Exodus 5:1-6:1 - Afflictions as the Palace of Christ
Notes
Transcript
The Word Read
The Word Read
Please remain standing for the reading of the Holy Scripture. Hear the Word of the Lord from Exodus 6:1:
1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
Behold, brothers and sisters, this is the Word of the Lord. Please be seated.
Exordium
Exordium
Dear Church,
I invite you to open Holy Scripture to Exodus 5:1-6:1. Aaron and Moses have the support of the elders. They have come to believe that Yahweh has heard their cries and will deliver them. Now Aaron and Moses come to Pharoah. Their request is for the people of Israel to be let go so they can worship God. The conflict has finally come, and the outcome will not be what they desired.
Right around the corner is not freedom, but more afflictions. Afflictions that result in greater labor and some of the Israelites being beaten. This does not seem like a glorious exit, but a sentencing to greater prison. Yet, the sovereign Lord is at work. He will get the glory over Pharaoh and His people will be freed so they might worship Him at Sinai.
The sermon title is “Afflictions as the Palace of Christ.” The sermon will have three sections: 1) Exodus 5:1-5 - Let My People Go, 2) Exodus 5:6-19 - More Afflictions, and 3) Exodus 5:20-6:1 - The Lord’s Strong Hand.
Exodus 5:1-5 - Let My People go
Exodus 5:1-5 - Let My People go
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ ” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!”
The conflict between Yahweh and Pharaoh has finally arrived. This struggle will continue until the end of Exodus 14. We witness the contrasting narratives of Moses’s and Pharaoh’s hearts. Moses’s heart has been transformed by Yahweh. However, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened and will continue to be hardened.
Moses and Aaron stand before Pharaoh, a daunting task in an of itself, and declare, “Thus says the Lord.” Can we take a moment and appreciate the total transformation Moses has experienced in his life? He went from being a privileged Egyptian, to a murderer and fugitive, to an excuser-maker, and now he stands before Pharaoh as a faithful prophet. Moses has entirely changed. This is not an isolated event. Those who come to truly know the Lord experience incredible transformation. Think of the disciples. They are presented as bumbling, stumbling men throughout the Gospels. However, after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, they are men who are incredibly transformed. The religious leaders are shocked and astonished by Peter’s and John’s boldness and courage In Acts 4. Peter and John were ordinary, uneducated men. However, the religious leaders recognized something important: Peter and John had been with Jesus.
Transformation is not just promised to Moses and Jesus’s disciples. Transformation is normative for all Christ-followers. Though we experience falls into sin throughout our whole lives, we can look back over the course of our lives and see Christlikeness being formed in us. We aren’t, by the grace and mercies of God, the same person we were decades ago or months ago. Like Moses, we have experienced Holy Spirit empowered transformation.
Moses, now the faithful prophet, declares to Pharoah the Israelites must go and worship God in the wilderness. Pharoah objects. His reason is simple, “I do not know this Yahweh, so I will not obey Him and let Israel go.” At this point, we clearly recognize the hardheartedness of Pharaoh’s heart. However, let us not be too quick to immediately dismiss his response. How often were we Pharaoh? I was not born again until I was in college. I grew up in a biblical church where the pastors preached the Word and the Gospel. I was hardhearted for almost 20 years. The same is true for all of us in this room. We were just like Pharaoh. The Lord called us to repentance through faithful parents, pastors, teachers, and friends. Yet, our response was, “I do not know God and I will not obey His command to repent and find true life in Christ.” If it had not been for the lovingkindness of God whereby He opened our hearts to see our great need for Jesus Christ, we would still be like Pharaoh clamoring we do not know that God exists even though His existence is clearly able to be seen in creation (Psalm 19:1-6 & Romans 1:18-23).
Moses and Aaron tell Pharoah that the God of the Hebrews met with them and they need to go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices or else God will bring pestilence or the sword upon them. Pharoah, understanding their request for a three day journey, tells them no because then the Israelites would no longer be under Pharaoh’s oppressive labor. Ironically, due to Pharaoh seeking to stop the Exodus, the Lord brings pestilence and the sword upon Pharaoh, his home, and all of Egypt.
Pharaoh represents rebellion against God, and in multiple ways. Pharaoh does not want the people of Israel leaving Egypt to worship the Lord. In the same way, Satan and the power of sin does not want people to come to know the redemptive power of the Gospel. The enemy will use whatever tactic they believe is necessary to keep people from repenting of sin and calling out to Jesus for salvation. In John 10:10, Jesus says these words:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but not Jesus. Jesus came that those who repent may have abundant life! Though the enemy will fight unfair, we can trust that the Lord promises to save those who call out to Him. He saves us with His strong mighty hand.
