God's Mighty Hand

Text: Exodus 12:29-43, 50, 51

Introduction

Illustration: One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.

Even though Christians have access to God’s omnipotence, if we do not avail ourselves to it we will run out of power.

1) God’s Mighty Hand Of Death (vv29-30)

This is largely a hand of vengeance to recompence to Pharaoh what they did to many of the Jewish boys when Moses was born.

Have you ever though how many lives would have been spared if Pharaoh would have heeded God’s command?

The reach of God’s wrathful hand is not shortened by wealth, prominence, position, etc.

Those who were touched by death fell into what is called the “valley of decision.”

There were no neighbors to be called on. All of Egypt was grieving their own experience of death in their family.

APPLICATION

Let us learn quickly to tremble before God and render reverence to His judgements!

Psalm 119:120 (KJV 1900) — 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments.

Also, be thankful for daily preservation God’s hand places upon you and your family.

Do you really understand how exposed you are to all that could bring harm to you?

2) God’s Mighty Hand Of Deliverance (vv31-36)

A. A fear of God finally arrived (vv31-33)

Remember back when Pharaoh actually thought he could sell a compromise to God.

Pharaoh has now lost (after much personal loss) any prideful effort to offer capitulation.

(v31) In other words, “Get out of here!”

There was a time when Pharaoh looked on them with hate, now he looks on them with fear.

(v32) “…and bless me.”

APPLICATION

You would be wise to meet God’s terms quickly.

God will never come down to your terms.

(v31) “serve the Lord as you have said.”

God’s word will stand and not one soul will ever gain anything by trying to dispute it or delay in submitting to it!

Those who are enemies of God and his church will one day be made to recognize how much of an enemy they were to themselves.

B. Their promised provisions fulfilled (vv35-36)

There was no problem in the Egyptians handing over their wealth.

They would give anything to get them gone.

Psalm 146:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

Proverbs 13:22 (KJV 1900) — 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Job 27:16–17 (KJV 1900) — 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.

C. God’s mighty hand moved the masses (vv37-41)

Notice verse 37!

Some would consider a total number of 1.2 million left in the exodus.

A vast difference from the small 70 people who came to Egypt.

How could such a group get ready so quickly?

(v39) Their perspective about their soon departure assisted them to make a speedy departure.

They did not defer to wait for a more convenient time.

Illustration: Have you ever set a time to leave the next day but still be late leaving the house???

In light of their liberty, their meal of unleavened bread was the best tasting meal of their life.

APPLICATION

As they were, you should not be anchored to your conveniences, but rather be happy in your less comfort than neglect or delay service to your GREAT GOD!

Notice (v41): 430 years to the day God promised Abraham from him would come a great nation

APPLICATION

You and I might consider God slow to fulfill His promises, but He is actually very punctual to the greater accomplishment; REDEEMING A PEOPLE TO HIMSELF.

3) God’s Mighty Hand To Remember (v42, v51)

The destruction of Egypt and the deliverance of Israel was certainly to be remembered!

Only those truly of Israel could partake in the feast which God designed for them to remember what He had done.

APPLICATION

Yes, the first passover was to be celebrated, but the last passover night is to be much more celebrated!

As Matthew Henry puts it, “When a yoke heavier than that of Egypt was broken from off our necks......That was a temporal deliverance to be celebrated in their generation; this is an eternal redemption to be celebrated in the praises of glorious saints, world without end.”

Conclusion

My friends, we can only credit our own eternal salvation to God’s mighty hand of grace.

Only God’s mighty hand can bring you complete deliverance that lacks nothing!

On who’s strength are you trusting your soul and life too?