No Drop Offs: Guided to the end

Father God,

Thank you for allowing us to see another day. Father please prepare our hearts to hear your word and to receive what you have for us. Lord please us this time to form our minds and hearts towards your Will.

Father be glorified in this time.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I will never forget the day that my oldest son was born.

It was late at night, and my wife had been laboring for hours. I was sitting on that tan sleeper couch next to the hospital window, patiently awaiting the arrival of our new baby boy.

Just outside the room, my parents were waiting in the hallway, watching our daughter Anya, who was only one year old at the time.

Everyone was anxiously anticipating the birth of our first son. And then, Corey Joseph Blade II was born. He was a big baby, and as soon as he entered the world, the doctors placed him right onto his mother’s chest so he could experience the warm, affectionate embrace of his mom.

I remember watching them, so excited for my own chance to hold my baby boy. In those first few hours, Corey II went from the total security of his mother’s womb, straight into the arms of his mother, his father, and his doting grandparents. He was surrounded by love. Eventually, we brought him home.

And in those early months, Corey II was always with one of us. We held him, we fed him, and we did everything we could to let him know we were right there. But eventually, reality set in. I had to go back to work. At that time, I was working with the acquisitions team for 7-Eleven. My job required intense travel—I would be away from home, out across the country for ten days straight, and then home for just four days at a time.

When I was away on the road, I would call home to speak with my wife. She would tell me that Corey II was right there with her, constantly wanting to be held. The second she would try to put him down on the floor or in his swing, his eyes would fly open and he would start to cry. He just wanted to feel safe. He wanted to feel secure in his mother's arms. When I would finally come home for those four days, I would often take over the bedtime routine. I would carry Corey II into his bedroom—a little green room decorated with animals, filled with stuffed toys. I would sit down in a wooden chair right next to his crib, and I would rock him and hold him against my chest.

I would sit there in the quiet until it seemed like he was completely nodding off to sleep. Then, I would try to pull off the ultimate parental magic trick. I would carefully stand up, slip over to the crib, and try to place him down so gently that he wouldn’t wake up. I would get so close. But the exact second I moved my hand from underneath his back and his head, his eyes would snap open. He would realize he wasn't being held anymore, he would look around the dark room, and he would burst into tears. He was terrified that he was alone. Eventually, he would tire out, fall back asleep, and I could finally rest him in his bed.

But, as the months rolled on, something beautiful happened. Corey II grew up a little bit. He started to recognize our voices. He started to learn our track record. And eventually, the day came where we could walk into that green animal room, lay Corey Joseph Blade II down in his bed, and he didn't cry at all. He went to sleep in complete peace.

What changed?

He had become secure.

He knew his mother and father weren't going to abandon him.

He knew that even if the lights went out, his father was still in the house.

And that childhood growth is the exact spiritual shift we find in Exodus 15. Up until this moment, the Israelites had been acting like spiritual infants. In chapter 14, the second the lights went out, they screamed in a panic and assumed God had dropped them off to die. But now, they are standing on the other side of the Red Sea.

The crisis is over, but a massive, roadless wilderness lies ahead. They are standing on the shoreline of a completely unknown chapter.

But: for the first time, they aren't crying. Why?

Because they have seen the track record of their Father, his faithfulness and his Might.

They look at the road ahead, and instead of screaming, they start to sing because they are resting in a truth that satisfies the deepest, most foundational ache in our very being:

we need to know that with God our future is secure.

So the question is:

How do we find future security when we are standing on the edge of the unknown?

When we have been brought from one season of life to another and we do not know what is ahead, how do we know that we will not be left or dropped off to finish the journey alone? How do we know that God wont leave us?

Exodus chapter 15 serves as a Covenantal declaration. Declaring Gods promise to His people that there are no drop off’s in the family of God.

God doesn't just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

The main points for todays message are as follows:

The Sovereign King Rescues us from our enemies.

The Sovereign King directs our present.

The Sovereign King guides us to our future.

Last week we looked at Exodus chapter 14. We saw God strategically place his people in position where they could be used to Glorify Him. He delivered His people by splitting the Red sea and allowing them to walk through on dry land. We then saw that He not only delivered the Israelites but He crushed the Egyptians exercising judgement and showed that He fights for His people. We saw that as followers of Christ when situations in our lives seem impossible, the Almighty God fights for us.

Now coming Into Exodus 15 we are introduced to a song, a song of Moses and his sister Mariam that the Israelites were singing after God’s Victory over the Egyptians.

