Appleton Gospel Church

The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus): After rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh invited them into a covenant relationship at Mount Sinai. In one of the most crucial chapters in the Bible, we find that the great, big beating heart of God behind all his saving work is this: to have a real, intimate, and life-giving relationship with people — people who have been separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who are still greatly loved and are precious to God. Recorded on Dec 15, 2024, on Exodus 19 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

Since September, we’ve been working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. The Israelites struggled and grumbled; it was tough, and the people barely trusted the God who had just rescued them from Egypt. But Yahweh proved faithful and good. Last week, we considered when Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, visited them at Rephidim. He heard everything Yahweh had done for the Israelites and had a conversion experience. But he also offered a suggestion about the leadership structure that probably saved Moses from being crushed under the burden of leading all these people. Well, today, after months of traveling through the desert wilderness, we finally get to Mount Sinai and discover the purpose of God behind this dramatic rescue of the Israelites from Egypt. Why did he do all this? What was God’s heart behind rescuing and redeeming a people for himself? Well, here, we find that the great, big beating heart of God behind all of creation and salvation is to have a real relationship with people — people who have been separated from a holy God by their sin — but people who are still greatly loved and are precious to God. This is the defining story of Israel, but this is also our story in Christ. So, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 19:1.

Exodus 19:1–6 (NIV), “1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Everything in the Exodus story has led up to this point when Yahweh God invited the Israelites into a covenant relationship with him at Mount Sinai. And this is just so significant. Yahweh had promised he would do this for the family of Abraham and Sarah some 430 years earlier. He repeated the promise down through the generations of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Jethro and Moses (Exodus): Whether you have an official leadership role or title, everyone can influence someone for good. When Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, visited the Israelites, he realized Moses would be crushed without some serious help. He advised Moses to invite others to share the leadership burden with him. God’s people needed good and godly leaders to help them live lives that bring glory and honor to him. Recorded on Dec 8, 2024, on Exodus 18 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

So, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. But, we’ve seen that things didn’t get much easier for the Israelites on the other side of the famous parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites struggled and grumbled through a series of desert tests before being viciously attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim. It was tough, and the people didn’t display a very impressive amount of faith in the God who had just rescued them from Egypt. But Yahweh proved faithful and good and provided what they needed despite their grumbling and quarreling. Today, we have one more stop to make, one more chapter in our story, before we get to the fireworks of Mount Sinai, the giving of the Law, and the establishment of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, meets them, he offers a suggestion that would help Moses lead the people well and not be crushed by the burden. This chapter offers many leadership lessons. Now, whether you have an official leadership role or not, everyone can influence others for good. And this is what good leadership is all about. We need these lessons. So, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 18:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.

Exodus 18:1–7 (NIV), “1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”; 4 and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.” Moses doesn’t record when, but at some point between leaving Midian with his family and his time in Egypt during the Ten Plagues, he sent his wife Zipporah and their sons back to live in Midian with her father, Jethro. He doesn’t say why, and some have speculated that they were having trouble in their marriage. But it doesn’t say that. And once the Israelites reached Mount Sinai,

The Amalekites (Exodus): Battles, struggles, conflict, and strife are just part of the fabric of this broken world. As followers of Jesus, how do we fight our battles? When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, the people, led by Joshua, had to fight. But the Lord brought the victory through the intercession of Moses, acting as a mediator. In our battles, we must trust our Mediator, lean on our friends, and find our victory in Yahweh Nissi (the Lord is my Banner). Recorded on Dec 1, 2024, on Exodus 17:8-16 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

So, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through the prophet Moses and by his own holy Presence. For the last three weeks, we saw three tests in the desert on the way to Mount Sinai designed to teach the Israelites to listen to God, obey his word, and learn to follow his way (whether they understood it or not). But the Israelites didn’t pass any of the tests. In our text for today, the Israelites don’t just have a need; they’re in real danger when the Amalekites come and attack them. Have you ever felt like you were in a battle? Have you ever realized you needed God to save you? Battles, struggles, conflict, and strife are just part of the fabric of this broken world. Sometimes, there’s real violence, but sometimes, the battle is in your mind, heart, or relationships. Sometimes, the battle is physical, but often, it’s spiritual, too. As God’s people, as followers of Jesus, how do we fight? How do we win? Our text today offers many lessons on what to do on the day of battle. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 17:8.

