WEBVTT

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 We are in a series in the book of Exodus, so please turn with me and your Bibles to

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 Exodus chapter 4, verses 18 to 31.

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 If you're not familiar with your Bibles, Exodus is the second book in the Bible, after Genesis,

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 before Leviticus.

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 Chapter 4, verses 18 to 31.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Father, we gather once again under the reading and preaching of your Word.

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 Because of our conviction that every word of yours is truth, that all of Scripture is

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 breathed out by you, and therefore profitable for us, and that it's able to make us wise

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 for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

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 Even passages that we don't expect to be like that.

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 So we ask again that you will address us as you always do.

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 that you bring the conviction and comfort that only your Spirit can bring.

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 And magnify the name of your Son, Jesus, in this Word.

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 Lord, in Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Please, follow along with me as I read Exodus 4, 18 to 31.

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 Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said to him,

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 please, let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.

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 And Jethro said to Moses, go in peace.

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 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, go back to Egypt, for all the men who are seeking your life are dead.

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 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey and went back to the land of Egypt.

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 And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

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 And the Lord said to Moses, when you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power.

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 But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

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 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.

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 And I say to you, let my son go that he may serve me.

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 If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.

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 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.

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 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said,

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 surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.

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 So he let him alone.

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 It was then that she said, a bridegroom of blood because of the circumcision.

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 The Lord said to Aaron, go into the wilderness to meet Moses.

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 So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.

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 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak and all the signs that he had commanded him to do.

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 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel.

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 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people.

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 And the people believed.

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 And when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction,

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 they bowed their heads and worshipped.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Some of us have worked with leaders who are gracious and flexible.

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 They seem to have an endless capacity for sacrificing themselves and bending to accommodate other people's preferences and opinions.

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 But when that graciousness is taken to the extreme,

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 if they never stand up for their rights and views,

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 that's no longer being gracious and flexible.

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 That's being a pushover and a coward.

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 It's hard to know what they actually think and what they actually want,

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 which is very demotivating.

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 On the other hand, we've also known leaders who are resolute and uncompromising about their standards.

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 They are willing to endure much difficulty and push back from others to maintain their standards and accomplish their goals.

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 But when that resoluteness is taken to the extreme,

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 it becomes stubbornness and tyranny.

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 What we really want in the people we follow are those who combine both graciousness and resoluteness.

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 People who can both accommodate us and challenge us.

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 And God is the perfect embodiment of those two characteristics.

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 He is exceedingly patient and gracious,

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 but he is also unyieldingly holy and just.

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 And for that reason, he is worthy of both our love and affection and our fear and reverence.

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 We learn in this passage that the Lord delivers his people from slavery by the blood of his firstborn son,

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 that we might serve him as his children.

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 And in this account, we see the Lord's sovereignty and the Lord's holiness and the Lord's graciousness in turn.

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 And I'll go through those in that order.

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 So five times in this, in the preceding passage,

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 Moses made some kind of excuse, if you remember,

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 for why he could not obey God's command to go to Egypt to deliver God's people from slavery.

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 But after God's repeated assurances of his presence and power that he would go with him,

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 and God's patient and gracious accommodation of Moses' weaknesses,

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 he finally ascents.

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 And that dialogue between God and Moses was long and detailed in the preceding passage in verses 18 to,

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 but in this passage, in verses 18 to 31,

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 the passage is characterized by short, punchy, action-packed sentences.

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 And it conveys the fact that Moses follows through on all the Lord's commands without delay.

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 For example, Moses was commanded,

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 go back to Egypt, chapter 3, verse 19.

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 And chapter 3, verse 20,

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 I'm sorry, chapter 4, verse 19.

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 In chapter 4, verse 20 tells us immediately that Moses went back to the land of Egypt.

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 In chapter 4, verse 17, God commanded Moses,

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 take in your hand this staff.

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 And verse 20 tells us that Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

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 So he's obeying promptly everything God had commanded him to do.

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 But that doesn't mean Moses now has zero doubt and is full of faith.

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 Judging from verse 19,

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 it seems that Moses is still worried that there are people in Egypt who are out to kill him.

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 If you remember from chapter 2,

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 we were told that when Pharaoh heard that Moses killed an Egyptian man,

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 that he, Pharaoh, sought to kill Moses.

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 So Moses is worried that there's still a death warrant out for him,

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 that there's a bounty on his head.

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 Probably the reason why, after all these years, still hasn't gone back to Egypt.

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 But God patiently assures him,

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 go back to Egypt,

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 for all the men who are seeking your life are dead.

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 But remember, now Moses has a new life in the Midian wilderness.

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 He has a wife and he has children now.

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 So before he takes his wife and kids out of the only country they have ever known

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 and takes them to hostile territory in Egypt to rescue God's people,

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 he first must receive his father-in-law's blessing.

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 You can imagine the nervousness as Moses approaches his father-in-law.

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 And it says in verse 18,

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 he said to Jethro,

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 please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.

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 And Jethro, ever the supportive father-in-law he is,

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 says go in peace.

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 You might be wondering if this is kind of dishonest.

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 Why didn't Moses say,

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 the Lord,

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 the God of my forefathers,

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 has appeared to me in a burning bush

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 and he told me of all people personally to go and deliver Israel from their slavery in Egypt.

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 And by the way,

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 I'm going to take Zippra,

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 your daughter,

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 and your grandkids with me.

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 I mean,

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 that's,

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 imagine telling your father-in-law that.

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 That's a tough ask.

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 But I don't think Moses is intentionally hiding the full truth here from Jethro,

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 although that's certainly possible out of fear.

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 The whole account is so abbreviated.

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 And likely there was a much longer conversation.

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 And I think there's actually quite an appropriate reason why Moses says this,

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 that,

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 hey,

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 please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.

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 Because that summary,

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 that reason parallels chapter 2,

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 verse 11,

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 where it says this,

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 Moses went out to his people and looked on their burdens,

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 and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew,

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 one of his people.

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 That word his people is literally his brothers.

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 And the same word that's used here in chapter 4,

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 verse 18.

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 And so there's a pattern here.

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 40 years ago,

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 Moses had gone out into Egypt to see his brothers.

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 And that prompted him,

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 after seeing his oppression,

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 to want to try to deliver them by striking the Egyptian.

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 And now again,

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 Moses wants to go back to see his brothers in Egypt,

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 to see what's going on with them.

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 The parallel suggests that Moses is revealing his desire to deliver his people once again from their oppression.

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 40 years ago,

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 Moses failed.

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 He was driven out of the country,

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 with Pharaoh who was after him.

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 His own people rejected him as their prince.

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 But this time,

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 the story is going to be different.

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 Because now the Lord goes with him.

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 40 years ago,

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 Moses was rashly taking things into his own hands.

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 But this time,

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 he carries the staff of God in his hand,

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 which will ensure that Israel is freed.

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 And we see the Lord's total sovereignty

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 in what he says to Moses in verse 21.

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 He says,

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 The hardening of Pharaoh's heart

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 is a prominent motif

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 throughout the Exodus account.

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 And we're told that his heart was hardened

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 no less than 18 times

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 in a variety of ways.

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 Majority of time,

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 11 times or so,

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 it explicitly states that,

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 as it does here,

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 that the Lord was the agent of the hardening.

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 The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart.

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 He says in Exodus 9, 12,

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 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh.

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 Some other times,

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 five times to be exact,

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 the use of the divine passive construction

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 implies that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart.

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 It implies that the Lord hardened his heart.

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 So for example,

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 Exodus 8, 19,

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 it says Pharaoh's heart was hardened.

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 Who was it hardened by?

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 The implication is the Lord.

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 That's the divine passive construction.

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 So that's what it says majority of the time,

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 vast majority of the time.

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 But there are still other times,

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 three times total,

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 when scripture says that Pharaoh

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 hardened his own heart.

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 For example,

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 it says in Exodus 9, 34,

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 Pharaoh sinned yet again

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 and hardened his heart.

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 So which is it?

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 Is God responsible for hardening Pharaoh's heart

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 or is Pharaoh responsible for hardening his own heart?

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 The answer is yes.

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 God is fully sovereign over all of Pharaoh's decisions.

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 And yet,

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 Pharaoh is truly responsible for all of his decisions.

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 Some of us are uncomfortable

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 with the juxtaposition of those two realities,

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 but the author of Exodus has no problem

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 affirming both of those things side by side.

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 In fact,

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 the two seemingly contradictory statements

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 sometimes occur in the same verse.

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 Earlier in Exodus 3, 19,

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 the Lord said,

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 I know that the king of Egypt

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 will not let you go

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 unless compelled by a mighty hand.

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 The word mighty or strong

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 is the adjectival form of the Hebrew word,

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 the verb that is used here in Exodus 4, 21.

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 I will harden,

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 or literally,

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 I will strengthen his heart.

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 Meaning,

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 he's going to strengthen his resolve,

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 make him more stubborn

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 so that he sticks to his word

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 and refuses to let the Israelites go.

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 So there's a word play here.

