Covenant 09/06/2020

The title of my message this morning is Moses from the palace to the pasture and we're continuing our series entitled forerunners of the faith as we look at those men and women of Faith who came before us who faced the same great challenges that we face today, but not fully with the Assurance of a price-to-income who had died who had risen again, but looking forward to a hopeful promise that God had made as certainly as that promise would be fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We saw the whole course of the story of these faithful men and women is pin to that promise to Adam and Eve in the garden there in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 the serpent brought about destruction to the Temptation and fall of Adam and Eve God cursed The Serpent and set forth the promise to Adam and Eve it in the future one day one of their descendants would rise up and though his heel would be bruised by the serpent. Ultimately. He would crush the Serpent's head Adam and Eve look forward to that promise fulfilled and we look forward as we turn the pages of scripture each and every page to see when that promised Redeemer would break forth from the womb of one of The Descendants Aviv to change the course of human history to reconcile men and women to God and bring about the Redemption that God promised there in the garden. Look at the lives of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and we've seen the life of Joseph as he moved from the land of his fathers to the land of Egypt through no intent of his own only two rays to be the second most powerful man in Egypt and deliver the world from a Great Famine and last week. We had the opportunity to look at the course of the people of Israel as they found themselves there in Egypt under very different circumstances for centuries after Joseph had died. And so today we'll continue with the story of Moses. If you got a Bible with me take it and turned out turn it opens at Exodus chapter 2. Will last week we learned of the persecution that had come upon the people of God there in Egypt a pharaoh who had a reason did not know Joseph for his ways or what he had done and so a persecution arose against God's people they were enslaved in abused and taken advantage of in fact, not only that but the persecution that they faced was so great that even the male Hebrew child children were being killed as they emerged from the wombs of their mother we talked about the fact last week that Not only was this a terrible reality from a human perspective, but from a spiritual one it was this very line and one of The Descendants that would come from the womb of one of these daughters of Eve who would bring about the Redemption of humankind. And so the slaughter of these innocent boys was all the more significant in light of God's promise and what that I meant and we saw that one of those children born their mother put them in a basket and set them down the course of the river and that child was picked up not by any Egyptian woman, but by a princess the very daughter of pharaoh who took that young child into her care. His name was Moses, which means drawn out from the water and this young boy whose life was sovereignly marked by God, even before he grew up from that basket is life would change and God would use his life to redeem his people from their sin and a redeem the promise family and draw them into the Promised Land. Turn with me to Exodus chapter 2 verse 11 and we'll take a look at the continuation of the story of Moses. Here's what we read. One day when Moses had grown up. He went out to his people and looked on their burdens beating a Hebrew one of his people down that short sentence there in the biblical texts that one day after Moses grew up probably marks a 40-year gap in between the last time we've learned of this young child Moses is all grown up Eddie grew up in a very unique and privileged way as a daughter of pharaoh raised him as her mother Moses would have had access to the greatest education that the world knew at that time. You stop and think of a man a great leader like Alexander the Great whose personal tutor was Aristotle and you begin to get a sense of the type of education that Moses would have had there in Egypt Course, Alexandria would ultimately become the most famed library and all of ancient history. Get all the intellectual knowledge in science and although the greatest accomplishments that man had brought about would have been available to Moses there in the court of pharaoh would have been trained in the way of politics and Leadership and philosophy and Arts and Sciences. And here is we meet him 40 years later though. He had been raised as an Egyptian. He never forgot where he came from. I want you to stop and think for a moment about Moses is life there in the Palace. Of course in many ways. It would have been a very sheltered life as one of the aristocratic Elite. He wouldn't experience the same type of life that a normal person experienced in in Egypt in that day. And he certainly would like the Israelites experience under the great hardship that they endured under the shackles and chains of pharaoh. He never forgot where he came from. In fact, I would assume that the scriptures don't tell us that there's a good chance that that Moses may very well have been interacting even with his family you remember the story that we looked at last week that it was his young Sister Miriam who followed the baskets down the river to see that it was found by Pharaoh's daughter and then went to Pharaoh's daughter and asked that one of the Hebrew women might care for the child and she brought young Moses back to his mom who nursed him and cared for him. And then when