This sermon addresses the "why" behind the Ten Plagues, asking "What's up with that?" regarding God's harsh judgment. The plagues are a revelation (Who is God?), a rescue (fulfilling His promises), and a recompense (judging oppression). They show God rules over humanity, nature, and all other gods. These were supernatural acts, and this message tackles the "why" of their severity.

Scripture References

• Acts 17:25
• Psalm 50:12
• Galatians 6:7-8
• Matthew 7:2
• Proverbs 1:24-33
• Exodus 34:6-7
• 2 Peter 3:9
• Ezekiel 33:11
• Exodus 8:25, 8:28, 10:11, 10:24

Key Points

1. God Is Not Insecure; His Glory Is Our Good God's commitment to His own glory isn't neediness; it's love. He seeks our worship not because it meets His need, but because it meets our need. When God exalts Himself, He draws us to the only thing that can satisfy our souls. We were designed to worship. Non-worship is not an option; you will worship something. God, in His kindness, offers Himself as the only object that leads to life.
2. God Will Not Be Mocked (Reaping What You Sow) The plagues are a terrifying picture of justice. Egypt is reaping what it has sown. Long before God turned the Nile red, the Egyptians turned it red with the blood of Hebrew infants. Long before God struck the firstborn son, Pharaoh had been killing Israel's sons. This principle is meant to drive us to the Gospel, to flee to God for mercy rather than face the just consequences of our own actions.
3. God's Patience Precedes His Judgment God is "slow to anger" (Ex. 34:6). He is not a short-fused, raging deity. These plagues come after centuries of oppression. He warns repeatedly because He is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). His warnings are an act of love.
4. God Will Not Compromise on Freedom Pharaoh tries to negotiate, offering four compromises that are still schemes of the enemy today:
   • Deal 1: "Worship, but stay my slaves." (A faith with chains on).
   • Deal 2: "Worship, but don't go too far." (A private, comfortable faith).
   • Deal 3: "Let the men go, but leave the families." (A faith that doesn't include your household).
   • Deal 4: "Go, but leave your flocks." (A faith that costs you nothing). God refuses every deal. He is committed to total, costly, all-encompassing freedom.

Conclusion

God will not settle for a people who worship with chains on. He has not called us to a compromised faith. He is committed to our total freedom, and He paid the ultimate price for it. We must refuse to "play church" and settle for anything less than the complete freedom Christ has purchased for us.

Calls to Action

1. Refuse to Worship with Chains On: Renounce any bondage you've accepted as normal.
2. Reject Compromised Faith: Don't take the enemy's deals. Go as far as God calls.
3. Take Your Family With You: Commit to leading your entire household in worship.
4. Make Your Worship Costly: Refuse to offer God a faith that costs you nothing.

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This sermon continues the study of the Ten Plagues, examining plagues six through ten (Exodus 9-11). It moves from the boils and hail to the climactic 10th plague, the death of the firstborn. The message connects the plagues to God's judgment on the gods of Egypt, their prophetic fulfillment in the book of Revelation, and the urgency it creates for our own lives.

Scripture References

• Exodus 9:8-9: The plague of boils.
• Exodus 9:18-21: The plague of hail, where some Egyptians "feared the word of the Lord" and were saved.
• Exodus 11:4-7: The announcement of the final plague, the death of the firstborn.
• Revelation 8:7-8: The end-times judgments echoing the plagues (hail, fire, blood).
• James 4:14: "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
• 2 Corinthians 5:10: The judgment seat of Christ for believers.
• Revelation 20:11-15: The Great White Throne judgment for unbelievers.
• Philippians 1:21-23: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Key Points

1. The Plagues Get Personal The plagues intensify and become more personal. They began by attacking Egypt's economy (Nile, livestock), but the sixth plague, boils, is the first to directly attack human flesh. God is "turning up the volume" of His revelation.
2. God's Heart: An Invitation in Judgment Even in severe judgment, God offers a way of escape. During the plague of hail (Plague 7), God gives a warning to bring livestock inside. The text explicitly states that some of Pharaoh's servants "feared the word of the Lord" and were saved, showing God's desire to rescue anyone who will listen.
3. The War on Gods: Defeating Ra The plagues were a systematic humiliation of Egypt's gods. The ninth plague, darkness, was the most significant. It was a direct assault on Ra, the sun god, who was the chief deity. Since Pharaoh was seen as the human embodiment of Ra, this plague was a total humiliation of both the god and the king.
4. The Final Exodus: Plagues in Revelation The plagues of Exodus are a preview of the "Final Exodus" described in the book of Revelation. The end-times judgments use the exact same imagery: hail, fire, blood, darkness, and sores. What God did to one nation that hated Him, He will one day do on a global scale.
5. Your Personal End Times Whether or not we are in the "last generation," every individual is in their own "personal end times." Life is a mist (James 4:14). The two most important days of our lives are the day we respond to the Gospel and the day we stand before Jesus.