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 On the one hand,

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 God will strengthen Pharaoh's heart

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 so that he will not let the people of Israel go.

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 On the other hand,

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 God will use his strong hand

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 to compel Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.

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 So,

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 he is,

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 in other words,

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 playing both offense and defense.

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 He is orchestrating

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 even Pharaoh's stubborn refusal

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 to reveal,

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 in order to reveal his glory and power.

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 That's why God raised up Pharaoh

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 for this particular time.

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 He says in Exodus 9, 16,

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 for this purpose,

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 I have raised you up,

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 Pharaoh,

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 to show you my power

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 so that my name may be proclaimed

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 in all the earth.

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 That's God's purpose.

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 One of my favorite movies of all time

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 is Life is Beautiful.

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 I don't know if you guys have seen that.

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 It's incredibly,

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 in the movie,

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 the main actor,

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 the Italian actor,

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 Roberto Benigni,

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 he stars in it as the lead actor,

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 but he's also the same guy

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 who wrote the script

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 and directed the film.

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 So,

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 he's the writer,

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 the director,

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 and the lead actor

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 in the film.

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 What's happening here in Exodus

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 is quite similar.

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 God is the writer,

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 he is the director,

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 and the principal actor

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 of Israel's Exodus from Egypt.

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 And what's the point of that?

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 So that in the end,

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 when the credit rolls,

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 God receives

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 all of the glory.

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 This is a hard doctrine for us

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 because

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 the values of liberty

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.740
 and independence

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.600
 and self-determination

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.259
 are so deeply ingrained

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.960
 in our culture.

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.039
 I mean,

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.000
 the state motto

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.980
 of our upstairs neighbors

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:59.279
 is live free or die.

00:15:59.800 --> 00:15:59.940
 Right?

00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:03.039
 And you might not know this,

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.879
 but the Massachusetts state motto

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.460
 is not as well known

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.340
 because it's in Latin,

00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.379
 but when you translate it,

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.439
 it's actually quite similar.

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.220
 It says,

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.080
 by the word,

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.439
 well,

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:11.620
 I mean,

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.480
 by the sword,

00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.659
 we seek peace,

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:16.019
 but peace only under liberty.

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.399
 That's our motto.

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:18.960
 So,

00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.700
 we're so used to this illusion

00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.439
 of control over our lives,

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.259
 and we're so used to seeing ourselves

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.379
 as the protagonists

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.960
 of the story of our lives,

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:29.460
 that it's very hard for us

00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.560
 to accept the reality

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.940
 that we are not

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:33.240
 actually in control

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.040
 over our lives,

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:37.500
 and that God

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.820
 is actually in full control

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.480
 over our lives.

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.000
 Indeed,

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.840
 he is in full control

00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.180
 over all of human history

00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:46.780
 and of the entire universe.

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.920
 It's hard for us

00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:52.740
 in a man-centered world

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:54.100
 to accept a God

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.300
 who is truly sovereign.

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:57.859
 The apostle Paul

00:16:57.859 --> 00:16:58.979
 understood this well

00:16:58.979 --> 00:17:00.859
 after citing the book of Exodus

00:17:00.859 --> 00:17:01.500
 and mentioning

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:03.699
 how God hardened Pharaoh's heart

00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:05.399
 in order to show forth his power.

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.599
 Paul writes that God has mercy

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.200
 on whomever he wills,

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:11.659
 and he hardens whomever he wills.

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.579
 And then he anticipates

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.359
 the objection.

00:17:15.419 --> 00:17:15.599
 Well,

00:17:15.659 --> 00:17:16.740
 you will say to me then,

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.980
 why does he still find fault?

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.480
 For who can resist his will?

00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.859
 In other words,

00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:25.200
 if God hardened Pharaoh's heart,

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.180
 then how can he also blame Pharaoh?

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.119
 Pharaoh is helpless

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.339
 to resist God's will.

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:31.859
 I'm sure

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.839
 some of you,

00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.680
 like me,

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.079
 have raised similar objections

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.200
 to God in the past.

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.559
 And here's how

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.240
 the word of God

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.259
 answers that objection

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.079
 in Romans 9,

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:40.980
 20 to 23.

00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:42.799
 But who are you,

00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:43.279
 O man,

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.440
 to answer back to God?

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.559
 Will what is molded

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.779
 say to its molder,

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.859
 why have you made me like this?

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.220
 Has a potter

00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.440
 no right over the clay

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.880
 to make out of the same lump

00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.539
 one vessel for honorable use

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:58.340
 and another for dishonorable use?

00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.019
 What if God,

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.640
 desiring to show his wrath

00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:03.400
 and to make known his power,

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.660
 has endured with much patience

00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.620
 vessels of wrath

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.700
 prepared for destruction

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.440
 in order to make known

00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.500
 the riches of his glory

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.740
 for vessels of mercy,

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:13.160
 which he has prepared

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.400
 beforehand for glory?

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:17.480
 The Bible doesn't try

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.580
 to explain away

00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:19.420
 the tension between

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.259
 divine sovereignty

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.380
 and human responsibility.

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.540
 It simply says,

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.600
 who are you, O man,

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.460
 to answer back to God?

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:31.580
 When you crochet a scarf,

00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:35.480
 does the scarf talk back to you

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:35.780
 and say,

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.660
 I want to be a blanket instead?

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:44.720
 When the comic book writer

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.660
 Jim Starlin

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:47.500
 created the character Thanos

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:49.740
 to be a villain

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.100
 in the Marvel Universe,

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.720
 does Thanos talk back

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.980
 to the author and say,

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.279
 hey, I actually want

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.900
 to be a hero.

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.880
 Thank you very much.

00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:03.360
 Doesn't make any sense.

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:08.559
 God created us from scratch.

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:14.519
 He sovereignly orchestrated

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.599
 our backgrounds,

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:16.919
 our relationships,

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.119
 our experiences.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:20.599
 He gave us all of our talents

00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.699
 and tendencies and temperaments

00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:24.439
 and he did all of this

00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:25.879
 for his glory.

00:19:27.179 --> 00:19:28.619
 That's his ultimate purpose.

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.719
 That's what it means

00:19:29.719 --> 00:19:32.979
 to be God, the Lord, Yahweh.

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:35.619
 I am who I am.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.779
 I will be who I will be.

00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:41.899
 He is by the very definition

00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:43.000
 of God's sovereign.

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:47.019
 Nevertheless, God's sovereignty

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.779
 does not erase human responsibility.

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:51.279
 Though God is fully sovereign,

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:53.339
 Pharaoh really is culpable.

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.479
 He is responsible

00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:56.859
 for hardening his own heart

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.719
 and refusing to let

00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:58.500
 the Israelites go.

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.500
 And this tension in Scripture

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:02.119
 is not a riddle to be solved

00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:04.659
 but a truth to believe

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:06.000
 and to live by.

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:08.119
 Because we are responsible

00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.079
 for our actions

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.500
 and culpable for our sins,

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.639
 we do our best

00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.719
 to discern God's will

00:20:13.719 --> 00:20:14.799
 and try to obey him.

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.919
 But because God is sovereign,

00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:18.119
 we trust him

00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:19.239
 and rest in him

00:20:19.239 --> 00:20:22.139
 even when tyrannical kings reign.

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.379
 Even when our lives

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.079
 are out of control.

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.219
 Life doesn't make sense

00:20:28.219 --> 00:20:29.500
 or work as God intended

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:31.039
 if we resolve this tension

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.940
 one way or another,

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.759
 if we don't maintain the tension.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.940
 By telling Moses ahead of time

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.559
 that he will harden Pharaoh's heart,

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.119
 God is preparing Moses

00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:41.859
 for Pharaoh's stubborn resistance.

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:44.079
 Don't be surprised, Moses.

00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:46.299
 Don't despair, Moses.

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.680
 Pharaoh's resistance

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:49.339
 is all part of my plan.

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:53.220
 Even when you experience

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:55.299
 the most devastating setback

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.500
 of your career

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.519
 or of your relationship

00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.059
 or in your health,

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.559
 even when life

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.799
 is not going according to plan,

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.619
 even when you're facing

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.459
 great hardship

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:09.139
 or suffering in your life,

00:21:09.199 --> 00:21:10.720
 you can find comfort

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.720
 in knowing the fact

00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:14.659
 that nothing happens

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.919
 outside of God's

00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:16.799
 sovereign purposes,

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.279
 outside of the loving hands

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.839
 of our heavenly Father.

00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:24.519
 That's the Lord's sovereignty.

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.220
 And then we see

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.099
 the Lord's holiness

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.539
 and his justice

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.960
 in verses 22 to 26.

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.960
 God instructs Moses

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.980
 to say this to Pharaoh.

00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:35.159
 Thus says the Lord,

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.879
 Israel is my firstborn son.

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.579
 And I say to you,

00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:41.059
 let my son go

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.480
 that he may serve me.

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.919
 If you refuse to let him go,

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:47.480
 behold, I will kill

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.580
 your firstborn son.