he was older brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, I wouldn't be surprised if at least at some level Moses continued his relationship with his mother in with Miriam, of course, he would return to Egypt that relationship with Miriam would continue. Of course, they would be much older at that time. I told Moses was not unaware of his past. And I'm certain that if he was well-educated as it is, very clear that he is is he writes the first five books of the scriptures that he would have studied the ways of his people and coming to listen to the stories of how God had blessed Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. I'm certain that he would have known the story of Joseph and how Joseph redeem the whole that Gyptian Empire indeed the world. So that had been forgotten. It's a one-day 40 years later Moses left the palace and he came across an act of justice that he could no longer turn a blind eye to I know she said grown-up we're so old he went out to his people and looked on their burden. You can only imagine what Moses saw there as all of the people of God the people of Israel the people of Joseph were in Shackled and enslaved and beaten horse to do work and labor. It was sometime too great for them to bear. 40 years had passed as Moses process what this meant and what he might do. We're not told that God ever spoke to Moses during this time or put a burden on his heart. That was clear that one day would be he the God would call to deliver them from their bondage, but it's clear that Moses had a personal burden for the Injustice that he witnessed. You've seen in our own generation the past few months the questions of justice and Injustice brought before our communities and how those Justice and Injustice has might be handled in some cases. We've seen them addressed in Equitable ways. But in other cases we've seen them addressed with violence and Vengeance and fury. Phimosis here is he went out and saw his people and one being greatly abused by an Egyptian slave master lost control. First 12 wearied he looked this way and that is he saw this Egyptian slave master beating one of the Hebrews Hennessy no one he struck down the Egyptian and hit him in the sand. Your Moses takes Justice into his own hands. He seeks Vengeance to be exact it. Perhaps not simply against this single man, but against the whole system that he saw so pressing his people but he did not strike out in a Godly way but in a vindictive and vengeful way and it changed the shape of his very life. He struck down the Egyptian and hit him in the sand. 20 went out the next day and behold to Hebrews we're struggling together and he said to the man in the wrong. Why do you strike your companion? He answered who made you a prince and a judge over us. Do you mean to kill me as you kill the Egyptian? Ben Moses was afraid I'd thought surely the thing is known. Which Pharaoh heard of it? He sought to kill Moses and Moses fled from pharaoh and staying in the land of Midian and he sat down by a wall. And you wonder if this pharaoh who sought Moses is life was his father-in-law or I mean that his his his father. So to speak is adopted grandfather or not. Clearly that grandfather probably was not the happiest camper when he saw Moses come around as he had been adopted by his daughter in the very season when he had issued an edict that each and every one of these Hebrew children had been killed and if it wasn't that grandfather of his then certainly it was another man who was aware of Moses's story. I can't imagine that Moses was well received in the Egyptian chords given his obvious Hebrew Heritage and this might have been the perfect opportunity as Moses finally cracked in light of the Injustice that his people were experiencing to exact Vengeance on Moses himself and cast him out. If not literally then take his very life and remove him from the Imperial Court. And when Farrell heard of what Moses had done, he sought to kill Moses but Moses knowing exactly what would take place fled from pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. until Moses left Egypt on the run and on the lam It's interesting when we try to take things into our own hands the consequences and results that can come about. Knowing the story that's before us. We know that one day God would use this very man to bring about the Deliverance of his people but this was not the season for it and it certainly was not the action for it has we study the scriptures. We've learned the gods relationship with the forerunners of Faith both the men and the women is not predicated on their own goodness or their own Justice or their own righteousness. And this is a perfect example Moses hiraks and a vengeful weight and the murder of this man in Cold Blood at least later on in the laws that God would give at Sinai it from Moses is very pin would have brought about Moses's death even on the basis of God's law had so Moses here is betrayed to be a sinner like anyone else. I know he thinks that he acts Injustice. He asked in a very unjust and ungodly way and yet God's hand is still upon him and we know this because I see floating down the river long before this act took place. God had shown his grace and mercy to Moses and marked him for a very specific future. But at this point in this life Moses is unaware of these things have any fleas the only country that he knew please his family is adopted mother they are in Pharaoh's court and he flees his real family and Miriam he knew that perhaps in his daily living and he left everything behind. We find him sitting there at a well very akin to all the different Patriarchs as we read their stories and find them going to a well to find a wife for another or to meet someone