Exodus 17:8–9 (NIV), “8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” It turns out there were more dangers in the world than Pharaoh and his army. Now, we know four things about the Amalekites: First, they descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, so they were distant cousins of the Israelites. They should’ve been allies, not enemies. They should’ve helped Israel, not come to steal, kill, and destroy. Second, they lived in the desert. The Israelites struggled to survive, but the Amalekites knew what they were doing. They were like the Fremen in Dune. These were desert people, which didn’t bode well for a battle with them in their home. Third, the Amalekites carried out this unprovoked attack on the Israelites here at Rephidim. Maybe they heard this huge mass of people, animals, and possessions had somehow escaped Egypt and thought they’d be an easy target. Or maybe this was just a normal day for violent people who survived in a tough environment by being tougher than anyone or anything else. (Maybe both?) Later, Moses reminded the Israelites about this attack, saying, “When you were weary and worn out, they [Amalekites] met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.” (Dt 25:18). Fourth, the Amalekites would be enemies of Israel for hundreds of years — all through the time of the Judges a...

Water from the Rock (Exodus): In the third and final desert test, at Massah and Meribah, the Israelites desperately needed water (again), and things were going from bad to worse. They quarreled with God and were ready to kill Moses. In our time of need, will we harden our hearts and put God to the test? Or will we turn in faith to Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer, who provides streams of living water? Recorded on Nov 24, 2024, on Exodus 17:1-7 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

So, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through Moses and by his holy Presence. For the last few weeks, we’ve seen that God tested his people on the way to Mount Sinai to teach them important lessons. He did this because the Israelites lived for generations as slaves in Egypt, and they needed to learn a lot. They needed to learn how to be their own people, how to listen to God, how to trust him, and so much more. So how was it going? Well, the first test at Marah was just a few days after the famous parting of the Red Sea. The people were dying of thirst, and they found only bitter water and started grumbling against God. But God healed the water and provided refreshment when they arrived at Elim. Then, last week, we considered the second test. About a month after crossing the Red Sea, the people had run out of food and started grumbling against God again. But again, God provided manna/bread from heaven. This sustained them for forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. If you missed any of the sermons from our Exodus series so far, you can always go back and watch or listen to the audio podcast online or on the Church Center app if you’d like. But after these first two tests, had the Israelites finally learned to listen to God’s word? Had they learned to trust his goodness and faithfulness to provide for them? I’ll just tell you upfront the answer is no. This would be a hard lesson for them. Instead of learning and getting better at trusting God and listening to him, they seemed to go from bad to worse. But, to be fair, they were out of water again. In the desert, this was a very serious problem. Have you ever been in a bad situation and couldn’t see a way out? I have. Maybe you got an unexpectedly big bill or had some other financial problem. Maybe you got a bad diagnosis at the doctor, or maybe you had something hidden come to light in your marriage, and now you’re not sure where to go or what to do. In tough times like those, all kinds of theological questions come up. Questions like, “God, where are you right now?” or “Is this really your will for my life?” or even “Are you even real?” We’re told that God disciplines us because he loves us as his children. But what might’ve been a test to help us learn and grow often gets turned around, and we start to test or quarrel with God. Maybe if we were among those ancient Israelites, we wouldn’t be that much different. Maybe we’d be there, grumbling in the wilderness. But what do we do when we have serious problems — when we’re in a bad situation and can’t see a way out? Is there a way to bring our questions and doubts to God in humble,...

Manna from Heaven (Exodus): A month after being freed from slavery, the Israelites were starving in the barren wilderness — the second of three desert tests. However, the whole community grumbled against God. Yahweh rebuked them but mercifully provided bread (manna) from heaven. Does God actually know and care about our needs? Can we trust God to provide? Yes. Only he gives the bread of life. Recorded on Nov 17, 2024, on Exodus 16:1-36 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

So, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh himself went ahead of them as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He also spoke to his people through Moses, his prophet and servant, providing instructions and commands for them to obey. This would basically be the pattern for the rest of the journey: God’s chosen people learning to make their way through the wilderness by his word and Presence. Last week, we considered the first of three tests in the desert in the waters of Marah and Elim. Today, in the second test, the people were starving. They needed food to nourish and sustain them. Had they learned to listen to God’s word and trust his goodness and faithfulness to provide for their needs? We’ll see. Have you ever needed God to provide? Have you ever wondered, “Does God actually know/care about my needs? Can I trust God provide what I need?” If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 16:1. This is the famous story of manna from heaven.

Exodus 16:1–3 (NIV), “1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” The first test at Marah came just three days after the parting of the Red Sea. Now, here, Moses says it’s been almost exactly a month since they were freed from Egypt (the Passover being on the 14th day of the first month). After the brief respite of Elim, the Israelites continued through the desert wilderness on their way to Mount Sinai when they started to have another serious problem: they were running out of food. If you remember, when they left Egypt, they brought bread dough with them so they could make unleavened cakes or crackers, but they were running out (or perhaps had run out). At this point, it wasn’t just a few people who started to grumble. “…the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” In their desperate hunger, they started to think about being slaves in Egypt as something like the good old days. “Remember when we were slaves who were killed and beaten and exploited in every way? There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted. Wasn’t that great??” It might seem crazy from our vantage point. In the past few weeks of our series, we’ve seen God miraculously provide for his people time and time again. Why would they start grumbling so quickly? But remember,

The Waters of Marah (Exodus): After three days in the desert without water and finding a bitter spring, the Israelites became bitter and started grumbling. Yahweh had saved them and was leading them — why was the journey still so difficult? The Lord was good and faithful; he was testing them to teach them to listen to him and trust him for their needs. They had so much to learn. Recorded on Nov 10, 2024, on Exodus 15:22-27 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

So, we’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. About 3,300 years ago, the ancient Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the greatest, most powerful kingdom on earth. They cried out in their bitter suffering, and Yahweh — the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them. But it was the holy Presence of Yahweh himself who fought for them and delivered them with a mighty hand and mighty acts of judgment. We saw the Ten Plagues, which culminated with the Passover when Pharaoh finally relented and let the people go. Then, last week, we saw the final crushing blow against Egypt in the parting of the Red Sea, the crossing of the Israelites through on dry ground, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army who was pursuing them. The Israelites were finally free, just as Yahweh promised. He freed them from the judgment of their sin in the Passover through the sacrifice of a substitute. He freed them from death by allowing them to cross the Red Sea; he made a way where there was no way. Pharaoh couldn’t hurt them anymore. They were truly free! Well, wasn’t the Exodus a great story? So…why is there so much story left? We’re only on chapter 15 out of 40 for the book of Exodus. And there are three more whole books of the Bible before the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land in Joshua. How could this be? Why does the rest of the journey take so long? And, as we’ll see again and again, the journey had many trials, many circumstances that seriously tested the faith of the Israelites. They were free, but they hadn’t yet arrived. Have you ever been frustrated as a Christian that you weren’t farther along in your journey? Have you ever thought you had kicked a certain temptation or were done dealing with a struggle, only to have it come roaring back into your life? I have. Those times can feel so defeating. Have you ever wondered why, after following Jesus, perhaps for many years, the circumstances of your life suddenly seem to be crushing the faith out of you? Lord, what are you doing? Haven’t you already rescued me? Haven’t you already saved me by your grace? Why are things getting more difficult? Why does it feel like this journey just keeps going on and on? Are you trying to break my faith? Lord, what are you doing? If you’ve ever felt that way, this sermon is for you. Well, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 15:22.

Exodus 15:22–24 (NIV), “22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.

Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus): The first real test of faith for the Israelites came when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. Caught at the Red Sea with nowhere to escape, their options seemed to be slavery or death. They couldn’t imagine how God might save them — until God made a way. He fought their battle and led them to freedom. All they had to do was trust him. Recorded on Nov 3, 2024, on Exodus 13:17-14:31 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

We’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. About 3,300 years ago, the ancient Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the greatest, most powerful kingdom on earth. They cried out in their bitter suffering, and Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them to freedom. Despite repeated opportunities to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, hard-heartedly refused. But after ten escalating plagues, where Yahweh brought divine judgment down on all the false gods and goddesses of Egypt, Pharaoh finally relented, and the Israelites were set free. Today, we’ll see the first real test of faith for the Israelites in their Exodus out of Egypt when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after the Israelites. Would this be the end of this whole unlikely plan? Would Moses and Aaron (and probably many other Israelites) be killed? Would the remaining people die as slaves? Or would God do something? Would Yahweh fight on behalf of his people and deliver them as he promised? Could they even imagine God doing something like that? Could they trust him? Have you ever had that thought? Can I really trust God to rescue/deliver me? Well, if you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 13:17. This is the famous story of the parting of the Red Sea. And we’ll unpack this text as we go.