Exodus 5:6-19 - More Afflictions
Exodus 5:6-19 - More Afflictions
6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”
10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’ ” 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”
15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.”
Pharaoh wastes no time in seeking to further oppress the Israelites. Pharaoh tells the Egyptian taskmasters and the Israelite foremen that they Israelites shall not be given straw to make bricks. Straw is a agent used to bond the bricks together during the heating process. It was an essential element for their labor. Now, they would be forced to find stubble and they must keep the same quotas. In Pharaoh’s eyes, if they had time for a three day religious pilgrimage they were certainly lazy. Furthermore, Pharaoh tells these leaders that Aaron and Moses were deceitful. Imagine that situation: Aaron and Moses come speaking the very words of God and Pharaoh declares they are the ones who lie.
The evil plan is put in place by the taskmasters and foremen. The people scattered throughout all of Egypt. looking for stubble. This is an incredible picture and a reminder of the Tower of Babel. In Babel, the people join together to make a tower for their own glory only to have the Lord scatter them. Here in Exodus, the Lord is calling His people together so they may leave and worship Him only to find themselves scattered looking for stubble. The day is coming when Yahweh will bring His scattered people back together where He will deliver them from the oppression of Pharaoh.
This is also what happens to us upon salvation. We are called out from under the oppression of the enemy and sin. We were the ones who were scattered throughout the land looking desperately looking for help. It was there the Lord saved us. We are no longer the scattered, but the gathered sheep of Christ.
One winter day, Jesus was engaging with the Jews. They asked Him, “Would you just plainly tell us if you are the Christ?” To the Jews, Jesus was keeping them in suspense. His answer was simple and right to the point. John 10:27-28:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
The promise of Ezekiel 34:12 is true of us today:
12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Likewise, the day is coming when believers in Christ will be joined together for all eternity where we will worship Him forever.
As expected, the people of Israel cannot reach the quotas they were given without straw being provided to them. As a result, the Israelite foremen are beaten. In return, they make their plea to Pharaoh. It is unfair to expect the same results without giving the people straw. Pharoah sticks to his story, “You are idle” or “slack.” “This is the reason you desire to go worship your God.” Pharaoh does not move an inch, and the foremen knew they were in trouble.
One might have hoped for Pharaoh to immediately release the people of Israel. However, that request was denied. At this point their afflictions remain the same. However, Pharoah increases the afflictions by forcing the people to keep the same quotas without providing what was necessary. Then there is an increase of afflictions as the foremen are beaten. The afflictions pile higher and higher. You can just imagine what the people of Israel might be thinking. “Didn’t Aaron and Moses say Yahweh was going to rescue us? Instead we’ve only see an increase in our afflictions! Wasn’t our pain and burdens enough before these two showed up. Why did we ever believe them?”
To many afflictions, trials, and tribulations may seem like prisons. Most people do not enjoy trials and tribulations when they come. At best they seem like an inconvenience to our lives. Like prisons, they keep us in the same place and there is no true freedom. We are, well we think we are, confined to the shackles and chains that afflictions bring. However, what if that mentality is entirely unbiblical. What if afflictions, trials, and tribulations are not prisons, but palaces.
Palaces are luxurious. They are beautiful. They are often filled with treasures revealing the wealth of an individual or family. Whenever I think of a palace I think of Aladdin. This is exactly what afflictions, trials, and tribulations are to the believer. Trials and tribulations are not prisons. They are palaces whereby Christ forms us into His image. Every believer has afflictions, trials, and tribulations. As 1 Peter 4:12-14 states
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
When we experience afflictions, trials, and tribulations we are sitting in the palace of Christ. Sure, it may not feel like it. However, in those seasons there is a confidence that Christ is near, and that He loves us. His presence and love are the true treasures, not worldly wealth that puffs up self. Earlier this year, I was in the midst of a trial. I texted a friend about the situation and told him I was trying to remain calm so I could get sleep that night. Here was his response:
Praying much for you - remember, Jesus laid down in the stern of the boat in the midst of the storm and slept. Why? Because He knew His Father was sovereign and thus in control. You can sleep tonight with the same confidence.