else. It's the Gathering Place of the community. And so they are in Midian Moses sit down at a well and not long after he arrives a group of shepherds calm and to his surprise one group of shepherds is made up not a young man, but of young women might even be as many as 7 young women taking care of these sheep and that would have been a unique site in those days and said they came to the well will where Moses was sitting they had to sit to try to get a place at the well to give water to their sheet. And of course in the midst of all these male Shepherds there they probably were used to to to giving drinks to their sheep last in the day, but it seems that Moses sitting there at the well ensure that they got their time at the well in a timely manner and Defended them and made a way for them. In fact, he began to help them water their flocks and until they returned and they told their father Jethro or Ruel what had taken place better be on there too. Well in Egyptian man headed made a way for them and care for their flocks Jethro was surprised that his daughters had gotten home so early they usually had to wait until the end of the afternoon before they were able to care for the flocks and return home and head Jethro asked his daughters if he was so gracious to you this Egyptian man, this Sojourner in our own land. Why didn't you invite him back this 222 House of hospitality and care. Will eventually they did find Moses and invite him back home and head Jethro open his home to Moses Jethro were told was the priest of Midian. We don't know for sure but some scholars believe that it's possible that Fitbit Jethro was a man who knew the Lord and Worship the Lord high priest of the Lord perhaps we're not certain but he opened his homework to Moses and not only did he open his home, but he gave one of his daughters to Moses in marriage. Her name was zipporah and Moses and zipporah had a child and they grew when they prospered in the land. Time passed again a great deal of time and they were not told it's been 40 years before we read the sentences from the next verse of scripture years. Did Moses spins in Midian caring for the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro kind of think back to the story and Jacob don't you as he cared for laban's flocks for 20 some years before he was able to leave with Moses is with Jethro twice. As long as Jacob is with Laban. I'm certain he thinks that his life will reach its fulfillment there in the pasture lands of Midian with his wife and sons and with the flock of his father-in-law and we don't get any sense that he's disappointed or despondent about that reality is probably resigned to the fact that this would be his life and how different it must have been there in the fields of Midian from the halls of Pharaoh's Palace and yet here he was Again, we don't get any inner dialogue for Moses over the course of these forty years nor of the course of the earlier for 2 years about he what he was thinking about all of this about whether or not he personally Twitter. He had developed a relationship with the Lord at all. If we get no word of that in the story that follows it seems that perhaps he had not developed a very robust relationship with the Lord over that time but things would change in remarkable ways in the moments that would follow take a look at me it with me at Exodus chapter 3 40 years have passed and Moses's now 80 years old. And here's what we read that Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro the priest of Midian any lettuce walk to the west side of the Wilderness and came to horrid the Mountain of God and the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of The Mists of a bush. He looked and behold the Bush was burning yet. It was not consumed and Moses said I will turn aside to see this great sight by the bushes. Not burn you can only imagine that meant that Moses had been on this playing around Mount Horeb countless times and he had seen bushes in the distance and had seen fires perhaps of bushes that would catch fire and then burn out but here is he cared for the flocks and looked into the distance he can see this fire that it continued hour upon hour. We're not sure how long until it never went out. It was a unique site that Moses had never seen in 40 Years of caring for the sheep in this pasture land is so she went to see what exactly was going on. And although Moses would not have imagined it. It was a Divine appointment the godhead set on the calendar even from the moments in which Moses's mother had placed him there in the Nile Banks. Moses said I will turn aside to see this great sight by the bushes not burned and when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God Called to him out of the Bush Moses Moses Moses said here. I am did he said do not come near take your sandals off your feet for the place on which you are standing is Holy Ground, and he said I am the god of your father the god of Abraham the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob and Moses hand his face for he was afraid to look at God. Stop and think for a moment. I'm not sure what you think of when you think of the story of Moses. I don't know what kind of an image you have of this man. You don't you think of Moses from the perspective of what will unfold as he goes before pharaoh and proclaims the words of the Lord has as the plagues fall upon the land of Egypt Moses boldly tells the truth and tells God's words to the most powerful man in the world Teddy take God's people out from Egypt with simply a staff in his hand as the seas are part before him and he moves them across into the very outskirts of the promised land. You might picture Moses as this young Road Boston strong man a great