The Well Church Keller Sermons

God Is Not a God of No Anger — He Is a God of Slow Anger Clash of Kingdoms | Exodus 11

Throughout the plagues of Egypt, God has been doing something deliberate — taking down the gods of Egypt one by one. Plague by plague, the false gods fall. But in Exodus 11, only one remains: Pharaoh. And it's his turn.

In this episode, we explore what the announcement of the tenth plague reveals about who God truly is. Psalm 145:8 tells us God is "slow to anger" — but slow is not the same as never. God is not a God of no anger. He is a God of slow anger. And there is a profound difference.

We also look at the surprising instruction God gives the Israelites before they leave — to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold — and what that tells us about how God redeems what the enemy meant for harm.

We close with two questions worth lingering in as we head into Easter week:

What in this world has the potential to stir righteous anger in you?

What in your own life might be stirring righteous anger in God toward you?

Scripture References Exodus 11 | Psalm 145:8 | Galatians 6:7 | Ephesians 4:26

Series: Clash of Kingdoms — a study through the book of Exodus

One of the most difficult doctrines in the Christian faith isn't hard to understand — it's hard to live by: "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. I will repay." In this message from Exodus 10, we watch God systematically dismantle the gods of Egypt through the plagues of locusts and darkness. But more than a history lesson, this text asks us a deeply personal question — how long will we refuse to humble ourselves before God? And what does it look like to trust that he will handle what we cannot?

We explore what it means to leave room for God's wrath, why idols always demand a piece of you, and why the greatest contrast in this passage isn't between Moses and Pharaoh — it's between two invitations: one that leads to death, and one that leads to life.

In This Episode

A story of radical forgiveness from South Sudan — and the phrase Rabuna b'kafi (God will repay)

Why God hardened Pharaoh's heart — and what it tells us about divine justice

The plague of locusts and how it dismantled the Egyptian gods of agriculture and insects

What "darkness that can be felt" reveals about the God who defeats darkness

Amun-Ra, the sun god — and why God's darkness was a direct confrontation with Egypt's chief deity

The idol that always wants a piece: why there's no serving two masters

The Hebrew word panim (face) — and the stunning contrast between Pharaoh's last words and God's standing invitation

Scriptures Referenced

Exodus 10:1–29

Romans 12:19

Matthew 23:12

2 Corinthians 7:10

Galatians 3:26

2 Chronicles 7:14

Psalm 27

Revelation 22:4

Key Takeaways

We don't have to seek vengeance from our enemies. God will address it — either at the foot of his cross or at the scales of his justice.

Exalting yourself does not end well. Humbling yourself before God always does.

True repentance leads to life. False repentance leads to death.

Idols always want to hold on to a little piece. God asks for everything — because everything with him is better than anything without him.

Pharaoh said: "Seek my face and you will die." God says: "Seek my face and you will live."

We’re terrible at spotting what’s fake — a science fair project proved it. When 250 people tried to identify AI-generated images, the average score was 45%. Worse than random guessing.

But the most dangerous counterfeit in your life isn’t a photorealistic portrait. It’s an idol: a real thing you’ve given God-level power to protect you, provide for you, or define you.

In this message from our Clash of Kingdoms series, Adrien Parker takes us through Exodus 9 — the plagues of livestock, boils, and hail — and shows us how God wasn’t just judging Egypt’s gods. He was exposing the false powers we all still trust today.

In this episode:

• What idols actually are (and why good things become dangerous ones)

• “What’s your cow?” — the diagnostic question that will hit different

• Why a hard heart isn’t dramatic rebellion — it’s just numbness

• What the Hebrew word teshuvah means and why repentance is more than feeling bad

• The question worth sitting with: What part of your heart secretly belongs to Empire?

Scripture: Exodus 9 (Christian Standard Bible)

Series: Clash of Kingdoms — a year-long study through the book of Exodus

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• An idol is any good thing we trust to do what only God can do.

• God doesn’t just judge false powers — He reveals himself as the true one.

• Empire works… until it doesn’t. God exposes the hidden cost.

• Sin is disordered loves — not just bad behavior.

• Your identity in Christ is not achieved. It is received.

