July 1939, 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:58.480 on the threshold 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.580 of World War II, 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.300 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.920 the German theologian 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:03.480 and pastor, 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.720 he traveled to 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.900 the United States 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.960 of America. 00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:07.720 He was offered 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.700 safe haven 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.299 by some of his friends 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:10.640 there. 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.480 But incredibly, 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.200 Bonhoeffer 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.500 left New York 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.519 almost as soon 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.299 as he arrived. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.160 He chose to return 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.640 to the rising 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:23.460 chaos and confusion 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:25.460 in his native Germany. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.500 This is what he wrote. 00:17:27.820 --> 00:17:28.519 I have come 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.460 to the conclusion 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.540 that I made a mistake 00:17:30.540 --> 00:17:31.620 in coming to America. 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.220 I shall have no right 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:33.980 to take part 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.680 in the restoration 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.120 of Christian life 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:36.759 in Germany 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.900 after the war 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.460 unless I share 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.519 the trials 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.759 of this time 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.980 with my people. 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.720 He traveled 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.620 the way of faith, 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:48.320 a Moses-like 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:48.920 commitment. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.019 I think about 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:53.560 10, 15 years ago 00:17:53.560 --> 00:17:55.360 I visited 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:57.480 Mei La 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.600 refugee camp 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.900 for the Karen people 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:03.140 in the Thai-Myanmar border. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.860 At that time 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.080 it was a huge camp 00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:05.460 of about 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:07.480 35,000 people 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.340 effectively 00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:09.600 imprisoned there, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.180 unable to go anywhere. 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:12.000 It was refugees, 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.560 they couldn't enter Thailand, 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:14.840 it was unsafe 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.600 for them to travel 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:17.460 back to the Karen state 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.000 in Myanmar 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.960 because of the military. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.279 And they had 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.480 a Bible school there 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.700 led by a man 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:25.079 called Pastor Simon. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.619 He was not a refugee. 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.140 He had a passport. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.400 He was free to travel. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.440 He had family 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.160 in Canada. 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:33.700 And yet for 25 years 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:35.740 he chose not to flee 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.519 to a life 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.339 of relative 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:39.180 safety and security, 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.400 but rather to live, 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:41.839 serve, 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.660 and eventually die 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:44.900 amongst 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.960 his suffering 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.420 and displaced people. 00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:50.040 A Moses-like 00:18:50.040 --> 00:18:50.759 commitment. 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.420 Who knows 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.220 when you and I 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.880 might be called 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.040 to make a similar choice, 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:56.840 to choose 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.460 what appears 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.240 to be a hard 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.500 and unpopular way, 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.220 to leave the safe 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:01.900 and the secure 00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.000 for the demanding 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.820 and the costly. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.600 Look at how the writer 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:07.019 puts it in verse 26. 00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:08.259 Astonishing words. 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.620 He considered 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.740 the reproach 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.940 of Christ, 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.380 greater wealth 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.559 than the treasures 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.579 of Egypt, 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.880 for he was looking 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.539 to the reward. 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.960 Moses chose 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.180 the disgrace 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.859 of the Messiah. 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.059 For the suffering 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.400 of the people of God 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.599 and the reproach 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.380 of Christ 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.859 are one and the same 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.539 in both the Old Testament 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:36.160 and the New Testament. 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.940 When God's people suffer, 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.220 Christ suffers. 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:43.000 Jesus is so united 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.180 and connected 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.220 to his people 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.859 that when they suffer, 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.519 he suffers. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:51.019 That's an astonishing thing 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.980 to think about 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.319 and to reflect on. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.700 Remember Jesus' words 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.299 to Saul 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.259 on the road 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.279 to Damascus 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.279 in Acts 9? 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.519 Saul, 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.299 Saul, 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.880 why are you 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.240 persecuting 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.500 the church? 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:05.839 No. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.920 Why are you 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:08.079 persecuting me? 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.679 Isaiah 63, 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.139 9, 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.839 in all their affliction, 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:15.159 he was afflicted. 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.220 The affliction 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.679 of God's people 00:20:18.679 --> 00:20:20.759 is the affliction 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.119 of Christ himself. 