leader as we kind of imagined leaders to be but I want to challenge your thinking on that. Here at this point in his life Moses is 80 years old. Do you have anyone here and in and worship today whose 80 years old are in you guys 60 years old raise your hand if you're 60 years old at least my Gomez. Okay. Yeah years old 75 years old. 7677 Gina Court. How old are you? I don't even know how to keep going, right. And if you stop and think about the wife of Moses, do you realize that he was 80 years old at this moment? But it wasn't until he was 80 years old, but he was ready for God to use him in the way that he intended. For some of you here today for some of you listening you might have 10 more years to go before you have any used to God. What's the how do you sometimes we think that the call of God in our life will blossom in our strength in our youth it will shape the course of our vocation that will shape the course of our life, but that was not the case for Moses had 50s 60s 70s and get God knew who he was and it marked him from the very moment that he was born and yet God's calling his wife would not come until his 80th year in the midst of that field twin Moses. Probably thought that the great majority of his life was not before him but behind him. This is the moment in which God calls Moses to one of the most challenging tasks that any one in the scriptures will ever face Dave. What do you think? Can you imagine the Navy in 15 years? The Lord might come in and press something upon your heart is greater than anything that you could ever imagine or ever dream up. This is the picture that we get head. If we see from the wife of Moses will learn more about the Lord and the Lord's relationship with this man in in in in in in terms of Understanding God's relationship with Moses in in in River ghost in Understanding God's intent for his relationship with us. We'll learn more about the Lord from the life of this 80 year old man, then we will have from the life of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph as we walk along side of what Moses will experience in the time ahead. So God Appears to Moses is 8 year old man whose Life seems to be washed up seems that the best years of his were behind him and God Appears and changes all of that. The Lord said to Moses 47 surely seen the Affliction of my people who are in Egypt and I've heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know they're suffering and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians had to bring them up out of that land to a good and broadland. It goes on at Towson come I will send you the Pharaoh verse 10 that you may bring my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. doubt Can you imagine what's going through his mind at this moment a few minutes before he was simply watering and caring for the sheep in the middle of a field that he had been in probably hundreds of times over the course of those forty years. He simply went to sightsee is this bush burned and didn't go out and and see what kind of natural phenomenon might be taking place and encounter the Living God. In a way that he had never encountered. the Lord before and God tells Moses in that moment that he's going to call Moses to return to Egypt. How many times did Moses thought about Egypt in the years that had passed by and return to Egypt not simply to re-establish relationships with those that he loves but to re-enter the very courts of pharaoh from which he had been expelled. And not just to go again to renew the relationship with those extended family members there in Pharaoh's Court to go to demand that Ferrell release God's people from their chains that they might follow the lord into the promised land. Can you imagine what Moses mother must have fought in those few moments of all the people that God could have called Moses alone would have known the extent of the power of Pharaoh's armies. His grandfather would have been the Commander in Chief of the greatest military force that the world had ever seen. I can only believe it at times his grandfather may very well and taking them out to observe those military conquest or or that the military practice that would take place as they staged in prepared for battle Moses knew the strength of Egypt. And yet the Lord was calling this 80 year old man to walk in the very courts of pharaoh and demand the Pharaoh the greatest man in the world. Let God's people go into is not his response is not surprising during chapter 3 verse 11

But I should go to pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. He said but I will be with you and this shall be the sign for you that I have sent you when you have brought the people out of Egypt You Shall Serve God on this very Mountain the god of your fathers has sent me to you and they asked me what is his name? What shall I say to them? God said to Moses I am who I am. It's the name of the Lord that you find in the scriptures. I'm not sure as you read and as you study you run across the word Lord in your Bible and sometimes Brayden observed this just last week as we were reading up one of the stories of Genesis. He said Dad the word Lord all the letters are capitalized. What does that mean? Well, that's the way that the translators are telling you that this is the personal name of God the name that God revealed to Moses there at the burning bush. It's the name Yahweh. It's often been pronounced Jehovah, but the Hebrew is much closer to Yahweh. I am that I am is the very words that Jesus would use later when he said I am the light of the world. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the way and the truth and the life and even as Jesus is here is recognized what he was referring to this is the place that the Lord discloses. Himself, not only to Moses which of the children of the people that he has called now. What's interesting here is if you remember the stories that we've already studied. Do you remember when Jacob wrestled with God at the Ford of the Jabbok River he wrestled with God and at the end of that wrestling match with Jacob said to God was tell me your name and God's response to Jacob was why do you need to know my name and then moved on from there and yet here in this moment not in the midst of a wrestling match that was initiated by a man. But in the midst of an encounter that was initiated by God God Reveals His name and his character and his compassion our relationship that he would establish not only with Moses and with his people that would define their future from this point forward. I am who I am. The theologians believe that this name expresses that the self existence and sovereignty of God that he is. He's not dependent upon his creatures or his creation for his life, but he is I am who I am. And God said to Moses say to this people of Israel. I am has sent you. Scott also said to Moses say this to the people of Israel the Lord the god of your fathers the god of Abraham the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob has sent me to you. This is my name forever and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. And what is God remind Moses to tell the people of Israel think he is the god of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. This is the god of Adam and Eve gave a promise that one day. He would redeem them from slavery not simply to a political Master afero, but From Slavery to sin and death itself. I don't think it would surprise us what we find in the verses that follow. But what we find is the heart of a man who is overwhelmed by the call of God on his life. Take a look at it. Exodus chapter 4 with me as we find Moses's response to God's call on his life. Moses answered but behold they will not believe me or listen to my voice for they will say if the Lord did not appear to you the Lord said to him. What is that in your hand? He said a staff the Lord said throw it on the ground. So Moses threw it on the ground and it became a serpent head Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses put out your hand and catch it by the tail so he put out his hand and caught it and it became a staff in his hand. We supposed to catch a snake by the tail is that the best place to catch a snake know it's not the God was demonstrating to Moses his power and his might a miracle that would serve as a sign to Faroe and to his core. The god of their fathers of Abraham Isaac and Jacob has appeared to you and the Lord said again in verse 6 put your hand inside of your cloak Moses put his hand inside of his cloak and we took it out the hold his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said put your hand back inside of your cloak. So he put his hand back inside of his cloak and we took it out behold. It was restored like the rest of his flash if they will not believe you God said or listen to the first sign that they may believe the ladder shinehead back. God went on to tell Moses that if he didn't believe he needs to sign the dog would give him the power to turn the Nile itself to blood before their very eyes. Moses would not go empty-handed to Pharaoh, but he would go with the power of God and his back with signs and wonders that could not be questioned although Fairwood question many of them and that God would break the back of pharaoh because Fairwood hardened his heart to become on of the Lord. And it even the power of this great God that his back was not enough to give Moses this 80 Romance the confidence to accomplish this task. And I hate to say it but I'm not surprised snowing is he did Pharaoh in his cord in his power How could a few parlor tricks convinced the most powerful man in the world to the dispossessed himself of his greatest servant Force. So Moses raises a key issue with the Lord in the verses that follow Moses said to the Lord. Oh my Lord. I am not eloquent either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue. What's processing with God was calling him to do he was picturing what he has seen in Pharaoh's Court as envoys from different kingdoms came to Faroe and stood before the greatest. Most powerful men in the world, not simply Fair Oaks, but all of his cabinet and his leaders and his generals and is those envoys from those different nations would come they would have to speak before Pharaoh it took to present their questions or their demands or their request. How many times did Moses seen even a bold and courageous man foiled in the face of pharaoh turn into a puddle of water before him and lose his words and and lose his his focus and and Moses realize that though it had some of the greatest courses in speech and and articulation from the Egyptian schoolmasters. He had never succeeded in those areas. He was slow to speech some believe that perhaps he had a stutter and is he pictured himself there and is pharaohs quartz delivering the word of God that this great man in the midst of that overwhelming circumstances. He couldn't picture himself able to convey God's words. It wouldn't matter what signs and Powers the Lord set behind his back because his mouth would fail him in the moment. With an honest concern and it listen to how the Lord response by Lord. I am not eloquent even the past or since you have spoken to your servant. I am Legion of tongue. Then the Lord said to Moses. Who has made man's mouth? who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind is it not I the Lord now therefore go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.

