WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.660 Well, good morning, everyone. Good morning. It really is great to be with you this morning 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:13.259 to come and share God's word together. As Paul said, my name is Oliver. Everyone calls 00:00:13.259 --> 00:00:17.539 me Ollie. Please feel free to do the same afterwards. And I've been working for a church 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:22.940 in Stirling for just over two and a half years now as the assistant minister. And it's been 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:28.280 great. Stirling is a lovely area. Now, I believe that you're currently looking through the 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:32.000 book of Exodus. At least I hope that's right because that's the passage I've been given 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:37.420 today from that book. And it's under the big theme, the great escape, the great escape. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:46.659 This morning, this morning at last, the physical great escape from Egypt begins. Now, for those 00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:52.980 of you who may be new here this morning, Exodus is found in the first half of the Bible known 00:00:52.979 --> 00:01:00.459 as the Old Testament. And it's been made popular recently in the film Exodus, God and Kings by 00:01:00.459 --> 00:01:08.140 Ridley Scott. I think it's fair to say that most people know the first half of the book 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:17.780 relatively well. So things like Moses in the basket, the burning bush, the ten plagues. But 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:26.219 today, today we start to tread in less well-known territory. And our passage today starts following 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:33.299 the end of the ten plagues. The final one, the plague of the firstborn has just taken place. 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:37.299 And in Exodus chapter 12, verse 30, it says, 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:46.939 There was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. Every Egyptian 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:56.939 house had someone dead in it. Imagine it. Imagine the noise, the crying and the wailing. It must have 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:06.000 been immense. Anyway, we're just past that, but we've not yet reached the parting of the Red Sea. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:12.780 Another well-known event. Hopefully, if you're new, that roughly tells you where we are in the book. 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:17.740 End of the plagues, not yet at the Red Sea. We're in that in-between stage. 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:25.199 The passage we're looking at today was described by John, your pastor, as a buffet. And interestingly, 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:32.960 today is your church lunch. Possibly our passage is a bit like a buffet, similar to that. So maybe 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:39.219 you're going to have some pizza, some sausage rolls, some sandwiches, some crisps, some jelly for the 00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:46.580 kids, banoffee pie. I'm sure there's a lovely selection waiting for you. But reading through 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:51.719 the passage that we're about to do, you'll feel as though it's a bit of this and a bit of that. 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:59.180 But I think there is a theme which hopefully ties it all together. So let's read together 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:07.699 Exodus chapter 12, verses 31 to chapter 13, 22. I'm going to read from the NIV. I think the 00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:12.500 version I've got is the same one you have in the pews. If it is, it's found on page 69. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:21.639 Please do open your Bibles with me. That's page 69, starting at Exodus chapter 12, verse 31. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:31.039 During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:38.460 Up, leave my people, you and the Israelites. Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:47.780 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go, and also bless me. The Egyptians urged the people 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:54.300 to hurry and leave the country, for otherwise, they said, we will all die. So the people took their 00:03:54.300 --> 00:04:00.180 dough before the yeast was added and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:07.420 clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:14.439 and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed towards the people, and they 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:20.680 gave them what they asked for, so they plundered the Egyptians. The Israelites journeyed from Ramesses to 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:29.300 Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:36.719 them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. With the dough they had brought 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.860 from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast, because they had been 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:48.780 driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. Now the length of time the 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:57.680 Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:03.720 Lord's divisions left Egypt. Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:10.200 on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honour the Lord for the generations to come. 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:17.920 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, These are the regulations for the Passover. No foreigner is to 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:23.720 eat of it. Any slave you have brought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:31.080 resident and a hired worker may not eat of it. It must be eaten inside one house. Take none of the 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:37.659 meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate 00:05:37.659 --> 00:05:43.959 it. Any alien living among you who wants to celebrate the Lord's Passover must have all the 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:51.659 males in his household circumcised. Then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised 00:05:51.659 --> 00:05:58.219 male may eat of it. The same law applies to the native born and to the alien living among you. 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:04.680 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that day, 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:10.840 the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions. The Lord said to Moses, 00:06:11.380 --> 00:06:17.540 Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:24.700 to me, whether man or animal. Then Moses said to the people, Commemorate this day, the day you came out 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:29.659 of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:36.620 Eat nothing containing yeast. Today in the month of Abib, you are leaving. When the Lord brings you 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:42.019 into the land of the Canaanites, Hittitites, Samurites, Hivites and Jebusites, the land he swore 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:47.719 to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you are to observe this ceremony 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:54.880 in this month. For seven days, eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day hold a festival to 00:06:54.880 --> 00:07:01.120 the Lord. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days. Nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:08.820 you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. On that day, tell your son, I do this 00:07:08.820 --> 00:07:15.180 because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. This observance will be for you like a sign 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:20.560 on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:26.959 For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:34.280 appointed time year after year. After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to 00:07:34.280 --> 00:07:40.660 you as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, you are to give over to the Lord the first 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:46.660 offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:52.400 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. 00:07:53.140 --> 00:07:58.420 Redeem every firstborn among your sons. In days to come, when your son asks you, 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:03.860 what does this mean? Say to him, with a mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:10.939 out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:17.280 in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:23.379 of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons. And it will be like a sign on your hand 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:28.639 and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:34.559 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:40.740 though that was shorter. For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:47.899 Egypt. So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:54.639 of Egypt armed for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:00.179 Israel swear an oath. He had said, God will surely come to your aid and then you must carry my bones 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:05.980 up with you from this place. After leaving Succoth, they camped to Etham on the edge of the desert. 00:09:06.699 --> 00:09:12.120 By day, the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:17.919 pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:24.100 cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:32.360 Amen. And may God bless his word to us. Well, let us pray before we look at this interesting 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:38.519 passage. Let's pray together. Father God, we thank you so much for your living word to us this morning. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:42.960 We thank you, Lord, that you have something to say to each and every person here today. 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:48.819 And we pray, Lord, that you would help us all to be attentive and listen well. Please, 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:55.280 Father God, may your spirit be at work among us, we ask, so that we may leave here changed for you. 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:58.760 We pray this in your name, Jesus. Amen. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:08.519 Amen. Well, at the end of last year, my mum moved house. She downsized from a four-bedroom 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:16.840 house, detached house, to a two-bedroom bungalow. Now, if anyone here has ever downsized house, 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:24.019 you'll know it is not a good idea. There was furniture and boxes galore going from such a big 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:32.399 house to such a small house. Always upsize if possible. Anyway, the consequence of the move 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:39.480 was that my mum had lots of furniture she needed to pass on. So, for instance, we got a lovely chair. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:47.559 My mum found a photo of my gran sitting in this lovely chair, and it's a small chair. My gran was 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:55.819 a little old lady. It was something really nice to remember her by. My son got a painting. So, my 00:10:55.819 --> 00:11:03.179 great-great-aunt Lillian was an artist, and that has been passed on. She did lots of paintings, 00:11:03.599 --> 00:11:11.119 and this was a boat. It was a boat, and it was pulled upon the shore by the sea. Again, nice to 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:19.019 remember. Nice for my son to have. And I was grateful for my mum sharing these stories. We also 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:25.179 got my mum's dining room table and chairs. It doesn't fit in our house at the moment, but hopefully 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:32.080 it will one day in the years to come. And hopefully when it does, we'll sit around the table and remember 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:39.759 the times when I was a child and share memories. It's good, isn't it, to remember the past. 00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:49.920 Well, our passage today, again and again, tells us to remember what the Lord has done, to look back 00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:57.440 and remember that he is faithful, and that he did everything necessary to rescue the Israelites, 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:04.700 and indeed us. And so we're going to do three things this morning. Firstly, we're going to deal 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:11.460 with the slightly tougher bits of the passage. Secondly, we're going to follow the journey out 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:20.180 of Egypt and see God's faithfulness. Finally, we'll zoom in on this theme of remembering. 00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:29.699 Firstly, then, let's look at the tougher bits in the passage. Firstly, then, the tougher bits in the 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:38.539 passage. And I think these feel tougher because they are harder to relate to today. So firstly, the 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:44.799 Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, both of which you'll have covered last week to some degree. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:52.199 And secondly, we're going to think about the consecration of the firstborn son. Both very, 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:59.019 very important. But I'm sure if I asked any of you here who still celebrates the Feast of Unleavened 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:06.339 Bread, or who still consecrates their firstborn son, certainly as they did, I'd get some pretty funny 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:15.320 looks, as indeed I am. And very, very simply, as festivals, they don't mean a lot to us today. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.700 But these two things are made very, very important for us because of Jesus Christ. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:29.500 And so what we're going to do is we're going to go from the festival or tradition to Jesus very quickly 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:35.899 so that we can see the relevance. We're not going to spend long on this, partly because we would get 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:44.220 bogged down and partly because you looked at some of this last week. So firstly, the Passover and the 00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:51.639 Feast of Unleavened Bread. So it's one festival. It's talked about in the passage in two separate places, 00:13:51.639 --> 00:14:00.919 but it's one festival. Ezra 6, Mark chapter 14 confirms it's one festival and they go together. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:09.120 The Passover remembered the blood from a perfect lamb being put on the door frames of the homes of 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:17.840 God's people. It protected the Israelite house and therefore family from the last plague, the death 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:26.280 of the firstborn. The lamb and its blood were a substitute. And so what a great thing for the 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:34.560 Israelites to remember, the Lord saving his people from death. Following this, the seven days after the 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:41.180 Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated. And that was to remember that on the very night 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:49.099 that this plague happened, Pharaoh finally, he finally let his people go and they quickly left 00:14:49.099 --> 00:14:59.059 in haste. So chapter 12 verse 34, the people take their dough before yeast is added. It's unleavened bread, 00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:08.759 hence the festival. Now most of that should be fairly familiar. Our passage today adds some detail 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:17.120 about who is allowed to share in the festival. So chapter 12 verse 47. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:27.519 It says the whole community of Israel must celebrate it. But then look at verse 43. End of verse 43. 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:37.240 No foreigner is allowed. However, then jump to verse 48. If that person, if that stranger has shown 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:44.139 faith in the Lord, faith in the Lord and all the males in his family are circumcised, then they too can share 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:55.700 in the festival. So circumcision is key. It shows faith in the God of Israel. Now go to Jesus Christ. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:05.720 And he is the perfect lamb who substitutes our place on the cross. And his blood protects us from 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:15.120 eternal death by cleansing us from sin so that we can draw near to God. And we remember that today in the 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:23.480 Lord's Supper or communion. And as a very, very simple application from this passage, only those who have 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:33.240 faith in Jesus Christ are called to partake in that remembrance supper. Just like the Passover and the Feast of 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:42.240 Unleavened Bread, all are welcome to join in, but the prerequisite is faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:54.460 Going forward in Exodus, from this point, remember that everyone, everyone it says was welcome to become part of 00:16:54.460 --> 00:17:02.620 God's family, the Israelite community. They just had to demonstrate faith in the Lord. And the way that was 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:11.980 visibly shown back then was by circumcision. That does come up again in later chapters. Everybody was 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:21.480 welcome to join in. But let's quickly move on to the second tougher bit, the consecration of the firstborn 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:31.960 son. So earlier in Exodus chapter 4, which you may remember, Israel, Israel as a group, as a nation, 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:40.720 are called God's firstborn son. They're called God's firstborn son. And what God does through the plagues 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:51.019 that you've been looking at is to buy back or to redeem Israel as his son. And to remember this, 00:17:51.180 --> 00:18:00.319 therefore, chapter 13, verse 12 to 13, every firstborn human and animal was to be consecrated 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:07.299 or redeemed by the Israelites. In order to that to happen, in order to redeem something, 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:15.919 a price, a price had to be paid. And so you can very quickly see the link to Passover and the Feast 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:24.039 of Unleavened Bread. A human was to be redeemed with a lamb and an animal had to be redeemed with 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:32.159 another animal. And the example in our passage in chapter 13, verse 13, is a donkey being redeemed 00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:41.740 with a lamb. So this is how they were consecrated to the Lord. But it's important to note even more 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:49.220 than this, that it wasn't just the firstborn who was consecrated and redeemed. It was the whole family, 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:58.819 the whole family, just as in Egypt. So this was to be remembered by the Israelites. The firstborn 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:09.279 represented the family which was bought back for God as his son. So go to Jesus. Go to Jesus. In order 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:19.759 for us to be God's children, the true Israel, Christ fully paid the price for us. He redeemed 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:31.019 or consecrated us by the sacrifice of his son, buying us back to God spiritually forever as his sons and 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:39.259 daughters. But even more than that, in Colossians chapter 1, verse 15, it says that Christ was the 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:46.500 firstborn over firstborn over all creation. So just as the Israelite firstborn represented the whole 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:58.619 family. So Christ fully represents us because he is God's child. We are God's children. We live in him, 00:19:58.619 --> 00:20:09.059 in Christ Jesus. And he therefore fully represents us before God. Now that has been 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:15.619 pretty quick, even though it's been fairly brief, there's quite a lot in there. But I think they are 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:23.440 the tougher bits in the passage. Please do not switch off. Stay with me. But I think it's been helpful to 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:31.240 deal with that first. We are going to slow down now, though I promise. Let's move on then. We're going to 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:39.480 now go out of Egypt. So secondly, the journey out of Egypt and God is faithful to his people. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:46.519 And so we're going to go on a journey from Egypt to Etham. So remember, as I said, there's been loud 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:55.440 wailing throughout Egypt. And so at last, chapter 12, verse 31, during the night, Pharaoh gets up and he 00:20:55.440 --> 00:21:04.100 says, up, leave, worship the Lord, take your families and your animals and go. There's fear. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:12.019 There's fear among the Egyptians that they too might die. And so they urge the Israelites to go quickly 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:19.140 and to hurry from their homes. As mentioned, they take their dough, still without yeast added. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:28.140 They plunder the Egyptians, taking clothes, gold and silver as instructed by Moses. Chapter 12, 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:36.680 verse 37, they then journey from Ramesses to Succoth. And we're told in 37, just how massive 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:47.620 this operation is. 600,000 men, probably the same in women and also children. So a figure I'm sure 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:55.979 you've heard about already in your series in Exodus, about 2 million people leaving Egypt. That is a lot 00:21:55.979 --> 00:22:04.839 of people moving together. Plus, you've got all the cattle, all the flocks. Plus, verse 38, there's many 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:15.239 other people with them. This is a big crowd. But together, verse 40, we're told they leave Egypt at the end of 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:38.579 the end of the year. And they're going to go to chapter 13, verse 17. God leads the Israelites, 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:45.339 Israelites. But not the shorter route through the Philistine country, because God knew how vulnerable 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:55.139 and weak the Israelites were. If they faced war, they may run back to Egypt. So God protects his people 00:22:55.139 --> 00:23:03.759 and takes them the longer desert route towards the Red Sea. Verse 19, we're told they carry Joseph's 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:12.119 bones with them. And that was a symbol of where God was leading them to the promised land. So when Joseph 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:20.440 died, he asked for his bones to be taken to the place promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:30.539 That was back in Genesis 50, 24. And here, the bones are being taken. So it's been 430 years 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:38.680 of slavery in Egypt. Yet this promise is kept. And these bones are being faithfully carried. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:48.480 Joseph said, all those hundreds of years earlier, God will surely come to your aid. And amen, 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:58.659 God has. And they're on their way to the promised land. So finally, in verse 20, they leave Succoth 00:23:58.660 --> 00:24:05.620 and camp at Etham on the edge of the desert. And it's here that we're told about the pillar of cloud 00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:13.140 and the pillar of fire, God's presence with them, leading them, so that they could travel both by day 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:22.100 and night. Verse 22 says, they never left their place in front of the people, the Lord going ahead 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:29.500 before his people, the Lord going ahead and night. And a well-known story fits very well here. 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:37.879 As many of you'll know, at the top of Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh, there's a pub called the Greyfriars 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:46.899 Bobby, with a statue of a Sky Terrier dog outside. And the story goes that this dog called Bobby, 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:56.040 who belonged to a man called John Grey, a night watchman. Upon his death, Bobby spent the next 14 years, 00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:06.140 14 years faithfully sitting by the graveside of his master until he himself died and was buried nearby. 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:15.380 What a very, very faithful dog, remembering and looking back to his devoted master. 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:24.940 I want you to consider the original readers of these chapters in Exodus, the Israelites looking back 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:34.300 and remembering their ancestors. God was faithful. He rescued them from Egypt, both as the Lord had said 00:25:34.300 --> 00:25:44.400 through Moses, but also as Joseph had said 430 years earlier. God will surely come to your aid. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:54.320 God was faithful. They all leave together. People and animals, all two million of them. God was faithful. 00:25:55.040 --> 00:26:04.860 They plundered the Egyptians as expected and leave equipped. God was faithful. They are led by God in his 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:14.180 providence by the longer route and by his continual presence by the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:22.920 As a member of God's family. As a member of God's family, how would you feel looking back and remembering God's faithfulness? 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:35.000 It's powerful, isn't it? It's reassuring. God was with his people then. He didn't abandon them as soon as they stepped foot outside Egypt. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:44.740 And he's with us today. And we sometimes forget to look back and remember God's faithfulness. 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:52.339 But we must. And it's particularly helpful when you're struggling or when you're going through difficulties. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:59.519 When your job is highly stressful. When you're going through difficulties in your marriage. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:08.160 Look back and remember the times when God has been faithful and therefore will be again. 