Long Term Effects

When We Turn From Him

Introduction:

Scripture: Exodus 20:1–5 “1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,”

Point 1: v 1-2 God Declares His Soverign Nature

Here in the book of Exodus we see that the Lord is affirming his soverign nature and that He, alone is responsible for the Children of Israel’s freedom from the bondage that they suffered under the hand of Pharoh. As we study and know the story God called a man named Moses to lead his people from under the bondage of Pharoh. God is declaring that it is not by the power or might of any many that they were able to come from under the bondage of Pharoh.

Facts Here Moses is no a young man Moses was somewhere about the age of 40 Moses was called and commissioned to lead the people of Israel. At about 80 he was before the pharaoh in Midian and after 40 years of journey at the age of 120 Moses was taken home from Mt. Nebo before the israelites crossed into the promissed land.

Exodus 3:17–22 “17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.””

God used the right man for the task to lead the Isrealites from under the hand of Paharoh. But what happened along the way why 40 years on what could have been a very shorty journey.

Idolatry - the worship of another object, being, self, animal, or anything we place before God.

The Israelites recurring turn to idols throughout the old testament “was driven by fear, cultural habits from centuries in Egypt, and a pragmatic desire to control visible, local deities for prosperity.”

In todays society everything takes priority over what should be our most important priority. We are just like the children of Israel, we are driven by fear, cultural habits, and a desire for prosperity. We take a weekend trip and instead of finding a place to worship on Sunday we lay out of Church, or we don’t use the convience that has been given us by logging on to worship when your away. Instead we run off and go have an early brunch, or something. We lack the commitment to give God a few hours of our time. Our lives are so busy we can’t even cut out 30-45-an hour each day to spend time with him in prayer and study of his word. The children of Israel even made for themselves a golden calf in Exodus 32. What does your Golden Calf look like today. Youth Sports in place of Chruch on Sunday, Being on your job to gain the next promotion, working so you can own the next latest and greatest vehicle, take a private trip into outerspace and orbit the moon, What do you allow to come before GOD.

Point 2: v 3-5a The Command

God places a requirement on His people This is a fairly simple requirement found here in verses 3-5a.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

No other gods. Here we see the words gods without the capital letter G, because to God the Father wanted us to understand that there is nothing other than him who is divine in nature, have the power to transcend both time and space, having the ability to know all things before they are, and the ability to create with just simple words which only He commands. His power is soverign and Divine, the facts are there has never been anything like God, and their will never be anything like HIm, He says he is the Great I am, He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, He is exactly what we have need of. He can carry your burdens, he see’s your iniquities, he knows when your week, He knows what you can endure, He knew you before you were, and He knows what you need in every moment of everyday not matter the situation or circumstance He knows. Because HE IS.

Point 3: v 5b- His Love

He is Love- The facts are fairly simple He first loved you, and because He first loved you he has made a way, he makes a way, and he will always make a way, when there is simply no way to be found. He opens and closes doors, He is your stregnth, He is your fortress, why Because HE loves you. His love is so amazing, it breaks us down, it builds us up, it shows us when we are off base, and it shows us when we are inline.

Luke 15:11–32 “11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ””

THIS IS THE FATHER WHEN ONE OF HIS CHILDREN HAVE GONE AWAY HE IS ANXIOUSLY AND PATIENTELY WAITING FOR HIM OR HER TO RETURN SO THAT HE CAN REJOICE,