Exodus 13:17–22 (NIV), “17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” 20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” So, the Exodus had begun. And, surprisingly, God himself was there, leading his people out of Egypt in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He didn’t just send Moses as his prophet to lead his people; he went too. No one can see God and live, but God’s holy Presence was with them. Commentator Douglas Stuart writes, “…the Israelites knew all day every day that God was present with them. Here was a supernatural, huge,

The Passover (Exodus): Very few things formed the identity of ancient Israel more than the story of the Lord's Passover. God brought divine judgment against Egypt and its gods in an unmistakable tenth plague. However, God also graciously made a way for salvation through the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Yahweh had done it. The Israelites were finally free. Recorded on Oct 27, 2024, on Exodus 12:1-13, 29-42 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

We’re working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. The people God rescued were the ancient Israelites who suffered greatly as slaves in Egypt about 3,200-3,300 years ago. Egypt was the most powerful kingdom in the world. Despite the brutality of their situation, Yahweh, the God of their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), had allowed them to grow in slavery from seventy people as an extended family to be large enough to be a nation within a nation. But the more they grew, the more the Pharaohs were threatened by them and oppressed them all the more. The Israelites cried out to the Lord, and Yahweh sent Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, just as he had promised Abraham 430 years earlier. Moses was a Hebrew but was adopted by the royal household of Egypt before spending 40 years in exile in Midian. So Moses and his brother Aaron went back to Pharaoh with miraculous signs and wonders, but Pharaoh didn’t believe in Yahweh and stubbornly refused to listen to his message. Last week, in chapters 7-11 in Exodus, we saw that Yahweh gave Pharaoh chance after chance to repent by sending a series of escalating plagues. But after the first five plagues, when Pharaoh only hardened his heart in response to each plague, the Lord, to quote Paul, “…gave [him] over in the sinful desires of [his] heart…” (Ro 1:24). So, as Yahweh sent five more plagues, he hardened Pharaoh’s heart to execute divine judgment in a way the world hadn’t seen since the flood. Moses warned Pharaoh that the tenth and final plague would bring the destruction of every firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt — from the greatest to the least, including Pharaoh’s own son. Would the Lord do such a thing? Would Pharaoh finally repent? Would this be the start of the Exodus and the liberation of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt? We’ll see. But this chapter and the story of the Lord’s Passover is one of the most important chapters in the whole of the Old Testament scriptures. Very few things served to form the identity of Israel more than the Passover. But for us today, few things serve to explain and point forward to the work of Jesus Christ more than the Passover. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 12:1.

Exodus 12:1–13 (NIV), “1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

The Plagues (Exodus): The ten plagues in ancient Egypt represent a systematic victory over and judgment of the Pharaoh and gods of Egypt by the one true God, Yahweh. We are given many opportunities to humbly repent in life. But can anyone actually stand under the judgment of God? Yes, but only because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Recorded on Oct 20, 2024, on Exodus 7:8-24 by Justun Hart.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Bricks Without Straw (Exodus): When God told Moses to tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go," Moses did exactly what God told him to do. But the suffering of the Israelites got worse, not better! The truth is, in a broken world, obedience to God’s word is no guarantee of short-term prosperity. But this doesn't mean that God has abandoned you or that no good will ever come from times of suffering. Our God is faithful to redeem. You'll see. Recorded on Oct 13, 2024, on Exodus 5:1-6:12 by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God’s Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom.

Sermon Transcript

We’re working through a sermon series on the book of Exodus called Journey to Freedom. And we’ve said that Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. The first few chapters of Exodus describe the bitter suffering of the family of Abraham and Sarah (ancient Israelites) when they were slaves in Egypt, the most powerful kingdom in the world at the time. We’re introduced to Moses, who would go on to be the mighty prophet and deliverer of Israel for Yahweh God. But his story was not this smooth rise into power. It didn’t seem to go according to any sort of plan. But God was faithful, and he didn’t abandon Moses even after his forty-year exile in Midian. But when the set time had fully come, God sent Moses, born in Egypt and adopted into the royal household of Egypt, back to Egypt to redeem his people who were still enslaved in Egypt. But this was a mission Moses didn’t want. Maybe he thought he was too old. Or maybe after his first disastrous attempt at leadership, he doubted his leadership abilities. But Moses gave one excuse after another before asking Yahweh just to send someone else. But God was merciful (and patient) and provided miraculous signs to verify his message and calling. He also allowed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to help him speak and lead. But the most important thing God promised was his own Presence. Yahweh would go with Moses. So Moses packed up his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons and went to Egypt to do this crazy thing God called him to do. In Egypt, Moses and Aaron spoke to the elders of the Israelites and shared the message God gave them: that Yahweh God, the God of their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was going to deliver them from Egypt and would bring them out into the land he had promised them. They performed the signs, as well, and the Israelites believed and worshipped the God who had seen their suffering, heard their prayers, and had concern for them. Chapter 5 picks up the story in the courts of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. How would he respond to Moses and the message and miracles of Yahweh God? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Exodus 5:1.

Exodus 5:1–9 (NIV), “1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’ ” 2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” 5 Then Pharaoh said, “Look,