Bible Study - GOD'S Story - GOD Delivers HIS People - Exodus 3 and 12 - June 16, 2013

Bible Study – GOD’S Story – GOD Delivers HIS People – June 16, 2013

This is lesson three in our series entitled “GOD’S Story.”

Our scripture is Exodus 3:7-10; 12:12-13, 29-31; 14:5-6, 13-14, 21, 26.

GOD delivered HIS people physically from slavery and bondage in Egypt and revealed Himself to them. In the beginning, the Pharaoh was favorable to the Israelites. As you recall, the Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of managing the economics in Egypt. Joseph invited his family to come live in Egypt because he was in favor with Pharaoh. Let’s take a side trip.

Pharaoh was not the specific name of the ruler of Egypt. There were many Pharaoh’s and there came a time that the ruling Pharaoh became hostile to the Israelites and forced them into forced labor. They became slaves. GOD heard their cry for help and HE came to their rescue.

This is so true to life today. GOD stands ready to come to a person’s aid when he/she cries out to HIM. Our human nature is such that as long as we can figure out a way to do it ourselves, we most often take that route. When matters or issues get beyond our ability or the ability of those around us to correct them, we often reach out to GOD. When we do, GOD is ready to come to our aid, when HE knows our hearts will be receptive to HIM. Even when HE comes to our aid, it does not mean that we can put our lives into neutral and do nothing. We still have to be responsible and follow HIS commands. 

As we study this lesson, think of the Israelites as people in bondage to sin or addictions and cannot escape. GOD can open the door but the person must walk through it, just as the Israelites had to pack up and leave Egypt. Their journey to freedom was not without issues and when things got tough, they wanted to return to slavery or complained. But with every obstacle GOD gave them a solution. They had to keep focused upon GOD as they continued to press forward. GOD is our refuge and strength in times of trouble.

As many of you know our eldest son, Ted, went home to be with our Lord last year. We had his house on the market; it had sold and was moving to closing. I received a letter from his home owner’s association attorneys that they were bringing litigation against the developer. I sent the letter to our realtor who forwarded it the buyer. The buyer’s lender immediately terminated the closing. The buyer sought other lenders but no one would loan the money because of the litigation. The only deal available was to purchase his house for cash. Our realtor was a champ and continued to search for a buyer but came up empty handed.

We had a deadline of June 11, 2013 to either sell his house or give it up. On the morning of June 5, I had a strong prompting to send a note to our Sunday school class, explain our situation and ask them to pray. I was hesitant but I finally did it. In about an hour, I received a call from our realtor who said, “Guess what? We have an offer on Ted’s house for cash.” You talk about going from gloom to praise. Obedience is vital when serving the LORD.

It is exciting when we see the hand of GOD working in our lives. But we have to be careful that we do not take HIM for granted. We continue to pray as we proceed to closing.

Our first scripture reveals that GOD cares about us. HE stands ready to come to our aid. Our part, as HIS children, is to ask. HIS answer can be yes, no or wait. Regardless of HIS answer, HE has the best in mind for us and is always teaching us as we journey with HIM.

Our youngest daughter made a poster for me in church, when she was young, upon which she wrote 1 Peter 5:7. I hung it in my closet for years. It was a much needed reminder and greatly appreciated. 

1 Peter 5:6-7:

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.   

Consider GOD’S care for you as we study together.

Let’s read Exodus 3:1-10 (GOD Cares)

Moses and the Burning Bush

1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered. 5 “Do not come closer,” He said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of My people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I know about their sufferings. 8 I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 The Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.

In our last lesson, we studied the calling of Abram to be the patriarch of HIS chosen people. Just as GOD revealed to Abram, his offspring had been in bondage and slavery in Egypt for 400 years. GOD heard their cry for help. GOD needed a person to deliver them from this situation. It was not like moving a few people because the Israelites had grown to about 1 million people. GOD called Moses to lead HIS chosen out of slavery to the land GOD had promised Abram some 400 years earlier. GOD keeps HIS promises and covenants.

GOD calls Moses:

Moses was busy shepherding the sheep for his father-in-law Jethro when GOD got Moses attention. There was no better way to get Moses attention than for HIM to set a bush on fire. In last week’s study, we learned that fire represents cleansing, purity, righteousness and holiness. The bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed. GOD got his attention and let him know that he was on Holy ground. Then HE revealed that HE was the GOD of his father, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. HE was letting Moses know that HE was eternal, everlasting and never changing. Keep in mind that Moses was raised in Egypt where many gods were worshipped including Pharaoh as a god.  