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:51.080
 The nation of Israel,

00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:54.360
 as Yahweh's chosen people,

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.860
 and his special possession

00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:59.180
 is his firstborn son.

00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:03.420
 Having a child heightens

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:05.300
 the protective instincts

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.759
 in fathers and mothers.

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.940
 And those who seek

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.600
 to harm a child

00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:12.600
 incur the fierce anger

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.480
 of the parent.

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:17.640
 Not many of you guys

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.940
 know who this person is probably.

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:19.720
 Last month,

00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:21.120
 Cain Velasquez,

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.900
 a former UFC heavyweight champion,

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:27.480
 was arrested on murder charges

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.599
 because he was chasing

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:32.539
 and shooting with a gun

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.900
 a man who allegedly

00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.940
 molested his four-year-old son

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:37.019
 repeatedly at a daycare.

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.960
 Obviously, he should not have

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.700
 taken justice into his own hands.

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:44.319
 That was a presumptuous

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.779
 and unwise decision.

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.360
 But it's not hard

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.299
 to understand

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:50.660
 the man's paternal rage.

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.059
 In a similar way,

00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:59.539
 the Lord God

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.920
 is getting very personal here.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:06.580
 Israel is my firstborn son.

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:10.619
 And I say to you,

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:12.960
 let my son go

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.399
 that he may serve me.

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.099
 And if you refuse

00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.759
 to let him go,

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.079
 behold,

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:19.899
 I will kill your firstborn son.

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.139
 This is justice.

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.519
 This is a preview

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.359
 of the tenth

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.399
 and final disaster

00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.000
 that the Lord

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.299
 inflicts on Egypt

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.659
 for Pharaoh's refusal

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.799
 to let Israel go.

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.500
 All the firstborn sons

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.859
 of Egypt

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.619
 will die

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:35.119
 in chapter 11 and 12.

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.539
 When announcing

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.979
 Israel's impending exile

00:23:39.979 --> 00:23:40.579
 to Assyria

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.739
 due to their sinful rebellion

00:23:41.739 --> 00:23:42.439
 against him,

00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:43.699
 the Lord says this

00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:45.279
 in Hosea 11, 1-4.

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:47.139
 When Israel was a child,

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.759
 I loved him.

00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:50.299
 And out of Egypt,

00:23:50.459 --> 00:23:51.979
 I called my son.

00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:53.779
 The more they were called,

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.959
 the more they went away.

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.719
 They kept sacrificing

00:23:56.719 --> 00:23:57.559
 to the Baals

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.500
 and burning offerings

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.119
 to idols.

00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.639
 Yet it was I

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.459
 who taught Ephraim

00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:01.979
 to walk.

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.420
 I took them up

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.160
 by their arms,

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.500
 but they did not know

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.980
 that I healed them.

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.319
 I led them

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.720
 with cords of kindness,

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.319
 with the bends of love,

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.980
 and I became to them

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.160
 as one who eases

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.559
 the yoke on their jaws.

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.579
 And I bent down

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.319
 to them

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.880
 and fed them.

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.920
 This is how God

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.980
 relates to his people.

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.779
 As his son,

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.980
 you can sense

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.960
 both his intense affection

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:30.039
 and heartache

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.519
 in that passage

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.259
 because of the rebellion

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.420
 of his son Israel.

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:36.220
 The Lord called him

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.279
 and taught him

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.019
 and brought him

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:40.420
 out of their slavery in Egypt.

00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:42.600
 He taught his son to walk.

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.940
 He took his son

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.720
 by his arms

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.740
 and healed him.

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.059
 He led his son

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.460
 with cords of kindness

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.299
 and bent down

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.440
 to feed him.

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.440
 And yet,

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.220
 his son repeatedly

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:55.420
 rejected him,

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.200
 rebelled against him,

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.840
 and went after idols.

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:05.059
 And Matthew 2.15

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.319
 cites this passage

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.960
 to say that

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:09.180
 Jesus' sojourn in Egypt

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.920
 is a fulfillment

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.559
 of Hosea 11.1,

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.960
 out of Egypt

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.259
 I called my son.

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.779
 Matthew is making

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.600
 the connection

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:20.360
 that Jesus

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:22.140
 is the new Israel,

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:24.279
 the true son of God

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.039
 who was called

00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.840
 out of Egypt

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.259
 to deliver his people.

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.480
 That means,

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:36.659
 if you are a child of God,

00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:39.059
 if you have repented

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.699
 of your sins

00:25:39.699 --> 00:25:40.679
 and put your faith

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.240
 in Jesus,

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:43.099
 then in Christ,

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.740
 you are God's son.

00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.339
 In Christ,

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:50.659
 you are among God's people.

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.740
 You're a member

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.699
 of his family.

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.380
 That means,

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.759
 the Lord God,

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.000
 the Almighty God,

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.400
 cares for you

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.519
 and protects you

00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:00.059
 with the same zeal

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.240
 that a loving father

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.120
 has for his child.

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.680
 You are not

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.860
 a helpless,

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:08.160
 fatherless child.

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.640
 The Lord's mighty hand,

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.980
 your Father in heaven,

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.640
 he is watching over you.

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.680
 This truth must be

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.660
 such a comfort

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.220
 to believers

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.180
 in parts of the world

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.920
 where Christians

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.520
 face severe persecution

00:26:25.520 --> 00:26:26.240
 for their faith.

00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:29.340
 Right now is the time

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:30.280
 of God's patience

00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:31.259
 with evildoers,

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.560
 but the Lord

00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:34.180
 will return in vengeance

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:36.300
 and he will vindicate

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:36.940
 his holiness

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:38.259
 and he will execute

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.000
 his justice.

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.420
 However,

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.220
 the Lord's holiness

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.140
 is seen not only

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.820
 in his dealings

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:46.000
 with the enemies

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.679
 of his people,

00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:48.399
 but also in his dealings

00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:49.740
 with his own people.

00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:52.720
 He says in verses 24 to 26,

00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:54.039
 at a lodging place

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.460
 on the way,

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.460
 the Lord met him

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.379
 and sought to put him

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.179
 to death.

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.899
 Did you expect that?

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.759
 Then Zipporah took a flint

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.200
 and cut off her son's foreskin

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.139
 and touched Moses' feet

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.679
 with it and said,

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.359
 surely you are

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.720
 a bridegroom of blood to me.

00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:09.220
 So he let him alone.

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.980
 It was then that she said,

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.200
 a bridegroom of blood

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.460
 because of the circumcision.

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:16.220
 This is one of the most

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.539
 challenging passages

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:17.960
 of scripture

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:19.000
 to interpret.

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.700
 Just to give you

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.420
 one example,

00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.900
 one Old Testament scholar,

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.319
 David Pinchensky,

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.539
 just despairs

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.380
 of interpreting it

00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:27.960
 all together

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.360
 and this is what he says,

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.640
 quote,

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.240
 biblical scholars

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.640
 love this passage

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.200
 because it is

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.819
 totally incomprehensible.

00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.559
 That's clearly

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.640
 an overstatement.

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.160
 It's funny nonetheless.

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:44.220
 The reason why

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.860
 it's so difficult

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.340
 to interpret

00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:46.180
 is that it seems

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.380
 to come out of nowhere

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:49.000
 and it uses

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:50.240
 a whole bunch

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.420
 of personal pronouns

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.540
 without making it clear

00:27:52.540 --> 00:27:53.759
 who it's referring to.

00:27:54.560 --> 00:27:55.980
 Why would the Lord

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.920
 commission Moses

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.680
 for this task

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.240
 and then seek

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.240
 to put him to death

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.560
 before he can fulfill it?

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:03.019
 Who is the son

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.620
 that Zipporah circumcised?

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.920
 And who is the him

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:08.240
 that the Lord met

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.180
 and tried to kill?

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:11.480
 Even in verse 25

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:11.940
 where it says

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.660
 Zipporah cut off

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.480
 her son's foreskin

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.460
 and touched Moses'

00:28:14.820 --> 00:28:15.500
 feed with it.

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.860
 If you look at the footnote

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.920
 there on the word Moses,

00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.900
 it tells you in Hebrew

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.940
 it just says him.

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.240
 It doesn't say Moses.

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.779
 It's most likely Moses.

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.580
 That's why the translator

00:28:26.580 --> 00:28:27.380
 is trying to help us

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:29.920
 by putting that in there.

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.060
 So we can't be certain

00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:32.940
 that this is what

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:34.299
 the passage definitively means

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.380
 but here's my best attempt

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.340
 to make sense of it all.

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:38.279
 Exodus 4 verse 20

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.599
 is the first time

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.119
 in the book

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.139
 when we are told

00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:42.659
 that Moses had sons

00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:43.679
 in the plural.

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.539
 We are only told

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.019
 of the birth

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.419
 of his firstborn Gershom

00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:48.500
 in chapter 2.

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.019
 So now we know

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.579
 that Moses had another son

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:53.279
 before his return to Egypt.

