Go Forward
BLACK HISTORY SERVICE FEB. 23, 2008 GO FORWARD EXODUS 14:15 ASBURY PARK, NJ
EXODUS 14:15 15 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHEREFORE CRIEST THOU UNTO ME? SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY GO FORWARD:
INTRO: LIFE IS A JOURNEY. FROM OUR EARLIEST DAYS TO THE END OF OUR DAYS WE GO THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES, HILLS AND VALLEYS, DAYS OF SUNSHINE AND RAIN; WE HAVE MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES, AS WELL AS VALLEY EXPERENCES.
FOR WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY...A LONG WAS AS A PEOPLE;
LONG WAY FROM...
UNIVERSITY OF TIMBUKTU
GOREE ISLAND
JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT
PLANTATIONS OF VIRGINIA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND LOUISIANA
MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT
EMUND PETTIS BRIDGE AND BLOODY SUNDAY
16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH OF BIRMINHAM, AL
DAYS OF JIM CROW AND THE 1902 PARADE OF THE KKK IN DC
BROWN VS. THE BORAD OF EDUCATION
LONG WAY FROM THE DAYS OF SHARECROPPING, DAYS WORK, SMALL FARMERS, FACTOR WORKERS, MAIDS, COOKS
MARIAN ANDERSON PREFORMANCE AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
BUT NOW WE ARE FACED WITH
WITH A CHRONIC CONDITION OF CRIME, CHAOS
SYSTEMATIC INJUSTICE THAT ENSLAVES OUR YOUNG MEN IN A DISPROPORTIONAL NUMBER TO THE TOTAL POPULATION
FACED WITH THE RICH, GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR GETTING POORER
EDUCATION IS A SECOND THOUGHT AS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LINE THE POCKETS OF BIG BUSINESS AND CORPORATIONS...
SOMETIME WE ARE THRUST FORWARD WHILE OTHER TIMES WE ARE STUCK IN TIME OR STUCK IN PLACE, OTHER TIMES OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL. WE CAN’T MOVE TO THE LEFT NOR THE RIGHT, OR GO BACKWARDS. WE MUST TAKE COURAGE AND ...GO FORWARD.
EXPL: PAIN AND PERIL - IN THE TEXT, THERE AROSE A PHARAOH WHO KNEW NOT JOSEPH WHO ENSLVAED THE SACRED THRONG OF ABRAHAM’S SEED. BOUND FOR OVER 400 YEARS IN SLAVARY UNTIO ONE DAY MOSES, THE FUGATIVE WHO WAS ONCE THE PRINCE OF EGYPT FOUND HIMSELF ON HOLY GROUND; FACE TO FACE WITH YHWH..HE IS CALLED AND COMMISSIONED TO GO TO PHAROAH AND TELL HIM, GOD SAID, “LET MY PEOPLE GO!”
PASCHAL LAMB AND THE PASSOVER - AFTER 3 SERIES OF 3 PLAGUES, THE DIE WAS CAST WHEN THE LORD EXECUTED ONE MORE PLAGUE. ABOUT MIDNIGHT THE EGPTIAN CITIES OF NORTH AFRICA ...THE LORD’S ANGEL OF DEATH WOULD PASS THROUGH AND ALL THE FIRST BORN OF THE LAND...WERE TO DIE. FROM THE FIRST BORN OF PHARAOH, THE MAIDSERVANT, AND CATTLE WOULD DIE UNLESS THEIR HOMES WERE COVER IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. YHWH SAID, WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD I WILL PASSOVER.
THERE WAS A GREAT CRY IN THE LAND OF THE KINGS, ONE OF DEATH AND THE OTHER OF DELIVERANCE. AND ITH THE FAVOR OF GOD, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, PLUS THE PEOPLE OF THE MIXED MULTITUDE...LEFT EGPYT FROM RAMSES...IT WAS A NIGH TTO REMEMBER AS ISRAEL WAS FREE. OH FREEDOM, OH FREEDOM...AND BEFORE I BE A SLAVE I BE BURIED IN MY GRAVE. PHARAOH LET TH EPEOPLE “GO”. MOSES TOOK THE BONES OF JOSEPH WITH HIM...AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM IN A PILLAR OF CLOUD BY DAY AND A PILLAR OF FIRE BY NIGHT.
IN A FINAL ACT OF WARFARE, YHWH LEAD ISRAEL IN BET. A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE; BETWEEN THE MOUNTAIN RANGES AND THE SEA. AND YHWH HARDENED PHARAOH’S HEART SO THAT PHARAOH WOULD CHANGE HIS MIND. HOW MAY KNOW GOD SPECIALIZES IN “ROCK AND HARD PLACE” THEOLOGY? HE PUT IS IN SITUATION , WHERE ONLY GOD, AND I KNOW IT WAS GOD, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AND OWNDER HOW WE GOT OVER...ALL I KNOW IT ...I KNOW IT WAS THE LORD.”