GOD still does things to get our attention today. Sometimes it is pleasant and others it may not be so pleasant. But GOD knows what it will take to get our attention because HE has a special purpose for those HE calls.

Moses grew up in the palace of Pharaoh in Egypt and he had killed an Egyptian. Moses fled Egypt to Midian where he married and was herding sheep. Now, GOD was calling Moses, a person who had killed another person, to lead HIS chosen people out of slavery.

From a logical point-of-view it makes good sense to choose Moses but more importantly GOD knew Moses’ heart and potential leadership skills. Moses knew Egypt and how the Egyptian government worked. We know that GOD’S ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts. GOD forgives and uses us even though we may have warts. Also, GOD knew that Moses needed to return to Egypt and face the ruling Pharaoh. GOD knew that Moses, Pharaoh and the Israelites needed to get to know HIM personally. The true deliverer, the Messiah, would come through the “line of promise,” GOD’S chosen people, to remove the barrier of sin and to open the way to salvation to all who will place their faith in CHRIST.

Moses was to lead the Israelites to the land GOD had promised Abram. GOD made it clear that this was not an overthrow of the Egyptian government but it was for the release of the Israelites because HE had heard their cry for help. HE wanted to reveal Himself to the Egyptians and to establish and reveal Himself to the Israelites. HIS desire was for HIS chosen to get to know HIM and not just know about HIM. That is still HIS desire for HIS children today.

GOD has a “line of promise” for each of us. HE chose us before HE created the world. You and I are not here by accident but for a purpose. GOD has a plan for every person that accepts CHRIST as his/her Savior. The Holy Spirit will lead, empower and enlighten as you obediently serve HIM.

Let’s read Exodus 12:1-14, 29-32 (GOD Judges)

Instructions for the Passover – Passover Instituted (Pass Over or pasah carries over into the New Testament as pascha from which we derive the English word Pasch (Passover and Easter) and paschal or paschal lamb which is a reference to the lamb that was slaughtered as a sacrifice for sin. The Apostle Paul brought this into perspective for us in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7: (Paul was addressing the problem of trying to mix Judaism with Christianity. CHRIST’S passion brought in a new covenant.)

6 Your boasting is not good. (Such as – I am a Jew and obey the law. CHRIST died for our sins and established grace for all who place their faith in HIM.) Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? 7 •Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our • Passover has been sacrificed.

CHRIST is the perfect sacrificial lamb that paid the price in full for sin. CHRIST established a new covenant through HIS shed blood. Once and for all, sin has been dealt a death blow for all who place their faith in CHRIST and GOD’S grace takes over to carry HIS children into eternity to be with HIM forever.

Let’s read Exodus 12:1-14:

1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:

2 “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ households, one animal per household. 4 If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each person will eat. 5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them. 8 They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over fire—its head as well as its legs and inner organs. 10 Do not let any of it remain until morning; you must burn up any part of it that does remain before morning. 11 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 the Lord’s •Passover. 12 “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I am •Yahweh; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. 13 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. 14 “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord.

God was very specific in HIS instructions to Moses and Aaron. They, in turn, had to instruct the Israelites accurately. The instructions were all about obedience. The shed blood of a selected perfect sheep or goat was to be applied to the door posts and lintel for the house of the family. The shed blood properly applied protected the family from the sure death of the first born. The power of protection was not in the blood but in the obedient application of the blood. GOD honors obedience and not ritual.

Why did GOD smite or strike with a death blow the first born? The Egyptians thought that the firstborn was the property of and belonged to the gods of Egypt. The death of the firstborn not only dealt a horrific blow to the family but also revealed that the GOD of Israelites, Yahweh, was more powerful than Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. GOD is bigger than any human god.

This was a battle between Pharaoh, who thought he was a god and the true GOD of the Israelites, Yahweh. Pharaoh thought he was the incarnation of the sun and he was challenging GOD Who created the sun. This battle had come down to the tenth and final contest, which GOD used to established the Passover. The Passover was a precursor to the ultimate deliverance of mankind from the bondage and slavery of sin and Spiritual death.  

As you recall, JESUS and HIS disciples were eating the Passover meal the night before HIS crucifixion. That night, JESUS instituted a new covenant when HE instituted the Lord’s Supper. JESUS was crucified the next day but just as important is HIS resurrection on the third day. Only GOD could arrange such impeccable timing during the celebration of Passover to deliver all who place their faith in the passion and resurrection of the LORD JESUS from the bondage of sin and Spiritual death. The miracle of rebirth restores the rights and privileges of being the child of GOD to every person who places his/her faith in CHRIST.