Conclusion

The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, is the climax and the clearest picture of the Gospel in the Old Testament. Judgment is real and coming for all. But God provided a way out: the blood of an unblemished lamb. Those who applied the blood to their doorposts were saved.

This truth gives believers a "win-win" perspective on mortality. As Kathleen Candy, a beloved member of this church, famously said while battling cancer, "Either way, I win." This echoes Paul: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Calls to Action

1. Acknowledge Your Mortality: Recognize that your life is a mist and you are not guaranteed tomorrow.
2. Prepare to Meet God: Ensure you are "covered by the blood of the Lamb" (Jesus) so you are prepared for your "personal end times."
3. Live with a "Win-Win" Attitude: Adopt the perspective of Philippians 1:21, knowing that for a believer, death is not a loss but a gain.

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This sermon explores the Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-10), one of the most iconic and disturbing parts of Exodus. The plagues are not random acts of anger but a deliberate act of revelation, raising questions about God's justice, His purpose, and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

Scripture References

• Exodus 7:4-5: God's stated purpose: "The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord."
• Exodus 9:15-16: God tells Pharaoh He could have struck him down at once, but "raised you up to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth."
• Exodus 12:12: "On all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. I am the Lord."
• Exodus 12:38: A "mixed group" (including Egyptians) left with Israel.
• 1 Corinthians 10:19-20: What pagans sacrifice, "they offer to demons and not to God."
• 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow... but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
• Exodus 15:11: Israel's response: "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?"

Key Points

1. The Purpose of the Plagues: Revelation The plagues are an act of revelation. God's primary stated purpose is "so that the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." This revelation comes in three forms: Revelation (Yahweh is superior to all gods), Rescue (He fights for His people), and Retribution (He fights against the wicked oppressor).
2. Why Ten Plagues? A Patient Judgment God explicitly says He could have wiped Pharaoh out with one plague. He "raised Pharaoh up" to demonstrate His power to the entire world. This "slowness" was an act of patience (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). It turned up the volume, allowing more people—even a "mixed multitude" of Egyptians—to witness His power, repent, and join the rescue.
3. A War on the "Gods" of Egypt God wasn't just fighting Pharaoh; He was executing judgment "on all the gods of Egypt." This was a supernatural war against the demonic forces behind the idols (1 Cor. 10:20). Each plague was a targeted attack on a specific Egyptian deity (e.g., Plague 1, Blood, attacked Hapi, the god of the Nile; Plague 2, Frogs, attacked Hecate, the frog-headed fertility goddess).
4. The Hardened Heart The text shows a progression: Pharaoh hardens his own heart, then God hardens it. Pharaoh, a wicked ruler, had already chosen his path. God then sovereignly used that stubbornness for His greater purpose: to display His glory to the nations so that more people could be saved.

Conclusion

The Egyptians weren't the only ones with false gods. We have our own idols: success, money, power, independence, and the god of self. Sometimes, God must make war on our gods, exposing our false securities and tearing down the things we trust in. He does this not to destroy us, but to expose our idols until all we have left is Him. This is where true worship begins.

Calls to Action

1. Identify Your Idols: What "gods" (security, success, self) are you trusting in?
2. See God's Hand: If your "gods" are failing, consider if God is making war on them to draw you to Himself.
3. Worship the One True God: Respond as the Israelites did: "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?"

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This sermon begins with reports from a global gathering in Cyprus, highlighting the perseverance of the persecuted church (e.g., in Ukraine) and a "quiet revival" in the West, especially among Gen Z (Bible sales, app downloads, and Christian music streams are all up significantly). The theme, drawn from this, is "But God," as we dive into Exodus 5 and 6.

