Part 3: He's Always Working

We're in week 3 through a series on The Exodus where the overarching theme of The Exodus is that of redemption Redemption explanation of how Jesus frees us of how he redeems us each week as we move through the next excuse me of Deliverance Redemption is Deliverance where God free his people from bondage of slavery in Egypt and Jesus frees his people in those who trust him from the bondage of slavery of sin 2 free God's people in Jesus, of course obviously paid a price to free Us by him during the Wrath that we deserved on the cross. Our place and then finally Deliverance Ransom and renewal. Jesus makes us new and he's renewing his Covenant with Abraham with the people in Exodus of taking them to the land that he had promised their ancestor Abraham friends. This is how Jesus is the defining Act of Salvation in the Old Testament the Old Testament totally informs the new and the Old Testament The Exodus. The Parting of the Red Sea the freeing of God's people it is the is the defining Act of Salvation in the Old Testament even to Jewish people today, it speaks directly in points directly to the work of Jesus on the cross so far. We've discovered some introductory things in our theories. And today we're going to continue that by introducing the secondary protagonist in the story in other words the secondary hero.

Because the primary hero of the story who see God, it's a Moses is actually just the secondary hero of the story, and we're going to get introduced to him today. We're going to talk about him a little bit and I moved through the text. But before we do, let me pray, and then we're going to dive in we're going to start in the middle of Exodus chapter 1 before a father. Thanks for Jesus. Thanks for your grace to us. Thanks for the example. You give us in Moses and in The Exodus that Jesus was your plan to free and redeem your people even from the very beginning.

And we know that as we trust you, no matter how dire circumstances might seem in Life or in the world your plans cannot be thwarted and I think we'll see that this morning even in the text. So Holy Spirit, I pray that you would come teach us more about who you are. Jesus is and help us to become more like him help us to trust him more a pretty good. It's the enemy as servants their Works in a factory take your word in Twisted or cause us to be distracted or to not believe but instead always spread to your work and changed us. the proudest in the power of Jesus and all God's people said amen Exodus chapter 1 and we're kind of picking up where we left off last week. We ended with first 14 and we're going to pick up in the midst of this story in verse 15. And when I want you to see right away this morning is that in the face of Affliction. We talked about Affliction last Sunday right in the face of Affliction, which is just anything that can cause significant suffering or pain in your life in the face of it trust Jesus. That's the right response trust Jesus. Hold on and trust him nose keep reading and see if we see that in the text Exodus 1 verse 15 starts out like this then the king of Egypt

He's picking up the story of what where we were at last week. The king of Egypt is pharaoh and Pharaoh just to give you a background again of what we cover last Sunday was he was afraid of this ginormous migrant population on the north side of his kingdom. A large group of Israelites that had migrated into that area have now expanded in number. And they become a threat to him and his fear and so in his fear, he is deciding he's going to afflict them. He's going to lay heavy burdens on them of slavery. He's going to impress them with hopes that they would dwindle and number he's he's afraid that they're going to increase so much that they're going to overtake the way of life of all the Egyptians that and they're going to come in and when it comes to war they're just going to conquer them and there's no hope for the Egyptians and for their people. It's a fairly discharge and soon the entire nation of Egypt is its part of this and they begin afflicting? the Israelites and I hope they would decrease in number.

Pharaoh continues to up his game I just looked him more and friends. This is exactly what happens when somebody starts to make strides towards following Jesus some of you have experienced this. Something happens to where there's a there's a ray of Hope and and maybe you take a step for a couple steps forward towards that help. And then there's an enemy though. He doesn't want to see tens and you to push you back there feel that. It's a it's a pattern. We see it after this and it's a pattern we see in people trust in Jesus spiritually in general. You're going to see it this morning. So he said to the Hebrew midwives who was named shifra and the other puah. Another time just to stop briefly here. Farro is never mentioned by name only by title either as the king of Egypt or is Pharaoh, which is his title. It means king. And so there's some Scholars of what exactly was the date of The Exodus cuz there's a couple different pharaohs that match the description of what happens here. And so there's not a complete certainty of what the exact date and time why why because he was never mentioned by name this guy who wanted to build his kingdom and filled up his name never gets remembered by name. incredible Remember by name shiphrah and puah These two slave women get remembered by name in the text. Why will it be freezing and find out why I told these ladies he said when you serve as Midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birth stool if it's a son you should kill him. But if it's a daughter she's so live.