There is a lot of depth in this song as It talks about their past, the present and the future. The truths in this song were directly applicable to Gods people then, and the truths of this song apply to Gods people, Christians today.

In the first ten verses of this song the Israelites show what God has done, who He is and they praise his name. They speak of the amazing thing that God has done for them in working a miracle in delivering them through the Red Sea, and God having victory over the Egyptians. God Faught for His people and He was victorious.

The Israelites see God’s track record and recognize Gods greatness and majesty, the fact that no one is like Him. He is Holy, He is Awesome , He is Almighty and perfect in all of his ways.

Unlike previous chapters where we see the Israelites crying out to and against God in their insecurity and lack of trust. Here we see that the Israelites at this point are believing and trusting God. Seeing His character, power and faithfulness has allowed the to feel secure, knowing that God has their back.

How many of you know that God has Faught for us and He won?

Do you know that He still fights for His people?

We who place our faith in the Sovereign King have total victory over sin and death—not because of our strength, but because He has already conquered it.

So just like the Israelites standing on that shoreline, looking back at a drowned enemy, we are called to rejoice.

We are called to open our mouths and praise His name for what He has done. Practically, that means we cannot keep silent. We need to share the mighty works that God has done in our lives with the people around us. When we tell your stories, it glorifies God, it strengthens other followers of Christ, and it encourages the brokenhearted.

Sometimes, when we talk about 'victory over sin' and the fact that we partake in it. This topic can leave us sitting in our seat wondering: 'What does that actually mean for me on daily?

It's easy for the preacher to say God has already won, but what if my life is less than perfect right now?

What if I slipped up this week?

Am I still His?

Does He still love me?

Can I ever do enough to keep His love?

If you came in here carrying that heavy burden of performance today.

Hear this.

The victory that we partake in is based entirely on what God has done.

Our salvation is anchored in what Jesus achieved at the Cross, not in our ability to live flawless lives. It is not based on what we do today, and it is not based on we you will do tomorrow.

God’s love for us is perfect.

Its everlasting.

Its loyal.

We did not do enough to earn His love, and that means we cannot do enough to lose His love. He has cleared our past completely.

God is faithful to us and He continues to be faithful.

He is Lord of all, He has delivered us from sin and death. He is the Holy one with awesome greatness and supreme majesty.

Our salvation is from Gods victory. God is the sovereign King and He rescues us from our enemies.

God doesn't just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

How many of you are familiar with Batman?

Imagine standing in the dark, rain-slicked streets of Gotham City. A terrifying trap has been sprung, and an innocent civilian is minutes away from death at the hands of the Joker.

Right on cue, Batman swoops down from the shadows. In a flash of high-tech gadgetry and martial arts, he cuts the ropes, disables the device, and pulls the victim to safety.

Seeing that the person is breathing and out of immediate danger, Batman leaves them in the care of the local police, fires his grappling hook, and vanishes into the night to hunt down the villain.

But the story doesn't end there. Because the superhero leaves immediately after the explosive rescue, the traumatized survivor is left completely exposed to the psychological and physical

aftermath.

Seeing this opening, the Joker circles back. He tracks the victim down to an understaffed hospital, poisons their medical supplies, and finishes what he started. The initial rescue was real,

but because the savior disappeared too soon, the victim was left to face a secondary, deadlier threat entirely alone. The hero was unmatched in the moment of crisis, but completely absent for

the recovery.

This is an example of a saviour who rescues someone, but then drops them off for someone else to handle. This is an example of what God does not do. God rescues us and then he continues to protect, lead and guide us all the way till we get to the destination.

You see,

God doesn't just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

In verses 11-13 we see that God does not just rescue us from our past. But we see that He guides us in the present as well.

The writer of this song says something so very significant in verse 13. They said Exodus 15:13 “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”

Here we see that because of Gods Faithful, loyal covenant love, He led the Israelites whom He had just saved from the Egyptians. He didn't just save them but He guided them to the place that He had for them where He would dwell with them.

In verse 13 we see a powerful picture of the past, present and future of Gods people.

They are victorious because of Gods victory over the enemies of their past.

They are secure in the presence tense of the story because God leads them and guides them.

They have assurance that God will get them to the destination that He intends for His people.

These truths, this assurance and security was not just for Gods people back then. But they are true for us today.

God doesn't just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

After God redeems us.

After we rejoice in looking back at the fact that God has defeated our enemies.

Then what?

Does God drop us off and tell us to fend for ourselves?

