Exodus 1 - "Trouble is a Brewin'"
Notes
Transcript
BIntro
Opening Statement - After a quick detour through Psalm 119, we find ourselves picking back up where we left off with the story of the nation of Israel we learned about in Genesis.
Exodus continues the story the started in Genesis.
Opening Illustration -
Add Moses Memes to start things off on a light note before we dive into Israel’s impending affliction:
Did you know that Moses was the First Man to download files from the cloud using a tablet?!?!
Or that Moses may not be the best fishing partner!
Or that you may not want to invite Moses to the pool!
Opening Background - Quick Survey of Exodus:
Exodus - is the Christian title (meaning Departure) given to this book; which the Jews simply call “And these are the names...”
Written by Moses - who wrote the first five books (Pentateuch), called by the Jews as the “Torah” (the Law).
Multiple other books/authors within the Bible affirm Mosaic authorship.
Early on by Moses’ successor, Joshua, all throughout the O.T. and into the N.T. with the disciples, and last and most importantly Jesus.
Exodus follows the (Genesis) Abrahamic promise to the Jewish nation as from departure of Egypt for 40 years to the precipice of entering the Promised Land.
Historically -
We see the building of Laws and religious structure vs. the previous Abrahamic style of building altars to worship as you are led.
Its important to remember that God did not initiate His relationship with the Jews under Moses, but rather continued the promise already made to Abraham.
We see progressive fulfillment regarding the
Land, Seed, and Blessing under Moses as they
travel to claim their land,
grew into a large and powerful people group (estimates range up to and above 2 million) (Num 1:46 - 600,000 men)
A 5% annual growth rate (compounded) easily achieves that population.
But it’s not just a history book, but rather builds foundational theology (study of God).
Exodus describes the “story of redemption,”
It describes how “God sets us free, that we might serve Him!” (Wiersbe)
Besides Verifiable History, Exodus also documents many miracles; but Exodus does:
The Ten Plagues of Egypt - “are much more than the intensification of “natural phenomena. The timing, increasing severity, and distinctions between Egypt and Israel point to a supernatural event.” (Hanna).
The Crossing of the Red Sea - given that Israel completely survived and Egypt was utterly destroyed by the sea.
Moses’ burning bush experience with God, the divine provision in the form of manna falling daily from the clouds, the Cloud of Fire over the Tabernacle, the supernatural writing of the Law, and many, many more...
These miracles reinforce the incredible nature of the story of God.
If God wasn’t “super(above) Nature” would He be impressive enough convince people about spiritual matters? Absolutely not.
So a REAL God, will work REAL Miracles. And the nature of a miracle, supersedes the laws of science, which is why a miracle is incredible. AND convincing proof, that God really is God.
For people to claim the biblical miracles can be scientifically explained, don’t understand the definition or point of a miracle.
Case in point - can you scientifically explain the resurrection (empty tomb) of Jesus?
The last background matter I’ll address is that the real central character is Yahweh, not Moses.
The true revelation of Yahweh (I AM WHO I AM) is given in Exodus on Mt. Sinai. And the idea is built upon hereafter...
It’s not about Moses. It’s not about Israel. It’s not about us.
It’s all about Yahweh!
And His zeal to make good on His promises!
Key Verse(s) - for Exodus
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ ”
Relevance to CCB - For us, let’s focus on the real central character, YAHWEH!
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1 - 7)
Let’s Catch up from where we left off.
(v. 1) And these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt
And - this is a direct continuation of the story of Genesis.
Jacob (Israel) - called out as the patriarch.
From five people (Jacob plus his four wives) came 12 sons
(vv. 2-4) the list omits one son.
Joseph
The names on the lists of the 12 tribes fluctuates often, so this is normal.
(v. 5) The family of Israel entered Egypt during the great famine as 70 people
(v. 6) And Joseph and his generation died.
Time marches on - “Fast forward” 430 years
Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
Directly fulfilling
Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
During which period, “Your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land...will serve them, and they will afflict them..”
(v. 7) During which time period Israel’s population exploded (taken around the Exodus) (Ex 12:37, 38:26)
all who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
This was only counting military aged men. Add non-military aged men, plus women, plus children....that’s how estimates of around 2 million are reached.
(v. 7b) and the land was filled with them. (There was a Jew on every corner)
And literally rivaling the population of the Egyptians.
The Egyptian people considered themselves as superior to others and would have not wanted to assimilate the “dirty and inferior sheep herders” into their culture.
Nor would the Jews have wanted to assimilate/intermarry, as God’s will had long been for them to remain separate from the world. (remember Schechem)
So tension was building as the Jewish nation grew, and Pharaohs came and went....for about 400+ years.
And eventually “Trouble is a Brewin’”
We see a paradox forming - that Israel’s “fruitfulness” of growth is bringing resulting in added burdens.
I see a principle here, that blessing often brings burdens:
Growing wealthy - is a great blessing.
But the impact is greater, and the pressures for people reaching for your dollar grows. And you can easily become a bad guy regardless of how you decide to use it.
The blessing of becoming saved is amazing.
But with it, comes the burden of wishing those who are unsaved will become saved.
Read along (vv. 8 - 14)
(v. 8) Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph
Remember that Joseph (through God’s divine plan) literally saved Egypt from the great seven year famine.
“Not knowing” suggests that the Pharaoh had no appreciation or respect of Joseph’s legacy or his people.
Of which his legacy rivaled that of the Pharoah himself. He was highly regarded by the Pharaoh he served under. Treated as #2 behind Pharaoh. And given favor in return for the favor that Joseph’s God gave to Egypt through Joseph.
But - “long-term memory loss” caused Egypt to forget their history and instead became hostile toward the Jews and their God.
Have we forgotten our history? And forgotten our God whom our founding fathers overwhelmingly followed?
It didn’t even take us 430 years. We did it in half of the time.
God must be actively taught to each new generation. It is our responsibility to pass Him down.
As the Pharaoh’s changed out, it reminds me of
how we change presidents, and with that a change in administration, policy, and ultimately our culture.
Warning - Short History Lesson. (this is full of controversy, so take this “for what it’s worth”)
Ancient secular history did not record any defeats or failures. We know by cross-referencing other history artifacts revealing these hidden defeats. Had Egypt taken losses during this period to God of Israel, they wouldn’t have written it. But here is some history I was able to dig up from (Hanna, BKC, Focht, & Internet):
Amhose I (1567-1547) Began a period of Egyptian nationalism, drove out the Hyskos (eastern “shepherd-kings”) who may have lived in the eastern Nile delta region.
Amhose I chose not to eradicate the Jewish but to put them into forced labor instead. (See brick making image)
Amenhotep (1546-1526 B.C.)
Thutmose I (1526-1512 B.C.)
Moses born (ca. 1526 B.C.), found by his daughter (Hatshepsut), and raised in his reign
Thutmose II (1512-1504 B.C.) - but maybe co-reigned and/or married his half-sister Hatshepsut known as a brilliant leader and made Egypt very prosperous.
When Thutmose II died (unknown, seems premature), Thutmose III was very young.
Hatshepsut began co-ruling in 1503 as Thutmose III who may grew up (along with Moses)
Thutmose III (1504-1482 B.C. w/ Hatshepsut; 1482-1450 B.C. alone) - had a long reign, and tried to wipe Hatshepsut's name from history.
He is most likely the "Pharoah of the Oppression" of the Jews.
Probably when and why Moses left the Royal court for Midian for 40 years after killing an Egyptian taskmaster.
Amenhotep II (1450-1425 B.C.) was probably the Pharaoh of the Exodus (1446 B.C.)
Unknown Eldest Son of Amenhotep II - died mysteriously - 10th plague (Ex 12:29)
Thutmose IV - built the Great Sphinx, probably to legitimize his rule.
Because according to the “dream stela” (a 15-ton granite plate between the front paws of the Sphinx), a message suggesting that the gods intended the throne for him, indicating he had an older brother, who is unnamed but would have been next in line. But since he died, the throne was passed to Thutmose IV.
(vv. 9-11) The response to Israel becoming a mighty nation was to enslave them.
What we see again (like was saw with Babylon in Zechariah) is God using another nation to afflict Israel - that He would use it to bring about their deliverance.
(vv. 12) Key Verse - Exodus 1:12 “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.”
If you’re truly doing the Lords will and people are “holding you down,” or trying to hurt you...just step back and let God do His thing.
The worst thing you can do is fight in your own strength.
He is more capable than you and wants to defend you, and if you let Him the outcome will be beyond anything you could have dreamed up.
(v. 13-14) Refer back to picture of Egyptian brickmaking.
Read along (vv. 15 - 22)
(vv. 15-16) The order to commit infanticide
if it is a son, then you shall kill him. Obviously in a desperate attempt to control the Jewish population.
Shiphrah and Puah - These two midwives were probably representatives of all Jewish midwives.
(v. 17) But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
Better to fear God then man.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
Civil Disobedience is only appropriate during this type of situation.