So now the fear of this foreign people has grown even further from Fear to oppression now to murder and infanticide.

It's curious, if you look back at World War II, the way that the Nazis gradually placed more and more restrictive and then oppressive and then finally mortal structures on the Jewish people, gypsies, and other internal enemies during the period from 1937 to 1945 very much mirrors what Pharaoh does here with the Israelites.

It just continues to amp up. And now it's grown to murder. Let's murder all the boys who are born. That why the boys because they would be the ones who grew up to fight in the war and that was the declared reason publicly for a why this growing population was a threat.

This would be killed 17 in the face of this start to see why they're named my name and Pharaoh isn't but the midwives feared God. And did not do is the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the male children live.

In the face of evil. There's a higher authority you can trust and as you trust him. He blesses you and he actually chooses God chooses to work through those who trust him and fear Him and not men even though in the moment it's terrifying How can I explain why in a little bit but I think they weren't the only two midwives of all the Hebrews of all the Israelites, but I think they kind of oversaw all the midwives cuz later it's mentioned. She says when the Midwife comes so I think that's kind of more of probably who they are and when you look at the number of people Is there remembered because even in the face of this evil of this really ethical dilemma, they decided you know, what I what you're asking me to do. I know I'm to respect authority you're asking me to do is in direct violation of what my greatest Authority God says to do. So I appeal to that Authority and I reject yours. And that's that's that's the pattern of how we got to live and got honors that he does that with these two women Verse 18. So the king of Egypt they decided they didn't do what he commanded. They let them live first meeting the king of Egypt called The Midwives. He said to then why have you done this and let the male children live?

The Midwife said that we don't know how much time has passed or either by the way if it's months or a couple years, who knows the Midwife said to Faribault. Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women for their vigorous and they give birth before the Midwife comes to them. They're just they're popping them out for a week. I don't know what to do.

That one verse 20 it says so God. Well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong and because the midwives feared God he gave them families. It appears that God blesses them for lying. How can I I'm not saying contrary to everything. You've been taught like tell the truth. Don't lie.

There's a couple of a couple things baby to think through here. Is that one? Again, as I mentioned that I think the biggest thing they're appealing to a higher authority. funny terms of lying

took a question, isn't it? Well it in this case, but they were certainly stretching the truth because maybe the Hebrew women were very vigorous and giving birth. Maybe it if they were in charge of of those under them. They said when the Midwife comes the baby's already there we can't do anything. Maybe it is that they've instructed those are under them. Take your time to drag your feet on your way to go help these women. Maybe if you are in a position of authority, you have the opportunity to influence those under your Authority with good right maybe. Is She-Ra and full of war and all the Hebrew women? Hey, if you're pregnant, you're about to give birth do everything. You can to give birth on your own. Don't call us for help. Whatever you do.

We don't know all the details. But what we do know is that these ladies fear God above Farah they fear God above people and and that's really the thing to take away here and for us to that we need to be fears of God, not of men Proverbs 16:6 says by steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atone for him by the fear of the Lord. That's how One turns away from evil. In the face of evil fear God more to fear Him doesn't mean to be afraid of him and needs to respect him for the afraid of the consequences for not obeying him. To be in awe and respect of his power and his authority Peter answered in Acts chapter 5. He said we must obey God rather than men when they were told to quit preaching the gospel. Save-A-Lot actually told us to do this sooner than admit in our own country. the Derby at beer and getting up to preach the gospel that I wouldn't be afraid that I would do like Peter and obey God rather than men.

You have other examples of people Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. I put those references in there for you to read on your own later Rahab and Joshua to that's maybe a better parallel because she lies about hiding the the spies and she's blessed for that for for obeying God rather than man, and she's actually becomes part of Jesus genealogy. Like if you read Jesus genealogy in Matthew, you find Rahab And so here is to fear God above men over the course of redemption often the enemy will ramp up his oppression and we see that here now after his plan is sorted in verse 22. So then Pharaoh commanded all of his people not just the midwives but everybody all the Egyptian every son that's born to the Hebrews you suck cast into the Nile. But you saw that every daughter live. It ramps up his oppression. What what do you do when you try to do something? That's right and honoring to God and it feels like you just get slapped in the face for it and it gets worse. You probably never had that happened. Have you? Never know that that never happens. What is I think Paul gives us? A good word in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16. He says so we do not lose heart. Door outer self is wasting away. Our inner self is being renewed day by day for this light momentary Affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of Glory beyond all comparison as we look not to the things that are seen But to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen or transient, but the things that are unseen are Eternal bosses lesson, what's waiting for you even though you're there some Affliction now, and if not, then I gave it is hard. a trust Jesus because in the end that was so pale in comparison to his glory and to what awaits you keep going is what he says keep trusting.

In the face of Affliction trust Jesus why because he is always working his plan. And he does have a plan by the way have a plan even when it seems like there's no plan, even when it seems like things are chaotic. He has a plan and he is working it is you And the story of the Midwife sets up the introductory then introduction of our secondary hero of Moses. So let's keep reading. Look at chapter 2 verse 1 says now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a levite woman in the house of Levi is just one of the one of the tribes of the people of Israel so the woman conceived and she bore a son when she saw that he was a fine child. Remember this is in the midst of pharaohs the Declaration that all of the male children should be thrown into the river.

This little boy's mom decided to hide him. She hit him for three months.

Never lose sight of the fact that these are real people.

Those are you who are moms who got to give in that great. Great blessing. imagine if this was you after giving birth if I hide your new son. Because not just a few people but everybody in the lands that you're living. I wants to steal that child and throw him into the river thrown into Lake Wawasee.

what that be like What lengths would you go to to hide your son?

Now you're feeling a little bit of what we find out. This is Moses. Mom is feeling what she could to hide and no longer she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and dabbed it with bitumen and Pitch to another Richie waterproofed it on the inside and she put the child in it and she placed it among the Reeds by the riverbank. How do I know that doesn't say like in The Prince of Egypt like he got shipped down the river and float it away. She just place them on the edge in the Reeds. She a lot of faith just to do that, but I don't I don't discredit her for not just pushing him out into the river to you. Cuz the Nile River is like the comparable for us would be the Mississippi River ever driven over the Mississippi or the Nile is the largest river in the in the world. The Mississippi is only the fourth largest. So it gives you an idea of how big this river is. That's what she put them in the Reeds alongside the riverbank and his sister. So he has an older sister still at a distance to know what would be done to him. Put yourself in this spot, if if you're a family and you have multiple children and one of them's a little older maybe 8 9 10 years old, imagine them running and watching and kind of hiding watching to see what's happening. What's going to happen to her little brother? Now the daughter of pharaoh came down to bathe at the river another person or not given the name of while her young women walked beside the river. She saw a basket among the Reeds and sent her servant woman and she took it. But she opened it. She saw the child and behold the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said this is one of the Hebrews children. notice that Pharaoh's daughter takes pity on this young, baby It's true that God is wired into all of us. Conscience of some sort that's for some it's scarred and it's not to be trusted but there is still a recognition of right and wrong and good and evil and everyone. in fact and Romans chapter 1 Paul says for what can be known about God is playing because God has shown it for his invisible attributes namely his eternal power his divine nature been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made so we are without excuse

We know right and wrong and even in the heart of Pharaoh's daughter who surely knew what her father had commanded. She has pity on this baby. She knows what the Hebrew child. They should be thrown back into the river.