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.519 Some of you 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.059 may have heard 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.939 of the Wigton 00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:29.079 martyrs 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.079 back in 1685. 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.419 Margaret McLaughlin, 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.460 Margaret Wilson, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:37.840 tied to stakes 00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:39.299 on the sands 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.620 of the Solway Firth, 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.160 executed 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.960 for their faith 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.559 and loyalty 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.799 to Jesus Christ. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.779 When asked 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.799 what she thought 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.059 of her fellow 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.019 sufferer 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.720 wrestling 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.460 in the water 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.279 as the tide 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.079 came in, 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.120 Margaret Wilson 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.500 replied, 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.620 what do I see 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:02.259 but Christ 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.319 mystical 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.339 wrestling 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.139 there? 00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:07.419 What do I see 00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.239 but Jesus 00:21:08.239 --> 00:21:09.259 suffering 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.059 there? 00:21:10.479 --> 00:21:11.599 Jesus Christ 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.299 suffers 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.679 in and with 00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.659 his people. 00:21:18.179 --> 00:21:19.139 Exodus 3, 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.559 7, 00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:21.099 the Lord says, 00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:21.500 surely 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.259 I have seen 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.979 the affliction 00:21:23.979 --> 00:21:24.819 of my people 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.639 who are in Egypt 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.979 and I've heard 00:21:26.979 --> 00:21:27.679 their cry 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.359 because of their 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.319 taskmasters. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.139 I know 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.019 their 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.279 sufferings. 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.939 So friend, 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.619 if you're called 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.679 upon to suffer 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:39.220 for the sake 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.919 of Christ, 00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:40.659 to bear 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.460 the reproach 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.179 of Christ 00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:44.639 and your family 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.279 amongst your 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.399 colleagues, 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.879 if you're called 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.359 to suffer 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:49.960 for the sake 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.619 of the gospel, 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.819 you do not 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.899 suffer alone 00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:54.439 because Jesus 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.039 Christ 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.299 is always 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.500 with his 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:57.939 people. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.380 He will 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.320 never leave 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:00.559 you, 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.059 he will 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.980 never forsake 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.320 you. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.559 Sometimes 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:07.100 faith means 00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:07.779 choosing a 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.200 path 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.799 that will 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.279 lead to 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.759 suffering 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.220 along 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.779 with the 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.120 people 00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:14.000 of God. 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.840 Faith does 00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:16.440 not fear 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.660 worldly power. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.840 Faith chooses 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.559 to suffer 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.160 with the 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.600 people of 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:20.880 God. 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.759 Thirdly here, 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.779 faith keeps 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.799 looking to 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.299 the Lord. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.600 Verse 27, 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.420 by faith 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.000 he left 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.519 Egypt, 00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:28.240 not being 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.759 afraid of 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.140 the anger 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.460 of the 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:29.700 king, 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:30.259 but he 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.700 endured 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.259 as seeing 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.180 him who 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.039 is invisible. 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:34.500 Now, 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:34.840 what is the 00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.519 writer speaking 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.759 about here? 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.240 There are two 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.019 main possibilities. 00:22:39.340 --> 00:22:39.500 One, 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.180 that this is a 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.220 general statement 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.000 about the 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.560 exodus. 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.920 Moses left 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.360 Egypt, 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:44.940 leading the 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.440 children of 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.779 Israel, 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.640 not fearing 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.140 the anger 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.640 of the king, 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.180 not fearing 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.800 Pharaoh. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.240 The other 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.360 possibility is 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:51.860 that it's a 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:52.440 reference to 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.940 the time 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.740 when Moses 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.800 fled Egypt, 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.519 traveled into 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.099 the desert, 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.059 to Midian, 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.480 where he 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.460 lived as 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.440 a sojourner 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.019 and as 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.639 an exile. 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:01.859 And that's 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.160 a better 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.559 fit 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.059 chronologically. 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.559 Whatever view 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.139 we take, 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.859 the point 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.740 is the 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.160 same. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:11.539 Moses 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.539 set his 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.059 eyes 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.660 upon 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.240 God. 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.240 He 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.779 endured 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.339 a seeing 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.099 him who 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.839 is invisible. 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.680 He kept 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.299 going in 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.619 the way 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.220 of faith 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.920 because he 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.500 was looking 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:21.900 to the 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.259 Lord. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:22.879 He was 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.480 not looking 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.900 to an 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.279 earthly 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.700 king, 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.120 but to 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.539 the very 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.519 king of 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.160 kings. 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.039 And if 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.740 we take 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.360 the latter 00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:31.960 of those 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.680 two 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.759 possibilities, 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.079 we are 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.519 then being 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.120 taken back 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.700 to Exodus 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.240 2, 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.720 reminded of 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.380 how Moses 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.559 had wanted 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.099 to be a 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.019 deliverer for 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.660 his people. 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.779 That led 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.120 him to 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.559 kill one 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:45.799 of the 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.180 Egyptian 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.120 taskmasters. 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.019 That became 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.519 known to 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:48.880 Pharaoh. 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:49.960 Moses had 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.460 to leave. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:50.839 He didn't 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.620 raise a revolt. 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:51.960 He didn't 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.480 start an 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.099 insurrection. 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:53.759 Rather, 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.160 he went 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.539 into a 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:54.740 kind of 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.200 self-imposed 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.079 exile for 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.200 forty years. 00:23:59.559 --> 00:23:59.860 Here he 00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.180 was, 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.700 called to 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.500 be the 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.220 deliverer of 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.799 his people. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.559 This was 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.299 his destiny. 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.019 But instead, 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:05.500 he spends 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.059 forty years 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.360 in the 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:06.759 desert. 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.620 One writer 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.259 puts it, 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.620 he spent 00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.000 the first 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.720 forty years 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.019 of his 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.779 life thinking 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.400 he was a 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:11.799 somebody, 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.500 and the 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:12.980 next forty 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.339 years realizing 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.240 he was a 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.599 nobody. 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.519 Well, 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.240 how did he 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.660 keep on 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.059 going? 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.299 How did 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.900 he press 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.220 on? 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.759 How did 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.420 he endure? 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.339 Because he 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.680 had his 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.259 eyes set 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.559 on the 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:24.900 Lord. 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.720 Friends, 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.039 sometimes 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.180 things in 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.740 this life 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.160 do not 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.839 work out 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.400 as we 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.839 hope or 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.299 plan. 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.140 Sometimes 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.740 in the 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.259 providence 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.000 of God, 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.019 life throws 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.559 up the 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.460 unexpected, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.559 the unforeseen. 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.099 There are 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:39.039 family problems. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:39.940 There's a 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.480 bereavement 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.059 and loss. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.480 There are 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.420 broken 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.220 relationships, 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.400 difficulties 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.220 at work, 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:45.940 sickness 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.480 and health, 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.640 all manner 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.640 of anxieties 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.779 and stresses 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.339 that seem 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.960 just to 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.740 magically 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.259 appear 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.599 out of 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:52.980 nowhere. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.519 Maybe 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:55.940 tonight 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.500 you're 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:56.819 in that 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.259 very 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.019 place. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.740 How do 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.639 we keep 00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.099 going at 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.740 such times? 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.759 How does 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.119 faith 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.799 persevere? 