Redeeming Blood

Introduction

It was a long day. Even the Hebrew children labored at some level. All of the Israelites were literally beat by day’s end. Mom whipped up some leavened bread and gathered water and the young children probably had some goat’s milk with their meal. The adobe hut was cooler than outside and the desert was beginning to cool down by night’s end. The Hebrew families were preparing for sleep, kids faces and hands were scrubbed from the active day, mom and dad were rubbing some home concoction liniments on each other from the soreness of the day of backbreaking work. Every moment had to count because the day started all over again at 5 am in the morning. That first part of the night was a deep sleep from sheer exhaustion as they had not been on the cot long enough for soreness to set in.

In the other camp, the Egyptian scene was quite different. The Egyptian men and women were possibly more socially engaged that evening. There may have been some lounging around playing with their children and hearing the stories of what happened at Egyptian school that day. Dad told mom stories of the progress with the pyramid buildings while mom lavished the family with fresh meats, fruits and vegetables and possibly some wine as an after dinner drink of relaxation. And so following,the Egyptian families tucked away into bed and as well and they felt into a deep sleep due to the prosperous life they enjoyed....until midnight. Let’s turn in our Bibles and as Paul Harvey states, “the rest of the story.” Turn to Exodus 12:29-42.

Exodus 12:29-42

Exodus 12:29–42 NKJV

29 And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” 33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. 40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

Prayer

Message

Families all over Egypt were down for the night in deep sleep. A visitor came in the middle of the night, some knew the visitor was coming, some didn’t, but the visitor came all the same. The visitor, the angel of death was sent on mission by God. He would pass over every home in Egypt. As the angel of death passed over one home after the other He looked for one thing and one thing only, the blood of a lamb that had been sacrificed for the sins of the people.

I almost entitled this sermon, “and it came to pass.” Look with me at the very beginning of our text and then toward the end in verse 41 “it came to pass.”

Let’s firstly discuss the inclusiveness of judgment on the people that night.

The Inclusiveness of Judgment VV. 29-30

“and it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt”

The Lord did not find the blood on the doorposts of the Egyptian homes.

“For there was not a house where there was not one dead.” There was no distinction whatsoever except one sign when the death angel passed over. The death anger went over Goshen as well. Sinners, yes, enslaved to a former life, yes, people that had lost hope of tomorrow, yes, but saved by and exclusively in desperation, they placed the blood of the lamb over the doorpost of their home that night. That was all that was needed to be safe.

Dearly beloved, as I’ve shared the details of this amazing scene with different references over the prior months that I have intermingled the study of Luke and Exodus, I am reminded that the church today is more like Egypt than I would want to admit.

Egypt had experienced nine plagues. They had seen the hand of God time and again and recognized His power, His sovereignty, His ability to overcome and yet they did nothing. They were a people like the frog in the water that slowly boils and the frog does nothing and boils to death in the pot.

We, the christian of today live life with the aptitude that one day we are going to die, we live life knowing as Christians that God is coming back again and that judgment is inevitable, and the easiest action we all fight is contentment with the status quo. That if we sit here in our church palace and the plagues are all about us that if we do nothing, things will be like they were before.

Israel on the other hand was like the lost in its purest sense. And when I say the lost, I am speaking of someone that does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. They had been enslaved so long that they had lost all hope. Even though they had at times in their past been exposed to the things of God, the new life had gone on so long they did not realize their fallen estate. We know later in the studies of the Exodus that Moses continued to battle with the Israelites for wanting to fall back into their former life even though they knew freedom, their former life at times called them back.

Numbers 11:5–6 “5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!””

You will remember that Lot’s wife looked back on Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt.

Gen. 19:26.

Back in Exodus 11:4-5, Moses revealed to the people of Israel that the tenth plague was in fact coming and how they were to respond by partaking of the passover meal and placing the blood on the door post and the lentil of the door frame and to wait at midnight. At midnight, the death angel was coming over all Egypt and passed over Goshen and hit every household in Egypt. The scripture notes that every single household was affected. The prince of Egypt, Pharaoh's son, down to a prisoner’s son that was in the dungeon.

We read of two dynamics here of different backgrounds, yet similar results. The Israelites had lived in a fallen estate that lost hope of something better. The Egyptians had lived such a long history of prosperity that they thought they were invincible and that judgment would never come.