• Teshuvah: repentance is a turn, not just a feeling.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Exodus 9:1–35  |  Psalm 119:105  |  Proverbs 3:5–6  |  Isaiah 42:16  |  Jeremiah 6:16  |  Matthew 4:17

In this episode, we continue through Book of Exodus and examine the next plagues God sends on Egypt: frogs, lice, and flies. These plagues weren’t random disasters—they were direct confrontations with the gods and superstitions the Egyptians trusted.

This message explores how God often reveals Himself by exposing the false things we rely on for security, identity, and hope.

Key question:
What “modern superstitions” might we be trusting instead of God?

Episode Summary:
Before the cross, before the Red Sea, there was a showdown on the Nile.

In this episode, we explore Exodus 7 and the first plague—when God turns the Nile to blood. What looks like a random act of judgment is actually a direct confrontation with Egypt’s false gods, especially Osiris, the supposed god of life, death, and judgment.

This wasn’t just a plague.
It was a verdict.

We unpack:

Why God targeted the Nile

What Pharaoh’s hardened (heavy) heart really means

The difference between hearing God and listening to Him

Why counterfeit power can imitate—but never redeem

How the blood in Exodus ultimately points us to the cross

The question at the center of this episode:
What area of your life is hardened toward God?

If you’ve ever struggled with surrender, control, or trusting God fully, this conversation is for you.

📖 Text: Exodus 7:14–24
🙏 Reflection: “Lord, give me a new heart.”

What if we’re more polytheistic than we think?

In this Family Sunday message kicking off Lent, we dive into Exodus 7 and the showdown between God and Pharaoh. When Aaron’s staff swallows the serpents of Egypt, it’s more than a miracle — it’s a declaration: there is only one true God.

But the real question is this:
What “other gods” might be competing for our hearts today?

Money. Fear. Politics. Technology. Success.

Lent invites us to reflect, repent, and realign.

It’s not about what we can do.
It’s about who God is.
You aren’t. He is.
You won’t. He will.

Take a few minutes to listen, reflect, and ask:
Is there anything in my life that needs to be swallowed up by the power of God?

#Exodus7 #Lent #Faith #ChristianPodcast #Sermon #BibleTeaching

Right when the Exodus story is getting good, God interrupts the action with what feels like a commercial break — a discussion about names.

But this interruption changes everything.

In Exodus 6, God reintroduces Himself as Yahweh — “I AM” or “I WILL.” And in doing so, He gives Moses (and us) a series of promises that form the foundation of the gospel:

I will rescue you.

I will redeem you.

I will take you as my people.

I will be your God.

I will give you an inheritance.

While God says “I will,” Moses responds with “I can’t.”

Sound familiar?

In this episode, we explore:

Why God pauses the story to focus on His name

The meaning of El Shaddai vs. Yahweh

How the Exodus promises point forward to the gospel

Why we doubt God most when we doubt ourselves

What Moses’ messy family history teaches us about grace

How the skeletons in your past don’t compare to the promises of your future

Reflection Questions:

Where in your life do you need Yahweh’s rescue?

What skeletons in your past keep you from believing God’s “I will”?

Take time to reflect, repent, and remember.

If this message encouraged you, share it with a friend and subscribe for future episodes.

In Exodus 5, Moses stands before Pharaoh and delivers God’s command: “Let my people go.” But instead of immediate freedom, things get worse. Why? Because God isn’t playing checkers—he’s playing chess. Key Themes from the Sermon God Speaks in the Wilderness The Hebrew word for wilderness (midbar) is rooted in the word debar, meaning “to speak.” The wilderness isn’t silence—it’s the place where God speaks. If you’re in a desert season, God may be trying to get your attention. God Plays the Long Game God could act instantly, but often chooses slow formation over quick fixes. He doesn’t just want to show his power—he wants his name to be known. This is chess, not checkers. Things Get Worse Before They Get Better Pharaoh responds by increasing oppression. Scripture reminds us that suffering can be part of God’s refining work: Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5) Present affliction prepares eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17) The Oppression of Busyness Pharaoh increases workload without increasing capacity. Chronic busyness is not freedom—it’s oppression. God’s invitation to the wilderness includes rest, Sabbath, and stillness. Knowing God vs. Knowing About God God desires intimacy, not information. The biblical word yada means to know deeply and relationally. You can know about God and still not truly know Him. Reflection Question What is keeping you from knowing God? Busyness? Frustration with God’s timing? Resistance to the wilderness? God is still playing chess. He is still at work. Seek first the kingdom of God—and trust the long game.