THERE WAS A GREAST CRY IN THE WILDERNESS FROM DEATH TO DELIVERANCE AND NOW...DEFEAT, DOUBT AND DESPAIR...AS PHARAOH’S CHARIOTS CHASED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ACROSS THE FLINTY ROCK, WITH DESERT DUST FORMING AS CLOUDS OF DOOM, ISRAEL CRIED OUT...WE TOLD YOU ...”LET US ALONE” ..IT HAD BEEN BETTER TO STAY A SLAVE THAT DIE IN THE WILDERNESS...THEY CRIED OUR “LET’S GO BACK”.
PROP: GOD DIDN’T BRING US THIS FAR TO LEAVE US.
TS: AS WE LOOK AT THE TEXT...WE WILL LEARN WHAT ISRAEL DID..AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO GO FORWARD...
INTER: WHAT DID THEY DO ...HOW CAN WE GO FORWARD?
I. FEAR NOT V. 13
EXODUS 14:13 13 AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, FEAR YE NOT, STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHICH HE WILL SHEW TO YOU TO DAY: FOR THE EGYPTIANS WHOM YE HAVE SEEN TO DAY, YE SHALL SEE THEM AGAIN NO MORE FOR EVER.
FEAR IS A CONSTANT COMPANION OF MANY –
ARACNOPHOBIA – SPIDERS
ACROPHOBIA – HEIGHTS
AGORAPHOBIA - CROWDS
ASTRAPHOBIA – THUNDER AND LIGHTING
AUTOPHOBIA – BEING ALONE
BIBLIOPHOBIA – BOOKS
CACOPHOBIA – UGLINESS
CLAUSTRO PHOBIA – CLOSED PLACES
DENTOPHOBIA – DENTIST
GYNOPHOBIA – WOMEN
HYDROPHOBIA - WATER
MYSOPHOBIA – DIRT
DECROPHOBIA – DEAD THINGS
FACE YOUR FEARS: STAND STILL ..I KNOW THEY WERE UNARMED;
I KNOW THEY HAD NO MILITARY MANUEAVARS OR TRAINIING
I KNOW THEY HAD NO ONE TO COME ALONG SIDE AND HELP THEM
I KNOW THEY WERE NO MATCH FOR THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. BUT LOOK AROUND..
SEE THE SALVATION – SEE YESHUA....SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THEIR LIVES THUS FAR..BUT THERE WAS THE CLOUD...AND TODAY ...WE HAVE THE CHURCH....
IMP. PRAYER PLUS AND DON’T FEAR..’
TXT: FEAR NOT...GOD TOLD ABRAM...FEAR NOT, ABRAM: I AM THY SHILED AND THY EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD. GEN 15:1
2 TIM. 1:7 – FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.
APP: TAKE COURAGE...
ILL: HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD MOSES TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S COMMAND? ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARITHMETICAL MIRACLES IN THE WORLD WAS REQUIRED IN THE DESERT.
MOSES LED THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL INTO THE DESERT....NOW WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO WITH THEM? THEY HAD TO BE FED, AND FEEDING 3–1/2 MILLION PEOPLE REQUIRED A LOT OF FOOD. ACCORDING TO THE U. S. ARMY’S QUARTERMASTER GENERAL, MOSES NEEDED 1500 TONS OF FOOD A DAY, FILLING TWO FREIGHT TRAINS, EACH A MILE LONG. BESIDES, YOU MUST REMEMBER, THEY WERE COOKING THE FOOD (NOT TO MENTION FOR KEEPING WARM, AND IF ANYONE TELLS YOU IT DOESN’T GET COLD IN THE DESERT DON’T BELIEVE THEM!). JUST FOR COOKING THIS TOOK 4000 TONS OF FIREWOOD AND A FEW MORE FREIGHT TRAINS, EACH A MILE LONG AND THIS IS ONLY FOR ONE DAY!!! THEY WERE FOR FORTY YEARS IN TRANSIT!!!
LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT WATER, SHALL WE? IF THEY ONLY HAD ENOUGH TO DRINK AND WASH A FEW DISHES (NO BATHING?!), IT TOOK 11,000,000 GALLONS EACH DAY—ENOUGH TO FILL A TRAIN OF TANKER CARS 1800 MILES LONG.