Conscience on letter she has pity on him and she takes him in. Friends, there's there's very similar things happening in our culture. Right? I mean, I only have to work very hard to draw this comparison when you look at at the the scourge of abortion in our country.

Not if you've been affected by that also, my heart goes out to you, and I'm so sorry. I would imagine that you maybe even feel some of that. That guilt cuz you know right and wrong in your heart.

Because it is wrong.

but God is a great God. Jesus is a great Savior and he forgives all who would turn to him and repent. There's Hope for you, okay, so we've been in the midst of staying that if that's true as up wounds there is hope I want to make sure and put a bandage on that to trust Jesus I meant

But God has put that conscience Into the Heart of everyone especially towards the vulnerable. When his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter and then his sister, she's inside the pharaoh's daughter little girl. If you're ever worried that you're too old or Too Young forgot to ever do anything through you you are so wrong. It doesn't matter your age it matters. Will you will you will pay and trust him to nurse the child for you? You think she was afraid I guarantee she was afraid guarantee it there's no doubt. The pharaoh's daughter said to her. Her name is Miriam. By the way, we find out later go. So the girl went and called the child's mother. A Pharaoh's daughter said to her to Moses mother Texas child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages. So the woman took the child and there's two. Wow, this is incredible. Don't miss this. Right? Here's Moses mother. She she loves her newborn son. She surely can't give him up to be thrown into the river. She hides him and then by faith she just got to just got to trust you with that. She puts them in the basket put some in the Reeds. Can you imagine how much she cried after that?

And then what happens?

God blesses her obedience.

And not only that she's going to get paid to be a stay-at-home mom.

What a bargain. Our God is a good God and He blesses those who trust him and he'll pay him. When the child Grew Older, but again, here's another swing of emotions. I'm sure for his mom. She brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses because she said for his daughter said I drew him out of the water at his name in Hebrew would be most Shay. And it just means to draw out. That was his name cuz she drum out of the water. In the face of Affliction Trustees of cuz he's always working a plan. I wonder you facing Affliction of some sort trust Jesus. He's working a plan. He was working a plan here to have Moses be okay and Moses is going to turn into the one who delivers got people. Incredible you may you may be in the face of Affliction and question. Why would God allow this to happen to me? Why would I just got to do something about this? Tristrata Augustine of Hippo wrote there. She goes for whatever reason God judged it better to bring good out of evil then not to permit any evil to exist.

We're facing a trial. Remember that God's remember God's goodness in the past and that he can be trusted then for the future. So even in the face of evil, I remember either his goodness to me personally or his goodness in this case the most this mom and I can trust him then for his goodness tomorrow. God says remember what it's with you to the present and the future.

Trust him. Remember him attacked Isaiah wrote remember this and stand firm or call it to mind. You transgressors. Remember the former things of old got those for I am God, there is no other I am God. There is none like me declaring the end from the beginning from the ancient things that are not from France from ancient things. Not yet done seeing my Council shall stand and I will accomplish my purpose calling a bird of prey from the East a man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken and it will I will bring it to pass I have purpose and I will do it. God is working a plan. You may not see it. You may not understand that you may not get it in This Side of Heaven. But that doesn't mean you can't trust them. Jobe wrote one of the most Afflicted man in all of history and one who never found out all the reasons for everything that happened to him by the way to know that it's not on this Earth. He didn't he said I know thanks to God you can do all things that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. I don't think we have any hurry up and like to work as plan with Peter writes. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but he's patient toward you. if patient not willing that any should perish Proverbs 16:4 the Lord has made everything for its purpose. Even the wicked for the day of trouble. He has a plan and he's working it. And in this case the plan is Moses. Can we see Moses Moses is just a baby still at this point, but I want to stop here for a second and draw some comparisons between Moses and Jesus because I told you the extra points forward to Jesus, right? Moses went forward to Jesus to did you know that Moses and Jesus have some mistake Cabool and unbelievably striking similarities. Did you know they were taking time to think through these for example, I'm just going to read through a handful of these. I've got a bunch listed out. This was born under Affliction in a foreign land. Jesus was born under Affliction in a foreign place has a baby to kill baby Jesus as well be rescued in the Nile. Jesus was miraculously Rescue by an angels Revelation to his adopted daddy Joe to take him to Egypt and get out of this land has raised by adoptive parents.