Dearly beloved, the Israelites got it right. Even though they had times of waning in their hope, even though their were times of wilderness wanderings in their journey, they realized that only the blood of the lamb would save them. And so, on that night when plague after plague had come upon the people of Egypt and they had hardened their hearts to the things of God, there comes a day of reckoning for every one of us. And on that night at midnight, the day of reckoning had come. “There was a cry that came over all Egypt like was never heard before or heard since.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 NKJV

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

The church today sees the plagues coming on western culture and yet we think we are invincible and that somehow all of this will go away. Listen dear brother and sister, there is crying happening all around us as we have never heard before.” People are dying at an accelerated rate and being lost with eternal separation from God. We sit as Pharaoh as a judge of the world and its faults with all of these plagues happening about us and we sit up in our palaces and watch the world go by until.......

the plague hits your household, and you have a son or daughter that does not know Jesus.

So sad, a few days ago Lisa Lopez Galvan, a Disc Jockey of a Kansas City Radio Station went to the Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl celebration, the mother of two, was murdered while 20 plus others were injured from a mass shooting.

Reality: She is dead today. Beautiful, a vibrant life, her life had meaning, she had purpose, she was rearing children, and life taken. I wonder if she was covered in the blood of the lamb? Oh listen dear church today, “and it came to pass.”

We live life as nothing is coming to past. So we justify our actions with these types of comments:

Well, its time to get in the cows to take to the stockyard, its hay season and its time to get in the hay. Oh, we have to change the decorations within the home because of a season change, its time to do the work in the yard or garden, its that annual time, the tradition when we come together as a family to take a vacation, its the time to throw showers, and teas, it is the time we take annual inventory, its the time to exercise and get in shape, its the time I take care of the grand kids, and the list goes on. We live life under the facade that life will never come to an end, that the inclusiveness of judgment is eminent.

Oh listen dearly beloved, judgment is eminent. None of us will escape it. There will be a reckoning for our sins and there will be a reckoning for the sins of those you love all around you. Did Israel have their faults, did they have wilderness wanderings following their deliverance? Oh dear brother and sister we all do, you are not perfect and will never be perfect. There was only one who was perfect, His perfect blood washes us white as snow. He overcomes our unrighteousness and makes us whole, He can make you whole. Amen.

The songwriters writes:

“What can was away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

What should our response be?

Respond with Expediency

In verse 31 we see the great window, the door of opportunity that God had orchestrate by His providential hand. The story infers expediency on the part of Israel to make haste and do those things God commanded.

Exodus 12:31 “31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.”

God had instructed Moses and Aaron to move swiftly with expediency.

Exodus 12:33 “33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.””

God’s Word challenges us at the core of our comfortableness today dear brother or sister. In this section of the text is such a pivotal swing of the importance of responding to an important decision in right fashion.

Staying content with the status quo in life as it is can be the death of us in numerous ways.

Staying with the status quo of life outside of God, not honoring God with our lives, not listening to God, not doing the things God calls us to do was spelled out in the words of the Egyptians.

“We shall all be dead.”-Their theology was sound.

God knew the battle that Israel would face for the former life they lived. He knos the power of Satan to draw us back to a life separated by God.

Exodus 13:17 “17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.””

God anticipated the battle Israel would face in being allured back to their former life. God blessed them in their present life to keep them pressing on. Interestingly, did they have every material desire as mentioned earlier? Note that we could not handle all the blessings in one setting that God has in store for us. Secondly, God is not guaranteed to bless you financially when we come to Him in salvation. But His blessings are innumerable. Amen.

Conversely, let’s look at how debilitating a former sin life can be if we do not succumb to the call of God and make the change. Let’s look at Pharoah.

With all that Pharaoh saw firsthand even with the death of his son, let’s look at the battle we all face:

Exodus 14:4–5 “4 Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so. 5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?””

And we know the rest of the story. They pursued Israel to the Red Sea and were drown when the waters came back in on the army.

How does this apply to the church today?

If we believe that we live life as its always been and become comfortable with what was and always will be, it will be the death of us and the church. Pharoah could not accept the change and that this people Israel were liberated and He wanted things like they used to be, and it was the death of his people.

Let’s read again verses 34-39 and see the nature of urgency and when we urgently meet God’s request, what happens?

Exodus 12:34–39 (NKJV)

34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

Dearly beloved, the focus is on expediency. The people responded to the request of God with urgency and we want to break down this scene.