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.059 How do 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.599 we press 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.079 on in the 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.420 way of 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.139 faith when 00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.759 the terrain 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.819 suddenly becomes 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.680 hard and 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.079 difficult? 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.399 Well, 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.000 like Moses, 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.599 we have to 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.059 set the 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.940 Lord before 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.460 us. 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.399 We have to 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:15.779 fix our 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.160 eyes on 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.559 him. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:17.859 He must 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.539 fill our 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.019 vision. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:22.779 If you 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.339 can imagine, 00:25:23.719 --> 00:25:25.939 if you 00:25:25.939 --> 00:25:26.199 will, 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.219 an 00:25:28.219 --> 00:25:28.799 experience 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.019 from my 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.500 childhood 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:32.719 when the 00:25:32.719 --> 00:25:34.539 carpet of 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.479 snow over 00:25:35.479 --> 00:25:36.079 a field 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:38.259 up past 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.899 our house 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.379 glistening 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.899 in the 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.919 winter 00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:42.439 sun 00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:44.019 stretching 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.899 before me 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.579 untouched, 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.539 unmarked by 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.179 any footprint, 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:49.000 mind the 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.299 privilege of 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.699 being the 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.179 first to 00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:51.799 walk across 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.059 it, 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.179 making any 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:53.779 pattern I 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.319 would like. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.159 And I 00:25:56.159 --> 00:25:57.579 decide I'm 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:57.799 going to 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.119 cut a 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.740 straight line 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.379 across the 00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.679 field. 00:26:01.459 --> 00:26:02.839 But my 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.459 eyes are 00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:04.159 looking down 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.539 at my 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.500 feet as I 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.079 cross. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:08.879 And I 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.559 soon discover 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.119 as I look 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.819 back, I 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.500 have left 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.199 not a 00:26:13.199 --> 00:26:13.899 straight line, 00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:15.199 but an 00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:15.939 erratic 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:17.019 zigzag 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.779 pattern 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.920 behind me. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.599 Because 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.039 looking 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.759 downwards, 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.639 it's easy 00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.420 to become 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.639 disorientated. 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.480 But if 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.079 instead you 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.539 fix your 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.180 eye on a 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.139 tree or a 00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:31.059 fence post 00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:31.400 on the 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.079 far side of 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.500 the field 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.460 and walk 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.019 directly 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.920 towards it, 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.700 the path 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.079 you leave 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.339 behind is 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.000 remarkably 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.680 straight. 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.340 because the 00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:42.980 truth is we 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.900 all tend to 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:46.160 move towards 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.320 the object 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.240 upon which 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.740 we fix 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.440 our gaze. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.240 It matters 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.240 where our 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.840 eyes are 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.380 fixed. 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.480 We move 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.320 towards that 00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:55.980 which fills 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.660 our vision. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.380 Moses endured 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.259 because he was 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.039 seeing the 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.799 one who was 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.360 invisible. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.480 He kept his 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.080 eyes on the 00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:03.600 Lord, the 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.120 eyes of 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.600 faith. 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.779 And that's 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.320 what faith 00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:06.900 does. 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.220 That's how 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.400 faith endures. 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.720 Be thou 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.519 my vision, 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.259 we sang, 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.060 O Lord 00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:13.480 of my 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.040 heart, 00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:14.920 not be 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.420 all else 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:15.780 to me, 00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.700 save that 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.820 thou art, 00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:18.840 thou my 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.720 best thought, 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.700 by day 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.640 and by night, 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.660 waking or 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.200 sleeping, 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.400 thy presence 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.180 my light. 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.560 Are you 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.680 setting your 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.840 eyes upon 00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.480 God? 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.360 I mentioned 00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.960 years ago 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.600 spending some 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.720 time in 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.420 that refugee 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.100 camp. 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.400 on the 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.180 Thai-Myanmar 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.680 border. 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.220 I was 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.980 greatly 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.100 struck by 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.720 the faith 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.340 of the 00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:48.100 Karen 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:48.640 Christians, 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.420 a people 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.519 displaced from 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.880 their own 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.480 homeland, 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.340 in exile, 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:54.820 refugees for 00:27:54.820 --> 00:27:55.640 decades, 00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.200 little chance, 00:27:57.340 --> 00:27:58.160 humanly speaking, 00:27:58.280 --> 00:27:58.900 of going back 00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.400 to their own 00:27:59.400 --> 00:27:59.820 land. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.800 What kept 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:02.300 them going? 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.880 How were 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.540 they able to 00:28:04.540 --> 00:28:05.200 persevere? 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:07.620 I came 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.240 across a piece 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.819 of poetry 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.539 written by a 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.640 student at 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.059 the Bible 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.460 school. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.360 This is how 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.740 it went. 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:13.519 This is how 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.960 it goes. 00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.680 They call us 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.279 a displaced 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.819 people, 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.400 but praise 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.080 God we are 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:20.100 not misplaced. 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.980 They say 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.019 they see no 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.720 hope for our 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.180 future, 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.799 but praise 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.360 God our 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.759 future is as 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.660 bright as the 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.340 promises of 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:28.700 God. 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.480 They say 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.420 the life of 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.900 our people 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.660 is a misery, 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:33.860 but praise 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.340 God our 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:34.940 life is a 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.340 mystery. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.000 For what 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.779 they see, 00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:39.220 say is what 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.900 they see, 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.400 and what 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.240 they see is 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.759 temporal, 00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.660 but ours is 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.299 the eternal. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.620 All because 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.460 we put 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.319 ourselves 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.660 in the 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.259 hands of 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.420 God we 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.880 trust. 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.000 What were 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.500 they doing? 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.860 They're setting 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:58.659 their eyes 00:28:58.659 --> 00:28:59.319 upon the 00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.659 Lord. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.500 Like Moses, 00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.379 they endure 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:02.959 as seeing 00:29:02.959 --> 00:29:03.459 Him who 00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.019 is invisible, 00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.719 and if we 00:29:05.719 --> 00:29:06.479 would endure, 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.339 then so 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.919 must we. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.039 Faith does 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.699 not fear 00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:11.199 worldly 00:29:11.199 --> 00:29:11.699 power. 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:13.539 Faith chooses 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.299 to suffer 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.759 with the 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.219 people of 00:29:15.219 --> 00:29:15.639 God. 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.919 It chooses 00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.619 to bear 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.459 the reproach 00:29:18.459 --> 00:29:18.740 of the 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.199 Messiah. 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:20.879 Faith 00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:21.879 keeps on 00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:22.819 looking to 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.379 the Lord. 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.259 And 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.819 fourthly and 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.619 finally here, 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:28.219 verse 28, 00:29:28.739 --> 00:29:29.239 you'll notice 00:29:29.239 --> 00:29:29.799 that faith 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.479 embraces 00:29:30.479 --> 00:29:30.939 God's 00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:31.779 word of 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.359 salvation. 00:29:33.479 --> 00:29:34.199 By faith 00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:34.899 He kept 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.500 the Passover 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.819 and sprinkled 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.279 the blood 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.459 so that 00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:39.199 the destroyer 00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:39.439 of the 00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:40.000 firstborn 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.239 might not 00:29:41.239 --> 00:29:42.099 touch them. 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.059 That's 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.479 referenced 00:29:43.479 --> 00:29:43.919 here is 00:29:43.919 --> 00:29:44.719 Exodus 12, 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.719 the Passover, 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.419 the great 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:48.079 redemptive 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.539 act of 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.119 Old Testament 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.759 history, 00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:50.799 one that 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.559 casts its 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.179 shadow 00:29:52.179 --> 00:29:53.279 forward to 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.839 the coming 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.179 of Christ. 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.000 In Egypt, 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.639 the Lord's 00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.139 people were 00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.819 enslaved. 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.019 They were a 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.819 people trapped 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.500 in all manner 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.139 of suffering 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.839 and pain. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:04.639 They were 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.079 under the 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.500 rule of 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.919 Pharaoh. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.619 They were 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.139 in the 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.579 grip and 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.159 the power 00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:08.839 really of 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.359 the false 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.000 gods of 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.419 Egypt. 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.500 Their 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.399 enslavement 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:13.359 wasn't simply 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.359 social or 00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:14.939 economic. 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:15.819 It was also 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.459 spiritual, 00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:17.159 theological. 00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:18.559 In their 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.000 Egyptian 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.759 captivity, 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.619 Israel 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.579 succumbed to 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.639 idolatry and 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.420 false worship. 00:30:23.780 --> 00:30:24.740 They revert 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.140 to the 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.580 worship of 00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:25.960 the golden 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.580 calf at 00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:27.140 the foot 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:27.520 of Mount 00:30:27.520 --> 00:30:28.040 Sinai. 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:28.980 Joshua 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.500 says to 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:30.920 the people 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.520 at Shechem, 00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.680 Joshua 24, 00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.360 14, 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.400 throw away 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.000 the gods 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.040 your forefathers 00:30:36.040 --> 00:30:37.220 worship beyond 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.740 the river 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.720 and in 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.180 Egypt and 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.820 serve the 00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.120 Lord. 00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.400 So, 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.300 the people's 00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.080 deliverance and 00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:44.940 redemption from 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.100 Egypt came, 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:46.860 of course, 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.620 through judgment. 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.220 Judgment fell 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.780 on Pharaoh, 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.740 the Egyptians, 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.800 even Israel 00:30:51.800 --> 00:30:52.380 itself. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.900 Nine successive 00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.600 plagues, 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.500 and Pharaoh 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.200 would not 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.620 relent. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:56.960 He would 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.259 not let 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.200 God's people 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:01.540 go until 00:31:01.540 --> 00:31:03.020 the final 00:31:03.020 --> 00:31:03.380 plague, 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:03.720 the most 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.820 devastating of 00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.300 them all. 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:06.500 All the 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.320 firstborn children 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:07.940 in Egypt 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.380 would die in 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:09.740 a single 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.140 night. 00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:10.660 The angel 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.120 of death, 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.920 the destroyer, 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.380 would sweep 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.740 through the 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.100 land, 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.160 bring judgment 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.100 on every 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.540 single 00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:16.100 household. 00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:17.800 I will 00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:18.960 bring judgment, 00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.740 Exodus 12, 00:31:19.820 --> 00:31:20.120 12, 00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:21.040 on all the 00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:21.500 gods of 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.779 Egypt. 00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.279 I am 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.779 the Lord. 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.619 The blood 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:23.940 will be 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.319 a sign 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:24.799 for you 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.319 on the 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:25.619 houses 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.140 where you 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.400 are. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:26.920 When I 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.339 see the 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:27.619 blood, 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:27.960 I will 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.539 pass over 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.819 you. 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:29.440 No 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.980 destructive 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.700 plague will 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.319 touch you 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.920 when I 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.299 strike 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.000 Egypt. 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.240 The blood 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.720 there is, 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.180 of course, 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.500 the blood 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.220 of the 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.619 lamb, 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:40.420 sprinkled on 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.220 the doorposts 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.420 of the 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:41.779 houses. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.500 And I 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:44.859 suppose it 00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.279 all seems 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.660 such a 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.180 complicated 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.740 arrangement. 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.299 Why did 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.839 God not 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.200 simply 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.759 distinguish 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.579 between the 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.019 Egyptians 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.960 and the 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.359 Israelites 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.960 on ethnic 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.500 grounds? 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.940 Why all 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.559 this blood? 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.420 God is 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.000 omniscient. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.039 He hardly 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.539 needed a 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.079 red mark 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.359 on the 00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.019 door to 00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.380 tell an 00:31:59.380 --> 00:31:59.819 Egyptian 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.420 household 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:00.940 from a 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.180 Jewish 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.519 one. 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.700 So, 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.019 what was 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.460 going on 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:03.759 here? 00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:05.920 I think 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.200 the answer 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.799 is this, 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:07.880 that this 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:08.880 was not 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.660 a matter 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.539 of racial 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.140 discrimination. 