Moses: Deliverance in Water
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Series Review
Series Review
We learned back in elementary that water is everywhere. About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water.: air, rivers, lakes, icecaps, glaciers, in you and your pets. So it’s not really surprising to find so many stories about water in the Bible.
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water. Water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers, and even in you and your dog.
This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is also about water: Rolling River Rampage, where will be inviting children on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God! In the weeks leading up to VBS, we will look at stories of water in the Bible, and like any story in the Bible, and see what they tell us about God and what He wants to do in our lives.
Last week I preached a sermon on Noah’s ark and the flood, when, God uses water as a way of judging evil in the world, and creating a new beginning.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Bible-Centered Sermon Starters 16. Go Forward
A. He draws up the plan of action (Phil. 2:12–13).
B. He removes the obstacles (Josh. 4:14–16).
C. He never fails to keep His promise (Josh. 23:14).
D. He completes what He begins (Phil. 1:6).
This morning we are going to look at another popular “water” story: The crossing of the Red Sea. This happens just after Israel, God’s chosen people, have left Egypt. They had been slaves for over 400 years, and God performed a series of miracles to the point that the Egyptians knew the hand of God was behind all of this, so they begged Israel to leave. They gave them gold and precious jewels so they would leave. Israel, who had been slaves, plundered the greatest empire of the day. That’s where we are in the story this morning.
These are exciting times, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. A few days later they are facing certain death. Sometimes we don’t get very long to celebrate a victory:
Have you ever worked hard to clean the house, step back and feel really good about your accomplishment, and then notice how quick it looks just as dirty as it did before?
Have you ever worked hard to clean the house, step back and feel really good about your accomplishment, and then notice how quick it looks just as dirty as it did before?
Have you ever weeded a garden, liked how nice the garden looks, then after a nice rain notice that it is covered with weeds again?
Have you ever been released from the hospital and recovered from an illness - what a relief - and a few days later have a serious injury?
Do you ever feel good about your relationship to God - attending worship, feeling that closeness with God, praying, reading Scripture, giving generously, but then life happens: a death, injury, illness, loss of job, broken relationships, and the God who was walking with you disappears.
Have you ever felt good about your relationship with God: You are praying, reading the Bible regularly, serving, tithing - this is the closest I’ve felt in a long time - then somehow drift away from God?
Same with churches: we want our ministries to grow, but that brings new problems.
Oxon Hill UMC: Multicultural church - Until they realized how hard it is for people with so many differences to work together.
It can be very frustrating to come off the joy of a great victory only to encounter another, perhaps more difficult, challenge.
University UMC prayed for a young adult ministry / college student ministry. That ministry grew: they had their own service. The problem: many of them were not giving of their time, talent and treasure. It was hard enough getting them in the building. Now they have to develop them into fully devoted disciples.
Sometimes it seems like God doesn’t give us enough time to celebrate our victories, we face an even harder one. And when we face difficulties, we face difficult choices.
This story is about a people who just experienced an exciting victory - God’s people has been in slavery in Egypt for over 400 years, with no sign of ever being free. Suddenly God performs miracle after miracle until has liberated them from the misery of slavery, and no sooner have they left they are trapped by the Egyptian army.
I have a serious medical decision to make. My financial situation is bad. My relationships are bad. I need to do something, but I’m not sure what.
Do we rationalize not trying something new for God (list the reasons why it won’t work, rather than why it can., we’ve never done it that way; we tried it and it didn’t work)
It seems when God brings us through one trial, we face another even more difficulties. And when we face difficulties, we face choices.
The story of Israel crossing the Red Sea is about facing harsh trials and making tough choices.
(e.g. not about clothing or vacation weeks; neighbor who needs Christ; leadership need in the church;
Israel has left Egypt, and they didn’t even have time to celebrate:
Like the rest of us, they have experienced a great victory, and now they face an even bigger obstacle.
It’s my favorite movie about what we call the Exodus (2nd book of the Bible), but it is hardly accurate.
It may not be completely accurate (what Bible story is?), but I think it is the best movie about this exciting event in biblical history.
The Egyptians try to follow them.
Exodus 13:
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
This is of the frescoes on the south wall of the Sistine Chapel, which shows Moses crossing the Red Sea. I like this one, because it captures the gruesome violence of the story. Normally the focus is on the Israelites crossing the sea, but this one shows the Egyptian army drowning in the sea.
begin the story:
begin the story:
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Exodus 14:10-12
The Egyptian army they are trapped. They face certain death on each side: The Red Sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other. They face a difficult choice.
