God's Plan and Our Perspective

Exodus is an epic tale of fire, sand, wind, and water. The adventure takes place under the hot desert sun, just beyond the shadow of the Great Pyramids. There are two mighty nations—Israel and Egypt—led by two great men—Moses the liberating hero and Pharaoh the enslaving villain. Almost every scene is a masterpiece: the baby in the basket; the burning bush; the river of blood and the other plagues; the angel of death; the crossing of the Red Sea; the manna in the wilderness; the water from the rock; the thunder and lightning on the mountain; the Ten Commandments; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night; the golden calf; the glory in the tabernacle.Once heard, the story is never forgotten. For Jews it is the story that defines their very existence, the rescue that made them God’s people. For Christians it is the gospel of the Old Testament, God’s first great act of redemption. We return to the exodus again and again, sensing that somehow it holds significance for the entire human race. It is the story that gives every captive the hope of freedom. Thus it was only natural for African-American slaves—many of whom were Christians—to understand their captivity as a bondage in Egypt and to long for the day when they would be “free at last.” The exodus shows that there is a God who saves, who delivers his people from bondage.

Our Imperfect Circumstances Are Part of God’s Perfect Plan

The book of Exodus is apart of a much larger story that God is telling through the first five books of the Bible. These first five books are referred to by Jesus in Mark’s gospel as “the book of Moses.” And then again in Luke 24, Jesus called these books the “Law of Moses” or the Torah…the Hebrew word for Law. These books have been referred to throughout church history as “The Pentateuch.” Coming from two Greek words, Penta the greek word for the number-five, and teuchos the greek word for book. So—the first 5 books of the Bible.

Let’s go ahead and rep that together real quick...

These five books tell one big story. In fact, it would even be fair to say that Exodus begins with the ending of Genesis.

Exodus 1:1 (ESV)

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

The way the New American Standard Bible translates this passage is actually the most accurate reading of this passage,

Exodus 1:1 (NASB95)

1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

(3) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

(4) Dan and Naphtali,

Gad and Asher.

All of the decendents of Jacob were seventy persons;

Joseph was already in Egypt.

Its easy for us to miss the point of what is happening in this passage.

The story of Genesis ends with the family of Joseph was put in a position of power and authority over the estate of the Egyptian Pharoah. Genesis 47: 6 tells us that they were given the land of Goshen—the best plot of land in all of Egypt.

And in that land they began to increase and multiply. This is nothing short of a miraculous work of God…But you will miss the miracle if you dont know the story…The story starts way back in Genesis chapter 12, where God took one man and one woman, Abraham and Sarah…two people that were well beyond childbearing age, and he promised them that he would make them into a mighty nation.

Genesis 15:1–6 ESV

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Abraham then goes to Sarah, his wife, who is almost 100 years old at this point…and tells her, “Baby…I got a word from the Lord…he told me that we are going to have a baby and from that child he was going to make our offspring become more numerous than the stars in the sky...” And guess what Sarah’s response is? She laughs. Literally, “HA! You're funny old man…We arent having any babies…I dont know if you realize this…but that isnt possible…and then…low and behold…Sarah gets pregnant and they have a child who’s name is Issac....

And then Issac gets married to Rebekah...and they have two sons: Jacob and Esau…Jacob steals his brother’s inheritance…then he goes on to attempt to marry a woman named Rachel…but after their honeymoon he wakes up to see that he somehow didn't marry Rachel but married her sister Leah instead…(How that exactly happens, I’m not sure…but I think it would make a good reality TV show).

And then he goes on to marry her sister, Rebekah anyway…alll while he’s married to Leah too…its like the original story of Sister Wives...

As you might imagine…this family is just an absolute train wreck. This family would have made “Keeping up With the Kardashian’s” look mild by comparison.

And yet…what we see is that through this dysfunction family…God shows himself to be faithful to His promises. He builds their family…and in-spite of every obstacle and challenge that these people bring upon themselves, God had made a promise…and he was fulfilling that promise to these people…

They started with one child of promise way back in Genesis 15. And by the end, they enter into Egypt with 70…God was fulfilling his promises.

