Behind a Frowning Providence
Notes
Transcript
Behind a Frowning
Providence
Exodus 1:1-14
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
Genesis Connection
• Exodus begins with “And”
• Quotation of Genesis 46:8
• Joseph in Egypt – Review
1. Abraham – Isaac – Jacob
2. Jacob had 12 sons and 1 daughter through 4 different
women.
3. 10 of those sons (through 3 women) hated the other
two (Joseph/Benjamin, sons of Rachel).
4. 10 of those sons sold Joseph into slavery. Joseph is an
exceptional person whom the Lord blesses at every.
5. Joseph rises to national, Egyptian prominence, reunites
with his family, and moves them to Egypt.
Genesis Outworking
• God blesses with remarkable abundance:
1. Moses uses 7 different descriptions of their
staggering numerical growth. Literally, “And the
sons of Israel were fruitful, and they swarmed, and
they enlarged, and they multiplied in much
muchness, and they filled the land.”
2. Allusion to Genesis 1:22 and 1:28
3. Fulfillment of Genesis 12:1-2; 15:5; 22:17; and 26:14
• But God has other prophecies:
1. Genesis 15:13-15
2. Hyksos invaders and a new Pharaoh
God’s People Suffer
• Pharaoh – The Anti-God
• Pharaoh’s Fears:
1. That Israel will soon outnumber the Egyptians
2. That Israel will fight against the Egyptians and either
leave or overpower Egypt
• Pharaoh’s Enslavement:
1. Piled references for bitter enslavement:
taskmasters, ruthless, bitter, oppressed
2. Archaeology has uncovered multiple wall-reliefs
showing slavery; recently mass graves for
adolescent slaves have appeared.
God’s People Abound
• The slavery merely forges national identity and
solidarity.
• Despite the harshness, Israelite people marry
and multiply.
• Perspectives:
1. God’s redemption is wider than you can possibly
fathom.
2. God intends to use your trials for the redemption of
others.
3. God is nobody’s debtor – “Shall not the Judge of all
the earth do what is just” (Genesis 18:25).