00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:56.099
 And later in Exodus 18 verse 4

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:57.339
 we find out the name

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.279
 of this second son

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.659
 and his name is Eliezer

00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.819
 and it tells us

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.919
 the meaning of his name there

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:03.619
 and the meaning is this.

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.859
 The God of my father

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.059
 was my help

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:08.019
 and delivered me

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.799
 from the sword of Pharaoh.

00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:10.879
 Interesting.

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.779
 He named him that

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:15.519
 before the Exodus.

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:18.559
 So he is referring to

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:20.000
 God delivering him

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.000
 from the sword of Pharaoh

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.399
 who was trying to kill him.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.479
 So that helps us

00:29:25.479 --> 00:29:26.500
 that helps to make sense

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.740
 of chapter 4 verse 19

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.559
 because when God tells Moses

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.659
 seemingly out of the blue

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.699
 that all the men

00:29:31.699 --> 00:29:32.619
 who are seeking your life

00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:33.679
 in Egypt are dead,

00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:35.899
 Moses probably named

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:37.019
 his second son Eliezer

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.799
 after that assurance

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.379
 that Pharaoh is dead

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.459
 and his men are dead

00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:42.359
 who are trying to kill him.

00:29:43.459 --> 00:29:44.399
 So then Eliezer

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.379
 was likely born

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.299
 around this time

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:47.339
 and his name

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.939
 prophetically anticipates

00:29:48.939 --> 00:29:49.779
 God's deliverance

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.199
 of Israel

00:29:50.199 --> 00:29:51.839
 from the new Pharaoh's sword

00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.319
 as well

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.739
 just as Moses

00:29:53.739 --> 00:29:54.399
 is about to return

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:54.879
 to Egypt.

00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:56.839
 So then according

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:58.619
 to Genesis chapter 17

00:29:59.239 --> 00:30:00.259
 verse 10 to 14

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.460
 that's where God

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.519
 makes his covenant

00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.220
 with Abraham

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:05.279
 and he commands circumcision

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.539
 as a sign of the covenant

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.119
 and this is what it says

00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:09.799
 this is my covenant

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.660
 which you shall keep

00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:13.099
 between me and you

00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:14.359
 and your offspring after you.

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:16.119
 Every male among you

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:17.220
 shall be circumcised.

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.559
 You shall be circumcised

00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.140
 in the flesh

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.079
 of your foreskins

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.460
 and he shall be a sign

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.019
 of the covenant

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.160
 between me and you.

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.420
 He who is eight days old

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.000
 among you

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.460
 shall be circumcised.

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:30.400
 Any uncircumcised male

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.620
 who is not circumcised

00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.160
 in the flesh

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.900
 of his foreskin

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:35.000
 shall be cut off

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.920
 from his people.

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.519
 He has broken

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.500
 my covenant.

00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:41.720
 Circumcision marked

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.200
 Israel as God's

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.740
 special possession

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.140
 his chosen people.

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.700
 It was the sign

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.240
 of the covenant relationship

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.900
 that they have

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.600
 with the Lord

00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.799
 in the same way

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.039
 that in the new covenant

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.059
 nowadays for us

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.840
 baptism

00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:56.140
 and the Lord's supper

00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:57.440
 function as signs

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.440
 of the covenant

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.580
 that we are included

00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:01.259
 among his people.

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:05.220
 The failure

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.000
 to observe

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.559
 God's covenant stipulations

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.799
 meant being cut off

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.920
 from his people

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.740
 meaning

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.600
 they'd be excluded

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.740
 from God's people

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.980
 and circumcision

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.180
 the cutting off

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.000
 of the foreskin

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:18.980
 was a very visual

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.519
 representation

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.720
 of that curse

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.000
 of being cut off

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.779
 you and your progeny

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.779
 your future generations

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:26.380
 will literally be cut off

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.140
 from God's people.

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.360
 That's what that sign

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.620
 symbolizes, represents.

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.160
 And so this is my best

00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:32.840
 reconstruction

00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:33.520
 of the event.

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.780
 Moses' second son

00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:35.360
 Eliezer

00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:37.160
 was born around this time.

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.320
 Moses was about

00:31:38.320 --> 00:31:38.960
 to take leave

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.680
 of his father-in-law

00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.759
 to return to Egypt.

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.440
 The eighth day

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.340
 when Eliezer

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:44.880
 should have been circumcised

00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:45.920
 had come and gone

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:47.240
 but Moses still

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.759
 had not circumcised him

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:50.240
 and he was liable

00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:50.720
 to judgment

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.640
 because it was his

00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.320
 responsibility

00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:53.600
 to circumcise his son.

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.939
 So as Moses

00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:55.740
 and his family

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.399
 are journeying

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.039
 to Egypt

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.299
 at a lodging place

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.980
 on the way

00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.339
 the Lord met him

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.299
 and sought to put him

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.799
 to death.

00:32:02.439 --> 00:32:03.319
 This is very similar

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.939
 to what happens

00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:04.779
 in Numbers 22

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.659
 when Balaam

00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:07.059
 is expressly permitted

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.619
 by God

00:32:07.619 --> 00:32:09.459
 to go meet Balak

00:32:09.459 --> 00:32:10.879
 but then later on

00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:11.879
 when he's on his way

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.259
 he says

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.319
 the angel of the Lord

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.279
 came out

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.299
 to oppose him

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.359
 because his way

00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.259
 was perverse

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.879
 before him.

00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:19.720
 We don't know

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.700
 exactly what's going

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.220
 on here

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.260
 but the Lord

00:32:22.260 --> 00:32:23.220
 unmistakably

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.480
 appeared to Moses

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.080
 and Zipporah

00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:26.560
 and he made it clear

00:32:26.560 --> 00:32:27.700
 that he was there

00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.740
 to oppose Moses

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.800
 and kill him

00:32:29.800 --> 00:32:31.480
 and maybe Moses

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.860
 suddenly fell ill

00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:34.140
 maybe he is confronted

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:34.920
 like Jacob

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.660
 was confronted

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.700
 by the angel of the Lord

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.500
 and wrestled with him

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.240
 all night long.

00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.460
 Apparently

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.500
 whatever the case was

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.340
 Zipporah knew

00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:42.180
 immediately

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.880
 what the issue was.

00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:46.840
 She wastes no time

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:48.459
 and takes a flint

00:32:48.459 --> 00:32:50.039
 a hard sharp stone

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:51.000
 and then cuts off

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.259
 her son's foreskin

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.359
 and touches Moses' feet

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:53.720
 with it.

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.240
 The fact that Zipporah

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.859
 knew exactly what to do

00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.199
 shows that she and Moses

00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.259
 has probably had

00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:00.939
 conversations

00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:01.799
 about this issue.

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.399
 The fact that

00:33:03.399 --> 00:33:04.399
 only one son

00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:05.159
 is circumcised here

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.419
 shows that

00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:07.199
 the other one

00:33:07.199 --> 00:33:08.359
 was already circumcised.

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.099
 So maybe

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:12.159
 Moses circumcised Gershom

00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:13.899
 according to the custom

00:33:13.899 --> 00:33:14.599
 of his fathers

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:16.419
 since he was born

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.240
 not long after

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.420
 Moses left Egypt

00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:19.580
 and started sojourning

00:33:19.580 --> 00:33:20.080
 in Midian.

00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:22.060
 And since Moses

00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:23.380
 named his son Gershom

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.480
 after a prominent member

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.460
 of the tribe of Levi

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.539
 it's clear that

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.220
 he was aware

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.779
 of his Jewish heritage

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.980
 despite the fact

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.800
 that he was educated

00:33:30.800 --> 00:33:31.600
 in the court

00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.279
 of Pharaoh.

00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.940
 However

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:35.400
 with his second son

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:37.100
 Moses had not

00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:37.900
 followed through.

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.420
 Maybe Moses

00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:42.460
 had assimilated

00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:43.660
 Midianite customs

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.200
 by then

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.360
 or perhaps

00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:46.240
 he had an argument

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:47.019
 with Zipporah

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.819
 over whether or not

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.539
 to circumcise

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.080
 his son

00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:49.759
 Eliezer.

00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.240
 Whatever the case

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.140
 Zipporah knew

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:52.980
 that the lack

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.840
 of circumcision

00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:55.019
 was the reason

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.039
 for the Lord's

00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.600
 opposition.

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.539
 And when she

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.539
 cut off the son's

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.019
 foreskin

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.680
 and touched

00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.740
 Moses' feet with it

00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.840
 feet is likely

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.720
 euphemism for

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.519
 Moses' genitals

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.420
 it says that

00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:05.900
 the Lord

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.319
 let him alone.

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.679
 Just as previously

00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.199
 he was rescued

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.379
 rescued by

00:34:12.379 --> 00:34:13.219
 Hebrew midwife

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.679
 Shipporah

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:14.179
 and Puah

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.419
 and then

00:34:15.419 --> 00:34:16.019
 he was rescued

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.599
 by his mother

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.239
 and sister

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.019
 and then

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.579
 he was rescued

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.339
 by Pharaoh's

00:34:19.339 --> 00:34:19.679
 daughter

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.619
 from out of the river

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:22.199
 Moses is once again

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.159
 saved by the

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.099
 timely intervention

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.899
 of a woman

00:34:24.899 --> 00:34:26.319
 this time

00:34:26.319 --> 00:34:27.159
 by his wife

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.199
 Zipporah.

