Divine Favor (Exodus)

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In 1982, Nick Vujicic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Nick has no arms or legs, although he has two small feet attached to his torso. Growing up, Nick struggled emotionally and physically to accept his condition. But today as a follower of Christ, Nick has what he calls "a ridiculously good life." Nick writes:

When I'm asked how I can claim a ridiculously good life when I have no arms or legs, [people] assume I'm suffering from what I lack. They inspect my body and wonder how I could possibly give my life to God, who allowed me to be born without limbs. Others have attempted to soothe me by saying that God has all the answers and then when I'm in heaven I will find out his intentions. Instead, I choose to live by what the Bible says, which is that God is the answer today, yesterday, and always.

When people read about my life or witness me living it, they are prone to congratulate me for being victorious over my disabilities. I tell them that my victory came in surrender. It comes every day when I acknowledge that I can't do this on my own, so I say to God, "I give it to you!" Once I yielded, the Lord took my pain and turned it into something good... He gave my life meaning when no one and nothing else could provide it. [And] if God can take someone like me, someone without arms and legs, and use me as his hands and feet, he can use anybody. It's not about ability. The only thing God needs from you is a willing heart.

We hear this story this morning, and see the picture of Nick on the screen behind me… and despite his limitations, he’s looking at his life not from a sense of what he doesn’t have… He’s not starting with this Eeyore like mentality, like “woe is me…” or “that’s just the way it is…” No, there’s a sense of passion, and opportunity, for the life in front of him, and the platform that he has.

What about us? Hmm… that changes things, right? I mean, It’s easy to tell others, when life is difficult for them, to or “Consider it pure joy” or “count your blessings.” But when things get personally, when life gets challenging for us… it can be difficult in these moments to see the silver lining...

I struggle with this, I’ve told you before that for me, it’s great to tell others how to live their lives… it’s wonderful to give encouragement on a Sunday morning (and really, I’m grateful God would use me in this capacity…) But where do I struggle, yeah, when life is challenging…. I don’t like it; I struggle to see the positive sometimes in certain circumstances.

And for some of us this morning, we’re going through something. I would say most of us are facing a headache of some sort, a frustration of sort, emotional pain… a host of things… and here’s what we need to remember, is that we have divine favor today. You are divinely blessed.

If you have you’re bibles, turn with me to Exodus 12. Today, we’re going to start a new series in the book of exodus, because exodus is full of trials and testing (tested and approved). What we’ll see this morning is

3 components of divine favored. 1. Perspective of favor. 2. Father of favor 3. Promise of favor.

1. Perspective of favor perspective. Exodus 12:31-42

31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

We look at the scripture this morning and we’re told the Israelites have been enslaved in Egypt for several hundred years.

And you’ll recall from the book of Genesis the account of Jospeh and his brothers, who would sell Joseph into slavery. And how Joseph would go from being thrown into a pit, to then enslaved in Potiphar’s household, then to prison, before God would ultimately elevate him to the palace.

Looking back on this story now, we can see that in the midst of a famine, God would supernaturally provide for the Israelites. He would move them to Egypt, a place that was not the promised land, but that would serve as a place of provision, during this famine and in years to come. And it’s crazy as well, because when Joseph and his father Jacob (or Israel) as well as his brothers and their families moved to Egypt, there were 70 people total. Now in the course of time, roughly 13 – 14 generations this number has grown immensely, To now somewhere in the range of 2-3 million people.

But here’s what’s crazy, the story gets interesting, as you’ll recall… because at the start of Exodus we’re a new pharaoh has come into power. A pharaoh to whom the Israelites mean nothing…

We’re told: 8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” Exodus 1:8-10

And in the coming days, for roughly 100 years (give or take 15 the Israelites, would no longer just live in Egypt, now they would be slaves. Millions of men, and women, and children...Who God has established his covenant with their forefather, all these years before, are now, living not only in a land that’s not their own… now their living in slavery.

And here’s a valid question that sometimes can come to mind… How can a loving God, who is good, who knows what we need before we even ask… How could he allow bad things (“quote”) happen, to good people?

God how could you allow the enslavement, God how could you allow the harsh treatment, the double amount of work, the harsh treatment by the slaveowners, the difficult years, the sleepless nights, the physical and emotional agony… God how could you allow this?

Today, God, how could you allow this unjustness to go on in society? How could you allow me to go through this pain? How could you allow me to be tested in this way? God, you’re good, this doesn’t feel good… How could you allow this? Have you ever wrestled with this before? Have you ever been frustrated at God, and tried to make sense of what was going on, and there seems to be no end in sight?

Looking back, we can see the silver lining, but as we’re going through it… it may not feel that way…

But here’s the key, God was orchestrating details, in the course of time… according to his will. You see God’s nature didn’t change. God has been, was then, is now, Good… and he’s loving… so if its not the nature that needs adjusted, what is it? The Perspective.

