Sermon Tone Analysis

*GREYFRIARS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH*

* *

*The Life and Ministry of Moses*

*1.

Prosperity to Persecution*

 

Reading: Exodus 1:6 - 22

 

*Introduction*: This all too brief look at Exodus was sparked by my recent study leave trip to Egypt and my journeys - modern, swift and reasonably comfortable - through the Sinai wilderness.

One could not help but be in awe of such an  ancient civilization and the marks it has left behind - to say nothing of the labour it must have been to bring a great multitude of people including the very old and the very young acros that horrendous terrain to Canaan!

When Abram and Sarai came to Egypt [Gen.

12:10ff], the pyramid of Cheops was already a marvel on the landscape for over 100 years..

 

*~* 1. ISRAEL IN EGYPT:*

The last major section of Genesis tells the story of Joseph - of hs being sold as a slave into Egypt, house of Potiphar, jail, the dreams leading to his promotion and career under Pharoah; the account of the famine in the ancient Near East, the miration of his extended family to Egypt and their prosperity.

As Exodus begins Joseph, his brothers and that generation has died.

Their descendants continue to prosper - apparently secure in a bountiful land.

Suddenly all that changes with a new king coming to the throne!

Prosperity gives way to ever increasingly severe persecution.

They become slave labour and are dealt with harshly and ruthlessly.

There are difficulties in Exodus - notably  the times and dates,as well as the identitiies of the key players.

Two major dates are suggested mid 15th century BC and mid 13th century BC.

There are some clues within the Bible itself.

See Genesis 15:13 [400 years in Egypt]; Kings 6:1 [480 years from Exodus to building of Solomon's temple in 967 BC]; and Judges 11:26 [300 years since entry into Canaan, c.1100BC]

These factors give a date for the Exodus of 1446BC.

What about the key Egyptian characters.

Exodus refers to pharoah or the king of Egypt - but which one for at least three are mentioned.

Remember the long periods of time.-

especally the 400 years in Egypt.

There are the Hyksos kings = the time of Joseph?

This has long been trhe traditional view - but challenged.

[Cf "River God" by Wilbur Smith].

Thutmose 1= the decree; Thutmose 2 [and Hatshepsut?] = Moses life in Egypt.

Thutmose 3 = Passover and Exodus?

Amenhotep 2 thestrong pharoah afterwards?

 

*~* 2. THEOLOGY OF EXODUS:*

Exodus is not just a tale of bondage and deliverance, or of a journey mixed with vision and fear, faith and doubt, courage and complaining.

*"Exodus contains some of the richest foundational theology of all the books of the OT" *- W C Kaiser   Notice for instance -

            # disclosures of the nature of God:  ch 4 the burning bush; ch 6 God's promise;

                        ch 33 God's glory and ch 34 the second stone tablets.

# Lord of history  -  Ex 15  triumph song

            # God of faithfulness - He remembers his promises - cf 3:15-7; 6:2-8; 19:3-6

 

 

 

 

            # God of salvation and Deliverance.

He comes to redeem his people 6:6; 15:13 - see                            especially the Passover narrative in ch. 12 and the sealing of the covenant in ch 24.

            # God of holy living - the basis of biblical ethics and morality - 10 Commandments and

                        application cf 20:2

            # God who calls forth our worship - the Tabernacle was costly in time, effort and monetary                    value.

In its significance ande function it pointed to "the chief end of man" - to                                   glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever The Tabernacle was the dwelling place of                          God.

*~* 3. LOSING SIGHT OF THE PAST:*

"The new king who did not know about Joseph" = a repudiation of the past in terms of Joseph's significance and the relationship between the Egyptians and the Hebrews.

"History is bunk!" - Henry Ford.

However we need to learn from history or else the mistakes of the past are repeated.

Even our spiritual enthusiasms can be superficial and short-lived - merely the in thing!

 

            ~* cf the Reformation and the place of the Scriptures

 

            ~* cf the Evangelical Awakening and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

                        life as well as orthodoxy

                        mission and evangelism

                        social justice

 

            ~* cf the Charismatic Renewal

 

Out of chaos, trouble and darkness God is working for their good

 

~*~* Conclusion: From unlikely beginnings in Egypt and unliklier sequel in the wilderness of Midian a leader emerges for the time and the task

            The Moses of the Bible is no larger than life figure, the stuff of legend or myth.

He is a ery human figure.

We see his success and failure his struggles and weaknesses, his faith and doubt..

            Thus we can readily identify the same mix as ourselves.

HE could not do it on his own.

He needed the strength which comes from the God who calls to service.

\\ *GREYFRIARS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH*

* *

*The Life and Ministry of Moses*

*2.

Providence and Preparation*

 

Reading : Exodus 2: 1 - 25

 

*Introduction: *Exodus 1 sets the background of peril and persecution for the Hebrews in Egypt.

Remember this state of affairs of being treated with ruthlessness went on for some considerable period of time.

Exodus 2 gives the picture of God's providence, - and His preparation of the deliverance of His people, as well as of His chosen vessel and servant.

Notice, for example, in the story of Joseph, how the man, the adult hero is set in place prior to and against the coming of the time of trial and famine in the ancient Near East.

Here, the disaster, affliction and oppression come first, and with ever increasing intensity - then comes God's decisive counter-measure.

In this chapter see too how ordinary means and human responses are bound up with divine sovereignty!

*~* 1.

In Early Childhood:*

See how his parents take steps to safe the baby's life.

They do things, they take actgion - don't sit back and wait for something to turn up!

Clearly Aaron and Miriam [unnamed at this point in the narrative] are both older than Moses.

Big sister stands watch to see what will happen once the ark of bullrushes and its precious burden are set loose upon the Nile - as well as to report back what transpires.

Enter Pharaoh's daughter.

Is she Hatshepsut?

She promptly hands the baby over to his natural mother and family for rearing in the meantime.

Thus from his natural family, the child Moses doubtless received something of his Hebrew culture and spiritual identity.

Patriarchal worship must have been fairly simple - including such features as the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the notion of the Covenant, and the rites of sacrifice and circumcision.

Remember all the ritual we associate with Israelite faith and worship stem from the Passover, the Exodus and the giving of the Law and the instructions for worship in the tabernacle.

Later "when he was weaned" which was an indeterminate time then, the child was returned to Pharaoh's daughter.

She names him - and doubtless the "Mose" would have been prefixed by the name of an Egyptian god - but even so there is a double pun on the name, both in Egyptian and Hebrew!

 

*~* 2. In the Egyptian Court:*

Remember Stephen's speech in Acts 7:20-44 - especially verse 22 where he refers to Moses being trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.

Brought up as a prince connected with the ruling house he would have the finest education for future leadership, including political and military training, experience and responsibility.

Notice his* anger* and his killing the Egyptian overseer whom he found beating a Hebrew to death.

Yet see how he looked this way and that, then buried the body in the sand!

Next day, we see him attempting the role of *mediator *and peacemaker between two Hebrews.

It backfires on him.

He is greeted with the snarling reply: "who died and made you boss?".

Notice Moses' *fear *of Pharaoh's anger.

But why? Life was cheap - certainly for a prince of the royal house.

Discuss??

            Remember Hebrews 11 and the catalogue of the heroes of faith.

Moses is included [11:23-29] "By faith Moses . . . .

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter . .

., he chose" He fled Egypt and went to Midian and the wilderness.