Scripture References

• Exodus 5:1-23: Moses confronts Pharaoh; Pharaoh makes the work harder.
• Exodus 6:1-13: God reveals His "I WILL" promises; the people can't listen due to their "broken spirit."

Key Points

1. Obedience Often Meets Opposition (Exodus 5) Moses, fresh from the burning bush, obeys God. He confronts Pharaoh with the message, "Let my people go." The immediate result is not deliverance, but disaster. Pharaoh not only refuses but makes the work impossible (same brick quota, no straw), making things worse. This "one step forward, two steps back" pattern is a common experience. When you step into God's call, expect opposition.
2. Turn to God, Not the Oppressor (Exodus 5:15-23) The Israelite foremen, in their pain, cry out to Pharaoh—the source of their problem. Moses, in contrast, takes his anger and confusion directly to God: "Why, Lord, have you brought trouble on this people? ... You have not rescued your people at all." He models what heroes of the faith do: he talks to God, not just about God.
3. The Ultimate Conjunction: "But God" (Exodus 6:1) The story is never over. As Christians, we are always connected to the ultimate conjunction: the cross. Our circumstances ("I was abused," "I was abandoned," "Gen Z is lost") are real, but they are met with the greater reality: "But God..." This connects our bleak situation to God's covenant, His control, and His promises.
4. Revelation, Not a Plan (Exodus 6:2-8) When Moses complains, God doesn't give him a new strategy or explain how He will do it. He gives a revelation of Himself. He reveals His name, "I AM the LORD," and makes seven powerful "I WILL" statements ("I will bring you out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," etc.). Our trust is not in a plan, but in His character.

Conclusion

The Israelites couldn't hear these incredible promises because of their "broken spirit and harsh slavery" (Exodus 6:9). Many of us are the same. We live under the voice of a "Pharaoh," an impossible taskmaster who says, "You must deliver. You're idle. Work harder." We mistake this voice of condemnation for the voice of God.

The taskmaster says, "Go now, you must deliver." The Savior says, "Come to me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest." The Gospel is not about what you must do; it's about what Christ has done. He is the one who rescues us from impossible quotas and heals our broken spirits.

Calls to Action

1. Come to Communion: Remember what Christ has done, not what you must do.
2. Receive Prayer for a Broken Spirit: If you find it hard to hear God's promises due to disappointment, receive ministry.
3. Be Freed from the Taskmaster: If you are laboring under a voice of condemnation, come forward to be released into the rest of the Gospel.

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Welcome to the sermon. Last week, we explored Moses's question, "Who am I?" Today, we tackle the other great question from the burning bush: "Who are you, God?" We're diving into Exodus 3 to explore the profound meaning behind the name God reveals for Himself—a name full of mystery and power, which is ultimately and most clearly revealed in the person of Jesus.

Scripture References

• Exodus 3:13-15: Moses asks for God's name, and God reveals Himself as "I AM WHO I AM."
• John 8:56-59: Jesus declares, "Before Abraham was, I AM," identifying Himself as Yahweh.
• Hebrews 12:29: "For our God is a consuming fire."
• Colossians 1:15-20: A description of Jesus as the supreme and exact image of the invisible God.

Key Points

1. Why Moses Asks for a Name

Moses wasn't just asking for a label. In a world of many gods, he needed more than a title; he was asking for God's character and power. He needed to understand who this God was so he could confidently lead the Israelites. It was a request for a deeper revelation of God's very nature.

2. The Mysterious Name: "I AM" (YHWH)

God's answer is a profound riddle: "I AM WHO I AM." This reveals His personal name, YHWH (often translated as "the LORD"), which points to His self-existence, His eternal and unchangeable nature, and His power as Creator. Like the burning bush itself, God's name is both inviting and holy—the fire draws us in with fascination but also warns us with its power. It's an invitation to spend a lifetime getting to know this mysterious, all-powerful God.

3. Jesus is the Answer to the Riddle

The mystery of God's name finds its ultimate answer in Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly uses "I AM" statements ("I am the good shepherd," "I am the vine," etc.) and makes the staggering declaration, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58). He wasn't just pointing to Yahweh; He was identifying Himself as Yahweh in the flesh. If the name YHWH was the introduction, Jesus is the full story.

