Covenant 8/30/2020

Please be seated. Well this morning we're continuing our series entitled forerunners of the faith and we'll be looking today at a change in the life of the people of God had a significant change. I know that these are stories that you are very familiar with but my hope is that as we engage the scriptures in and review the lives of these faithful men and women that you'll be challenged to think about the sovereignty and the Redemptive care of God not simply in their lives but in your life as well. Over the course of the past few weeks. We've had a chance to do a survey of all those famous forerunners of the faith. Adam and Eve began our series as we looked at their lives the first two human beings who God had made a people who he made in His image with the ability to to see and understand all the things that he had made and yet tragically Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord and as a result, they brought a great judgment upon their children the very nature that we inherited from Adam and Eve was corrupted and almost immediately. We saw that play out in the life of their children. We saw the story of Cain and Abel as their first born son Slade their second born son headed even in the midst of that tragic story. God was gracious to our forefather and for mother. It might surprise you to learn but the gospel itself was proclaimed clearly for the first time not in the New Testament certainly for the very first few chapters of Genesis. You recall that is even is God cursed Adam and Eve as he brought his judgment upon them for their rebellion in Genesis 3 15 as he cursed the actions of that serpent Satan himself foretold from the scriptures. He said this I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your Offspring and her Offspring he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. It's an image of what are the descendants of this woman who will emerge over the course of human history to bring about the destruction of the serpent for the serpent would bruise his heel this descendant of Eve would crush the head of the serpent once and for all headed there in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 that the whole story of redemption hangs for father of the faith to another as we hear the stories of those for mothers of Faith as well. We eagerly on wait wait the unveiling of this child who ultimately will bring about the Redemption of the Sons and Daughters of Adam and we continue that story the pages of that first couple and their family has very quickly the whole human Community degenerated into sinfulness and ungodliness. It wasn't further than the 6 chapter of Genesis that we read those fateful words the Lord the Lord saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth. I'm at every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth and he grieved his heart deeply. It's a tragic picture of how quickly The Descent of Man fell into wickedness and sinfulness and Rebellion against God and you remember that story as we looked at the story of God's judgment which fell upon the human community in a catastrophic and cataclysmic worldwide event the flood Yet before God brought his judgement on man a right judgment for evil actions that I don't think that we can fully comprehend. God doesn't bring his judgment upon those who were good people or neutral. He is gracious and long-suffering in bringing about the punishment in Judgment of sin and yet here he did it in a worldwide way. But before he did he spared one man not because that man was much greater than the others but simply because God showed his grace and his Mercy to one of these descendants of Adam and Noah and his family were saved. We remember that story as we looked at it in the weeks passed and he protected them and had watched over them and any cared for them and the human race begin again almost like a second Adam is Noah and his family emerged from the yard can yet tragically only a few short chapters later. We read again of the descendants of Noah. Now having turn their back on God completely building a tower in the Sky by way of trying to demonstrate their might over God that they might not be dispersed that they might not be shaking Again by the Lord into again God and mercy and Grace changes the languages of the human community at that moment and spreads them across the face of the Earth with the same language in the same accomplishment in the technological advancements in might that they were demonstrating the Lord knew that nothing would be out of their grasp and they would never think of God again 10. It would be a lost completely in their sin. Unable to seek his face and unwilling to hear the message of the Gospel in Swedish versus them across the Earth. It seems that the story of humankind has been lost and yet we were call there in Genesis chapter 12 get out of that Darkness out of that moment of universal Rebellion God calls Abraham graciously out of nowhere heady promises Abraham, even as he had promised Adam, that's one of Abraham's son would fulfill that promise of Genesis 315 that he would have come and ultimately crush the head of the serpent until Abraham believed God and it is credited to him as righteousness head. He leaves his father and the land that he grew up in behind Eddie follows. The Lord's leading to the promised land to seek God's face because he had gained his favor not buy anything that he had done but simply by The Sovereign Grace of And we've read in the weeks passed of how the story of God's good pleasure in favor on Abraham's gracious as it was plays out in the course of his family with the birth of Isaac. The gift of Rebecca has a wife to him and that miraculous way at the well, you'll recall and in the birth of Jacob and Esau and God's good pleasure and Grace to give Mercy did Jacob but even as he was born, he would be marked as the one through whom God would bring about that Redemptive line. And then last week we had a chance to see one of Jacob son. Joseph used by God to bring about the salvation of the whole world that it turned its back. So tragically on God and oh Joseph's brothers threw him into the pit and left him for dead as they sold them into slavery. God was with him. Even as he was turned into a prison cell because of a false charge got over saw him and eventually got raised Joseph up in the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream to prepare the greatest nation in the world for a famine that would strike the entire world. You think about the cove at the Dimock as we watch with modern technology as it's swung across the whole globe and those days they didn't have that ability to see the impact of things from afar, but but but it's by this Divine Vision this dream that God gave the Pharaoh and Much More Than Just a Dream by the interpretation that God bracelet graciously brought as he moved Joseph from a pit to the Palace Joseph was able to interpret that dream and begin to provide for the world that many might find Salvation and hope because of what God had done their through him not only for the chosen people but for the whole world, The story of God's Redemption is a remarkable one and it underscores the fact that God is sovereign. Over the Affairs of men in ways that we simply cannot comprehend. Even the smallest events of Our Lives God's hand is upon them as we learn from the story of Joseph even what is intended for evil against us the Lord will use for good and most importantly for his glory. There's not a single Maverick molecule and all of creation nor is it there an evil Act of another human being against anyone that God cannot use by his Sovereign might for his good pleasure. And for the Salvation of many it was the answer to the story of Joseph, but also the answer to the Book of Genesis because the Serpent's intent that evil intent to bring death and destruction upon Adam and Eve and their entire line against all of the creation that God had made in His image. God used for good and for his glory to demonstrate that Not only was he a God of Justice which the Angels new well, But did he also was a god of grace and mercy to be undeserving to Sinners Like The Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve and so the backdrop of our story is set as we move into a new phase in the life and family of Israel as you'll recall our story ended last week with Joseph as the vice-regent of pharaoh, the second-in-command of the entire world basically with the resources of the most powerful Nation to care for its people and people from all across the world. We open the pages of scripture today and turn the Exodus chapter 1 in the account of Moses 400 years has passed and it's a new day. Because the Pharaoh that had risen to power did not know Joseph and knew nothing of what God had done to save his Nation the work of that man and his family the title of my message this morning is from the palace to the pasture the promise of God fulfilled in the life of Moses. You got your Bible with you. I want you to take it out and and take a look at with me at Exodus chapter 1 We see here the Continuing Story of Abraham's children of Isaac children of Israel's children. And here's what we read in Exodus chapter 1. These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jakob each with his household Reuben Simeon Levi. Remember those two as they struck dead the village that we read about shechem last week and Judah is the car Zebulon Benjamin Dan NAFTA League a Dasher all the descendants of Jacob were 70% Joseph was already in Egypt. Did Joseph died and all his brothers and all that generation, but the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly in number be multiplied in Groove exceedingly strong so that the land was filled with them. And then we read that faithful word in verse 8, but now there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph and he said to his people behold the people of Israel are too many and too Mighty for us come let us do a shrewdly with them less they multiply and if War breaks out they join our enemies and fight against us and escaped from the land. Joseph and his family who would save the Egyptians from certain death. By their own means or might but by the power of God and interpreting Pharaoh's dream and bringing about the salvation of Minnie had been forgotten and the Egyptian people had come to fear the sons of Israel had for the begin to deal shrewdly with them and they enslave them. And we hear of an event like that we think to ourselves but how could such a thing happen hit it seems like such a tragic turn of events. Why would God let them go to Egypt? And this was what was to take place? And if you were to think of God as if he was surprised by the course of human Affairs, we haven't learned much from our stories of these faithful fathers and mothers. In fact, if you were call in Genesis chapter 15 The Lord actually told Abraham that this would take place years later and two children that he had never seen or ever never even dreamed of if you were to look at Genesis chapter 15 verse 12 in the very moment when God makes one of his most powerful promises to Abraham separating those animal animals and passing before them in a in a pillar of fire to demonstrate that he had unequivocally and unilaterally made a promise that he would fulfill the Abraham to bless the world through him. This is what God Said on that day. Genesis 15:12 a deep sleep fell on Abram and behold Dreadful and great Darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram know for certain that your Offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there and they will be afflicted for 400 years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. There is nothing that is a surprise to the Lord God Almighty. His hand is upon his people and his promise is never been touched by the the intentions of men wear their good or evil and even in this generation hundreds of years before any of these people would have been born God had foretold to Abraham fit these very events would take place in a different place in scripture. We read that God took this portion of time because the sins of the Canaanites in the promised land had not come to fulfillment and so he was holding his people off before he would bring them into that land as a sign of judgment to the Canaanites executing judgment and many instances on a very gorgeous and wicked people and turning that land over to Abraham and his children to sow the seeds of the promised Redeemer who would redeem the world from its in But here we find 400 years later these sons of Abraham in the midst of chains in Shackled and bound by a political system and buy a ruler in particular in pharaoh who claimed to be a God who lorded over them? Now that the events that will read about here today Joseph the young life of Moses reveals that Sovereign work of God in his life. And as you read these biblical stories, I hope you I hope you're doing this just naturally but you got to understand when you read about the Sovereign work of God and Moses is like as we will hear remarkable things. Do you really think that God Sovereign hand is not at work in your life and the very same ways. And yes, your story is not written inspired in the pages of scripture that we can turn to it and and point out the Finger of God in the events that have taken place. It's not like that for God's hand in his sovereignty upon you Sharon is sovereignty upon you Hester and Christy. Even young even here as he is on Moses or Adam or Abraham and he's working out things for your good and for his glory even in the midst of circumstances that overwhelm you and that you cannot understand head and it makes absolutely no sense at all. If not evil things that you've seen transpire in your life has returned to Moses two-story realize that even is God is at work in his hand in his life in the most remarkable ways. He's in your he's at work in in your life as well. But here's what we're reading chapter 1 verse 8. And today we're just going to look at the young wife of Moses and what he experienced the people of God hear people be home. The people of Israel are too many into my tea for us come let us deal with him unless they multiply head if War breaks out join our enemies in fight against us and Escape. from the land Therefore they said taskmasters over them to a flick them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities pithom and Ramses. But the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad understand was that God's blessing was upon this people not because they deserve it not because they were greater than the other nations of the world fact, they were slaves at this point in their existence, but because God had graciously and mercifully called them to himself and so their numbers grew in the blessing of God and their lives in pharaoh and the leadership of Egypt became even more and more concerned verse 12 Any Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel today ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives better with hard service and mortar and brick in all kinds of work in the field in all their work. They ruthlessly made them work as slaves. I've been the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives one of whom was named shiphrah and the other who I still remember when Brayden read that during our home services. I don't know if you remember that day. He was fascinated by that name when you serve as Midwife Barrow says to them to the Hebrew women and see them on the birth stool if it is a son you shall kill him. But if it is a daughter you shall let her live. So harsh was the treatment of the Egyptians toward the people of God that Pharaoh decided that every single male child would be put to death even as it came out of the womb. I don't raise a young boy when I read this story for the first time. I was horrified. Did a culture fit a political party that are leadership that a person in the person to Pharaoh would call for the death of children being born from the womb. I couldn't even conceive of that. I was too young to know that our own Nation. I think it was two years before I was born had legalized the murder of children not as they exited the womb and you have to see them put in the very womb of their mothers. I look at this culture is a Savage and Godless 1 and tragically I look at our own culture with that same great concern. We as a nation who claimed to be under God would legally allow the slaughter of children the wombs of their mothers. Her any reason is a horrifically in Godless Act of wickedness that I cannot even conceive. And yet here the Egyptians were doing that very thing to the Israelite children when they were born. They have depression and enslavement of God's people was bath but stopping think for a moment of the spiritual reality. What would it mean for every male child of the promise family through whom God had foretold that he would one day send the Messiah to crush the head of the serpent. What would it mean if every male child of that Nation could be slaughtered in the womb? Read from the scriptures that our battle is not simply against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of darkness in the Heavenly realm here in this Godless Society where Pharaoh himself claimed to be a God in direct opposition to the Lord God Almighty has will see unfold next week with the plagues saying had work such his will that this nation was slaughtering the male Children Of The redeemers Line even before they could come out of the womb. And yet God intervenes in a powerful and mighty way women and laters to the life of young Moses reading verse 17, but the midwives fear God, what does that mean? They knew the Lord and they love the Lord and they were committed to the Lord and they would not do what the Lord forbid but the Midwife fear God and did not do is the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live for the king of Egypt call the midwives and said to them why have you done this and let the milk milk male children live? The Midwife said the Pharaoh because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women for their vigorous and give birth before the Midwife comes to them. That's pretty sure they're right. So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and grew very strong. now listen I'm aware as our culture changes that things are changing for Christians. I've been paying very careful attention to different legal Maneuvers that are taking place in our society against Christian commitments that would exclude Christians from professions completely. Sitting here today and worship doctor bill Capo has spent a lifetime serving medicine honoring a Hippocratic Oath that ensures that he will do his best to care for those who God placed in his care any experience that whole season of ministry and Vocational placement to care for folks. He provided physical Care Medical Care and also spiritual counseling many times the Lord blessed him in that way and he's had a wonderful career doing it. His son. Troy is in the medical profession today is he's serving in critical pass. These is a nurse in hospitals here in the midst of the epidemic And yet did you know that Christian medical professionals today are beginning to be examined to see if they will perform abortions in the hospitals in which they serve and if they refuse some of them were being excused as excluded from even practicing in those places and our government and is in the middle of considering laws, that would make it such that an employee of a hospital would have to submit to doing whatever they're asked to do and that writes of conscience another words a decision that a Christian might make on the basis of what they believe that would prohibit them from being doing certain things are being perhaps denied to people in the medical profession. And even in the legal profession as we read to find the what human rights are the same thing is taking place there with some states are beginning to consider legislation that would require employer's to commit themselves to definitions of human rights that would include a Broadview. Sexual identity and gender identity and sexual practice such that would prohibit a Christian from entering into those fields. It's the very thing that was taking place here in Exodus chapter one has got as as fair was commanding these midwives and their professions to do what God had forbidden and they stood courageously. Well, they kind of light a little bit right that story with a student did what was right and they refused to do what Pharaoh had said because God had prohibited it. What will it mean for Christians as our culture shifts to make decisions about where they can serve with one day are medical professionals who are believers be excluded from that field. It's a possibility. Will one day Christian lawyers be excluded from that field. It's a possibility as well. So I see is you vote as you think about your your job is a citizen your duty and those ways you got to be thinking about some of those things had praying about it that you're thinking about that the way that our society shaping in this post-christian era. The story continues in the midst of this genocide that was taking place God is at work. Even if arrow is slaughtering the male babies in the womb to the best of his ability God is not ignorant of what's taking place a place has his hand on one of the sons of Adam. What are the sons of Abraham? What are the sons of Isaac a son of Jacob?

He watches over him and cares for him because this son will be set apart to deliver his people from the bondage of pharaoh in Satan's slavery. Take a look at Exodus chapter 2 The Story begins of this man named Moses. Tamela Mann from the house of Levi remember Levi one of the sons of Israel went and took it as his wife a levite woman the woman conceived and bore a son and must have been a very scary time to have a baby don't you think it's fair was seeking the slaughter the children in the bank the Lord there were no, what do you call those things where you shoot the tummy and see the baby. Ultrasound where they could have taken care of that with a pill, you know, at least in our generation, but they didn't know if they had to wait. It must be a very scary time to have a son and and she feared for the life of his son. And when she saw that he was a fine child she hit him for three months. Why did she hide her son because she was afraid for his life when she could hide him no longer. She took for him a basket made of bulrushes and dab it with bitumen and Pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the Reeds by the riverbank. Why would she do such a foolish thing a mother take a child and place it in the basket and floated into the river. We're not told until we read a few verses later but it appears here V mother's child knew that the wealthy Egyptian women would come and bathe in that portion of the river and she know that though. They Hebrew children were being put to death. The Hebrew male Sons were being put to death 50 Egyptian male son. We're being wet lip and so she hoped that if she set her male child into the river that one of these Egyptian women who is well positioned in society might take him in and his life might be spared. She was a shrewd and caring and loving mother who cared for her son and pray that the Lord would protect him. She put the child in the basket and placed it among the Reeds by the riverbank and and his sister again the child of this sister. This is Miriam. We learned later do it at a distance to know what we be done to him. How old was Miriam at this point? We don't know exactly. Can you imagine the moment when your mother calls you in the young brother who you seen born and raised at your mother's side the love of your family's life has a little sister. We've got to protect him honey. She must have had to explain it to him. I'm going to put them in a basket. I want you to follow him because I'll be more kind and gracious to you and see where he ends up. It's a little Mary. How old is she? 4 5 6 7 8 9 I don't know. Watches as her brother Moses begins to float there in the river banks and the daughter of pharaoh verse five came down to the debate at the river while her young women walk beside the river. She saw the basket among the Reeds and sent her servant woman and she took it when 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 immediately. She knew what was going on. I wonder if this was not the only woman who did this to save her son. The Egyptian woman who wanted a child this might have been an opportunity for them to take into their home these child who had death warrants placed on their heads. She knew immediately that this was one of the sons of the Hebrews Ben his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter seems like as soon as Pharaoh's daughter was picking up the child in her hands Miriam ran to her and here's what Miriam I think it was the wisdom of God given to her in the moment decided to ask this powerful Egyptian woman princess in the house of pharaoh Sammamish and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you. Should I go and get one of the slave women to take care of this child through your accepting into your home.

A Pharaoh's daughter said to her go. To the girl went and called the child's mother and Pharaoh's daughter said to her take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages to the woman took the child and nursed him and when the child Grew Older she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses because she said I drew him out of the water. That's what the name Moses means drawn-out. Put a picture of the Providence of God in the life of Moses. Can you imagine is a mother setting your son into a basket and floating him down the river not certain what would happen if one of the crocodiles of the river would tear him to shreds or if the Lord would provide can you imagine being a little girl and running up to Pharaoh's daughter who even is a little girl you might very well have known was this powerful and mighty woman and in a moment of inspiration half. Would you like me to go and find a nurse for this child? And stop and think for a moment of the sovereignty of God in these events. An interesting who picked up this child in that moment. Isn't it interesting that this particular daughter of pharaoh? I don't know for certain but I'm almost sure that she's not the only one with sympathetic enough and rebellious enough to her father's orders to take into her own care. One of the Hebrew children. And yet God is Sovereign over the events of men. The read about the story of Jacob it in the womb as these two brothers wrestled before either had done anything good or bad. What do we find that the Lord said that the older will serve the younger Jacob. I loved even in the womb. God had chosen to show his grace to Jacob. Jacob did nothing to deserve it had that nothing good or bad it. Simply The Sovereign Grace of God poured out on Jacob before he even breathe his first breath here for Moses God's Sovereign Grace Falls on him in the read covered Basket in which he floats down the river never having done anything good or bad himself. You know that the story of the Gospel is all through the pages of the scriptures. It's not only found in the New Testament the foot of the cross and Jesus Christ with the grace of God, which is given to those who do not deserve it which is given to those who have done nothing good or bad and even given to those who grow up and do bad things just present in the lives of those who the Lord calls regardless of who they are because his grace sovereignty is given to those he chooses to call and we see that play out again in the Life year of Moses as God places his hand on this young man who will Journey as we'll see next week from the palace. Back to the pasture and then to the Palace again. As God brings out the salvation of many to the call the placed on the life of this young boy, the one drawn out of the Waters of the Nile the sake of the Redemption not only of God's people. But I've all but one day would call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's close our time together in a word of Prayer. gracious and holy God

We're so grateful for your word.

What if we are born into this world without this standard? Without this Divine truth, we would be at a loss for what's taking place around us? Show me the actions are senseless in our site. They make no sense, especially the violent and evil ones the diseases that ravaged the world or we don't understand why. We can't make sense of the events of human history leaders rise and they fall Godless men some that are good but few and far between head seems like this world is is a loss and a drift chaotic sequence of events that have no purpose or Reason. And yet your word speaks clearly from one generation to another that this world is not out of control. But it is in your control. It from the creation of all things from the very beginning your hand has been upon it. In fact, the whole world is in your hands Lord as a little child song sings at the course of human history. You have woven. The story of Redeemer who would come as we read this story from Moses's time, but who has come as we read it from our own generation and we look back on a story like this. We recognize Lord that these are not promises yet to be fulfilled as they were in Moses's day, but they are promises that already have been fulfilled because the son of Adam is come in the head of the serpent has been crushed and we because of Jesus Christ have come to know your Grace & mercy first hand in the person of your son. But I pray that you would be with us this week as we go out and do our lives as we experience events that we don't always understand his mother and Miriam in these events. Your hand is upon us and give us the words to speak as we share the good news of the Gospel with whoever you placed in our lives. Over grateful that there is no challenge that we Face even know lost that we face that you are not greater than and that you will not use even if it's an evil one in our own eyes, or you're good for our good and ultimately for your core you pray all these things and the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm in but stand and sing our closing song.