Exodus 12:42-15:21

Rescue form Egypt completed

Overview

• Introduction

• Being part of God’s covenant people

• Life as God’s covenant people

• Worshipping as God’s covenant people

• So what?

Introduction

• Continuing themes• God’s sovereignty and foreknowledge• God tells Moses what will happen in advance• God’s power• Pharaoh's hardness of heart and God’s

hardening of Pharaoh’s heart• God’s judgment• God’s love for and protection of Israel• God keeping His promises• God displaying His glory and power

Being part of God’s covenant people

• Distinction between those who are under the covenant and those who are not

• Visitors, proselytes of the gate and proselytes of the covenant

• No-one was irreversibly excluded• But commitment was required

• Feast of unleavened bread• Pilgrimage and corruption

• Sign and reminder• Teach your children

So what?

• It matters where you stand in relation to God’s covenant (promise)• Anyone can come into relationship with God• We must play by God’s rules

• Signs and reminders are good• Superstition and ritual aren’t!

Life as God’s covenant people

• God gently stretched their faith• Didn’t the them to war• Did allow Pharaoh to persue

• They kept their promise

• Yahweh went before them visibly

• God tested Pharaoh • Pharaoh changed his mind (God hardened

his heart)

Life as God’s covenant people• The Israelites response

• Terror – Cried out to God – turned on Moses

• Moses’ response• Don’t be afraid – stand firm – see deliverance

• God’s response• Move forward• Yahweh moves behind, between Israel and

Egypt• The people had to step out in faith

• The Lord looked down on Pharaoh• The Lord defeated Egypt

So what?

• The Lord tests us for our good

• God is always with us

• Do we respond to trials with faith?

• God protects his people

• God asks us to step out in faith

Worshipping as God’s covenant people

• When the people saw God at work:• They feared the Lord• They put their trust in the Lord• They accepted Moses leadership • they worshipped and praised Him

• This does not sit comfortably with our “cultural sensitivities• We need to look at life from God’s

perspective

So what?

• How do we respond to the mighty works of God?• Do we truly fear the Lord• Do we trust the Lord• Do we praise the Lord

• How do we deal with situations that show that God looks at things differently to us

Today’s take- away

• Do you have a relationship with God?

• How do we respond to the trials that God sends?• Do we see them as for our growth and good?

• Do we trust and fear God

• Are we willing to submit to God’s way of doing things?

Comments and questions