Does He set up a system, then give us rules and then withdraw His presence and action?

No

God doesn’t just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

So what does this guidance actually look like?

How does God guide us into our future?

He does it in three distinct ways:

1. He Guides Us Through His Sovereignty

God guides us through His absolute control. He has a master plan that He is actively working out for His glory. Nothing in our lives happen by accident. God is not a distant bystander; He is actively, intentionally involved in this world and deeply involved in our everyday lives.

2. He Guides Us Through His Word

God guides us through His clear instructions. You can find them on every page of the Bible. Knowing God’s will is not a guessing game! He doesn’t hide it from us or drop cryptic hints. He tells us exactly who He is and how to live right here in His written Word.

3. He Guides Us Through Ordinary Means

Because God gave us His Word, we don’t have to chase special signs, wonders, or mystical shortcuts to be led by God. He uses ordinary, everyday tools to steer our path: The Holy Spirit changes your heart from the inside out, making you want His will to be done.

Divine Wisdom sharpens our minds, giving us the common sense to make sound, godly decisions.

The Church provides trusted, mature believers who help advise us and confirm our choices.

Daily Circumstances are orchestrated by Gods hand, opening and closing doors to practically steer us down the correct path.

God doesn’t just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

God hasn't left us on our own, He is active and engaging in our lives guiding us and leading us.

God continues to be active and engaged and present leading and guiding us until we reach His presence and Dwell with Him forever.

Verses 14-21 Shows Gods awesome Power and majesty. In this song they are speaking of the things that God will do. He will guide his people to the promised land. As God takes the Israelites to the promised land He will fight for them still.

The Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth will be with His people defeating their future enemies, just as He defeated the Egyptians.

This brings Glory to God and all of the nations will know that He is God.

Just as God Sovereignly guided the Israelites to the promised land and planted them in His presence, He guides believers today into His presence.

He keeps us.

He secures us.

Just as Yahweh fought for Isreal at the Red Sea in Exodus 15, Christ our eternal King fights for us today.

Vanquishing sin and death, and permanently securing our inheritance so we will dwell with our Heavenly Father forever.

God doesn’t just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

There is something that we need to know as we continue in our journey with the Lord.

Many times when God calls us to Himself and we start to follow Him, we think that life will become easier. We think there will be less hurt and pain in life. We have the expectation that life will be peaches and cream, nothing bad will happen because we are now Christians.

Here is the reality.

As we walk with the Lord, we need to realize that even though God fights for us, guides us, and has a plan for our lives, we will still face hard times, pain, and loss.

Just like the Israelites had to walk right through the middle of the Red Sea on their way to the Promised Land, we will have to walk through life's troubles.

How do we find future security when we are standing on the edge of the unknown?

Many of us are standing on that exact edge today.

Some of us are facing a terrifying diagnosis, a fractured family, financial struggles, or spiritual insecurity.

We look ahead, and the path is trackless.

We look around, and we feel entirely insecure.

The Israelites stood on that very same edge in Exodus 15.

Behind them was the graveyard of Pharaoh’s army. Ahead of them was a brutal, unknown wilderness.

How did they find the security and confidence to take the next step?

They didn't find it by looking at the wilderness ahead.

They found it by looking at the God who stood behind them.

We find our security the exact same way. We look back to the historic victory of our God.

Just as God guided the Israelites to the promised land and planted them there in His presence, He guides us today into His presence.

He keeps us until we dwell with Him in eternity, enjoying the inheritance given to us by our Eternal King and Heavenly Father.

And just as He fought for Israel in Exodus 15, Christ has fought for us—defeating sin, death, and Satan on the cross, and permanently securing our position with Him in eternity.

Because the battle belongs to the Lord, our future is not a question mark.

The Warrior-God who saved us is the Sovereign Father who keeps us.

We can move forward with confidence into the unknown tomorrow, because our Eternal King has already secured our forever.

God doesn’t just rescue us from our past; He guides us into our future.

The Sovereign King Rescues us from our enemies.

The Sovereign King directs our present.

The Sovereign King guides us to our future.

When we are standing on the edge of the unknown, when we are questioning the security of our future. Trust God and remember that God doesn’t just deliver us from the past, He guides us through the future all the way to the end that He has already secured for us.

Father God,

You are our Redeemer and our strength. Thank you for your divine direction and guidance. Help us to remember that you don't just rescue us from our past, but you guide us into our future. Father God be glorified.

In Jesus name,

Amen