The Exodus Way

Introduction:

Exodus Way.

Not just an event in Bible; theme follows thru’t whole canon.

Talked about the Symphony of Scripture b4… notes played all thru’out Bible that point to Jesus esp. One way do this: >>

The Bible’s Design Patterns

The Bible was written by multiple editors/authors. These (Spirit-lead) collaborators repurposed and reused certain words, phrases, ideas to frame a new story with established meaning or to reframe an established theme with a twist!

Sometimes, we call these Biblical hyperlinks: They connect meaning between two stories/ideas in two different areas of scripture.

These hyperlinks become patterns when they are used often; spanning Genesis to Revelation.

These narrative patterns are used and reused over and over again, growing the themes found in our bible (adding to them) or redefining them as you read and reread the scriptures.

One of these patters stems from the greatest event in Israel’s history. >>

The Exodus Way

Greek: εξ (out of) ‘oδoς (road) - the Road OUT.

The theme of the Exodus has three parts.

Not every ref. has all 3. Most have at least two… Neh. does great job of sum’zing all them.

Nehemiah 9:10–12,15 “You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh… You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.… 15 you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.”

The Way OUT, Way Through, & Way INTO… start with >>

The Way Out

Most familiar… ppl exiting; road out of Egypt.

Israel was enslaved by Pharaoh who was abusing them; slaves God calls one of Egypt’s own (Mo’) to rescue/redeem his people.

Displays pwr 10x, shame Egy’s gods/pharO & start relat. w/ Isr…

Important aspect want to highlight:

1. God hears His children’s cries.

Exodus 3:7–8 “Yahweh said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…”

“have seen… heard… been concerned” about them. Lit. He closely knows about them.

If Christ is our Lord, we are God’s family; His children! See: Galatians 3:26.

Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,”

Exod. reveals that He hears us when we’re in distress… esp. when things out of our control.

When we feel most vuln. God has our back most!

Beware when we become like Pharaoh…!

Even if we don’t feel like he’s close, hard to believe, He hears our prayers… cries for help!

Exod. also reminds us that, when hears cries >>

2. God delivers Us.

Deuteronomy 7:8 “But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery.”

To redeem = to pay the price for one’s [freedom].

Just like YH rained down jug’t on Egy so Isr. could be free; same way, God can send us from our ‘Egypt’ bles’d and free.

Satan & world hold U captive to sin//selfi’ss. Feels free or lib. but act’ly chains to death!

The Gospel reminds me: I am not chained to that shame/sin anymore! I am free! See Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…”

Guilt on our heads cov’rd by blood of perf. sacr. Walk in FREE’M!

Ackn: may take time, counsel’g, healing, forg’ss; not always immed - but true in the Spirit.

God removes us from hell we’ve created & gives us opp'ty/pwr to leave it behind in His love.

YH leads us out; but he doesn’t leave us. He reveals >>

The Way Through

Nehemiah 9:11,13,15 “You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground… 13 You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven… 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock…”

Even when the way doesn’t seem clear.

After Ex, Isr. feared when saw Egy. pulling up in chariots, trap’d by Red Sea!

S‘times JC saves us, feels like same ‘me’ I was b4… Still dep’ssed, lonely, sinful, ctrl’d by habits, anxious

Don’t really feel like know which way to Go.

Good news!

1. Jesus doesn’t rescue us & then let us fend for ourselves!

John 14:15–16 ““If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever: [the Spirit of truth]!”

At Red Sea, Sinai, in wild’ss… Spirit & Angel of YH with them

God’s Spirit guided, empowered (Moses+ others), & protected Israel after Egypt & through the wilderness.

God took great care of His people even though they wandered.

Fed, clothed, spoke to, guided them closely, protected

+40yr of care hap’d bc Isr. SINNED! Fathr still fed, car'd, prot'c

John mentions (psg) that HS helps us keep His cmds…

Rely on Him to get U out of tempt. trickery or old habits. NOT just on you! Let HS work; trust God through it all…

2. The Spirit gives us confidence that Jesus is with us.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

One person Jesus promised to send us & He guides us into what’s true and right; awy from wrong, harmful, deadly.

If you don’t think you ‘FEEL’ saved… redeemed… rescued… healed… (in wild’ss) seek the Holy Spirit.

In prayer time, with Scripture by side, e’ry time listen to Xian music… pray to & for HS. During your drive; intentional about praying to HS.

You might just need a power boost! I believe God wants to fill U up & overflow His pres. 4U.

Trust God in the "in between" when you don't yet see the promise.

Good news is: doesn’t just rescue us OUT & be with us THROUGH, but JC is & He leads us on >>

The Way Into [the Promise]

If an exodus is the road OUT, then an eisodus is Road IN!

After the road out, god personally walked with Isr. on their way to the Promised Land.

He lead them in to tear down the spiritual adversaries in the land and lead them to a fixed spot of His rule & reign.

Aren’t you glad God is Faithful today?

He doesn’t save us to abandon us. He doesn’t JUST walk w/ us thru hard…

1. God has an amazing purpose for you!

Because He has redeemed you, that MEANS your life has value, merit, great worth & import.

Ephesians 1:13b–14 “When you believed, you were marked in [Christ] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession… ”

He has saved you for something very good. There’s a divine destiny ahead of you.

Both here/now in your life: your usef’ss & 4 ur good; & a divine fut.

= mom'ts in life when you called to special task for Him. = your encour't & support when you can’t go on. = your pers’l correction when you sidestep His good Way = a future indescribable glory you cannot fathom…

He ordains it all & can redeem it all when we go astray.

1 Peter 1:3–4 “In his great mercy [God] has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.…”

"Heaven is not a state of mind. Heaven is reality itself. All that is fully real is Heavenly. For all that can be shaken will be shaken and only the unshakeable remains.” C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Headed for something that is not just as real as the things around us — but MORE real; too real for us 2 comprehend now.

Hear this, church:

God hasn’t just saved you FROM something, but FOR something good.

Be prayer warrior in ur house; whose prayers draw their fam back to Him! Be the bulwark for someone who needs safety, help. Be the voice of change in your com'ity when leadrs act foolishly Bend a knee to serve the last, lost, least. Be example of love & just’ce that draws coworkers to Jesus.

Give time, talents, resources to Christ & His Church! Not for ROI, but for selfless act of service.

That’s the real thing. The Best thing.

Want to close msg. by summ’zing it & personalizing it >>

Your Exodus Awaits

Maybe ur life still drown’g in sin/ shame. You need an Exodus out.

Actually: Christ already paid for your road out. He IS the road out. Accept His paid-for Exodus!

Salvation Call.

Maybe @ place in your walk as Xian; lost, confused, disc’ged?

U need assurance that He is with you & cares about you. Seek His HS…

U could use a reminder of His eternal promise for ur life!

God Meets us in the In-between.

He doesn’t wait until we’re perfect (Promised Land) to join us

And he puts up with a lot of our junk.

Consider: wasn’t in Prom.Land when YH cov’nt self to Isr. & lived w/ them.… Wasn’t when arriv’d… grace in desert!

In your wilderness today,

1. Remember His Goodness to You: Past & Present

Thank Him for His faithfulness in the past & even now.

Praise Him for joys yet to happen!

2. Trust in a Very Good Future.

1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind can conceive of”— the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

Altar time?