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:16.180 Maybe you're in that place at the moment. And that place is very hard. The burden is great. 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:26.040 And actually you're struggling. You're struggling to think of a time when God has faithfully carried you or brought you through a previous situation. 00:27:27.040 --> 00:27:33.360 Well keep going back. Go back even further. Go back 2,000 years. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:28:03.339 And remember God's faithfulness on the cross. 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:11.279 God was with them. And I think as the future generations of Israelites looked back and remembered God's faithfulness. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:17.899 It would have been hugely helpful. Look back. Remember God's faithfulness. 00:28:18.419 --> 00:28:22.459 And may that be a strength and a help to you. 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:29.179 Finally, let's look a bit further at the theme of remembering. 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:36.299 And I want to ask the question, how did the Israelites remember these things? 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:38.519 How did the Israelites remember them? 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:42.000 Look again at the passage with me. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:45.180 Chapter 12, verse 42. 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.080 It said, 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:59.899 Move with me to chapter 13, verse 3. 00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:01.819 Moses said to the people, 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:04.159 Commemorate this day. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:07.079 Chapter 13, verse 5. 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:10.079 In the promised land you are to observe. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.879 You're to observe this ceremony. 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:16.580 Move down to chapter 13, verse 8. 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:19.380 On that day, tell your sons, 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:25.220 I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:28.740 Chapter 13, verse 14. 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.700 When your son asks, 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.220 What does this mean? 00:29:32.780 --> 00:29:34.560 Tell him with a mighty hand, 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:36.840 The Lord brought us out of slavery. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:40.159 And chapter 13, verse 16. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:43.319 Again, it shall be like a sign on your hand, 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:45.220 And a symbol on your forehead, 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:49.980 That the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.819 With all these things, 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.759 God's rescue from Egypt, 00:29:54.419 --> 00:29:56.319 The consecration of the firstborn, 00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:58.240 His faithfulness, 00:29:58.740 --> 00:30:00.679 How were the Israelites to remember? 00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:03.220 They were to commemorate the day, 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:04.959 Observe the ceremony, 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.799 Tell your sons, 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:09.539 Talk about it with the next generation, 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:12.039 Celebrate His goodness, 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:15.200 And make it obvious to everyone. 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.259 And you can picture that. 00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:21.600 The Israelites didn't have individual copies of, 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:22.860 Certainly not the Bible, 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:25.759 But even the book of Exodus to read. 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:29.100 They reminded themselves with festivals, 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.579 And in particular, 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.900 By talking about it, 00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:34.660 By sharing together, 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.759 By telling their children, 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:38.640 And the next generation. 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.840 They would tell each other, 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.620 About the Lord's mighty hand, 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:44.380 In delivering them from Egypt. 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.519 They would describe the pillar of cloud, 00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:49.040 And the pillar of fire, 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.900 Whatever that looked like. 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.860 And they would talk about, 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:55.800 Why they consecrated their firstborn. 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:58.079 They would talk about it, 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.359 To remember it. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.619 I love the picture, 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.639 Of the sign on your hand, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.879 And the symbol on your forehead. 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:08.220 What are the two parts, 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.460 Of your body, 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:11.319 That are always visible? 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.099 It's your face, 00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:15.139 And your hands. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.579 From the way you tell your sons, 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:20.159 From the way you talk about these things, 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.919 It will be obvious, 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.680 They will be well known, 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:25.039 And remembered. 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.799 Everyone will know, 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.920 About these things. 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.860 Most of us, 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.500 Most of us are very, 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.240 Very good, 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:37.460 At talking about something. 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.299 Whether it's the football, 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:39.940 Or rugby, 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.740 Or cricket, 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.799 Whether it's broad church, 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.880 Or eastenders, 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.620 Whether it's the food, 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.480 We've eaten, 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.440 The clothes we've bought, 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.519 Or our week at work. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:52.599 Maybe it's the stories, 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:54.000 From our previous week, 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:56.339 Or even from our childhood. 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.839 We remember them well, 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:01.440 And talk about these things often. 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.480 And often it's good, 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.660 To remember things, 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.240 And to share stories. 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.700 But I wonder how much, 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.440 We talk about the Lord, 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:13.579 And whether it's with the same excitement. 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:18.019 And I think our passage strongly encourages us, 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.659 To talk about the Lord, 00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:22.500 To remember him, 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.240 As we speak about him, 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:26.939 Especially to the next generation. 00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:29.000 For people to see, 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:30.179 And to hear, 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.699 Just how much, 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:34.259 The Lord means to us. 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:36.980 We don't celebrate festivals, 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.740 Like the Israelites did, 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:41.699 Or consecrate our first born sons, 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.860 As they did. 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:46.080 But we do have a great gospel, 00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:46.880 To remember, 00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:48.620 And talk about. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:51.039 So I encourage you, 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.360 To tell each other, 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:54.140 About the Lord's faithfulness, 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.559 In your life. 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.660 Remember his faithfulness, 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.880 In your home, 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.180 Your family, 00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:01.720 Your work. 00:33:02.580 --> 00:33:04.299 Next time you meet up for coffee, 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.420 Or lunch, 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.400 Or dinner, 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:08.080 Make a point, 00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.700 Of remembering something, 00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:11.759 That God has done for you, 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.319 In the past week, 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.960 Or the past year. 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.160 And may that become, 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:18.779 The most natural thing, 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.440 In the world for you, 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.799 To talk about. 00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:24.720 I encourage you to remind each other, 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.319 Of the Lord's death. 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.400 Remember each other, 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:30.080 Of what Jesus has done, 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.900 And achieve for you, 00:33:32.080 --> 00:33:33.000 On the cross. 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.559 Yes of course, 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:35.440 We have that reminder, 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.299 In our Bibles. 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.440 Yes of course, 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.639 We come together on a Sunday, 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:40.119 And in small groups, 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.039 Through the week. 00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:43.599 But let's also talk about that, 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:45.659 When we meet every day, 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.059 Just as something, 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.720 That's on our lips, 00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:51.059 And we can't help to speak about. 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.859 The more you talk, 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.440 About these things, 00:33:55.659 --> 00:33:57.079 The more you remember them, 00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:59.279 The more it will help you, 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.639 In your struggles. 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.440 It will help you, 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.599 When you're tempted. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.419 It will help you, 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.919 When life is hard. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.639 And not just you, 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:10.960 But the person, 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.279 You're speaking with. 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.699 It will help them, 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.719 As well. 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.799 I think the application, 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:17.599 To children, 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:19.440 And our corporate responsibility, 00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:20.219 To them, 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.239 Is obvious. 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.940 As a church, 00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:24.420 We are a family. 