AND ANOTHER THING! THEY HAD TO GET ACROSS THE RED SEA IN ONE NIGHT. NOW IF THEY WENT ON A NARROW PATH, DOUBLE FILE, THE LINE WOULD BE 800 MILES LONG AND REQUIRE 35 DAYS AND NIGHTS TO COMPLETE THE CROSSING. SO TO GET IT OVER IN ONE NIGHT THERE HAD TO BE A SPACE IN THE RED SEA 3 MILES WIDE SO THAT THEY COULD WALK 5,000 ABREAST. THINK ABOUT THIS; EVERY TIME THEY CAMPED AT THE END OF THE DAY, A CAMP GROUND THE SIZE OF RHODE ISLAND WAS REQUIRED, OR 750 SQUARE MILES.
DO YOU THINK THAT MOSES SAT DOWN AND FIGURED OUT THE LOGISTICS OF WHAT GOD TOLD HIM TO DO BEFORE HE SET OUT FROM EGYPT? I DOUBT IT. HE HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. LET US HAVE COURAGE, WE SHARE THE VERY SAME GOD!
SOURCE UNKNOWN
[1]
II. FIGHT ON V. 14.
EXODUS 14:14 14 THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YE SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE.
PARADOX OF PEACE; HOLD YOUR PEACE
PLACE OF POWER - FIGHT ON YOUR KNEES
IMP. FAITH IN ACTION. PARENTS, PRAYER AND FAITH IN ACTION. PRAYER AND PERSPECTIVE THAT I MIGHT SEE JESUS.
TXT: EXODUS 15:3 THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR: THE LORD IS HIS NAME.
J 2 CHRONICLES 20:17 'YOU WILL NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE. POSITION YOURSELVES, STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHO IS WITH YOU, O JUDAH AND JERUSALEM!' DO NOT FEAR OR BE DISMAYED; TOMORROW GO OUT AGAINST THEM, FOR THE LORD IS WITH YOU."
APP: GET YOUR PRAISE ON AND LIVE IN HOLINESS; PRACTICE THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES ...DONT’ FIGHT EACH OTHER..
ILL: THEY FOUGHT EVERY DAY
A MAN WHO HAD ATTENDED CHURCH FOR 25 YEARS, WAS RESPECTED, AND A LEADER IN THE CHURCH, CAME TO HIS PASTOR AND SAID, “PASTOR, I’VE GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU. I’VE NEVER TOLD THIS TO A SOUL, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TELL YOU THIS NOW, BUT MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD A FIGHT EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS OF OUR MARRIAGE.”
THE PASTOR WAS TAKEN BACK AND DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THE MAN. PRAYING FOR TIME TO GATHER HIS THOUGHTS, HE SAID, “EVERY DAY?” “YES, EVERY DAY.” “DID YOU TODAY BEFORE YOU CAME TO CHURCH?” “YES.” “WELL, HOW DID IT END UP?” “SHE CAME CRAWLING TO ME ON HER HANDS AND KNEES.” “WHAT DID SHE SAY?” “COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT BED YOU COWARD AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!”
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III. FORWARD MARCH V. 15
EXODUS 14:15 15 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHEREFORE CRIEST THOU UNTO ME? SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY GO FORWARD:
DON’T JUST STAND THERE AND DO NOTHING...MOVE!
THE ROOT OF THE WORD MEANS TO “PULL UP THE TENT PEGS” AND BERADK CAMP....LOADEM UP AND MOVE’EM UP. IN THE VENACULAR OF THE YOUTH....BOUNCE....ROCK AND ROLL....OUT OF HERE....
IMP. YOU CAN’T STAY WHERE YOU ARE...BUT TRUST THE LORD AND MOVE OUT... EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD: CHALLENGES IN EVERY STAGE OF LIFE; FROM YOUTH, THE YOUNG ADULT TO MATURE MAN OR WOMAN TO SEASON SAINT...
GENESIS 12 – ABRAHAM TRUST GOD AND LEFT HIS HOMELAND TO GO TO A LAND GOD WOULD SHOW HIM; WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD.
PROV. 3: 5-6 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.
AND YES, WE ARE PILGRIM IN THE BARREN LAND, THIS WORLD IS NO OUR HOME...
APPL; DESPITE THE CHALLENGES....DESPITE THE GIANTS IN THE LAND, DESPITE THE PHARAOH’S IN THE LAND, DESPITE THE ENEMIES IN THE LAND...
DESPITE....CHALLENGES OF RACISM, CHALLENGES OF POVERTY, CH
CHALLENGES OF ABUSE...MOVE OUT....GO FORWARD
CLOSE...THE VICTORY AT THE RED SEA ASSURES FUTURE VICTORIES US TODAY.
WE CAN GO FORWARD, BECAUSE JESUS HAS GONE AHEAD AND MADE THE WAY.
M.R.W.
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[1]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002
[2]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002
M.R.W. WILSON, Marvin R., Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts
[3]Harris, R. Laird ; Harris, Robert Laird ; Archer, Gleason Leonard ; Waltke, Bruce K.: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. electronic ed. Chicago : Moody Press, 1999, c1980, S. 583