To be honest, I did not sleep well that night. I think I managed to fall asleep around 4:00am and got a total of 2 hours of sleep. However, something changed after that night. I’ve since experienced trials and afflictions, but now I sleep like Jesus in the boat. God is sovereign over all of life, including the trials. The people of Israel should have joyfully rested in Yahweh’s sovereignty as they waited for Him to deliver them. Likewise, we rest in the palace of Christ as afflictions, trials, and tribulations come our way knowing He is forming us into His image. You, dear brother and sister, have the utmost confidence that you sleep in Christ’s palace when sitting in the midst of afflictions. Don’t waste the trials and tribulations by giving into anxiety or fear. As William Bridge once said,
Ore from the Puritans’ Mine: The Essential Collection of Puritan Quotations Affliction, God’s Purpose In
Now all the afflictions of the saints are but their medicine, prescribed and given them by the hand of their Father.
Afflictions are not sicknesses, but medicine given to us by the Father. Find Christ, rest in Him, and allow His loving hands to form you into His image as you sit in the palace of affliction.
Exodus 5:20-6:1 - The Lord’s Strong Hand
Exodus 5:20-6:1 - The Lord’s Strong Hand
20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
Moses and Aaron get a status update from the foremen. You can only imagine what the two of them are thinking as they are stationed waiting for the report. “Do you think Pharaoh said he’ll let us go? Yahweh has promised us success.” However, that is not the response the foremen give to Moses and Aaron. The foremen call upon Yahweh to judge Moses and Aaron because they have made the people of Israel stink in the sight of Pharaoh. Also, there was no deliverance. In fact, they tell Moses and Aaron you have given them a sword to kill us.
The sentiment is easy to understand, “This is all your fault Moses and Aaron. Yahweh would’ve have let this happen to us. You are the ones to blame for all these afflictions!” The people of God have already forgotten the promise God made to them. They’ve entirely forgotten Yahweh is at work. Instead of trusting in the signs that were revealed to them, they’ve blamed their leadership for their afflictions. In turn, Moses turns to Yahweh and asks why this evil has fallen upon the people of Israel. Furthermore, you have not delivered your people at all! The people blame their leaders. The leaders blame their God. There is no remembrance that the Lord is at work to deliver them.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is in Revelation 2-3. The risen Christ Jesus gives letters to His seven churches. It is clear when you read those letters that Jesus knows those churches. He is intimately aware of their strengths and weaknesses. He gives them commendations and rebukes. What is evidently clear is that Jesus is at work in each of those churches. He loves those churches more than anyone else loves them.
I want to read to you the letter to the church in Ephesus which is found in Revelation 2:1-7.
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
The church in Ephesus was known for their doctrinal purity, but had abandoned their first love. Christ calls them to repentance or else He will remove their lampstand.
In all the seven churches in Revelation 2-3, Jesus is at work in them. It doesn't matter if they are churches that are flourishing or barely hanging on-Jesus is in their midst. The same is true for every church today. Churches that are thousands or dozens-Jesus is in their midst. Jesus is in the midst of churches that are thriving and those who are making hard decisions about closing their doors. This is why it is the Elders’ responsibility to discern the mind of Christ. He is already in our midst! Jesus is working all things for His glory and their good.
In Egypt, it appears as though all hope is lost. The afflictions have increased and there is no hope of an Exodus. Pharaoh has slammed the door. Yet, God will get the glory over Pharaoh, and the Israelites will be expelled out of the land. How will all this come to pass? The strong hand of the Lord. The Exodus is God’s plan and He will execute it as He decreed. Yahweh will shatter Pharaoh and his army. He will get the glory over Pharaoh.
This is true for all those whom the Lord has claimed as His. The power of the enemy and sin may be great, but His strong hand is much greater than those. His strong hand brought us up out from under the dominion of sin, and placed us in the Kingdom of God. Pharaoh could not stop the strong hand of the Lord, nor can the flesh, the world, or Satan stop His strong hand. God gets the glory in our salvation.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The conflict between God and Pharaoh is here. Over the next few chapters, the battle rages. It’s not really a battle though. The Lord has already decreed He will get the victory over Pharaoh and Egypt. The people of Israel have cried out to Yahweh and they have been heard. The Exodus has begun.
Maybe you sit here today knowing you’ve not had your own spiritual exodus. You sit under the dominion of sin without experiencing the abundant life that Jesus gives to those who are His. The Father sent the Son. The Son died a substitutionary death and rose again from the grave. As Thomas Watson once pleaded with the lost,
“Now is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 6:2). If we put Christ off with delays and excuses, perhaps He will come no more, He will leave off wooing, His Spirit shall no longer strive. And then, poor sinner, what wilt thou do? When God’s wooing ends, thy woes begin.
Repent and believe in the Gospel. The mighty hand of the Lord will save you from sin! Please stand with me as we close in prayer.