Conclusion

The name of God, Yahweh, is not just an ancient fact; it's an invitation into a relationship with the self-existent, all-powerful Creator. Jesus is the final and clearest revelation of this name. He is Yahweh in the flesh, the perfect image of the invisible God, making the mysterious known. To truly know the great "I AM," we must know Jesus.

Calls to Action

1. Bow to Jesus: If you have never surrendered to Him, recognize Him today as the one true God, Yahweh in the flesh.
2. Ask for the Fire: If your faith has grown stagnant, pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away your boredom and fascinate you with God's presence anew.
3. Go Deeper: Move beyond knowing facts about God to pursuing an experiential relationship with God through Jesus.

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Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus 3 & 4, exploring one of life's most foundational questions: "Who am I?" Through Moses's encounter at the burning bush, we'll confront the shame and insecurity that so often writes our life's story. We'll see how God's answer to our feelings of inadequacy is profoundly different from the world's, shifting our focus from our weakness to His powerful presence.

Scripture References

• Exodus 3:1-14: The Burning Bush, God's call, and Moses's first question, "Who am I?"
• Exodus 4:1-17: Moses's excuses, God's provision of signs, and His promise of help.

Key Points

1. Unredeemed Shame Writes Our Story

Our behavior is rooted in what we believe about ourselves. While guilt says "I did something bad," shame says "I am bad." If this shame isn't redeemed, it becomes the author of our story, creating vows that dictate our actions. Moses was crippled by shame: he felt he belonged nowhere, was a failure rejected by everyone, was too old, and was disabled by a speech impediment. His shame was about to make him miss his destiny.

2. The World's Answer vs. God's Answer

How does God respond to Moses's crippling insecurity? Our culture—and even AI—advises self-reflection, validation, and positive reinforcement. The goal is self-love. God's approach is completely different. When Moses asks, "Who am I?", God doesn't list Moses's qualifications or tell him "You've got this." Instead, He gives a radically different answer that changes the entire equation: "I will be with you."

3. God's Presence is the Antidote to Pride

God's answer isn't a non-answer; it's the only answer. Focusing on ourselves leads to one of two places: pride ("I am adequate") or insecurity ("I am inadequate"). Both are forms of pride because they are self-obsessed. The way out is to stop looking inward, which leads to depression, and to look at God, which leads to rest. God's presence, not our adequacy, is the foundation for our calling.

Conclusion

God's promise, "I will be with you," is the definitive answer to our deepest insecurities. He doesn't call the adequate; He makes Himself present to the inadequate. Even God's anger at Moses's final excuse was the protective love of a Father, angry for him, not wanting him to miss his destiny. God wants to take the pen from the hand of your shame and become the true Author of your story.

Calls to Action

1. Identify the Script: Recognize where shame, rather than God's truth, is writing the script for your life.
2. Shift Your Focus: When you feel inadequate, intentionally shift your question from "Who am I?" to "Who is the God that is with me?"
3. Rest in His Presence: Stop striving to become adequate. Instead, receive the promise that He is with you as your all-sufficient help.

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Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus chapter two. We often think of the Exodus as a "movement of the people," but it's not an uprising. The people are stuck. This is a move of God. He is the one who steps in to rescue the oppressed. As we study the life of Moses, remember this: God will do something in you before He does something through you. Moses's life is a mini-exodus that sets the pattern for the entire nation.
Scripture References

• Exodus 2: The birth, rescue, failure, and flight of Moses.
• Acts 7:21-22: Describes Moses's education and power in Egypt.
• Hebrews 11:24-26: Explains Moses's faith in choosing to identify with God's people.
• Song of Songs 8:5: "Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?"

Key Points

1. God Delivers the Deliverer

Against the dark backdrop of infanticide, God sovereignly rescues Moses. His mother places him in a basket—described by the Hebrew word for "ark"—and he is saved through the very waters meant for judgment. In an incredible twist, the Pharaoh who ordered Moses's death ends up paying for his upbringing. God was preparing a deliverer right under the nose of the enemy. This is a move of God, not of people.

2. God Gets Egypt Out of Moses

Moses, mighty in the wisdom and power of Egypt, tries to be a deliverer in his own strength. He murders an Egyptian, only to be rejected by his own people. This failure teaches a crucial lesson: our own strength, status, and timing are not enough. God led Moses out of Egypt and into the wilderness to get the pride and self-reliance of Egypt out of him.

3. The Wilderness Teaches Dependence

The wilderness is where we learn the prayer, "He must become more, and I must become less." For 40 years, the prince of Egypt became a humble shepherd. The wilderness is where God strips away what we lean on so that we come out leaning only on Him. He uses these mundane, difficult seasons to prepare us for what's next.

Conclusion

Moses's story points to Jesus, the greater Deliverer. Moses saw his people's suffering; God saw and knew. Moses identified with his people at great cost; Jesus identified with us by leaving heaven. God's goal is not just to get you out of bondage, but to bring you to Himself. He is leading a cosmic exodus to rescue you from sin and bring you into a covenant relationship with Him.

Calls to Action

1. Embrace God's Sovereignty: Recognize that your salvation and deliverance are a move of God, not your own works.
2. Trust the Process: Allow God to work in you, even in frustrating seasons of preparation, before you expect Him to work through you.
3. Lean on Him: In your wilderness, ask God what props you're leaning on and learn to lean on Him alone.

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Welcome to our first sermon diving deep into the text of Exodus! Today, we're in chapter one, asking the right questions to unlock its meaning. We'll explore why Israel is in Egypt, why the mighty Pharaoh is unnamed, and how two overlooked midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, become the unlikely heroes of the story.
Scripture References

• Exodus 1: The enslavement of Israel in Egypt.
• Genesis 12:1-3: God’s promise to make a great nation from Abraham.
• Genesis 46:3-4: God’s command for Jacob (Israel) to go to Egypt, promising to be with him.
• Genesis 1:28: The creation mandate to "be fruitful and multiply."
• Genesis 3:1, 15: The "shrewd" serpent and the promise that the woman's offspring would crush its head.

Key Points

1. Israel in Egypt: An Act of Obedience

The book of Exodus starts like a sequel, connecting directly to Genesis. The Israelites are in Egypt not by mistake, but because God led them there during a famine, promising to be with them. This is a crucial reminder: following God often leads us into hard places, not just easy ones.

2. The Unnamed Pharaoh: A Symbol of Evil

Pharaoh is left unnamed for three reasons:

• It’s an insult: "May his name be forgotten," while the Hebrew midwives are named forever.
• He’s a symbol: He represents the oppressive evil of every empire built on exploitation.
• He's the serpent: He acts "shrewdly" (the same word used for the serpent in Genesis 3) against God's people, who are fulfilling the Genesis 1 mandate to be "fruitful and multiply." This is a cosmic battle, not just a political one.

3. The Midwives: A Blueprint for Greatness

Shiphrah and Puah are the heroes because they show us what true greatness looks like in God's kingdom. They were servants to the servants, yet their actions changed history.

Conclusion

True greatness isn't found in power, status, or worldly authority like Pharaoh's. It's found in the quiet, courageous faith of the overlooked. The midwives feared God more than the most powerful man on earth, and that reverence produced a fearlessness that allowed them to defy evil, serve others, and suffer well. Their legacy is a testament that God esteems the humble and uses the seemingly weak to overthrow the proud.

Calls to Action

1. Serve the Servants: Look for opportunities to serve those who are overlooked. Greatness starts with humility.
2. Fear God, Not Man: Let a holy reverence for God be the driving force that frees you from the fear of human opinion or authority.
3. Practice Righteous Resistance: When instructed to do evil, practice civil disobedience for the sake of others, not for personal gain.
4. Abandon "If/Then" Thinking: Don't wait for perfect circumstances to be obedient. Serve, give, and act now, right where you are.
5. Suffer Well: When God feels distant, don't let your reverence for Him fade. Trust Him even when deliverance seems far away.

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Welcome to the sermon! We're continuing our study of Exodus, seeing it as the key pattern for our lives and all of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Renewal. Today’s point is simple: you can't truly understand Jesus without understanding Exodus. It's the backdrop for His entire life and ministry.

Scripture References

• 1 Corinthians 10:1-11: The Exodus story was written as an example and warning for us.
• Luke 24:27: Jesus explained how all Scriptures, starting with Moses, pointed to Him.
• John 5:39: The Scriptures testify about Jesus.
• Jude 5: It was Jesus who saved a people out of the land of Egypt.
• Hebrews 3:1-6: Jesus is the greater Moses, a son over God’s house.
• Matthew 17:1-8: Jesus discusses His "exodus" (departure) at the Transfiguration.