And if you out here are young compared to Moses? When you think about the fact that the Lord Called Moses at 80 years old to go do this very task little bit challenging perhaps a little bit scary. If you take this story, seriously. It's like any one of us as he's confronted with God's call on his life recognizes his own shortcomings and his own weaknesses. He thinks to himself and probably very reasonably. So there's no way I can do what you're asking me to do. Oh Lord. But I look at the even the gifts that you have given me their inadequate to the task that you have set before me. But God does not call the capable. He equips those that he calls him. The Lord says something to Moses that we all have to take into account his response to Moses's statement. I don't speak clearly. I can't accomplish. This task is Moses. Who do you think made the mouse? Who do you think shapes the tongue? Who do you think provides the ability to speak? There's not a single insufficiency or inadequacy or in confidence that you have that I cannot work through heater to overcome two completely or do I allow you to use for the sake of my glory? Do not need to fear Moses that you will be inadequate because I will be with you. Hostess responsive courses great Lord, send me now. I'm ready to go. No interest 12 we read words that sadly we probably would have offered ourselves. Moses said in response to the Lord. Oh my Lord. Please send someone else. Have you ever told that to the Lord when he called you to do something in your life that you were either too overwhelmed or too busy or to an adequate or perhaps in your own mind and confidence to do the things that God called you to do? Yeah, we need not fear because of God calls us then he will Empower us to do what he's called us to do. It's a we read words that are a little bit challenging in the moments that follow verse 14 in the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said is there not air in your brother the Levi? I know that he can speak well and behold he is coming out to meet you and when he sees you he will be glad in this heart you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and we'll teach you both what to do. He shot speak for you to the people and he shall be your mouth and you shall be as God to him to take your staff in your hand the staff by which you shall do these signs. And so we read in the verses that follow that Moses went and shared with his father-in-law what he had seen. Big God the Lord had appeared to him there in that familiar pastureland head that. Very God the father of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph the father of his mother who pray that the Lord will watch over him as he set as she set him into the banks of the Nile the father of the God who was at the God who watched over him as he grew up in the house of pharaoh that very God had called him to return to Egypt to deliver God's people this time in God's name from there slavery. To redeem them from the hand of pharaoh. And so Jethro encourages Moses to go and Moses sets for on an adventure that would change his life in the life of his people forever. So what's the takeaway from a story like this? Well in some sense, it's kind of a scary story. The idea that God can call us at any point.