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.619
 If Moses

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.399
 is to lead

00:34:31.399 --> 00:34:32.339
 the nation of Israel

00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:33.579
 and call them

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.299
 to keep their

00:34:34.299 --> 00:34:35.259
 covenant with the Lord

00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:37.119
 then he must

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.819
 first ensure

00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.859
 that his own

00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.379
 household

00:34:39.379 --> 00:34:40.219
 is keeping

00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.839
 their covenant

00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:41.519
 with the Lord.

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.119
 Similarly

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:45.039
 1 Timothy 3

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.599
 4-5

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.000
 says that

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.719
 elders who

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.319
 govern

00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:48.000
 the household

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.419
 of God

00:34:48.419 --> 00:34:48.919
 the church

00:34:48.919 --> 00:34:49.939
 must first

00:34:49.939 --> 00:34:50.339
 demonstrate

00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:50.879
 that they can

00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.500
 manage their

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.239
 own households

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:52.579
 well.

00:34:54.379 --> 00:34:54.959
 Neglecting

00:34:54.959 --> 00:34:55.799
 to circumcise

00:34:55.799 --> 00:34:56.299
 his son

00:34:56.299 --> 00:34:57.239
 was a grave

00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:57.879
 failure

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:58.480
 on Moses'

00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:58.959
 part

00:34:58.959 --> 00:34:59.799
 because it

00:34:59.799 --> 00:35:00.519
 signified

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.159
 that his

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.139
 own family

00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:03.359
 is cut off

00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:03.919
 from the people

00:35:03.919 --> 00:35:04.419
 of God

00:35:04.419 --> 00:35:05.699
 that he has

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.480
 the people

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:06.759
 of God

00:35:06.759 --> 00:35:07.439
 the very people

00:35:07.439 --> 00:35:07.859
 that he has

00:35:07.859 --> 00:35:08.399
 been called

00:35:08.399 --> 00:35:08.959
 and commanded

00:35:08.959 --> 00:35:09.539
 to rescue.

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:13.539
 How is Moses

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.919
 to enjoin Israel

00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.539
 to take the

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.500
 covenant of God

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.059
 seriously

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.599
 if he himself

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.419
 has failed

00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.399
 to set an example

00:35:20.399 --> 00:35:22.059
 by doing so?

00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.899
 God is

00:35:24.899 --> 00:35:25.599
 holy

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:28.500
 and he takes

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.419
 obedience

00:35:29.419 --> 00:35:30.659
 seriously.

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:34.319
 He is no

00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:35.319
 chummy old

00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:36.079
 body that

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:37.059
 you can push

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.739
 around and

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.539
 presume upon.

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:42.800
 God is

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.559
 to

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:43.960
 God

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.880
 to

00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.800
 practice

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.239
 church

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:46.759
 discipline.

00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:48.300
 When someone

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:49.000
 who claims

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.559
 to be

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.440
 a Christian

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.679
 engages

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.019
 in

00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:52.820
 demonstrable

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.639
 destructive

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.139
 sin

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.500
 and refuses

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.460
 to repent

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.519
 the church

00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.800
 excommunicates

00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.279
 that member

00:35:59.279 --> 00:36:00.199
 and bars

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:00.860
 him from

00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.579
 partaking

00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.019
 of the

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.360
 Lord's

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:02.579
 Supper

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:04.019
 in order

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.719
 to communicate

00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.619
 the spiritual

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.420
 reality that

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.219
 he has been

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:07.959
 cut off

00:36:07.959 --> 00:36:08.799
 from God's

00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.099
 people.

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.259
 That he may

00:36:10.259 --> 00:36:11.059
 not partake

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.339
 in the

00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:12.039
 family supper.

00:36:13.359 --> 00:36:14.299
 This is not

00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:15.059
 to say that

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.959
 Christians are

00:36:15.959 --> 00:36:16.399
 perfect.

00:36:17.459 --> 00:36:18.059
 We all

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.980
 sin in

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.599
 numerous ways.

00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:21.719
 But the

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.539
 hallmark of

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.039
 the Christian

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.919
 is that we

00:36:23.919 --> 00:36:24.879
 repent of

00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:25.480
 our sins

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.119
 and we

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.719
 turn to

00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.459
 Jesus for

00:36:27.459 --> 00:36:27.939
 forgiveness

00:36:27.939 --> 00:36:29.199
 in faith.

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.000
 A purported

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.719
 Christian's

00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.819
 refusal to

00:36:32.819 --> 00:36:33.959
 repent brings

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.860
 disrepute to

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.300
 the church

00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:36.659
 and undermines

00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.240
 our gospel

00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:37.760
 witness.

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.420
 And we

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.220
 must uphold

00:36:40.220 --> 00:36:40.760
 the holiness

00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:41.480
 of God

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.720
 as a church.

00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.260
 I used

00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:47.000
 this illustration

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.599
 about a year

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.159
 ago when we

00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:48.599
 were in Acts

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.500
 chapter 4 but

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:49.980
 it's very

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.539
 relevant for

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.199
 today's passage.

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:51.980
 In C.S.

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.280
 Lewis'

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.300
 The Lion,

00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:53.760
 The Witch,

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.139
 and The

00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:54.639
 Wardrobe,

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.880
 Susan,

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.260
 I think,

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:56.820
 is having a

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.720
 conversation with

00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:58.079
 Mr.

00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:59.179
 Beaver about

00:36:59.179 --> 00:36:59.780
 the prospect

00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.400
 of meeting

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.199
 Aslan who

00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:02.400
 is the lion

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:03.480
 that resembles

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.079
 God in

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:04.680
 this fictional

00:37:04.680 --> 00:37:05.160
 series.

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.340
 And Mr.

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.340
 Beaver says,

00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.780
 Aslan is a

00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.119
 lion,

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.700
 the lion,

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.139
 the great

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.980
 lion.

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:14.980
 Oh,

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:17.059
 says Susan,

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.700
 I thought he

00:37:18.700 --> 00:37:19.260
 was a man.

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:20.880
 Is he quite

00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:21.360
 safe?

00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:23.260
 I shall feel

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:23.900
 rather nervous

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.380
 about meeting

00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.119
 a lion.

00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:28.380
 Safe,

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.539
 says Mr.

00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:29.800
 Beaver.

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:31.880
 Who said

00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.460
 anything about

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.160
 safe?

00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:35.740
 Of course he

00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.700
 isn't safe.

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.960
 But he's

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.980
 good.

00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:42.039
 He's the

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.400
 king,

00:37:42.660 --> 00:37:43.280
 I tell you.

00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:46.820
 Not safe.

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.760
 God's not

00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:50.440
 tame.

00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:53.519
 He's good.

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.740
 And he will

00:37:55.740 --> 00:37:57.260
 fiercely defend

00:37:57.260 --> 00:37:58.140
 his holiness

00:37:58.140 --> 00:37:59.720
 and justice.

00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:02.099
 But we can

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.739
 rest assured

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.399
 that he is

00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:04.719
 also gracious

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.339
 to us

00:38:05.339 --> 00:38:07.039
 and merciful

00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:07.679
 to us.

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.419
 And how

00:38:08.419 --> 00:38:08.819
 does this

00:38:08.819 --> 00:38:09.159
 passage

00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:09.679
 demonstrate

00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:10.219
 the Lord's

00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.919
 graciousness?

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.079
 In a number

00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:12.459
 of ways.

00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:12.879
 First,

00:38:13.299 --> 00:38:13.779
 notice the

00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.379
 parallel between

00:38:14.379 --> 00:38:15.259
 verse 19

00:38:15.259 --> 00:38:15.859
 and 24.

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.419
 It says in

00:38:16.419 --> 00:38:16.899
 verse 24

00:38:16.899 --> 00:38:17.159
 that the

00:38:17.159 --> 00:38:17.759
 Lord sought

00:38:17.759 --> 00:38:18.339
 to put

00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:18.980
 Moses to

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.219
 death,

00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.000
 which is

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.379
 similar to

00:38:20.379 --> 00:38:20.679
 how verse

00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:21.539
 19 describes

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.039
 the men

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.399
 who are

00:38:22.399 --> 00:38:22.859
 seeking

00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.379
 Moses'

00:38:23.379 --> 00:38:24.059
 life.

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.079
 And that

00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.399
 echoes

00:38:25.399 --> 00:38:26.299
 Exodus 2.15

00:38:26.299 --> 00:38:26.779
 where he said

00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:27.819
 Pharaoh sought

00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:28.380
 to kill

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:28.880
 Moses.

00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:30.080
 Seeking

00:38:30.080 --> 00:38:31.260
 communicates

00:38:31.260 --> 00:38:31.880
 intent.

