From Wrath to Redemption: Understanding the Fullness of Salvation

Introduction

If you were to walk down the street today and ask people if they wanted to be saved, they might say, “Saved from what?” As we explore the plagues God brought upon Egypt, we see a foreshadowing of the wrath to come for those who reject the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son.

Mind Shift: There is a difference between cruelty of men and the wrath of God.

The children of Israel had been living under the harsh conditions of the world.

They were afflicted in every way.

They were crushed under the cruelty of men.

The were without hope and living in despair.

The were struck down at the will of Egypt.

Until God sent a deliver. Then we see God’s wrath that leads to redemption. If we don’t learn to distinguish between the two we may blame God for the works of humanity.

The Wrath of God always makes a way of redemption.

The Children of Israel's salvation had nothing to do with their good works or standing with God but solely rested on God's promises and deliverance. So it is today. We are saved not because of our good work but the finished work of the Son of God on the cross. According to the scripture, a believer is saved from their personal sin against God and the wrath of God on the sin-cursed world. We are saved to a loving, eternal relationship with the Godhead and the promise of a new heaven and new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The plagues of Egypt also illustrate the struggle between God and the fallen gods of this world that hold people captive from him.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 6:11–12 ESV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Exposition

God distinguishes his wrath and Redemption.

Exodus 9:1–7 (ESV)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.” ’ ” And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Hebrew people we saved through God promises.

The hand of God had fallen on Egypt.

God’s hand of protection was on his people.

As we see God’s wrath approaching, we hold to the redemptive work of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

1 Thessalonians 5:6–9 ESV

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Gospel has the power to save us from wrath.

Romans 1:16–18 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Our righteousness in Christ unlocks our faith in him.

The faith of Moses revealed the righteousness of God to Pharaoh.

The Gospel brings hope in the midst of despair.

Exodus 9:8–12 ESV

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Israel was spared from the wrath of Egypt.

God is distinguished as superior to all others.

Exodus 9:13–14 ESV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.

God has revealed his past so that we may escape the future.

Exodus 9:15–16 ESV

For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

God makes a way of escape for all those who believe.

Exodus 9:17–21 ESV

You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.” ’ ” Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

You don’t have to suffer if you will only believe the Word of the Lord.

Exodus 9:22–26 (ESV)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

God doesn’t bring wrath on his people.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ESV

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

God took out his wrath on his Son so that we might be free.

Recognizing your sin is not enough.

Exodus 9:27–28 ESV

Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

Receiving Jesus as your Lord produces salvation.

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Acknowledgment of sin does not bring salvation.

Repentance and acceptance bring salvation.

Next Steps

In the midst of your chaos turn to Jesus for salvation.

Live in the hope of salvation that will draw others to God.

Make a clear distinction between the way of Christ and the ways of the world.

Call to Prayer

Pray the prayer of David in Ps 139:23-24

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

RGroup Questions

What does it mean to live in hope and how can living in the hope of salvation impact those around us?

How do we make a distinction between following Christ and following worldly ways?