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.079 The Jews 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.620 were just 00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.140 as guilty 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.480 as the 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:14.920 Egyptians 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:16.120 because they 00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:16.480 too had 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:16.740 become 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.380 idolaters. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.160 Justice 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.900 demanded 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.300 that they 00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:19.980 be punished 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.720 for they 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.279 too had 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.740 sinned 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.080 against 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.539 God. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.320 And so, 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.860 God does 00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:25.380 not issue 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.080 some cheap 00:32:26.080 --> 00:32:26.720 blanket 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.740 decree of 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.180 pardon. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.740 He makes 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.320 provision 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:31.480 for those 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.800 with faith 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.880 to believe 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.620 His word 00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.620 that they 00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.440 might evade 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.300 the judgment 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:37.900 to come. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.220 On the 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.820 morning after 00:32:40.820 --> 00:32:41.500 the Passover 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.400 inside every 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.140 Egyptian 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.860 household, 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:45.079 there was 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:45.619 a dead 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.240 son. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.219 And inside 00:32:48.219 --> 00:32:49.079 every Jewish 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.539 home, 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.679 there was 00:32:50.679 --> 00:32:51.240 a dead 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.379 lamb. 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:54.719 The 00:32:54.719 --> 00:32:55.240 conclusion, 00:32:55.459 --> 00:32:56.099 the lamb 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.519 died in 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.119 the place 00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.099 of the 00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.419 son. 00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:00.439 The 00:33:00.439 --> 00:33:01.059 surviving 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.179 eldest boy 00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.000 from every 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.859 Jewish family 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.539 could say, 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.839 that lamb 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:07.419 died for 00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:07.799 me. 00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:08.579 It died 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.879 in my 00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:10.740 place. 00:33:12.639 --> 00:33:12.939 The 00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:13.379 sprinkled 00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:13.720 blood, 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:14.940 a sign 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.760 that death 00:33:15.760 --> 00:33:16.780 had already 00:33:16.780 --> 00:33:17.740 taken place. 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.640 It wasn't a 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.160 marker of 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:19.980 Jewishness. 00:33:20.860 --> 00:33:21.520 It was a 00:33:21.520 --> 00:33:22.120 marker of a 00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:22.680 people who 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.200 had placed 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.060 their faith 00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:25.140 in God's 00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.700 word of 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.260 salvation. 00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.240 And friends, 00:33:28.340 --> 00:33:29.000 the threat of 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.680 God's judgment 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.480 is as real 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.320 today as it 00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:32.100 ever was. 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.160 Earlier on 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.500 in this 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:33.860 letter, 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.420 in chapter 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:35.760 9, 00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:36.420 26, 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:38.040 He has 00:33:38.040 --> 00:33:38.320 appeared, 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.680 that is, 00:33:38.760 --> 00:33:39.260 Jesus has 00:33:39.260 --> 00:33:39.920 appeared once 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.340 for all 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:40.580 at the 00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:40.880 end of 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.019 the 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.340 ages, 00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:42.120 to put 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:42.840 away sin 00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.660 by the 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.240 sacrifice 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.680 of 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.240 Himself. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:47.180 It's 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.920 appointed for 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.560 man to 00:33:48.560 --> 00:33:49.300 die once, 00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:50.640 and after 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:52.000 that comes 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.940 judgment. 00:33:54.340 --> 00:33:55.140 How can 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.880 any of us 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:57.140 avoid the 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.120 just judgment 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:58.960 of a 00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.720 holy God? 00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.240 Because we 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.080 too are 00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:02.840 idolaters 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.960 at heart. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.640 Friends, 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.060 the way of 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.619 escape is 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.079 the same. 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.480 We have 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:09.920 to trust 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.299 God's 00:34:10.299 --> 00:34:10.619 word, 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.259 place our 00:34:12.259 --> 00:34:12.799 faith in 00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.219 the blood 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:14.179 of a 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.539 slain 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:14.960 lamb. 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.440 The lamb 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.139 is Jesus 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.619 Christ 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.179 Himself. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.480 Paul tells 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.059 the Corinthians, 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:21.099 our Passover 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:22.159 lamb has 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.139 been sacrificed. 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:24.699 The lamb 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.079 has been 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.579 slain, 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.579 our redemption 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.619 paid for 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.179 in full. 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.840 And that's 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.420 why the 00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.980 message of 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.619 the cross 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.259 lies at 00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:32.739 the heart 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.299 of Christianity. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.239 That's why 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.840 the Lord's 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.099 Supper 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.880 that we 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.679 celebrate 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.899 is so 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.779 important to 00:34:38.779 --> 00:34:39.299 the life 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.000 and the 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.719 health of 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:41.139 God's 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.419 church, 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.139 because we 00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.779 must never 00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:43.379 lose sight 00:34:43.379 --> 00:34:43.679 of the 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.059 lamb. 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:44.940 Behold, 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.419 the lamb 00:34:45.419 --> 00:34:45.940 of God 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.659 who takes 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.159 away the 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.440 sin of 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:47.919 the world. 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.019 We must 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.539 never lose 00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:49.919 sight of 00:34:49.919 --> 00:34:50.639 the cross, 00:34:50.919 --> 00:34:51.739 and we 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.159 must never 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:52.739 lose sight 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:53.119 of what 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:54.019 Christ has 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.699 accomplished 00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.659 there in 00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:56.359 His death. 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.519 Jesus is 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.719 the sacrificial 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.759 lamb of 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.219 God. 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.359 He was 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:03.039 offered up 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.599 as a 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.399 propitiation 00:35:04.399 --> 00:35:04.980 for our 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.460 sins. 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.039 He was 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.579 given to 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.139 bear the 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.559 judgment 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.220 that was 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:08.760 rightfully 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:09.340 ours. 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:09.880 He was 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.679 impaled on 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.199 the cross 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:11.980 of Calvary 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.920 that God's 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:13.840 wrath might 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:15.460 pass over 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.159 us. 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.559 His blood 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.320 was shed 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:20.579 that we 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.340 might say 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:22.740 with the 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.420 firstborn of 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:23.860 Israel, 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.760 that lamb 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:26.760 died for 00:35:26.760 --> 00:35:27.199 me. 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.260 He died 00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:29.599 in my 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.440 place, 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:30.980 name, 00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:33.400 bearing 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.639 shame and 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.280 scoffing 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.700 rude. 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:37.619 In my 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.599 place, 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.740 condemned 00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:40.740 He stood, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.260 sealed my 00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.519 pardon with 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.019 His blood. 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:44.820 Hallelujah! 00:35:44.820 --> 00:35:45.860 What a 00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.159 Savior! 00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:48.579 I wonder, 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.780 can you say 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.159 that this 00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:50.500 evening? 00:35:51.780 --> 00:35:52.800 The lamb 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.760 died for 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.139 me. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.139 Jesus Christ is my Passover lamb. 00:35:59.859 --> 00:36:04.319 Jesus Christ has given His very blood for us. 00:36:04.319 --> 00:36:08.639 We find safety and eternal security in Him. 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:11.400 Nothing more is required of us 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:14.519 but to trust in God's Word of salvation, 00:36:14.759 --> 00:36:17.659 to trust the message of the gospel. 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:22.739 Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:24.859 but have eternal life. 00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:32.159 Like Moses of old, faith embraces God's Word of salvation, 00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:35.500 embraces the good news of Jesus, 00:36:36.179 --> 00:36:40.159 and finds safety in the blood of the Lamb. 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:44.019 Here in the Exodus gallery, 00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:48.219 we have these various portraits of the life of Moses. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:51.579 But they're not to be viewed as pictures 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:55.299 hanging in a museum of dead heroes. 00:36:56.980 --> 00:37:00.159 Instead, they're a vital call to live by faith 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:02.340 now in the living God. 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:06.679 Can you hear the words that they speak to us tonight? 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:10.480 Do not fear the powers of this world, 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:12.199 great though they may be. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.659 Stand with God's people. 00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:16.819 Bear the reproach of Christ, 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:18.139 whatever the cost. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.719 Keep looking to the Lord. 00:37:20.839 --> 00:37:23.579 Admit all the ups and downs of life. 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:28.199 And perhaps most importantly of all, 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:30.380 embrace the gospel 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:33.860 and trust in God's Word of salvation. 00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:38.440 Find deliverance in the blood of the Lamb. 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:41.740 There's an old hymn. 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:46.579 His opening verse goes like this. 00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:49.599 My faith looks up to thee, 00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:52.320 thou Lamb of Calvary, 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.720 Savior divine. 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:56.920 Now hear me while I pray. 00:37:57.440 --> 00:38:00.079 Take all my guilt away. 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:03.199 O let me from this day 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:06.420 be wholly thine. 00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:10.340 May that be our prayer this evening. 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.139 Let's pray together. 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.880 God, our Father, 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:18.819 we thank you for your Word. 00:38:19.819 --> 00:38:21.139 We thank you for 00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:24.139 our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:26.599 our great Savior and King. 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:30.099 Lord, may he be truly 00:38:30.099 --> 00:38:32.019 our treasure this evening. 00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:34.139 Lord, help us to 00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:36.279 rejoice in him, 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:37.619 to enjoy him. 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:42.539 And may his presence in our lives 00:38:42.539 --> 00:38:43.319 help us 00:38:43.319 --> 00:38:46.339 to cast away, 00:38:47.339 --> 00:38:48.259 to throw off 00:38:48.259 --> 00:38:50.400 all that would displace you. 00:38:51.279 --> 00:38:52.519 Lord, help us to live 00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:54.460 lives of living faith 00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.599 in you, 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.679 the living God. 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:58.319 As we pray this, 00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.279 in Jesus' name. 00:38:59.839 --> 00:39:00.179 Amen.