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.420
 Pharaoh is

00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.100
 only a man.

00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:34.920
 He's not

00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.559
 all-knowing

00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:36.340
 and he can

00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:36.940
 only be in

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.440
 one place

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:37.920
 at a time.

00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:38.820
 He has no

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:39.500
 idea where

00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.059
 Moses is,

00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:40.640
 so he needs

00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:41.100
 to first

00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:41.680
 look for

00:38:41.680 --> 00:38:42.019
 him and

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.640
 find him

00:38:42.640 --> 00:38:42.980
 before he

00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.300
 can kill

00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:43.539
 him.

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:44.780
 So Pharaoh

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:45.559
 seeks to

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:46.180
 kill him.

00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:47.140
 But God

00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:47.740
 is different.

00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:48.780
 He is

00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.580
 all-knowing

00:38:49.580 --> 00:38:50.820
 and he is

00:38:50.820 --> 00:38:51.640
 omnipresent.

00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:51.980
 He is

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.500
 everywhere

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.019
 at the

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.740
 same time

00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:54.500
 and he is

00:38:54.500 --> 00:38:55.760
 all-powerful.

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:56.740
 And it

00:38:56.740 --> 00:38:57.200
 says the

00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:58.299
 Lord met

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:59.000
 Moses.

00:39:00.339 --> 00:39:00.639
 God

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.139
 didn't need

00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:01.819
 any time.

00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:03.480
 God

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.779
 could have

00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:04.359
 killed Moses

00:39:04.359 --> 00:39:04.819
 in that

00:39:04.819 --> 00:39:05.539
 instant.

00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:06.599
 He didn't

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:06.980
 need to

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.699
 seek to

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:08.480
 kill him.

00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:09.119
 But instead

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:09.759
 God

00:39:09.759 --> 00:39:10.719
 communicates

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.879
 his intent

00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:12.859
 to Moses

00:39:12.859 --> 00:39:13.460
 and Zipporah.

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:13.960
 He gives

00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:15.000
 them time

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.980
 to repent.

00:39:16.359 --> 00:39:16.639
 And when

00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.339
 Moses and

00:39:17.339 --> 00:39:18.059
 Zipporah do

00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:18.679
 repent,

00:39:18.859 --> 00:39:20.019
 he mercifully

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:21.159
 relents.

00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:26.159
 we see

00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:26.420
 God's

00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:26.940
 graciousness

00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.379
 in another

00:39:27.379 --> 00:39:27.619
 way.

00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:27.819
 The

00:39:27.819 --> 00:39:28.079
 words

00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:28.559
 son

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.039
 and

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.559
 firstborn

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:29.960
 son

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.259
 are

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.659
 repeated

00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:30.960
 throughout

00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.159
 this

00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:31.519
 passage.

00:39:31.699 --> 00:39:31.819
 God

00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:32.199
 says

00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:33.079
 Israel

00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:33.500
 is his

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.239
 firstborn

00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:34.599
 son.

00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:34.859
 And he

00:39:34.859 --> 00:39:35.199
 says to

00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:35.500
 Pharaoh,

00:39:35.759 --> 00:39:36.379
 let my

00:39:36.379 --> 00:39:37.379
 son go.

00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:37.960
 And if

00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.339
 you don't,

00:39:38.379 --> 00:39:38.599
 I will

00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:39.239
 kill your

00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:39.899
 firstborn

00:39:39.899 --> 00:39:40.500
 son.

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:40.819
 And this

00:39:40.819 --> 00:39:41.239
 is immediately

00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:41.859
 followed by

00:39:41.859 --> 00:39:42.460
 Zipporah

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.379
 circumcising

00:39:43.379 --> 00:39:44.239
 her and

00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.539
 Moses'

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.519
 son.

00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.259
 Not

00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:47.920
 coincidentally,

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:49.159
 the death

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.820
 of Egypt's

00:39:49.820 --> 00:39:50.480
 firstborn

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.720
 sons in

00:39:51.720 --> 00:39:52.500
 chapter 12

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.400
 is immediately

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.019
 followed by

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.000
 God requiring

00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:56.579
 circumcision as

00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:57.579
 a precondition

00:39:57.579 --> 00:39:58.420
 for partaking

00:39:58.420 --> 00:39:58.760
 in the

00:39:58.760 --> 00:39:59.159
 Passover

00:39:59.159 --> 00:39:59.960
 sacrifice.

00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:02.579
 He says

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.000
 in chapter

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.639
 13,

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.820
 and immediately

00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.539
 after that,

00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.480
 God commands

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:07.940
 Moses in

00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.639
 chapter 13,

00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:10.019
 consecrate to

00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:10.960
 me all the

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:11.820
 firstborn.

00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:13.659
 Whatever is

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:14.340
 the first to

00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:14.780
 open the

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.220
 womb among

00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:15.619
 the people

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.059
 of Israel,

00:40:16.180 --> 00:40:16.500
 both of

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:16.960
 man and

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.599
 of beast,

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.920
 is mine.

00:40:19.819 --> 00:40:20.299
 Every

00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:21.000
 firstborn of

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:21.480
 man among

00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:21.980
 your sons

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.380
 you shall

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:22.759
 redeem.

00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:23.699
 And when

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.219
 in time

00:40:24.219 --> 00:40:24.719
 to come

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.179
 your son

00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:25.739
 asks you,

00:40:25.839 --> 00:40:26.179
 what does

00:40:26.179 --> 00:40:26.679
 this mean?

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.440
 You shall

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:27.839
 say to

00:40:27.839 --> 00:40:28.119
 him,

00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:28.759
 by a

00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:29.279
 strong

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:29.880
 hand the

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.139
 Lord

00:40:30.139 --> 00:40:30.619
 brought us

00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:30.860
 out of

00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:31.599
 Egypt from

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:31.980
 the house

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:32.579
 of slavery.

00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:33.319
 For when

00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:33.639
 Pharaoh

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:34.159
 stubbornly

00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.659
 refused to

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.039
 let us

00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.319
 go,

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:35.799
 the Lord

00:40:35.799 --> 00:40:36.400
 killed all

00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:36.960
 the firstborn

00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.179
 in the

00:40:37.179 --> 00:40:37.519
 land of

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.799
 Egypt,

00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.400
 both the

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:38.980
 firstborn of

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:39.500
 man and

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:40.039
 the firstborn

00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:40.619
 of animals.

00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:41.599
 Therefore,

00:40:41.860 --> 00:40:42.699
 I sacrifice

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.119
 to the

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:43.679
 Lord all

00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.199
 the males

00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:44.679
 that first

00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.139
 opened the

00:40:45.139 --> 00:40:45.380
 womb,

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:46.279
 but all the

00:40:46.279 --> 00:40:46.920
 firstborn of

00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.639
 my sons

00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:48.700
 I redeem.

00:40:50.260 --> 00:40:51.440
 The firstborn

00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.200
 male animals

00:40:52.200 --> 00:40:52.780
 had to be

00:40:52.780 --> 00:40:53.940
 sacrificed in

00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.680
 commemoration of

00:40:54.680 --> 00:40:55.240
 the Passover

00:40:55.240 --> 00:40:56.920
 when God

00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:57.559
 judged the

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.139
 firstborn sons

00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:58.519
 of Israel,

00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.200
 but passed

00:40:59.200 --> 00:40:59.900
 over the

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.320
 sons of

00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:00.680
 Israel.

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:02.720
 And all

00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.480
 the firstborn

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:04.079
 sons,

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:04.740
 humans,

00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.619
 had to be

00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:06.599
 redeemed with

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.720
 payment to

00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:08.480
 signify that

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:09.280
 they belong

00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:09.659
 to the

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:09.920
 Lord.

00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:12.440
 They don't

00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:12.920
 belong to the

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.300
 parents,

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:13.960
 they belong to

00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:14.360
 the Lord.

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:15.980
 So then the

00:41:15.980 --> 00:41:16.480
 ritual of

00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:17.539
 circumcision is

00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:18.699
 intimately tied

00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.039
 to the

00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.719
 observance of

00:41:19.719 --> 00:41:20.240
 the Passover,

00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:21.420
 which is then

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.179
 connected to the

00:41:22.179 --> 00:41:22.940
 significance of

00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:23.760
 the firstborn

00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:24.179
 son.

00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:25.619
 And I think

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:26.079
 this is the

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.579
 reason why

00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:27.380
 Moses leaves

00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:27.860
 the pronouns

00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:28.300
 in this

00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:28.760
 passage

00:41:28.760 --> 00:41:30.579
 ambiguous and

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:31.320
 doesn't clarify

00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:31.860
 whether it's

00:41:31.860 --> 00:41:32.440
 Gershom or

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.460
 Eliezer that

00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.219
 is circumcised.