This morning I speak to a lost person, I speak to a back slider, I speak to an apathetic Christian, I speak to the church.

Firstly,

Unequipped

responding quickly to God will catch you off guard. You firstly will feel that you are traveling outside your lane of life. Change is uncomfortable. You will not feel adequate or equipped for your new life in Christ. The women had to grab up their dough before any old dough had been placed in the bread and allow a time for the bread to rise. They were journeying with God before they were comfortable traveling with God.

The question must be asked? How do I begin a new life in Christ? Where does it start?

Exodus 10:9 “9 And Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.””

With your all. With your total being. Everything that you are and everyone that you influence needs to know about your new commitment.

Write this down:

Salvation and a New Life in Christ Will Feel Uncomfortable Because You have Never Surrendered to Him Before. Life in Christ will be a whole new experience.

If God is calling you to come to Him, you will never feel ready enough for God-because you aren’t. That’s why He called you-you need Him. You will never become ready enough until he places His hand upon your life preparing you for what He has in store for you.

Secondly,

Undeserving

Note that the Lord will provide you winds of blessing in your submissiveness to His will.

Psalm 105:37 “37 He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes.”

God will equip you for the change and He will meet every need as you journey in your new life in Christ.

Israel never believed in a hundred years that the people of Egypt would bless them in their departure. The Scriptures state that they “plundered the Egyptians.” When you surrender and are submissive to the will of God, God will offer affirmation and encouragement from people you do not even anticipate.

I remind you that even when you surrender to Christ and you are traveling uncharted waters and you feel as a duck out of water that people will be entranced in the change in you and …it has its effect.

I shared a couple of weeks ago that when we surrender and submit to what God is calling us to do, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be, God is already using you.

V. 38 “a mixed multitude went up with them.”

Uncomfortable V. 39

“they could not wait, they had not prepared provisions for themselves.”

Listen clearly, a new life in Christ will be different. Will it be better, yes? Will it feel natural at first? No. Will Satan attempt to draw you back to the familiar? Yes.

Listen church, when we try new things will it feel as if we are unequipped in the new mission endeavor? We will. Will God blow upon us some air of progress, satisfaction, and blessings in what He is doing through us? He will. Will it feel foreign to what we feel is norm as we worship in a different format, we look at times to hold service, or we gather at different venues to serve Him. And may I submit none of those things are planned because God has not led in such at this point; but…will we be ready, even with our unleavened dough of the feeling of being uncomfortable or ill equipped, will we be ready to respond to what God is calling us to do?

The point of all of this. Israel with all of their shortcomings at a time that counted the most, trusted God in His perfect timing. See, its all timing. The point is-it’s God’s timing.

The timing was so critical because if one minute was spared, Egypt would have caught Israel and brought them right back to their captivity of their former life. Will the change have its struggles? Sure. Will the change have great blessings, Oh dearly beloved it will.

Reality of an End VV. 40-42

The scripture began with “and it came to pass” and in verse 41, “it came to pass.” Listen to me dear brother, sister, guest, lost person or I hope by now a concerned christian and church member.

We may wonder why in the story of the Exodus that God took so long to rescue Israel? And that would be a great question. We do not receive every answer from the Word of God. Maybe God recognized that they were not ready to be rescued. But the reality is that it did happen. It happened in God’s timing, His perfect timing, but listen closely as long as it took, there was a reality to an ending of that portion of the story. Israel was saved and a great deal of Egypt died in their sins.

Amen! V. 38 “a mixed multitude went up with them also...”

2 Peter 3:8–9 NKJV

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Notice something very important here and I close.

look with me at the end of verse 41:

Exodus 12:41 (NKJV)

41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

Nowhere in this story have we read of any battles or physical altercation that came about in this whole saga of the Exodus to this point.

Listen closely, when you surrender all out to the Lord there is an all out spiritual battle raging between Satan and the Holy Spirit in battle over your soul. The question is who are you going to allow to win the battle?

Church, there is a battle within to fight the comfortable and the status quo, but there are times we have to pick up our unleavened bread, gird up our loins and put on battle array and face the enemy in new ways, fast responsive ways, moving ways. What will it be?

Will we be back at the palace like King David in the spring of the year when King’s are supposed to be on the battlefield. What choice will you make today?

Let’s pray.