Tackle missions that we might never imagine we could tackle. It's the challenge to be open to the reality that the Lord God Almighty is greater than any weakness that we proceed. Hit the recognition that there is no season in your life in which the Lord cannot use you in Mighty ways. It's the realization that our best days are not behind us when we walk with the Lord, but that our best days are before us. You see a burning bush On Your Horizon. Have you been taking your eyes up from your daily tasks to look to see what that Horizon looks like. Each and everyone of you are not unaware of who the Lord is but you know him by name this name that he shared with Moses on this date is the name that marks your life because of what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. That's why I encourage you on the other side of the story even tonight even this week to ask the lord lord. What would you have of me? Is my focus where it should be am I looking at sheep and sheepdog and and sheep wool when I should be looking on the horizon for what you're calling me to do. Have I fool myself into thinking my dad best days are behind me. And turn my face from you. The one who is made my best days before me because they're the days that I will walk with you and faithfulness the story of Moses. This faithful 4Runner is a challenging story to us of a God who never stops loving us and never intends to stop using us for his goodness. And for his glory in the lives of those pretty Place places around us. We think a little bit about the story of Moses. We think of what that story ultimately brought about. The salvation of the world of those who place their faith in Jesus Christ Moses, of course would return to Faroe and God would deliver his people from their chains. It was a story that has never been forgotten in the history of the world and yet it was not the heart of the Gospel. But it was a picture of what an even greater deliver would do. Moses says we'll see next week returns to Egypt and because of the might and power of God Pharaoh relent and releases God's people from their bondage. But Pharaoh is not the key adversary in the storyline of scripture. Satan is and death that sell henna savior God sent is not simply meant to release us from political change, but intended to releases from the very chance of sin and death. And so Jesus Christ came The Great. I Am Not a messenger that he spent but it is very own flesh. God took up Flash and he dwelt Among Us and he came as Our Redeemer in The Flash and he laid down his life in that very Flash and during God's Wrath against our sin that the chains of sin might be broken in the bonds of death might be shattered once and for all It was on that night is Jesus Christ. Our true Redeemer told his disciples to remember what he would do because it would change their very lives. Oh Lord, Jesus on the night. He was betrayed took bread and we need to give him thanks. He broke it and said this is my body, which is for you do this in remembrance of me. In the same way after supper. He took the cup. I think this cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. The power of Moses was demonstrated through a staff that turned into a serpent and threw a hand in his cloak that turn left wrist through water in the Nile that turn to blood. With the power of Jesus Christ was demonstrated when God raised him from the dead. I need to clear to his disciples on that very night. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to God the Father except through me we could never know the truth will mess up those words in the fullness of their truthfulness until we saw that empty tomb because when the father raised his son from the dead the greatest sign that the world has ever seen sealed the truthfulness and faithfulness of God's one and only son who laid down his own life by his own blood for our Redemption, but have a word of prayer before we celebrate communion. Gracious and holy God we give you thanks for who you are for your faithfulness through the generations from Abraham and Isaac and Jacob Joseph and Moses and Joshua and the list goes on all the way down to Mary and Joseph that you took on flesh not sending or Redeemer, but coming in your own person to redeem your people from their sin. And so we celebrate today Lord because we truly have been redeemed the bonds of Saint death. I've been Shattered by your might and power and we have been reconciled to you. And so we call on your name as the Lord The Great. I Am as our father as our God and as our friend But we thank you for your love for us that we do not deserve it and we give thanks as we celebrate and remember your Mighty acts of Deliverance not from a pharaoh, but from our greatest enemy Satan and sin and death itself and pray all these things in Jesus name. Amen. Covenant, we practice and open communion, which means if you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and celebrate what the Lord has done for us. If you didn't have the opportunity to confess your sin during our time of confession if they're still a chain that grips to an ankle then break it free today and call upon the name of the Lord to deliver you. If you confess your sin, then spend this time reflecting on what God has done for you here in in our service today. You guys know how to use are you little communion packets? So we'll come open it up and celebrate together. If you're joining us at home. I'll encourage you to just to pray as we celebrate what God has done for us. And so let's go ahead and do just that. the body of Christ broken for you

the precious blood of Christ shed for you as well.

tangible reminders signs and seals of the Deliverance that Jesus Christ brought as we celebrate What the Lord Has Done let stand together and sing wholeheartedly are closing song.