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.619
 If I'm

00:41:35.619 --> 00:41:36.039
 correct in

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:36.619
 thinking that

00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.360
 it was Eliezer

00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:38.059
 that was his

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:38.719
 second son

00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:38.980
 that was

00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.659
 circumcised,

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.740
 then by not

00:41:40.740 --> 00:41:42.260
 specifying that

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:43.300
 the fact that

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:43.539
 it was the

00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:44.199
 second son and

00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:44.480
 leaving it

00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:44.860
 ambiguous,

00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:45.960
 Moses makes

00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.660
 it easier

00:41:46.660 --> 00:41:47.300
 for us to

00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:47.740
 make the

00:41:47.740 --> 00:41:48.500
 literary and

00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.160
 theological

00:41:49.160 --> 00:41:50.320
 connection between

00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:51.680
 circumcision and

00:41:51.680 --> 00:41:52.440
 the redemption of

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:53.640
 the firstborn son

00:41:53.640 --> 00:41:54.400
 during Passover.

00:41:56.539 --> 00:41:57.579
 And this is where

00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:58.140
 we see the

00:41:58.140 --> 00:41:59.360
 amazing grace of

00:41:59.360 --> 00:41:59.680
 God.

00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:00.860
 The only reason

00:42:00.860 --> 00:42:01.780
 why the firstborn

00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:02.599
 sons of Israel

00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:03.800
 were spared

00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:04.579
 during that

00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:05.599
 tenth disaster

00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.740
 was that they

00:42:06.740 --> 00:42:07.360
 followed the

00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:08.079
 Lord's instruction

00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:09.160
 to sacrifice

00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:10.360
 an unblemished

00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:11.099
 one-year-old

00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:11.940
 male lamb

00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:13.039
 and daub its

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:14.179
 blood on the

00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:15.360
 lintel and the

00:42:15.360 --> 00:42:16.559
 side posts of

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.360
 their door frames.

00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:20.059
 And this

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:21.300
 sacrificial lamb

00:42:21.300 --> 00:42:22.420
 pointed to

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:23.300
 Jesus,

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:25.240
 the firstborn

00:42:25.240 --> 00:42:26.480
 son of God

00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:27.639
 who would die

00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:28.440
 as the atoning

00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:29.539
 sacrifice for our

00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:29.840
 sins.

00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:31.260
 That's why John

00:42:31.260 --> 00:42:32.039
 1 29 says,

00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:32.840
 Jesus is the

00:42:32.840 --> 00:42:33.599
 lamb of God

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:34.340
 who takes away

00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:34.940
 the sin of the

00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:35.280
 world.

00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:37.059
 1 Corinthians 5 7

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:37.260
 says,

00:42:37.260 --> 00:42:38.000
 Christ is the

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.920
 Passover lamb

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:39.539
 who has been

00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.260
 sacrificed.

00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:40.500
 sacrificed.

00:42:41.080 --> 00:42:42.020
 It's because

00:42:42.020 --> 00:42:42.600
 Jesus,

00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:43.820
 the firstborn,

00:42:44.280 --> 00:42:45.100
 died in our

00:42:45.100 --> 00:42:46.200
 place that we,

00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.160
 God's people,

00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:48.380
 are saved and

00:42:48.380 --> 00:42:49.180
 called his

00:42:49.180 --> 00:42:50.380
 firstborn son

00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:51.720
 in Christ.

00:42:53.220 --> 00:42:53.660
 We,

00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:54.360
 all of us,

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.180
 like Moses

00:42:55.180 --> 00:42:56.840
 and like Israel,

00:42:57.120 --> 00:42:58.060
 have failed to

00:42:58.060 --> 00:42:59.100
 keep our end of

00:42:59.100 --> 00:42:59.760
 the covenant with

00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:00.080
 God.

00:43:00.740 --> 00:43:01.200
 We've been

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:02.060
 unfaithful to

00:43:02.060 --> 00:43:02.260
 him.

00:43:02.420 --> 00:43:03.100
 We have sinned

00:43:03.100 --> 00:43:03.760
 against him.

00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:04.440
 And if the

00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.500
 Lord had met

00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:06.380
 us in our

00:43:06.380 --> 00:43:06.720
 sin,

00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:08.760
 he would have

00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:09.680
 met us in

00:43:09.680 --> 00:43:10.040
 judgment.

00:43:10.260 --> 00:43:12.020
 to put us

00:43:12.020 --> 00:43:12.540
 to death.

00:43:14.700 --> 00:43:15.480
 But the

00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:16.160
 blood of the

00:43:16.160 --> 00:43:16.980
 son of God

00:43:16.980 --> 00:43:18.120
 atoned for

00:43:18.120 --> 00:43:18.560
 our sin.

00:43:19.160 --> 00:43:20.080
 And because of

00:43:20.080 --> 00:43:20.520
 Jesus,

00:43:21.080 --> 00:43:21.840
 instead of being

00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:22.820
 caught off from

00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:23.400
 God's people,

00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:25.340
 we can now come

00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:26.200
 to the table of

00:43:26.200 --> 00:43:26.600
 the Lord,

00:43:27.660 --> 00:43:28.600
 be adopted into

00:43:28.600 --> 00:43:29.200
 his family,

00:43:29.560 --> 00:43:30.440
 and call upon

00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:32.080
 God as our

00:43:32.080 --> 00:43:33.100
 father.

00:43:36.560 --> 00:43:37.700
 What should be

00:43:37.700 --> 00:43:38.600
 our response to

00:43:38.600 --> 00:43:39.180
 such mercy?

00:43:40.260 --> 00:43:42.300
 we see it in

00:43:42.300 --> 00:43:43.160
 verses 27 to

00:43:43.160 --> 00:43:43.660
 31.

00:43:44.920 --> 00:43:45.460
 In the

00:43:45.460 --> 00:43:46.180
 preceding passage,

00:43:46.300 --> 00:43:46.600
 God had

00:43:46.600 --> 00:43:48.160
 graciously accommodated

00:43:48.160 --> 00:43:49.040
 Moses' weakness

00:43:49.040 --> 00:43:50.880
 by promising to

00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:51.600
 send Aaron to

00:43:51.600 --> 00:43:52.180
 him to be a

00:43:52.180 --> 00:43:53.380
 spokesperson for

00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:54.020
 him because Moses

00:43:54.020 --> 00:43:54.800
 was not a good

00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:55.180
 speaker.

00:43:55.700 --> 00:43:56.620
 And that promise

00:43:56.620 --> 00:43:57.460
 is fulfilled here

00:43:57.460 --> 00:43:58.220
 when Aaron meets

00:43:58.220 --> 00:43:58.940
 Moses at the

00:43:58.940 --> 00:43:59.760
 mountain of God

00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:00.480
 and begins to

00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:01.080
 serve as his

00:44:01.080 --> 00:44:01.660
 mouthpiece.

00:44:02.140 --> 00:44:02.600
 And then when

00:44:02.600 --> 00:44:03.060
 they go to

00:44:03.060 --> 00:44:03.980
 Egypt and gather

00:44:03.980 --> 00:44:04.600
 the elders of

00:44:04.600 --> 00:44:05.280
 Israel and they

00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:05.940
 speak all the

00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:06.500
 words that the

00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:07.160
 Lord had spoken

00:44:07.160 --> 00:44:08.340
 to Moses and do

00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.100
 all the signs

00:44:09.100 --> 00:44:09.539
 that the Lord

00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:09.980
 had given

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.940
 them, he says

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:11.640
 in verse 31,

00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:12.480
 the people

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.880
 believed.

00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:17.000
 And that too

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:17.860
 is a fulfillment

00:44:17.860 --> 00:44:19.220
 of the Lord's

00:44:19.220 --> 00:44:19.840
 promise from

00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:20.539
 earlier on.

00:44:20.860 --> 00:44:21.380
 Remember when

00:44:21.380 --> 00:44:22.579
 Moses protested

00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.480
 in chapter 4

00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:24.280
 verse 1 saying,

00:44:24.680 --> 00:44:25.320
 they will not

00:44:25.320 --> 00:44:26.160
 believe me or

00:44:26.160 --> 00:44:26.800
 listen to my

00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:27.200
 voice.

00:44:27.539 --> 00:44:28.200
 But God had

00:44:28.200 --> 00:44:28.940
 promised Moses

00:44:28.940 --> 00:44:29.600
 in chapter 3

00:44:29.600 --> 00:44:30.100
 verse 18,

00:44:30.180 --> 00:44:31.140
 they will listen

00:44:31.140 --> 00:44:31.740
 to your voice.

00:44:32.039 --> 00:44:32.760
 And once again,

00:44:32.760 --> 00:44:33.340
 it's the word

00:44:33.340 --> 00:44:33.980
 of the Lord

00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:35.039
 and not the

00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:35.840
 voice of Moses

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:37.140
 doubts that

00:44:37.140 --> 00:44:38.380
 proves true.

00:44:39.180 --> 00:44:39.920
 The people

00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:41.519
 believed and

00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:42.059
 that should be

00:44:42.059 --> 00:44:42.760
 our response

00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:43.079
 too.