When we agonize over a difficult decision,
1. God’s solution is not our solution.
1. God’s solution is not our solution.
(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
The New International Version Chapter 14
Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
Israel quickly looked to solve their problem on their own. But notice something in 13:18. It was God that led them into this hopeless situation. God led them to the sea, where they were now trapped by the enemy. God has a terrible military strategy. Common sense would say to find an escape route. A short cut. High ground. But God leads them straight to the sea.
Israel things through all of the available options and comes up with 2 : 1) Fighting, but they realize they are outmatched. 2) Beg Pharoah for mercy and hopefully go back into slavery.
e.g. teacher I met in rehab, anxious over finding a teaching position (rehab) inner city, could have gone anywhere
Heresies of holiness: Let go and let God
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Heresies of holiness: Let go and let God
(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
So remember, when agonizing over that difficult decision, pray and seek God’s will. God’s solution is not always ours, and it is always better.
Continue the story:
Continue the story:
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus
2. God’s does not work on our timetable.
2. God’s does not work on our timetable.
How many of you like to wait? Grocery store? Waiting to hear from God can be really hard for me.
Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
(NIV): Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
One of the things that shocks and perplexes me is the fact that God allowed His people to live in slavery for 430 years. No indication that this was a way of punishing Israel for being unfaithful. It just happens, and there doesn’t seem to be a good reason for it. They are suffering, but God makes them wait.
Israel is told to wait. The situation is urgent, so Israel gets ready for a battle, but God tells them to sit still.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
fast food society (food, clothing, so many things we buy we can get right away). Wouldn’t we all want an answer to prayer right away, so we can move on right away. Maybe a nice quote from a self help book or a preacher, so much better than waiting.
But I like this phrase in the story: the Lord will fight for you, you need only be still. We are so quick to devise solutions. To seek advice, to try things out of desperation. But sometimes God calls us to wait. God wants to win the victory for us.
Exodus 14:
Waiting on God doesn’t mean sitting around passively and waiting for God to give us that answer
But I like this phrase in the story: the Lord will fight for you, you need only be still. We are so quick to devise solutions. To seek advice, to try things out of desperation. But sometimes God calls us to wait. God wants to win the victory for us.
Let go and let God.
I don’t like bumper sticker theology; co pilot; who is in control?
I want to be a pastor, but how to work out the seminary, the family, I feel this desire and calling, but why not the opportunity? - “You always have opportunities. Wait on God, but don’t just sit there, let God put you to work now.”
So Israel is waiting, but not for long: here’s the heart of the story:
But God doesn’t have us wait forever. God doesn’t have us wait until
It means
Continue the story
Continue the story
(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
Exodus 14:15-
3. Get moving.
3. Get moving.
(NIV): Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
Exodus 14:
It’s decision time. Go back to the Egyptians and either fight them or beg for mercy, or walk straight to the sea.
God is my copilot.
Israel starts marching to the sea before it parts.
Illustration 3 types of huggers ( / Christians (get moving - we wait, we are not supposed to, God by His grace pushes us out)
Why isn’t God doing signs and wonders? (Bishop Schol) You didn’t march towards the sea. Waiting for the sea to part.
finish the story
finish the story
The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
Exodus 14:
4. Look back and see.
4. Look back and see.
The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
(NIV): And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
This is of the frescoes on the south wall of the Sistine Chapel, which shows Moses crossing the Red Sea. I like this one, because it captures the gruesome violence of the story. Normally the focus is on the Israelites crossing the sea, but this one shows the Egyptian army drowning in the sea.
Atheist will never accept a miracle. Natural phenomenon: 1) at high tide the waters of the Red Sea penetrates the sand from under the surface, continues to rise until you have a body of water; 2) winds of 40 knots blowing for 10-12 hours would push the water 2 miles to the south causing a drop in sea level;
interesting, but the Bible tells us that God caused this. There was nothing natural about walking across the Red Sea with walls of water on each side. And this didn’t happen until Moses stretched out his arm over the sea.
Don’t explain away a miracle. Don’t take credit for what God has done. Don’t give the credit to another person.
Don’t take God out of the explanation.
When Acknowledge victory as God’s. Acknowledge miracles. The purpose isn’t just to make our lives better, but to point us to Christ.
Acknowledge victory as God’s. Acknowledge miracles. The purpose isn’t just to make our lives better, but to point us to Christ.
Invitation
Invitation
Chances are you facing a difficult decision? If not at this moment then you will. Maybe it is a medical decision. Maybe it is a job. Where to live? Where and how to serve God. We have a Church Council making decisions about the long term plan of HUMC.
Direction in Dilemma
Direction in Dilemma
Do the impossible
Do the impossible
2 things that God does: 2 things that we do
God’s Timing (long time suffering), God’s Method (not war) is not ours
Ours: Move; See