Flees to Egypt with the parents of the young boy and he likely spends most of his childhood in Egypt Moses Farrow. Jesus old Scholars think was likely while he was in Egypt trained and and learned how to read and write while he was in Egypt. Boss goes on and on Moses is what my people go. Jesus says, I've come to Proclaim freedom for the prisoners and that it says the Vin de set the oppressed free Moses see suffering and takes action Jesus Takes action in the face of stuff for 40 years of the shepherd Jesus as the Good Shepherd Moses 40 years in the wilderness is known for his meekness. They're both descendants of Abraham. They're both rejected by their people. They're both often honored by many people. Moses questioned by Pharaoh Jesus questioned by Pontius Pilate they both performed Miracles Moses provided.

Otherwise, I'm kid just received and teachers why Jesus teaches Jesus teaches expands and fulfill. The law of Moses Moses is the leader of Israel. Jesus is the head of the church. Glory after you met him face-to-face Jesus face Shone with God's glory on the Mount of transfiguration.

Moses of the greatest of all the prophets in the Old Testament. Jesus is the greatest Prophet Bar None.

Moses prophesied of Jesus Jesus taught the Old Testament all pointing to himself. A list of even greater. In fact, I have these printed out if you want to grab one there on the Kinect desk on your way out you can have one. I want you to see all of this point forward to Jesus and Jesus is a greater Moses. In fact Moses himself said this the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you speaking of Jesus and it's to him you shall listen.

So this is about Jesus when the face of Affliction we can trust Jesus. Because he's always working his plan by the way, even in our failure see for all the ways that Moses was like Jesus. There's a very there some very striking ways in which he is not at all like Jesus. Specifically it is sin. Major anger issue. We're going to see that as we go through it quite The Temper. In fact that temper let him is going to see her in a moment to become a murderer. Let's keep reading in Exodus chapter 2 verse 11 one day when Moses had grown up. He went out to his people. He looked at their burdens and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew one of his people you look this way and that seemed know when he struck down the Egyptian and hit him in the sand. When he went out the next day if you hold two Hebrews were struggling together and he said to the man in the wrong. Why do you strike your companion? And he answered who made you a prince and judge over us. Do you mean to Kill Me Like You Killed the Egyptian? And Moses was afraid you thought surely the thing is known. But they're all heard of it. He sought to kill Moses but Moses fled from pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian and he sat down by well. Friends Moses it failed. Play felt terribly.

He had become a murderer.

How would God use him now?

In light of his sin?

In light of the ways he messed up?

Peter had that experience. He denied Jesus three times had to wonder how God use me now. never felt that you need to know. But you can trust Jesus in Affliction. Even if it's Affliction you brought on yourself in your sin. And that God is working the plan. And that is you trust him. He will work his plan even in spite of your failure.

twice called Good News If it's not about you, it's about Jesus.

Somebody said that's not know who said it. So if you know, you can tell me and I'll credit them but they said that your setback then can become God set up.

If you trust Jesus if you follow through and repentance. Your setback can become God setup. And we're going to say that that's exactly what happens with Moses because Paul tells us we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. Those who love him includes those who fail and their love for him. I do horrendous things. God can still rescue and he does. Hey, man.

Looking for 16. Now. The priest of Midian at Moses sat down by the well, and he's in the land of Midian the priest of Midian. Had seven daughters. And they came and Drew water and filled trois to water their fathers flock meaning. He probably had no Sons cuz his daughters are all taken care of the flock. The Shepherds came and drove them away from this. How is this and water their flocks Moses sitting by the swell after having run from pharaoh and his shame and he said well trying to get away from consequence and he's sitting there and these girls come and they're watering their flocks. The other Shepherds come drive them away cuz their women and Moses chases all these men away.