The quota doesn’t change… the Israelites have to come up with the same bricks as before. Only now, the Israelites are responsible for getting their own straw and material. Yet it was God at work, it was God telling moses and Aaron to appear before Pharaoh and make the request to let the people go and worship… God knew Pharaoh’s heart. God knew his response…

God even knew the response of the Israelites when the workload was increased… we’re told:

20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us. Exodus 5:20-21

Friends, God had favor on them… God was working all things out for good even in these moments… he was connecting the dots, and sowing all these details together in one seamless tapestry, one overarching metanarrative… the people though, they weren’t focused on the promise… they were focused on the pain.

What about us today? What are we focused on… So often in life, the bad happens… “bad” like the story we read a short while ago with the Nick Vujicic. And we feel that just because something “not good” is happening, that we still don’t have the favor of God.

Church… God is good… all the time… all the time… God is God…

How is our perspective this morning? Do we realize his favor is upon us?

2. Father of favor

Exodus 12:31-36 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

As we go back to the scripture, we’re told 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested

In other words, pharaoh and all of Egypt had had enough of the plagues. 10 separate times, Moses and Aaron appeared before the Pharaoh and requested that the people be allowed to go, so that they may worship the Lord in the wilderness… and up until now the answer has been no.

well on this final blow, we see that Lord passes through Egypt and strikes down the firstborn of people and animal, with the exception of the Israelites who have taken the blood of a lamb or a goat, and placed it on the doorframe of the house… and as you know, the Lord passed over these house… also a great reminder for us, in our faith… that Jesus, would later go on, to be the spotless, Passover lamb that was slain for our sins.

but here, after having a hardened heart on the previous plagues, Pharaoh, and the rest of the people of Egypt have had enough. And they tell the Israelites to Go! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And (by the way) also bless me.”

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added (or unleavened bread, that they would eat later), and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. (and how did the Egyptians respond?) 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

That’s a powerful word, don’t miss this… At the perfect time, at the culmination of their time in Egypt, God would supernaturally align the hearts of the Egyptians…and not only did they say “Go!” Listen, they gave them their valuables on their way out!

Now I want you to think about something for a second, we’re not talking about 1 person giving to someone else their gold, and silver, and clothing… again, there’s roughly 2-3 million Israelites in Egypt… who would have been the property of 100,000’s of these Egyptians… and God supernaturally works in each and everyone of their hearts… without delay, at once, God works in the hearts of these nonbelievers, and he uses them to repay the Israelites for their years of service in Egypt. Wow!

That’s a good word. God saw the groaning of his people, God saw their agony, God saw their pain, God saw the unjustness of these Egyptians towards them… and not only did God get them out of that mess… God paid them back for their work. (That’s a good word!)

But here’s the key, it was according to God’s timing… It was according To God’s perfect plan… It was when the conditions were just right…

I mean think about it, from a timing perspective… 80 years before, Moses is sailing down the Nile river in a papyrus basket, he had to grow up a little… right? He had to learn how to take care of sheep before he could take care of men… The people, like we mentioned are 70 when they first come to Egypt, now it’s 2-3 million people. And as for the land Genesis 15 speaks of that… the land of Canaan or Isreal… it needed to be ready for the new occupants to come in

God is talking to Abraham in Genesis 15 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

Here’s the point… the people living in Canaan, had yet to commit their sin. The Amorites sin, it reached full measure, God dealt with them… and would bring in the Israelites to take their place.

Here’s the point. God waited until the conditions were perfect… and when they were perfect… God brought about the promise.

I wonder about us this morning… Sometimes, in our lives, if we’re not careful, we can get impatient on God’s timing. Sometimes, when things don’t feel bad from one day to the next, we may even ask God to change the circumstances he’s bringing us through…and yet here’s the key… He’s sovereign, He controls hearts. He is the one who holds favor and victory in his hands.

Friends, would our prayer be not my will… But yours be done… Even if we don’t understand all the details of everything, in that exact moment… Would we trust that his ways our higher.

Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

His ways are higher, would we trust His ways this morning.

He’s got the whole world, in His hands…

3. The Promise of Favor

37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt[b] was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

As we wrap up our time this morning, we’ll touch briefly on this last point. But here’s what I want us to see. First of all, during the course of the exodus… as the people are exiting out Egypt. The Lord Kept vigil. That word vigil means, to observe, or to keep watch.

And here’s the point, Like a sailor keeping watch over the ship and the sleeping sailors at night… The Lord keeps watch over the Israelites as they exit out of Egypt.

But Here’s the other thing… God keeps his Promises today. You see 430 years prior, As we saw in Genesis 15:13 13 Then the Lord said to him (Abraham), “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.

The path between the promise… and the fulfilment… may have not been easy… There was heartbreak, and difficulty along the way, , there was the need for some, including Abraham, to leave Abraham; and follow the path that God had for them. There were moments of discomfort, even enslavement, and harsh treatment… and I’m sure things didn’t always make sense to the Israelites…

But God kept his promise. He was faithful to his people…

This morning, God still keeps his promises. For no word from God will ever fail.

The question becomes what do you need this morning? We see with the Israelites this commitment to asking God, this persistence. And God hears their prayers, God sees their tears, God shows up in a big way… What about you this morning? Where are you? What areas of your life, do you need to be reminded of God. Where do you need God this morning?

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Call the worship Team back up…

Friends, we are divinely favored

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