Sermon Overview

In this message from Exodus 4, we explore one of the strangest—and most revealing—passages in Scripture. As Moses is finally on his way to Egypt, God confronts him in a moment that forces us to wrestle with grace, obedience, holiness, and hate.

This sermon challenges the false divide between the “Old Testament God” and the “New Testament God” and invites us to see a fuller picture of who God truly is—and what that means for how we live in a world shaped by empire, outrage, and dehumanization.

Why Exodus Matters

Exodus is foundational to the entire biblical story

Jesus’ death and resurrection are often described as a “second Exodus”

Without the Old Testament, we miss the depth and nuance of the New Testament

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3–4)

God reveals his name: Yahweh – “I Am”

God hears the cry of his enslaved people

Moses is called to lead Israel out of Egypt

Moses resists with fear, excuses, and self-doubt:

“What if they don’t believe me?”

“I’m not eloquent.”

“Please send someone else.”

Despite this, God patiently persists with Moses.

The Signs: Power Over Life and Death

God gives Moses signs to confirm his authority:

Staff → Snake: Authority over what Egypt worships

Diseased Hand → Healed: Power over sickness and restoration

Nile Water → Blood: Control over Egypt’s source of life

These signs reveal that Yahweh—not Pharaoh—is the true giver and taker of life.

God’s Patience—and Then the Shock (Exodus 4:24–26)

Just when Moses finally obeys, the story takes a disturbing turn:

God confronts Moses and intends to kill him

Zipporah circumcises their son and Moses is spared

This moment forces a deeper question: Why would God respond this way now?

Covenant, Obedience, and Holiness

Circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham

Moses—God’s chosen leader—had neglected that covenant in his own family

God’s grace does not eliminate God’s holiness

Calling does not excuse disobedience

God is gracious—but covenant faithfulness still matters.

How to Read Old Testament Narratives

A crucial reminder:

The first question is not “How does this apply to my life?”

The better question is:

“What does this teach me about God?”

Only after understanding who God is do we apply that truth to our lives today.

Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace

Cheap grace says obedience doesn’t matter

Costly grace transforms us

God’s grace demands something of us—not to earn it, but because it changes us

Empire, Hate, and the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of empire:

Treats life as expendable

Thrives on fear, outrage, and dehumanization

Uses hate as its currency

The kingdom of God (shalom):

Is rooted in peace, love, and human dignity

Leaves no room for hatred—even toward enemies

Following Jesus means resisting the temptation to justify our own hatred.

A Call to Repentance

It’s easy to condemn injustice

It’s harder to notice when our anger turns into hate

The same God who rescued Israel is the God who died on the cross

Love is costly—but it is the way of Jesus

What happens when two kingdoms collide?

In this episode, we explore Exodus 2 and the powerful story of Moses’ birth, formation, and calling—set against the backdrop of a world shaped by fear, violence, and empire. Using the contrast between the Kingdom of Shalom and the Kingdom of Empire, this teaching unpacks why Israel needed a mediator—and why we still do today.

From a hidden baby in a basket sealed with asphalt and pitch, to a reluctant shepherd shaped by forty years in obscurity, this episode traces how God works through broken people to bring deliverance. Ultimately, the story of Moses points us forward to Jesus—the true and final mediator between God and humanity.

This episode challenges us to examine:

How empire shapes our instincts, fears, and behaviors

Why integrity matters more than visibility

Where we may still be carrying the “wrong stick”

What it looks like to cry out to God in a world marked by chaos

If you’ve ever felt caught between two worlds, overwhelmed by violence, or unsure how God is at work behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

Key Themes & Topics

The clash between the Kingdom of Shalom and the Kingdom of Empire

Why the book of Exodus is ultimately about deliverance from empire, not just Egypt

The significance of Moses’ unnamed parents and Levite identity

“Tov” (goodness) and the sacred value of life

Fear, violence, and power as tools of empire

Integrity vs. visibility: what we do when no one is watching

God’s slow work of formation in the wilderness

Moses as mediator—and Jesus as the greater mediator

Scripture References

Exodus 2

Genesis 1–7

1 Timothy 2:5