As God is my witness
Notes
Transcript
The Exodus to the Promised Land
The Exodus to the Promised Land
So, the Israelites embark on a journey leaving Egypt to make their way to freedom.
Yet, their freedom involved going to the wilderness, to be chased by their former masters, and then witness the power of God as they crossed through the Red Sea on dry land to later watch their masters drowning where they trod.
Their journey would lead them to a mountain, where they would be given rules on how to live and treat each other and with God.
Eventually, they would make their way to the promised land only to be turned back because of their disobedience and their failure to be faithful to the One who brought them out of their bondage.
In total, they would be in the wilderness for 40 years and return to start their next chapter as they prepare themselves to enter into the land flowing with milk and honey.
But it is in this journey the children of Israel had to learn humility and truly know thteir God. The sad part about this whole story is that only 2 of the original people that left from Egypt only made it to the promised land.
37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.
Now this figure does not include women nor does it include children. Many have presumed it to be in the millions and that could quiet be possible.
But that’s just the sad part, only 2 from that originsl group made it to the promised land all because they were faithful to the Lord in all the trials that they went through.
I’ve always been fascinated with the story of the Exodus, and I’ve already seen this extrordinary story with the Christian journey, with our journey with Jesus as we prepare ourselves for the Promised Land.
Although the connection with our journey with the Israelites in the wilderness, I must be reminded that only 2 of the original people entered into the promised land, as daunting as that sounds, I am rerminded of another thing.
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am crucified with Christ, and for that my old self, the sinner is buried in that wilderness with the new person being prepared to enter into the promised land.
Friends, do you believe that you too are on this journey? Do you believe that you are in the wilderness with Jesus guiding you through the dunes to prepare you for the promised land? Is the old person crucified?
Paul and the Corinthians
Paul and the Corinthians
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul in the previous chapter is encouraging the Corinthians to holdfast to their faith and to steer clear away from immorality and idolatory.
It appears that the Corinthian Christians thought thsat they could have the best of both worlds. To live in sin and to live as saints.
What do you think? Is this something that we ourselves are experiencing now? What does Paul have to say to this?
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Here Paul is telling the Christians, all received of thr goodness of God, food, drink and His Divine protection. All of those that left Egypt was blessed, yet the Lord was not pleased with them and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Tell me, are you blessed? Have you received from the Lord your food, your drink and His Divine protection? May I add, has your old person scattered in the wilderness as well?
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
You see, the story of the Exodus is given to be an example for those in the ends of the ages have come. My friends, are we not living in the ends of the age? Is not the Exodus story important for us?
Indeed the Exdous story is of great importance because it is through the failings of the past that we can learn not to make the same mistake, we are to learn the lessons of the weak in spirit so we can strengthen ours.
This can only be accomplished if we study the Exodus story and learn from their examples.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
What was it that caused the original Hebrew people to die in the wilderness? What was it that made them look away from the goal of the promised land and their freedom to lust after the things of Egypt and its bondage?
What was it that made them look away from God?
Were they not eating the food that God had provided for them that came, miraclously from heaven? Did they not drink from the water flowing out of the rock? Did they not see the cloud by day and fire by night? Did they not question why their shoes or clothes did not wear out? How did they fail to see God’s providence? How did they continue to lust after other things? How did they fall scattered in the wilderness?
Then what about us? How often have we received of the communion bread, that symbolises the body of Christ? How often have we receive of the wine that symbolises the blood of Christ? How do we not see the white robes that the Lord is preparing for you and me? How do we not see the Lord’s providence? Are we lusting for other things? Will we be like those scattered in the wilderness?
These are some very important questions if we wish to enter into the promised land that the Lord is preparing for you and me.
The example of the Exodus is an important reminder of where we are with the Lord, for there is only two outcomes to this journey, either we remain in the wilderness or ready ourselves for our new home.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
And so Paul speaks to the Corinthians to flee from idolatory and lust, because to take this bread and this cup do younot know that you join yourself to Christ, that you become one member with Him?
Can the unclean join with that which is clean?
Therefore, I ask this question like I’ve already asked with every communion, how have you become better in your spiritual journey since the last communion? Because if you haven’t you’re still stuck in that wilderness.
But don’t lose hope my friend, don’t lose sight of Jesus, that’s why He came, that’s why He promised us the Holy Spirit.
Moses’ final call to the Israelites
Moses’ final call to the Israelites
Moses, at his old age, is about to complete the law that God has given to him, and renews a covenant with the next generation of Israelites as they prepare to enter into the Promised Land.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
He continues with the declaration of this new covenant.
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Friends, we have a choice, if you desire to live in this world, that is your choice, but know that you can’t live in the luxury of the two worlds.
I encourage you to as you prepare to take this cup and this bread that you love your God and obey His voice, He is the life, the truth and the way, and His ways are not hard.
You have a choice, and I encourage you to choose life that you and your descendants may live.
Choose Jesus and follow Him.
