The Story Continues

EXODUS 1

Statement of Faith

What the Bible teaches regarding The Scriptures.

Pastoral Prayer

Church

Marriages

Those who are new

Those who have been here awhile

New series in Exodus

Other churches

Cheverly Baptist Church

John Joseph’s sight.

Lifepoint Church - Westerville

New Lead Pastor, Matthew Angell

Nation

Fires in Maui

Gov. Josh Green

Rebuild

Families who lost loved ones

World

West Africa

The Bible would be made fully accessible.

More missionaries.

Ecuador

Gang-driven violence over last 2 years.

Peace and justice.

Intro

Middle school King’s Island trip.

Stuck on “The Face-Off” rollercoaster.

Got to see how many people respond when things look bleak.

That’s a funny example, but what about serious ones…

Lose your job

When divorce is mentioned by your spouse

When doctor has bad news

When you lose a parent, child, or a friend

How do you respond when things aren’t going well?

God is faithful to deliver his people; therefore, we can trust him when things look bleak.

Context

Exodus is the 2nd of 5 books (Gen-Deut) collectively called “Pentateuch”

Author is Moses.

TV shows: “Previously on…

…Pentateuch.”

Genesis overview:

God creates all things (Gen. 1-2).

Commands Adam & Eve to:

Tend the garden

Don’t eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil

Adam and Eve reject God’s command. Cast out of the garden.

Gen. 3:15 - There will be enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.

Sin spread to all creation.

God judges creation by sending a flood to destroy sin.

Covenant w/ Noah (Gen. 8).

Won’t eradicate humanity again.

Theologians have long noted that without this covenant, human sinfulness would have made the earth liable to one catastrophic judgment after another. -Lexham Survey of Theology

God raises up Abraham

Promises that his offspring will be a great nation (Gen. 12:1-3).

Promises to bless those who bless them and curse those who dishonor them (Gen. 12:3).

God also promises Abraham in Gen. 15… that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (Gen. 15:13-14)

Abraham has Isaac; Isaac has Jacob; Jacob has 12 sons (heads of the 12 tribes of Israel)

Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son) was sold into slavery.

Joseph ends up in Egypt. Becomes Pharaoh’s right hand man.

Due to his position, able to spare his family from the famine.

Jacob and his family move to Egypt, where Joseph has provided food and safety. Which leads us to the book of Exodus…

Structure of Exodus:

Ch. 1-13 in Egypt

Ch. 14-18 on the way to Mt. Sinai

Ch. 19-40 at Mt. Sinai

Sam Emadi: [Exodus is a] Development of the conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent from Genesis 3:15.

Pharaoh’s crown had a cobra centered on the front.

The prophet Isaiah refers to Egypt as a serpent: Isaiah 51:9-10 ….Was it not you [God] who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? 10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?

Theme: God’s faithful deliverance.

Scripture Reading

Outline

(vv.1-7) The people multiplied

(vv.8-14) The people oppressed

(vv.15-22) The people delivered

Exodus 1 (p. 45)

Going to be covering larger chunks of Scripture in Exodus. Why?

Exodus is narrative (history being retold).

Much of the NT is discourse (argument being made).

The people multiplied (vv.1-7)

(vv.1-5) Continuation of the Genesis story

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

Joseph was a Christlike figure

Like Christ, Joseph was a beloved son who suffered due to the sins of others.

Jealous brothers sold him into slavery.

Sentenced to jail b/c Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of violating her after her attempts to seduce him failed.

Like Christ, after suffering, he’s elevated to a high place.

Right hand of Pharaoh in Egypt.

Like Christ, he served as a savior to those who called on him.

Brothers come to him asking for help.

Joseph forgives his brothers. .

Saves his family from famine.

Provides them with land, bread, and safety.

Joseph’s favor with Pharaoh guaranteed security for Joseph’s people. But things take a turn for the worse…

(v.6) Joseph dies

6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

Joseph’s death puts Israel in a vulnerable position.

One of my first times flying… stewardess comes over the speaker:

Thank you for choosing Southwest, we’re thrilled you’ve chosen to fly with us. But before we get going, we have a very special birthday announcement!

No ordinary birthday… this is his 98th birthday! [She pauses to let that sink in, and then continues…]

So let’s go ahead and give it up for our pilot!

If something happens to him, we’re in trouble!

Joseph is now dead. Israel could be in trouble…

(v.7) Israel continues to grow

7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

Turn to Gen. 1:28

After God creates Adam & Eve he tells them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28b)

At least 2 commands in this verse for God’s image-bearers:

Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth… Why?

B/C as those made in God’s image, our very existence glorifies him!

When God’s image fills the earth, his glory fills the earth.

When 2 image-bearers become 3 image-bearers, God receives more glory.

This is why Christians:

Seek to preserve life at every stage (pre-born to elderly).

Speak-out against abortion & physician-assisted suicide.

Regardless of health, abilities, age, development, intelligence, etc… that image-bearer is glorifying God simply because he/she exists!

Married: If you’re able, have children.

Christian: Seek to preserve life.

Rejoice that God’s image is filling the earth.

If you’ve taken life:

Know this… God stands ready and eager to extend forgiveness if you would only ask for it.

John 6:37 …whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

You have not outsinned God’s grace.

Rule over the earth

…subdue [the earth], and have dominion over the [creatures in the earth]

Israel, as a new humanity, is fulfilling the 1st part of the creation mandate to be fruitful, multiply, and fill… (v.7)

But the 2nd part of the creation mandate was being abused.

God told humanity to subdue [the earth]

Hb “subdue” (Gen. 1:28) = bring into bondage, rule over

Rather than ruling over the earth, the Egyptians were ruling over other image-bearers (Israelites).