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.360 And the spiritual growth, 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.199 Of our children, 00:34:27.799 --> 00:34:28.659 Should be important, 00:34:28.839 --> 00:34:30.539 To every adult here, 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.480 As I'm sure it is. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:35.579 I started by sharing, 00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:36.579 About the stories, 00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:38.679 That my mum told me, 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:40.339 And those I hope, 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.659 To tell my children. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.639 And I'm challenged, 00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.799 To make sure I spend, 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.360 Even more time, 00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:48.339 Talking about the Lord, 00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.679 His grace, 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.920 His goodness, 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.960 His faithfulness, 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:54.400 Over the years, 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:57.420 Than I do any other stories. 00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:59.380 Like the hands, 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.519 And the face, 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:02.420 May our faith, 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.820 Be very obvious, 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.579 To everyone. 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.280 May we remember, 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.000 Openly, 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:08.800 That with a mighty hand, 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.259 The Lord brought us, 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.480 Out of slavery, 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.780 And back, 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:14.079 Into his, 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.780 Eternal family. 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.219 Well let's pray together. 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:19.199 Let's pray. 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.840 Father God, 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.860 We thank you so much, 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.400 For your word to us. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.119 We thank you Lord, 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.639 That there was so much, 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:27.699 In that passage. 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:28.719 But Father there was, 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:30.219 We pray something, 00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:30.980 Very relevant, 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.579 For each of us here. 00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.759 Lord we're challenged, 00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:36.399 On how often, 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.639 We speak about you. 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.519 How often we talk about you, 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.519 And remember you, 00:35:40.879 --> 00:35:41.480 To others. 00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:43.679 Lord we acknowledge together, 00:35:43.819 --> 00:35:45.299 That the blessings, 00:35:45.299 --> 00:35:46.259 That come from you, 00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:47.019 Are abundant. 00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:49.179 Every day we receive, 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.819 From you. 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:52.039 And we want to remember that, 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.939 With thanks. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.480 We want to remember that, 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:55.359 Not just ourselves, 00:35:55.459 --> 00:35:56.079 But when we speak, 00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.859 With our families, 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:58.039 And our friends, 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.059 And our colleagues, 00:35:59.720 --> 00:36:01.300 May we talk openly, 00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:02.780 And remember you, 00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:05.099 Just as the Israelites did, 00:36:05.260 --> 00:36:06.820 Thousands of years ago, 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.260 With each other, 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.200 And their children. 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:11.680 May we do the same today, 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:13.760 As we remember your goodness, 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.519 In our lives. 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:16.519 Father God, 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.400 I want to pray especially, 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.720 For those here today, 00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.680 Who may be struggling, 00:36:20.120 --> 00:36:21.940 Or going through hard times. 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.780 Lord be with them, 00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:25.120 And help them, 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.400 In their difficulties, 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.440 To remember your faithfulness. 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:30.240 May they remember, 00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:31.500 A time in their lives, 00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:32.880 When you have been faithful, 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.880 And Lord may they remember, 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.980 Ultimately your great faithfulness, 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:38.240 On the cross, 00:36:39.080 --> 00:36:39.820 Where your son, 00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:42.000 Paid the perfect sacrifice for us, 00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.480 Paying the price, 00:36:43.640 --> 00:36:44.900 For our sins. 00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.380 Lord God, 00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.760 We thank you for our time together, 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.360 This morning, 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.080 And the blessing it's been, 00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:52.200 In your name Jesus we pray, 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:53.179 Amen. 00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.359 Amen.