GNC - Exodus 7-12

Introduction: Friends, we have seen that, even though Pharaoh was told to let the Israelites go, he not only rejected God’s Word but he also make life even more difficult for the Israelites!

Friends, when it gets tough to believe the Lord’s promises, we need to remember that He is with us, He keeps His promises, He knows what we’re going through and we need to encourage others with these truths.

So, friends, let’s pick up following Moses where God begins the process of delivering His people from Egyptian slavery through some incredible demonstrations.

Content and Explanation: The 10 Plagues

Exodus 7:20–21 “20 So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And the blood was through all the land of Egypt.”

Friends, God controls all forms of water!

Rivers

Lakes

Oceans

Rains

Snow

Friends, I want for you to move your hands back and forth like water current or ocean wave.

Exodus 8:5–6 “5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.”

Friends, Gos controls animal life!

I want for you to make 1 ribbit sound.

Exodus 8:16–17 “16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17 They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 8:24 “24 Then the Lord did so. And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 9:6 “6 So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.”

Friends, the Lord is in charge of whenever any animals are born.

He’s also in charge of whenever any animals die.

The Lord is in control of animal life, friends.

Exodus 9:10 “10 So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.”

Exodus 9:25 “25 The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.”

Friends, hail is a weather event!

Therefore, friends, all weather is under the Lord’s control!

Exodus 10:12–13 “12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, even all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”

Friends, the Lord controls all bug life!

I want for you to move you hand in front of you face like your swatting at a gnat.

Now I want for you to pretend you’ve got a fly swatted and you’re trying to kill a fly.

Now I want for you to pretend that you just went out to your garden and noticed that locusts have eaten up all of your favorite fruit or vegetables (sad face).

Exodus 10:21–22 “21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.”

Friends, the Lord created the light of the day.

He’s also in charge of when it turns dark outside.

Therefore, friends, the Lord is in charge of light and the dark!

Exodus 12:12–13 “12 ‘For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. 13 ‘The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Friends, this is an important celebration called the Passover.

In the Passover, the Lord spared the lives of those homes where they had spread the blood of a lamb on the door.

If they didn’t have the blood on the door, the first born in the family died.

Friends, how many of you are the firstborn?

Friends God is in charge of whenever any animals you’re born.

He’s also in charge of when you die.

God controls your whole life.

Friends, notice that no one was powerful enough against the Lord to stop Him from doing these things to deliver His people from Egyptian slavery.

Friends, wouldn’t you be impressed if you had seen all these things?

Notice, friends, how Pharaoh responded time and again as summarized in Exodus 9:35.

Exodus 9:35 “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.”

Friends, to harden your heart means that instead of believing what God says to be true, you continue to reject it.

Can you believe that after all that Pharaoh experienced in seeing God’s power he still refused to believe and obey the Lord?!

Application: Don’t harden your heart and trust God’s power to deliver you.

Don’t harden your heart

Friends, the truth is that there are some of you here that you are doing this exact same thing!

Friends, you know that God’s Word teaches that you are to obey those in authority over you.

Yet, how many of you today chose to try to distract your friends from listening to the teacher in class?

Friends, what happens is that when you disobey God’s Word you make it that much easier next time to disobey God’s Word and harder to obey God’s Word!

Dear friends, the only way that your heart is going to change is if God changes it.

God will change your heart through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will change your heart to want to do what’s right instead of sin when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins (define).

Friends, if you have yet to believe on Jesus to save you, you’ll be given a chance to speak with _____ in just a few moments about what this means.

Trust God’s power

But, friends, I recognize that there are several of you who have believed on Jesus to save you.

Friends, if God controls the weather and all animal life even over death itself, then what is it that God does not have power over?

Nothing!

Friends, no matter what you face, you can always trust the Lord because He’s the One in charge.

When you are sad, God is able to comfort you.

When you are lonely, God is with you.

When you’re afraid, of a big scary storm or the big neighbor’s dog with the big teeth and loud barking, the Lord is with you, even in those circumstances, friends!

Through all of your life the Lord is with you and working through whatever your facing with you to lead your life to please Him and accomplish His plan for you, to one day be with Him forever.

Scripture Memory - Mark 12:29b “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Explanation - Friends, when we say “Hear” put your hand to your ear and move your head and body in.

Next, we’ll do our motion for Lord.

Then, point up to refer to “God”

Then we’ll make our motion for Lord followed by pointing our index finger at chest level to signify “1”.

For “love”, I want for you to make fists and cross your arms over your chest like you’re giving yourself a hug.

Now, whenever we say all I want for you to hold out your left hand palm up and put your right hand where your thumb is almost touch your left palm and your right palm is out; then twist your hand around where you bring the back of your right hand to touch your left palm and your right palm is pointing up.

Repetition - Mark 12:29b–30 “29 Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”

Conclusion: