18: Living by Faith - part 4 (Hebrews 11:28-31) + Communion

Years ago one of my boys did something he thought would get him in a bunch of trouble. So, rather than tell us the truth, he lied to us. After some investigative work it became obvious we weren’t getting the whole truth. When I pressed for the truth and demonstrated I knew he was lying, my son would not submit and get honest.

Several minutes later he approached and said, “I’m sorry.”

I asked, “Sorry for what?”

He responded, “I sorry I lied to you.”

Then, as we have taught our kids, he asked, “Will you forgive me?”

I pulled him to me and whispered, “I forgave you before you asked.” You see, I was WANTING and WILLING to forgive him before he even approached to confess his sin.

Good parents are gracious to forgive when their children humble themselves, admit their disobedience, and ask for mercy. So too, as we will discover today, the ancient accounts point us to our graciousness of Heavenly Father, who is willing and wanting to forgive those who turn to Him. And contrary to what you might think - regardless of the degree of your disobedience - you haven’t gone too far for God’s Grace!

PRAY

Last week we concluded talking about the much appreciated Moses, who

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible.

He chose to go through the tough times rather than enjoy the riches and pleasures of Egypt. BUT WHY? As we have said MANY times over the last 3 weeks in Hebrews 11.

Genuine faith is living like God exists and God rewards those who seek Him.

And so today, we pick up where we left off - with Moses obeying God in Egypt. God had already unleashed 9 plagues that showed the impotence of the Pharaoh and Egypts false gods. It was this last plague that would finally break Pharaoh’s will and force him to let the people go.

Hebrews 11:28 By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.

These people did what God said BEFORE they saw God fulfill His promise to them. They simply obeyed what God said, TRUSTING that He was going to do what He said He was going to do. Through Moses, God commanded the Hebrew people to

choose an unblemished sheep or goat and

the entire community would slaughter them at twilight and then

smear some of the blood on the doorposts and lintel of the houses.

Then they were to roast and eat the meat with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Any part of the animal they couldn’t eat, they were to burn. Further, God then gives these instructions:

Exodus 12:11-13 Here is how you must eat it: You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is [Yahweh’s] the LORD’s Passover.

I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I am [Yahweh] the LORD; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt.

The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

And sure enough, that night, the death angel killed the firstborn of the Egyptians while God fulfilled His promise to PASSOVER the Hebrews who had obeyed His command to wipe the blood on the doorposts.

The Egyptian households wept in anguish over the death of the first-born - including Pharaoh, who told the Hebrew people to leave Egypt! And they did (Ex 12:29-40).

But, just a few days later, the Egyptians realized their slave labor was now gone and they pursued the Hebrews to get them back. Meanwhile, God told the Hebrew people to hold up and camp close to the sea, setting Pharaoh and the Egyptians up for destruction (Ex 14:1-4).

When the Egyptians got closer in their 600 chariots the Hebrew people thought it was the end of their lives (Ex 14:5-12). Here was their response:

Exodus 14:11–12 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

It was then that Moses told them,

Exodus 14:13–14 (LEB) “You must not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will accomplish for you today, because the Egyptians whom you see today you will see never again. Yahweh will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

And then it happened…the waters opened up and...

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.

Seeing this wall of water on 2 sides would have been amazing, but it still would have taken faith for these people to step in (Ex 14:21-22). They trusted God and crossed the sea bed that had become “dry ground” (Ex 14:22), while God destroyed the Egyptians as the water wall collapsed and they were drowned.

40 years later, due to the peoples’ disobedience, Moses and the older generations had died and the younger generation obeyed God and finally crossed into the Promised Land. With no battle experience God told them to go to Jericho and follow these strange instructions.

Joshua 6:3–5 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the rams’ horns. When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the troops give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the troops will advance, each man straight ahead.

And that’s what they did. And...

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days.

God showed His power and brought destruction on Jericho.

The massive walls fell and the Hebrews destroyed the fortress,

but...God and the Hebrews showed grace to a woman we wouldn’t expect to be in the “Hall of Faith”. Earlier when Joshua sent 2 spies to Jericho to check it out, someone recognized these Hebrew men, who hid in Rahab’s home. Hebrews tells us more about this.

Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Rather than turn these enemies in when the investigators sent by the king of Jericho showed up, Rahab welcomed the spies and hid them in her home. Why? Here’s her reasoning.

Joshua 2:9–11 (LEB)

I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away in fear because of your presence. For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you went out from Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. We heard this, and our hearts melted, and no courage was left in anyone because of your presence. For Yahweh your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Because she protected them, the Hebrew spies made a deal with her - to save her family when the battle ensued. And that’s exactly what they did. And so...

Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Her trust in the God she had never known is forever honored in the “Hall of Faith”. Rahab’s example of faith is also mentioned in the New Testament writing of James 2:25. Further, Rahab’s name is mentioned somewhere else…Matthew chapter 1 opens with the family tree of Jesus and look whose name we find!

Matthew 1:5-6a (CSB)

Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David.

So get this! Rahab, formerly a pagan prostitute and enemy from Jericho - became the great, great grandmother of King David. A non-Hebrew puts her faith in Yahweh, the One true God, and becomes an example of FAITH for others to follow!

You think YOU have gone too far for God’s grace? NOPE!

And this leads us back to the very first passage we looked at today, as the Hebrew people obeyed God to sacrifice the unblemished lamb or goat and place its blood on their doors.

The blood of the unblemished sacrificed 1) protected them from God’s wrath and 2) released them from bondage.

Over 1400 years later, Jesus eats the Passover meal with His disciples and transforms the meal to show the HE IS the UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICE that 1) protects us from God’s wrath and 2) releases us from the bondage of sin.

Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand what He meant until AFTER His death, burial, and resurrection. It was then that the death and resurrection of Jesus became their eternal hope. They no longer trusted in their good works to make them right with God. They trusted in Jesus good works! He lived a perfect life and then died a wicked death…to PAY for their sin!…and for ours!

If you will TURN from your sin and TURN to Jesus - recognizing that He made the ultimate sacrifice for you, you WILL be forgiven and set free!

Your staff and deacons would LOVE to talk with you about that more as soon as we are finished today.

Communion

Today we conclude by celebrating what Jesus has done for us as we too, like the 1st followers of Jesus, consume the bread and juice as we REMEMBER what Jesus has done for us AND BY FAITH, trust in the future promises of what is coming.

Our deacons will now pass out the bread and juice, and as the do, let’s remember this warning that the apostle Paul wrote about this sacred moment.

1 Corinthians 11:27–30 (CSB)

So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

Let’s take a moment to prepare ourselves…let’s pray.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (CSB)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25 (CSB)

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 (CSB)

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

You see...

Communion celebrates the past payment and the future promise of Jesus.

PRAY (Band comes up)

He forgave us much and He’s coming back!

Jesus Paid it All! (in song)