9-17-23 Sermon "For Now" - 19 Minutes

Exodus 14:19-31

This morning I'll be reading Exodus chapter 14 verses 19 through 31. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Exodus 14:19-31 This passage of scripture should be familiar to all of us this morning. God has instructed Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and they immediately run into trouble. Will they respond correctly,,, and,,, do we respond correctly the way that we should today as well? Exodus 14:19–31 (HCSB) — 19 Then the Angel of God, who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. The cloud was there in the darkness, yet it lit up the night. So neither group came near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit—all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen—and went into the sea after them. 24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw them into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt!” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the Lord threw them into the sea. 28 The waters came back and covered the chariots and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived. 29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed in Him and in His servant Moses. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Romans 13:8-14 and we seen that it was important to keep our "Minds On Christ". In continuing to build God's kingdom,,, relationships are always important,,, and it appears that when we think about the direction our church will go as we begin a new year,,, they will become even more important,,, or maybe,,, more visible,,, to those around us. What I meant,,, is that we will need to make a conscious effort to keep people from feeling ignored,,, or even hated,,, since some will not understand what we are doing! That's why God is placing so much emphasis on loving others in His words to us as we go through these changes. We must remember,,, that just because we don't agree with their choices,,, God still loves them,,, as He loves us,,, remember,,, we were in their shoes earlier in life,,, maybe not the exact sins,,, but still separated from God,,, and because of that,,, we must do everything that we can to stay connected to them so that they can figure out the way to join us on the road that Christ has set before us! Matthew 7:14 says: “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” ,,, we need to do our part,,, to help others along the way! And we accomplish this by heeding the words of Paul in these verses,,, letting "love" guide us,,, to do the right thing,,, to say the right thing,,, to live a life pleasing to God,,, By staying alert,,, staying focused on everything around us,,, realizing that,,, Jesus' return can happen at any minute,,, and we should always be ready,,, By keeping our "Minds on Christ",,, relying on His strength,,, His power,,, His might,,, His word,,, so that we stay connected,,, and by us staying connected,,, we can lead others,,, to that narrow gate,,, and that difficult road,,, that leads us all,,, home! This morning we will look at these verses in Exodus 14:19-31,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week. ___________________________________ Verses 19-20 said: 19 Then the Angel of God, who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. The cloud was there in the darkness, yet it lit up the night. So neither group came near the other all night long.

The Angel of God had been in front but now he's moved to the rear so that he could protect them.

All through that night the pillar of cloud,,, which also had moved to the rear to be between the two camps,,, brought such darkness that military advance was impossible for the Egyptians.

Yet,,, it was light enough for the Israelite people to see,,, even though the Egyptian army was left in darkness.

___________________________________ Verses 21-22 said: 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.

God had already given Moses instructions and now he is following them.

The wind divided the waters and dried the way so that they could walk across,,, or through the waters,,, on dry ground.

___________________________________ Verses 23-25 said: 23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit—all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen—and went into the sea after them. 24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw them into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt!”

As the Israelites were crossing,,, the Egyptian army began to come after them,,, but God confused them.

While the Israelites had crossed over dry ground,,, the Egyptian's were having problems,,, and they were having problems because God began to confuse them,,, and this scared them.

According to Psalm 77:16–19,,, God caused a rainstorm,,, along with lightning,,, thunder,,, and an earthquake!

Perhaps the rain quickly soaked the sea floor,,, which caused the wheels of their chariots to swerve.

There was also the noise from the wind blowing as hard as it had to,,, so that the waters stayed apart!

As a result of all of these things happening,,, they tried to get away,,, but God had other plans.

Too late they have figured out that God was fighting for them.

___________________________________ Verses 26-28 said: 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the Lord threw them into the sea. 28 The waters came back and covered the chariots and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived.

Moses was instructed by God to,,, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.”,,, and Moses did as he was told.

At daybreak the sea water went together again and the Egyptians were swept … into the sea (really or actually,,, “thrown downward”).

The crashing walls of water crushed the Egyptians in the sea so that not a single soldier survived.

___________________________________ Verses 29-31 said: 29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

God delivered His people through … dry land, while He destroyed the Egyptians in the sea; their dead bodies floating ashore were a grim reminder of the awesome power of God in judgment.

As a result of God's awesome and mighty power,,, the Israelites,,, feared and trusted the LORD.

For now,,, even though we know that it doesn't last very long,,, at all!

But,,, for now,,, they are in awe,,, of His strength,,, and power,,, that is visible to them,,, as they look back,,, at the results,,, of the waters,,, crushing the Egyptian army,,, and for "now",,, they believe,,, in God,,, and Moses!

___________________________________ “For Now”,,, the Israelites believe in God,,, "For Now" the Israelites are trusting in God,,, "For Now" the Israelites are thankful for God,,, "For Now"

How many times do we see where they disregard these wonderful miracles that God has performed for them?

They are happy for now,,, but we know it doesn't last!

Seems hard for us to understand,,, but,,, truthfully,,, we aren't any better than they were!

We don't do any better than they do because of the same reasons that they had.

When you are alone,,, when you are maybe waiting in a doctors office,,, or airport,,, wherever you might be and you don't have anyone at that moment to talk to,,, what goes through your mind?

Do you let your problems dictate your thoughts?

Are they overpowering you?

That's what happened with the Israelites,,, over and over again,,, always looking inward,,, when they should have looked up!

When we go about our day,,, on our phones,,, on our computers,,, watching TV,,, focused on the world around us,,, letting it tell us how bad things are around us,,, bringing our spirits down,,, making us feel weak and useless?

That's what happened with the Israelites,,, seeing the power from others around them,,, from Pharoah,,, the Egyptian army,,, while at the same time,,, seeing their weakness,,, seeing their inability to do anything about it,,, again,,, focused in the wrong direction,,, looking down,,, when they should have looked up!

Like the Israelites,,, we are focused on worldly things!

We forget the promises of God,,, that we have experienced over and over,,, especially if you have been a Christian for very long,,, you have read about God being faithful to His word,,, but we get bogged down in our thoughts,,, our problems,,, and we forget,,, to give them to God!

Like the Israelites that had been told over and over again that God would take them out of Egypt,,, give them the promised land,,, that He would be their God,,, that He would protect them,,, all of the promises that He gave them,,, they failed to believe them,,, no matter how many times God repeated them,,, they always,,, forgot!

___________________________________ Today,,, I want you to know,,, that we have someone available today,,, to help us with this problem.

You see,,, the Israelites trusted God,,, "For Now"!

But just as soon as they faced another setback,,, another obstacle,,, another danger,,, they always,,, forgot!

But,,, we've got something that the Israelites didn't have!

The Israelites didn't have the Holy Spirits help like we do today!

Jesus Christ made it possible for us to have a relationship with God that the Israelites weren't able to have!

They didn't have the personal relationship with God that we have today!

So this morning,,, I'm reminding you,,, that your help,,, your strength,,, your power,,, is with you each and every day,,, we just have to focus on Him,,, not on ourselves,,, not on our problems,,, not on our weaknesses,,, But on Jesus Christ,,, who has promised never to leave us or forsake us,,, and if we can accomplish this,,, we won't be like the Israelites,,, and just trust God,,, "For Now"! Because we have the Holy Spirit to help us keep our eyes on God,,, all the time! ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------