00:44:43.480 --> 00:44:44.180
 When you hear

00:44:44.180 --> 00:44:44.660
 the good news

00:44:44.660 --> 00:44:45.480
 of Jesus Christ

00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.340
 preached, if

00:44:46.340 --> 00:44:46.760
 you're not a

00:44:46.760 --> 00:44:47.100
 follower of

00:44:47.100 --> 00:44:47.960
 Christ, you

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:49.860
 should believe.

00:44:51.500 --> 00:44:52.420
 Entrust yourself

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:52.960
 to the Lord.

00:44:54.360 --> 00:44:54.980
 And it says

00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:55.700
 in verse 31,

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.700
 when they heard

00:44:56.700 --> 00:44:57.440
 that the Lord

00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:58.579
 had visited

00:44:58.579 --> 00:44:59.320
 the people of

00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:00.400
 Israel and

00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:00.900
 that he had

00:45:00.900 --> 00:45:01.720
 seen their

00:45:01.720 --> 00:45:02.260
 affliction,

00:45:02.260 --> 00:45:03.560
 they bowed

00:45:03.560 --> 00:45:04.200
 their heads

00:45:04.200 --> 00:45:05.820
 and worshipped.

00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.800
 That is the

00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:09.220
 appropriate human

00:45:09.220 --> 00:45:10.100
 response to

00:45:10.100 --> 00:45:11.120
 God's compassion

00:45:11.120 --> 00:45:12.620
 and salvation.

00:45:13.660 --> 00:45:14.840
 We are not

00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:15.520
 alone.

00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:17.440
 We are not

00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:18.460
 fatherless.

00:45:19.160 --> 00:45:20.060
 God has seen

00:45:20.060 --> 00:45:20.920
 our affliction.

00:45:21.540 --> 00:45:22.620
 He has visited

00:45:22.620 --> 00:45:23.820
 us in Christ

00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:24.960
 and we ought to

00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:25.960
 worship him.

00:45:27.020 --> 00:45:28.040
 That's why the

00:45:28.040 --> 00:45:29.040
 Lord God saves

00:45:29.040 --> 00:45:29.300
 us.

00:45:29.420 --> 00:45:29.780
 Remember what

00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:30.760
 the Lord told

00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.600
 Moses to say to

00:45:31.600 --> 00:45:32.040
 Pharaoh in

00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:32.659
 verse 23,

00:45:33.159 --> 00:45:34.500
 let my son go

00:45:34.500 --> 00:45:35.659
 that he may

00:45:35.659 --> 00:45:37.179
 serve me.

00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:38.480
 The word

00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:39.380
 serve is

00:45:39.380 --> 00:45:40.539
 sometimes also

00:45:40.539 --> 00:45:41.340
 translated as

00:45:41.340 --> 00:45:41.980
 worship.

00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:43.659
 We have been

00:45:43.659 --> 00:45:44.460
 redeemed from

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:45.400
 our slavery to

00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:46.099
 sin that we

00:45:46.099 --> 00:45:47.300
 might serve and

00:45:47.300 --> 00:45:48.440
 worship the

00:45:48.440 --> 00:45:48.759
 Lord.

00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:50.739
 God does not

00:45:50.739 --> 00:45:51.599
 free us

00:45:51.599 --> 00:45:53.820
 from slavery to

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.920
 sin for the

00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:55.679
 sake of freedom

00:45:55.679 --> 00:45:56.159
 itself.

00:45:56.159 --> 00:45:57.500
 God does not

00:45:57.500 --> 00:45:58.159
 serve us.

00:45:58.159 --> 00:46:00.779
 He frees us for

00:46:00.779 --> 00:46:02.480
 himself so that

00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:03.079
 instead of being

00:46:03.079 --> 00:46:04.039
 slaves of Pharaoh,

00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:05.639
 instead of being

00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:06.719
 slaves of any other

00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:07.679
 idols of our world

00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:08.259
 for that matter,

00:46:08.339 --> 00:46:09.219
 whether it's money,

00:46:09.799 --> 00:46:10.899
 success, fame,

00:46:11.259 --> 00:46:12.819
 lust, the approval

00:46:12.819 --> 00:46:15.519
 of man, that we

00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:16.299
 might instead be

00:46:16.299 --> 00:46:17.500
 slaves of Christ.

00:46:19.399 --> 00:46:20.980
 Sin always enslaves

00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.299
 us.

00:46:21.300 --> 00:46:22.280
 We delude

00:46:22.280 --> 00:46:22.860
 ourselves into

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.420
 thinking that we

00:46:23.420 --> 00:46:24.680
 can enjoy sin here

00:46:24.680 --> 00:46:25.680
 and there in a

00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:26.640
 controlled manner,

00:46:26.920 --> 00:46:28.700
 at our convenience,

00:46:29.740 --> 00:46:31.380
 but sin instead

00:46:31.380 --> 00:46:32.900
 controls us and

00:46:32.900 --> 00:46:34.240
 masters us and

00:46:34.240 --> 00:46:36.360
 leads us ineluctably

00:46:36.360 --> 00:46:36.860
 to death.

00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:40.640
 True freedom for man,

00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:41.820
 for humanity, is

00:46:41.820 --> 00:46:43.240
 found only in

00:46:43.240 --> 00:46:44.440
 servitude to God.

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:47.720
 It is only in the

00:46:47.720 --> 00:46:48.599
 arms of our

00:46:48.599 --> 00:46:49.519
 heavenly father that

00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:50.619
 we are truly known

00:46:50.619 --> 00:46:51.940
 and loved.

00:46:52.679 --> 00:46:53.820
 It is only at the

00:46:53.820 --> 00:46:54.720
 table of our

00:46:54.720 --> 00:46:55.880
 father's home that

00:46:55.880 --> 00:46:57.099
 we are truly fed

00:46:57.099 --> 00:46:58.460
 and satisfied.

00:46:59.500 --> 00:47:00.780
 It's only in the

00:47:00.780 --> 00:47:02.139
 service and worship

00:47:02.139 --> 00:47:04.139
 of our father that

00:47:04.139 --> 00:47:06.039
 we fulfill our

00:47:06.039 --> 00:47:08.059
 eternal creation

00:47:08.059 --> 00:47:08.559
 purpose.

00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:12.039
 Let's pray

00:47:12.039 --> 00:47:12.340
 together.

00:47:12.340 --> 00:47:18.380
 Lord,

00:47:18.380 --> 00:47:18.440
 Lord,

00:47:19.440 --> 00:47:24.539
 we worship

00:47:24.539 --> 00:47:24.880
 you.

00:47:26.740 --> 00:47:28.240
 We stand in awe

00:47:28.240 --> 00:47:28.579
 of you.

00:47:30.640 --> 00:47:32.180
 We tremble before

00:47:32.180 --> 00:47:34.920
 you because you

00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:35.500
 are holy,

00:47:36.780 --> 00:47:37.860
 because you are

00:47:37.860 --> 00:47:38.340
 sovereign.

00:47:38.340 --> 00:47:43.760
 but Lord,

00:47:44.140 --> 00:47:45.500
 we also

00:47:45.500 --> 00:47:47.320
 love you.

00:47:48.380 --> 00:47:49.600
 We love you

00:47:49.600 --> 00:47:51.200
 more than anyone

00:47:51.200 --> 00:47:53.000
 else in the

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.480
 whole world.

00:47:54.140 --> 00:47:55.019
 We love you

00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:56.160
 with our whole

00:47:56.160 --> 00:47:56.500
 heart.

00:47:57.260 --> 00:47:58.120
 We lay down our

00:47:58.120 --> 00:47:59.800
 lives before you.

00:48:00.460 --> 00:48:01.960
 We dedicate,

00:48:02.260 --> 00:48:02.860
 we devote

00:48:02.860 --> 00:48:04.780
 all of our lives

00:48:04.780 --> 00:48:05.800
 to you.

00:48:05.800 --> 00:48:08.740
 because you are

00:48:08.740 --> 00:48:09.320
 a gracious

00:48:09.320 --> 00:48:09.880
 God.

00:48:11.600 --> 00:48:12.700
 Because you are

00:48:12.700 --> 00:48:14.100
 our father.

00:48:16.640 --> 00:48:17.620
 Because you

00:48:17.620 --> 00:48:18.460
 loved us

00:48:18.460 --> 00:48:19.460
 first.

00:48:20.760 --> 00:48:21.440
 Because you

00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:22.519
 gave your son

00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:24.120
 for us.

00:48:24.120 --> 00:48:24.180
 God,

00:48:24.180 --> 00:48:28.600
 help us to

00:48:28.600 --> 00:48:29.519
 believe

00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:31.599
 these truths

00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:34.360
 and live

00:48:34.360 --> 00:48:34.980
 in obedience

00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:35.920
 by them

00:48:35.920 --> 00:48:38.759
 for your

00:48:38.759 --> 00:48:39.079
 glory.

00:48:40.539 --> 00:48:41.099
 In Jesus'

00:48:41.259 --> 00:48:41.519
 name we

00:48:41.519 --> 00:48:41.739
 pray.

00:48:42.360 --> 00:48:42.679
 Amen.