SUMMARY: Israel is becoming a great nation (as God promised), but the serpent is striking back...

The people oppressed (vv.8-14)

(vv.8-14) Pharaoh’s first plan: slavery

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

(vv.9-10) This new king of Egypt is terrified of Israel multiplying.

“Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply…”

So, he seeks to make their lives miserable:

shrewdly

afflict them

heavy burdens

oppressed

ruthlessly

slaves

made their lives bitter

hard service

(v.14) Interesting that Moses would add in “mortar and brick”

The last time mortar and brick were mentioned was in Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel)

Subtle foreshadowing that Egypt is among the enemies of God, and God will treat them as such.

(v.12) Notice how Pharaoh’s plan backfires

“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad.”

Oppression increases → Multiplication increases

This is the pattern of Christianity throughout history:

OT - Egyptian slavery

NT - Acts 2 (church in Jerusalem) → Acts 8:1 (church persecuted) → the rest of Acts (church expanding)

16th Century - Reformation

Today - China & Middle East (some include N. Korea)

SUMMARY: No amount of persecution can thwart God’s promises to his people.

GOSPEL: In fact, God so loves his people that he will use their afflictions to bring about their greater good.

No matter how crafty the serpent gets, God will always have the final say.

And if you’re in Christ, the final say will always be in your favor.

Non-Christian:

Have you ever considered the possibility that God is allowing you to suffer to get your attention?

That perhaps this would the thing that gets you to finally turn to him?

Consider calling on Christ to remove your sin.

Thomas Watson: Christianity is not the removal of suffering, but the addition of grace to endure suffering triumphantly.

Christian:

When you’re oppressed, know that God is just, and he will take vengeance.

When this life is bitter, fix your eyes on the sweet eternal life that awaits you in glory.

When affliction comes, take comfort, knowing that God’s faithful plans will prevail.

The people delivered (vv.15-22)

(vv.15-22) Pharaoh’s second plan: genocide

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

(vv.15-16) Pharaoh’s first attempt at slowing Israel’s growth failed, so now he takes things up a notch.

In addition to enslaving them, he now commands the midwives to kill every newborn male. Why?

Likely b/c those sons would eventually become Israel’s fighters.

Without men to fight, Israel less likely to rebel against Egypt.

Ironically, it’s Egypt who will lose their sons later in the story.

When God instructs Moses about what he will say to Pharaoh, he refers to Israel as his “firstborn son” (4:22) and warns that refusal to listen will lead to the death of Egypt’s firstborn (4:23), which comes about in the tenth plague (12:29–30). –(ESV SB)

Midwives mentioned by name (Shiphrah & Puah).

Pharaoh’s name never mentioned (most powerful man in the world).

Lowly midwives’ names are mentioned (honored throughout history). Why would the HS choose to honor these two midwives?

(vv.17-21) Midwives feared God rather than Pharaoh

“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them…”

Remember, Pharaoh’s likely most powerful man in the world.

To disobey him would almost certainly lead to death. Yet…

Shiphrah & Puah feared God more than losing their lives… They wanted God’s reward more than Pharaoh’s reward.

So they disobeyed Pharaoh’s command (v.17)

God blessed them for it.

Two questions may be coming to mind at this point:

Doesn’t Romans 13 tell us to submit to the governing authorities God has placed over us? How is this not a contradiction to that?

We submit insofar as it doesn’t lead us to live in a way contrary to God’s will.

1853 New Hampshire Confession …civil government exists by divine appointment for the benefit and good order of human society. Government officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed. The exception is for matters contrary to the will of our Lord…

Authority–when used properly–is a good gift from God.

God is always our highest authority.

Is God rewarding the midwives for lying?

The text doesn’t say they lied.

Text says, “...[the Hebrew women] give birth before the midwife comes to them.”

Midwives likely took their time getting there!

Rather, they’re being rewarded for remaining faithful by preserving life.

(v.22) Pharaoh recruits all of Egypt to carry out this genocide.

Rather than limiting his plan to the midwives, he now expands it to all of Egypt.

SUMMARY: God used two faithful women to deliver his people from death.

GOSPEL: This wouldn’t be the last time Satan would go after babies (Matt. 2:16).

~1500 years later, another ruler (Herod), would decree that all boys 2 and under be murdered in the Bethlehem region.

Like Moses, Jesus was spared.

Like Moses, Jesus would serve to deliver his people from bondage.

Not physical bondage, but spiritual bondage.

Sin has enslaved all of us…

Marching all of us to eternal suffering.

But Jesus has crushed our taskmaster.

Non-Christian:

At lunch today/this week, ask a Christian what it means to be free from the bondage of sin.

Read Rom. 6

Christian:

Worth noticing the radical difference between God’s view of children vs. Satan’s.

Satan hates seeing God’s image & glory multiplying and filling the earth.

When God blesses Shiphrah & Puah for their faithfulness…

Doesn’t give them wealth

Doesn’t give them health

Doesn’t give them increased status

He gives them children!

Like Shiphrah & Puah, faithufulness in today’s age may cost you greatly.

Desire God’s eternal reward more than any reward people can offer you.

Conclusion

When things look bad, and you’re not sure how you’re going to get through it, remember…

God is faithful to deliver his people; therefore, we can trust him when things look bleak.

Trust the Lord to deliver you.

Afflicted Saint to Christ Draw Near (Verse 3 and chorus)

Christ is Mine Forevermore (verse 3b)

Christian: Your deliverance is secured through Christ who took your place.

On the cross, he paid for your sin.

In the grave, he died your death.

In his resurrection, he secures your future.

Non-Christian: Jesus stands ready to deliver you. Trust him today. Turn away from the serpent and throw yourself on the Savior.