When the government forces you to violate a higher law from God (God’s Word), you should obey God rather than man.
(vv. 18-19)
(v. 18) Why have you done this thing and saved the male children alive? What a ridiculous question.
Like saying, “why have you decided not to murder innocent people?”
(v. 19) Did they lie? Or did they take their sweet time responding to house calls (still a half-lie)? Is lying ever acceptable?
Motivation - of the midwives (v. 17) is that they feared God
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Rahab will lie to protect the Israelite spies in Jericho, and
Daniels friends will disobey the gov authorities to worship a golden statue of the king.
Germans will deceive to protect hidden Jews during the holocaust...
Lying is not okay, but if the governing authorities cause you to violate your conscious with God, then it’s better to “fear God than men.”
We’re to obey the authorities put over to us. The only exception is when the authorities attempt to subvert God’s law under their own.
(vv. 20-21) Therefore God dealt well with the midwives and even rewarded them for their courageous faithfulness.
(v. 22) But Pharoah didn’t back off is evil antisemitic plan… “upping the ante,” by commanding his people, saying “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river...and let the girls live...
It really takes a sick and demented person to kill babies.
But one boy will “Make it through” Pharaohs selective murder of baby boys! And not only make it through, but brought right under Pharaoh’s nose...to live. And then to later bring redemption to the Jewish people
Just as One boy (1,500 years later) will “Make it through King Herod’s selective murder of baby boys. Jesus Christ.
As Moses, we will see in coming weeks, is a “type” of Christ, similar to Joseph. Pointing to the Savior.
Nothing is new under the sun.
God’s chosen people have ALWAYS been under attack.
Not by people. The people have changed.
But by principalities and powers...you can say, Satan has continuously attacked God’s people.
NOT because he is more than a mere annoyance without an end game.
He HAS an end game. To destroy the people of God, that the Word of God might be made ineffective.
If He can get rid of the Jews, He can thwart God’s plan to bring redemption to the Jews.
Satan knows the Word just as well as we do, if not better.
Satan is a formidable enemy (1 Pet 5:8), not some chump.
Those in the greater church who claim that modern Israel is not the chosen people of God, but just a coincidence, should explain why everyone hates them so much and wants to have control in their affairs?
Yet, “the more they are afflicted, the more they will multiply and grow.” Because God will redeem His people, just as He promises in His Word.
Mark my Words. I can say that because I’m standing on His Words.
Closing
Closure - It may seem kinda “jacked up” that God would bring blessing, which then causes affliction on His people. And that is part of the Christian experience too. The BKC helps “put this to bed,”
God’s purpose in granting the increase (Jewish births) seems to have been to stir the fire and fear of the Egyptians so that they would more severely discomfort God’s people and thus cause them to desire deliverance. So immediate blessing effected a negative action that later precipitated a larger future blessing. (BKC)
Guess what. After years of oppression under Egypt will cause the Jews to say, “we’ve had enough of this...we’re out of here!”
And we would have never had the Jewish Exodus and all the rich theology that comes from it, had it not first been for their blessing that brought on affliction.
So simplify, you can say Israel wouldn’t have been saved and brought to the promised land without this “Trouble a Brewin’” as the first part of the story.
And you and I wouldn’t have been saved, if we didn’t
know “what we were being saved from.”
The ugliness and disgust of our former life and the knowledge of our sin and its consequences is critical to our salvation...to provoke us to get out of bondage too!
know the One who does the “saving!”
Closing Application - When “A Storm’s a Brewin’” we should “batten down the hatches.” This is a ship’s saying to prepare for a difficult, dangerous, or turbulent situation.
To “batten down” is to close all the openings; the portals (windows) and doorways, to prevent the ship from being swamped with excess waves/water intrusion.
The Christian needs to prepare for “tumultuous times,” by “battening down the spiritual hatches.”
Anchor yourself to Scripture.
Maintain your lifeline of Prayer to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
He is interested in what you have to talk to Him about!
Lean on your fellow Sailors! Transiting the sea of life with you. It takes a tribe. Or better put, “It takes a church.” You can’t handle everything on your own.
Praise God during the Storm! (Is 40) Be reminded of His Greatness and Goodness, and regularly shift your focus to Him and off of your circumstances.
He’s got this!
Closing Illustration
On the other side of this storm! On the other side of the Red Sea...
We get to see Jesus Christ, in all His Glory, just as He is!
The one who brought us Salvation.
So thanks be to God
For His Word!
For the God of the Word!
Let’s Pray
Benediction
