Breakdown...or Breakthrough?

Exodus 14:10-14 “As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.””

Introduction

Today’s sermon will differ slightly from my typical offering. There is no 3 point outline; in truth, there is but one point that the Lord would have me to make, which I will do in short order. I ask for you undivided attention, because I beleive the Lord has something unique to share with us today.

I would dare to say that nearly all those who claim the identity of a Christian are familiar with the account of Israel’s departure- or exodus, which is where the book derives it’s name- from their bondage in Egypt. In fact, this account occassionally makes it way into pop culture in movies. The reason for this is understandable. It has the earmarkings of classic “Hero vs. Villan” story. You have the protagonist: Moses, and the Israelites. And every protagonist needs an antagonist; enter Pharaoh and the Egyptians. You have tention: will Israel make it to the land of promise? Will this Egytian raised leader, Moses, be up to the task of leading a million+ people? Does he even know who he is? And of course, all good stories have a climax. But the book of Exodus doesn’t have just one, but three. The first climax is Israel crossing the Red Sea in chapter 14; the second is God giving his Law at Mount Sinai in chapters 19; and the third is the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle at the end of chapter 40. The first of these climactic moments may be the most famous event in the Old Testament. The story alone envokes deep emotions.

Then there is the theological signifigance. This was the final showdown in the battle between Israel’s Lord and the gods of Egypt. Israel was caught between an unconquerable army and an impassable sea. It was just then that God saved his people, right when it was obvious there was nothing they could do to save themselves. Does that sound familiar? It should- it is the salvation story for all of mankind, and it is also a reflection of our individual rescue stories. Egypt represents the “world”, the fallen creation out of which we were rescued.And the One who rescued us- our Moses- was Jesus Christ, God Himself.

This message title, which I believe the Lord inspired, contrasts 2 words that have 1 common feature and one important difference that I would like to point out to you.

Beginning with their differences:

When somethnig breaks down, there is a mechanical or systemic failure of some sort; somethnig that was working or connected has lost it’s cohesiveness and is no longer functioning as intended. A breakthrough is a sudden, dramatice discovery or development. It denotes a sudden change in a previously established pattern or a sudden removal of limitations that previously existed.

To sum it up: one denotes something falling apart; the other denotes a sudden change in conditions, that surpass the previous state.

What do these two very different concepts have in common?

Both begin- literrally and literarily- with breaking: an interruption of status quo often as a result of a blow, shock or strain.

As a nation, Israel found themselves at a crossroad. They had not only left their bondage, but they were also leaving their comfort zone. I know, it sounds ludicrous to think that Israel had become comfortable in their bondage…until we honestly examine ourselves, reflecting on struggles we’ve faced and, most importantly, why we stayed in the struggle for so long.

The truth is, people can become comfortable in chains. We become comfortable in an abusive relationship; we convince ourselves its better than being alone as if there were no other alternative. We become comfortable in the jobs that we hate, because “at least it pays the bills”. We can choose to wallow in depression rather than do the hard work of looking ourselves in the mirror, admitting we need help and doing the work necessary to change. We make excuses, like the man at the pool of Bethesda Jn 5:7 “The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”” “I tried, but nothing seems to work” is our universal response to help. We find comfort in our “familiar” chains.

So it would seem that God not only wanted to break them out of their bondage- their chains- but He also wanted to break them out of their comfort zone, a different type of bondage. So how can we know God’s intentions for certain?

God could’ve just freed Israel, but He destroyed their enemy as well. True freedom is not just being freed for a moment, it is knowing that the cycle has finally been broken, and being freed forever. As Moses declared in Ex 14:13b “...for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever.” My question to every person in this building, and watching online is, do you truly want to be free? Then it is time to stop trying to do it your way, stop making excuses, and trust in Jesus!

I believe it is clear that God intened to make sure that the “Egyptian problem” had a permanent solution. But Israel couldn’t see that, and responded in fear. This is why God, speaking to Moses, who represented the people before God as a mediator for the covenant between them, issues a rebuke in Ex 14:15 “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.”

This was no time for crying and complaining; it was time to move on. When Charles Spurgeon- my favorite preacher- preached on this verse, he said, “Far be it from me ever to say a word in disparagement of the holy, happy, heavenly exercise of prayer. But, beloved, there are times when prayer is not enough—when prayer itself is out of season.… When we have prayed over a matter to a certain degree, it then becomes sinful to tarry any longer; our plain duty is to carry our desires into action, and having asked God’s guidance, and having received divine power from on high, to go at once to our duty without any longer deliberation or delay.”

We can’t stay here. Literally & metaphorically. You cannot stay the same age you are today, you cannot remain in the same physical condition. Life pushes you forward- your career, your home, your church…all things that are living (or involve the living) grow and change. Your testimony is like your resume; it should be updated periodically. your new “jobs” and God’s new exploits in your life need to be added to the list.

This brings me to my conclusion, and to the singular point that the Lord would have me to drive home. You...must...choose. Everyday, we are presented with choices, we are challenged by difficulties. In essence each trial asks us the question, “Will you break down… or break through?” With the help of the Holy Spirit, your answer- in issues great or small- should be, “I choose the BREAK THROUGH!!!”