Key Points

1. Jesus' "Cameos" in the Old Testament

Like a director making a cameo in their own film, Jesus appears throughout the Old Testament. We should read it looking for Him through:

• Prophecies: Predictions of His coming.
• Progenies: Genealogies that point to His arrival.
• Prefiguring: Types and symbols, like the Passover lamb or the manna from heaven.
• Personal Appearances: Pre-incarnate appearances like the "angel of the Lord" who accepts worship.

2. Jesus is the Greater Moses

Jesus’s life recapitulates and fulfills the Exodus story.

• His Birth: Like Moses, born under a tyrannical king slaughtering infants.
• His Baptism: Passed through water (baptism) and was tested in the wilderness, succeeding where Israel failed.
• His Teaching: Delivered the New Covenant ethics (Sermon on the Mount) from a mountain, just as Moses delivered the Law from a mountain.
• His Death: Crucified during Passover week as the ultimate, perfect Lamb of God.

Conclusion

Jesus is leading a new, cosmic Exodus right now. This is a present-tense reality. He is making a way out of our bondage to the cosmic pharaohs of Satan, sin, and death. The way out is not a plan, but a Person. Jesus declared, "I am the Way," and He is leading His people into freedom and new life.

Calls to Action

1. Follow the Leader: Recognize Jesus as the one leading you out of bondage.
2. Join the Migration: Choose to leave the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light.
3. Come to the Table: Participate in communion to celebrate your part in this new Exodus.
4. Receive Prayer: If you feel stuck, humbly ask for prayer.

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Intro
Good morning! Today we want to introduce our new series: a deep dive into the Book of Exodus. Just as songs like Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" or Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" borrow from earlier melodies, the Bible has a recurring melody line: the Exodus story. It’s a deliverance archetype that influences the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation, making it essential to understand.
Scripture References
Exodus (all of it), Deuteronomy 31:9, Numbers 12:3, Luke 24:25-27, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, John 1:14, Matthew 10:28-29, John 20:21
Key Points

• Exodus is the Bible's Foundational Story:
  • An Archetype for Deliverance: The Exodus story—God’s rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt—is a pattern for every major story of deliverance and redemption in the Bible. It's not just a standalone account but the source material for the whole biblical symphony.
  • Jesus's Exodus: You cannot understand Jesus without knowing Exodus. His baptism, wilderness temptation, teaching on a mountain, and death during Passover are all intentional echoes of the Exodus narrative.
  • Re-hitching the Testaments: We must reject the heresy of Marcionism, which separates the Old and New Testaments. Understanding Exodus provides the context that makes the New Testament "technicolor" and helps us appreciate God's holiness and love.
• Seven Goals for the Series:
  1. See Exodus Echoes: Recognize the themes of creation, bondage, redemption, and renewal woven throughout the Bible.
  2. Re-hitch the Testaments: Grasp that the Old Testament is essential to understanding Jesus and our faith.
  3. Understand the Sacraments: See baptism as a re-enactment of the Red Sea crossing and communion as a memorial of the Passover Lamb.
  4. Grasp the Law's Missionary Heart: Understand that God gave the law not as a set of arbitrary rules but as a distinct way of life to showcase His wisdom to the nations.
  5. Grasp God's Holiness: Appreciate the profound privilege of God's presence dwelling in us.
  6. Find True Freedom: Recognize that true liberation isn't found in a life without a master but in a "blessed bondage" to God. Like a fish in water or a train on tracks, our freedom is found in our created purpose: to worship Him.
  7. Find Yourself in the Story: The story of Israel's journey is an example and warning for us (1 Cor 10:11). Just as they were led from slavery to a wilderness, we have been delivered from the dominion of darkness into this life. We must learn to trust God through its trials, not mistaking the wilderness for the promised land.

Conclusion

The Exodus story is our story. We were once enslaved to sin and death, but have been delivered by Jesus into the "wilderness" of this life. Though the journey may feel like it takes 40 years instead of 11 days, we have hope for the Promised Land.

Calls to Action

• Find Yourself: Ask God to reveal where you are in the Exodus story this week.
• Trust: Pray for a heart to trust God in the "wilderness" of your current life.
• Worship: As we continue our worship, let's sing about our chains being broken, recognizing that our ultimate freedom is found in Jesus.

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