But Moses stood up and save them and any water their flocks. Came home to their father Ruel or is it call Jethro other places? That's what it said.

I know how this goes you go. They chased you away. You got to wait for them to water their flocks. And finally you can go in water your flocks. How do you make it home so quick today? remember just throw has no Sons just Seven Daughters and they said There was an Egyptian who delivered us out of the hand of the shepherd's even your water for us and water the flock. hear Jethro your Seven Daughters and you find out there was this guy all alone by the well, who rescued your daughter's what are you going to say?

Call him right forget all the ones who are playing video games.

I totally do that go get him in Moses was content to dwell with the man and he gave Moses his daughter zipporah. She gave birth to a son. He called his name Gershon pretty said, I've been a soldier and a foreign land. See this is got set up for what's going to happen? Moses and his failure ran but God miraculously still had a plan that he was working in the midst of his failure. Whatever your failure to trust Jesus repent turn to him. He still working a plan and it made a minute come out the way you think it should or maybe exactly the same. But listen he is working trust him. Psalm 19:1 1971 it's good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn your statutes. The face of Affliction trust. Jesus is always working his plan Even in our failure and finally last but not least even in our waiting. We saw this 3 versus last Sunday, but this let's close this chapter in this morning by reading them again during those many days the king of Egypt died and the people of Israel grown because of their boyfriend cried out for help their there's about 40 years that Moses was gone Moses was about forty. He's about my age when he murdered the man and fled Into the Wilderness and then he's there for forty years. He's about 80 before Jesus shows up to him in the burning bush as well. Stay next Sunday. Adrenals many days the king of Egypt died in the people of Israel grown because of their slavery and cried out for help their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God and God heard their groaning and God remembered his Covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob got saw the people of Israel and God knew.

Maybe the effects on your face and is simply waiting. Waiting for God to act waiting for him to change something.

Adrian Peterson Pastor who wrote the paraphrase of the Bible called the message for his church says the person who looks for quick results in the seed planting of well-doing will be disappointed if I want potatoes for dinner tomorrow. It will do me little good to go out and plant potatoes in my garden tonight. There are long stretches of darkness and invisibility and silence that separate planting and reaping doing the stretches of waiting there is cultivating and weeding and nurturing and planting still other seeds. If you're waiting.

trust Jesus and keep waiting

keep waiting trust him. He's still working. even in your waiting You know what tree that goes dormant over the winter is still alive. Even though there's no fruit on it, even though there's no leaves on it. It's still living. And it's just waiting for life. The evidence of life I should say to return. Keep trusting Jesus keep waiting. He's still working.

Charles Spurgeon said when you cannot Trace his hand trust his heart.

The song that says this many times wait for the Lord be strong Let Your Heart Take courage wait for the Lord behold. He who keeps Israel. Neither Slumbers nor sleeps on 121 Psalm 62 is one of my favorite songs on this path doesn't verse 5 for God Alone Oh my God. Oh my soul. Wait in silence for my hope is from him.

Friends in the face of Affliction whatever it is your face and Trust Jesus. Because he's working a plant. even in your failure and even while you're waiting

Call thanks for Jesus. Jesus think he is that we can trust you. Thank you. Even when we Face various Affliction some that are small some that are great some that we've not asked for but they're just happened to us see me without reason and even those that we in our foolishness and sinfulness have made choices that have brought them on our self. Help us to trust you. Because you're working. And your plans cannot be sorted. We saw that with with Moses beside even in Moses failure. You were still working the planet. We're going to see that as we keep going forward. Jesus for those who have failed to help them to trust you and to keep trusting you for those who are waiting and maybe it's the same group waiting for you to act waiting for you to fully deliver at the free. Help them to keep trusting in to keep waiting.

Jesus you're good. You're loving towards forever. You never lose sight of us you see and you know, and we can trust you. It's in your name. We pray Jesus. Amen.