But the story takes a really abrupt turn...read it with me again

Exodus 1:1–6 (ESV)

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

So wait a minute…the people are finally starting to see the promises of God come true in their life…and then we read this...Remember last week when I told you that the Exodus journey is a picture of our journey in life?

This is where this story starts looking like real life…because there are times in our lives where we finally feel like we start making headway spiritually…only to be met with an obstacle…only to be met with imperfect circumstances.

Sometimes God’s plan just doesnt work out the way we would like for it to.

This is what happens in the lives of the people of Israel.

And this is what happens in our life.

Sometimes, imperfect circumstances of life just kicks us right in the teeth doesn't it?

This happened to me when I was 18…i had graduated from highschool…and moved off to college to play football for the university I had grown to love…life was going good…for all of about 3 weeks…and then…out of nowhere…my brother has a car wreck…he’s in the hospital for a month…and then he dies.

Imperfect Circumstance...

And all of us face these in life.

It looks different for all of us…but all of us experience the imperfect circumstances side of life eventually…

And in those moments…our temptation is to wonder if maybe God has just given up on us…or to think that maybe we are being punished for some sin...

But the reality is…that by the grace and mercy of God…even through those moments…God is at work. His good and perfect plans arent thwarted by imperfect circumstances...

It was true in the lives of the people of Israel…and it is true for our lives as well.

You see…we will face imperfect circumstances in this life...

You will get bad news...

People that we love will pass away...

Things will look like they arent working out...

But here is the hope that we find in this passage this morning…and its the second point...

God is Working His Plan, Built Upon His Promises

Keep reading in this passage: starting in verse 5:

Exodus 1:5–7 (ESV)

5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

...There’s the imperfect circumstance...

7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

You see…when the people of God enter into Exodus…they come in with 70 people who all die…but when they leave…they leave numbering in the millions...

What is the point?

God was keeping his promise...

God was working his plan...

God was fulfilling His covenant...

Yes…challenges come along the way…for the next 40 years, the people of Israel are going to be enslaved...But through those imperfect circumstances God was working his promised plan...

God would raise up a Redeemer named Moses who, through the miraculous work of God, would deliver His people from their imperfect circumstances…and would lead them into His presence.

And this is exactly what God has done for us..

You see…all of us face imperfect circumstances in this life…we all run into challenges and face unpredictable…and sometimes even terrible situations...

But God has done for us exactly what he did for these people…even in the midst of our imperfect circumstances…God has raised up a Redeemer...Jesus Christ…who came to set his people free from their imperfect circumstances we face in life.

Jesus is God’s perfect plan…and this story of the Exodus…it is our story because the story points us to the reality of Jesus…who is our truer and better Moses…who has come to save His people from the imperfection that happens to them…and the imperfection that is IN them...

Can I just share something with you....your hope for the imperfect circumstances you face wont be found anywhere else but in Jesus...

Not in family

Not in friends

Not in a girlfriend or boyfriend

Not in your husband our wife

Not in your bank account...

Your hope friend…is Jesus Christ…who is your only Redeemer.

It was Jesus who told us that we would face imperfect circumstances, saying “In this life you will have trouble...”

So there it is…We will face imperfect circumstances....

… “In this life you will have trouble…but take heart…” Arent you glad that Jesus didnt stop there… “Hey guys…bad times are coming…but take heart! Just take heart!”

No…what Jesus said is this… “Take heart…for I have overcome the world.”

Our imperfections…those we face…and those that exist as a result of our sin in our own hearts…have an expiration date…Jesus has overcome them...

And the question for us this morning is…have we taken heart in Him.

Have we allowed Him to be our Redeemer...

Are you trusting Him today? Are you hoping in Christ today?

You see church…Our imperfect Circumstances…they are part of the perfect plan of God...

And the perfect plan of God is to use those imperfect circumstances to show us the perfect provision that we have in Christ....if we will by faith…but trust Him.