Pastor Josh Weisbrod – October 6, 2019

Key Idea: The book of Exodus centers on a relationship between God and man, and gives us a greater perspective of what Jesus has done for us. // Key Passage: Exodus 1:1-22; 2:1-10

SUMMARY: The God of the book of Exodus is the same God of today—a God of promise, a God of faithfulness, a God of mercy, and a God of goodness.

TEACHING:

In the opening of Exodus, the writer connects to the story of Joseph as it ended at the end of Genesis. He connects to the promise and covenant given to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, a vast population increase, a long family lineage, etc. Remember what God promised to our father’s fathers. (Genesis 12)
Joseph went from second in command of Egypt in the book of Genesis to the Hebrew people being enslaved in Egypt at the beginning of Exodus. How did that happen? A new pharaoh came to power that didn’t know Joseph. The Hebrew people had prospered and they looked like the people the new ruler overthrew. To the new ruler, the Hebrew people had different skin color, a different language, a different God, and different customs. Out of fear, the new ruler oppressed and enslaved the Hebrew people, however, the Hebrew people continued to grow in numbers. That’s where we pick up the story in Exodus.
- God is a covenant maker.
  - God made a promise to Abraham. Even though Egypt tried to contain and oppress the Hebrew people, they continued to grow. People groups don’t grow under oppression; however, God is a covenant maker and a covenant keeper.
  - God is committed to do what He said he would do when he made a covenant with Abraham to make him the father of a great nation.
  - Exodus affirms the covenant/promise God made.
  - Galatians 3:27-29
- God is greater than everything else.
  - Exodus 1:15-22 Midwives refused to kill the Hebrew babies as the Egyptian ruler commanded because they knew it was wrong. The midwives saved generations by staying faithful to God and God gave them their own families.
  - God is greater than oppression and darkness, and greater than anything else.
- God is a deliverer.
  - Exodus 2:1-10 Moses is born and hid then found by the pharaoh’s daughter.
  - Moses, who should have been killed, was place in a basket in the river and then found by pharaoh’s daughter, who drew him out of the water. She asked a servant girl to get a woman to nurse him for pay until he was old enough. She ran to get Moses’ real mother to nurse him until he was old enough.
  - God raises up the deliverer for the Hebrew people out of the hands of the “god of the Nile” into the hands of the living God.
  - God’s people were not meant to live in slavery.
  - Everything in the Exodus story points to Jesus Christ. Explore the parallels between Moses in the book of Exodus and the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ, in the book of Matthew.

Conclusion

The book of Exodus is about God with Us—Emmanuel. God has established our identity and came to bring us hope and deliverance. God is greater than everything we might face.

Reflection:

Throughout the week in your own time with the Lord, you can use these reflection questions as a way to deepen your relationship with God. Reflect on these questions in the presence of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to shine a light into your heart.

1) Sometimes we can believe that God will keep His promises to others, but we struggle believing God will keep His promise to us, personally. Oftentimes it is because we have been on the receiving end of broken promises by those who are meant to love and care for us. God is the only one who faithfully and without fail keeps every promise He makes. When you think about God as a covenant maker—one who is faithful to make and keep promises, how easy or difficult is it for you to believe that God has made promises to you (in the Bible) and that He will keep those promises to you? How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? Or, in what area of your life would you like to see God demonstrate His faithfulness?

2) We will spend the rest of our lives as Christians discovering more and more of who God is. At different points in our lives God reveals different facets of His character to us, like His faithfulness, His goodness, His love, His provision, His healing, His peace, etc. He wants us to have personal, first-hand experience with who He is. Which facet(s) of His character has He revealed to you in a personal way? Or which facet(s) of His character do you want or need Him to reveal to you in a personal way?

3) Pastor Josh mentioned the book of Exodus that we will be exploring centers on a relationship between God and man and gives us greater perspective of what Jesus has done. What can we do to strengthen our relationship with God? In other words, how can we get to know the character and nature of God better? How can we let Him get to know us better? [Note: God knows us better than we know ourselves. Sometimes, however, we try to hold parts of ourselves back from God because of past experiences or out of fear. God is a good Father and He can be trusted. He wants a relationship with us. He wants to talk together with us. But He will never push.]

4) How easy or difficult is it for you to believe that God wants to personally bring you hope and deliverance? Share about a time when you experienced God’s hope and deliverance? Or is there an area of your life where you are still waiting on God’s hope and deliverance? You can bring it to prayer knowing God hears you and answers you.

FAQs:

I want a relationship with Jesus, but I’m not sure how to do that.

You can pray a simple prayer from your heart, no matter where you are or what you are doing.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

The next step is to tell someone. Talk to someone at church who is wearing a “How Can I Help You?” badge on Sunday, or share in your small group, that you prayed that prayer. They can make sure you get a Bible and support you in beginning your new life with Jesus.

I want to read the Bible but I’m not sure where to start. I don’t have a Bible.

If you are not familiar with the Bible and you aren’t sure where to start, you can always start reading about the life of Jesus in the book of Matthew in the New Testament. If you don’t have a Bible, let someone who is wearing a “How Can I Help You?” badge on Sunday morning that you don’t have a Bible and would like one.

I would like to get involved and serve in some way, but I don’t know how.

We invite you to attend Discover, which takes place once a month after the 10:45am service on Sunday morning. It is a great way to hear the vision for the church and discover how you can get more involved and serve.

Full Podcast Episode: https://banner.church/podcast/2019/10/8/exodus-part-one-10619