The shed blood of JESUS was required by GOD to pay the original sin debt in full. CHRIST was the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD. The passion of JESUS conquered sin and its consequence, eternal death for all who place their faith in HIM. Consider, at the instant of salvation, that the shed blood of CHRIST is placed, figuratively, on the door posts of the hearts of all who place their faith in HIM. All who place their faith in HIM are delivered from the bondage of sin and eternal death, which is salvation. The shed blood of CHRIST marks the Christian as belonging to GOD and they are secure in CHRIST.

Salvation is the beginning of our life in CHRIST through the miracle of rebirth. Consider GOD’S activity in delivering the Israelites from the perils that faced them as they left Egypt and a Christian’s journey through life with CHRIST. Early in the journey of the Israelites, they wanted to return to Egypt. Often, Christians will face issues, as they begin their journey with CHRIST, and be tempted to return to their old life. Just as the Israelites had to trust GOD to deliver them, so do Christians, as they journey to the Promised Land of the abundant life in CHRIST and their ultimate destination, heaven.

GOD wanted HIS chosen to celebrate the Passover and their physical deliverance from physical bondage. All who place their faith in the Messiah, CHRIST, will receive their ultimate eternal deliverance from the bondage of sin and Spiritual death. How do you know that CHRIST paid the price for sin? It is because GOD resurrected HIM from the dead as proof that HE conquered both sin and death.

Notice that GOD came to Egypt and dealt the fatal blow.    

Let’s read Exodus 12:29-32 - The Exodus

29 Now at midnight the Lord struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock. 30 During the night Pharaoh got up, he along with all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was a loud wailing throughout Egypt because there wasn’t a house without someone dead. 31 He (Pharaoh) summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship Yahweh as you have asked. 32 Take even your flocks and your herds as you asked and leave, and also bless me.

At midnight, the LORD struck the firstborn in Egypt. GOD did not show partiality. The firstborn of Pharaoh to the prisoner and even the livestock was struck dead. Pharaoh got up and summoned Moses and Aaron. As stated earlier, this was a battle between Pharaoh, who thought of himself as a god, and the true GOD of the Israelites.  Notice that Pharaoh knew GOD’S personal name, Yahweh. Pharaoh conceded that he had lost the battle and Yahweh had won. Notice that he asked Moses and Aaron to bless him.

GOD, Himself, came down at midnight to deliver the tenth blow to the incarnated sun god, Pharaoh. Sin always brings darkness into a person’s life but CHRIST is the light of the world and darkness hates light.

This is a lead into our next scripture:

The approximately one million Israelites left Egypt. Then it hit the Egyptians what had happened. They had lost all of their labor force. Apparently, Pharaoh had scouts tracking the exodus of the Israelites and he received a report that the Israelites were confused and boxed-in. But we know it was GOD’S plan. So Pharaoh assembled his army and led them in hot pursuit of the Israelites to bring them back to Egypt. Pharaoh had not given up and neither had GOD. Pharaoh needed one more lesson to learn about Yahweh. GOD always wins because HE is GOD.

Let’s read Exodus 14:5-6, 13-14, 21, 26 (GOD Delivers)

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea.

3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites:

They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in. 4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am •Yahweh.” So the Israelites did this.

The Egyptian Pursuit

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said: “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” 6 So he got his chariot ready and took his troops with him; 7 he took 600 of the best chariots and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in each one. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out triumphantly. 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, his horsemen, and his army—chased after them and caught up with them as they camped by the sea beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. 11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 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.”

The Israelites wanted to give up and return to Egypt but they needed to see the power of GOD work in their lives, in their behalf and to build trust in GOD. The Israelites were caught between the sea and the well trained and equipped Egyptian army. It was a humanly helpless situation. That was exactly what GOD wanted. The Israelites needed to know that GOD was their shield, defender and perfectly capable of taking care of them. Pharaoh needed to know that Yahweh was all powerful. So what did the Israelites need to do? Let’s see.

Let’s read Exodus 14:13-14: 21, 26 

13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to break camp. 16 As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I receive glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 Then the Angel of God, who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. The cloud was there in the darkness, yet it lit up the night. So neither group came near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit—all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen—and went into the sea after them. 24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw them into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt!” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the Lord threw them into the sea. 28 The waters came back and covered the chariots and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived. 29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people •feared the Lord and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

When GOD comes to our aid, it is an awesome experience. You would think that such an experience would result in never doubting the power, presence and care of GOD in our lives. But we slip back into our old ways and doubt GOD’S ability or we get too big for our britches and decide that we can do it ourselves. Our journey with GOD is moment by moment. That is HIS desire. HE wants us to have an intimate, loving, dynamic relationship with HIM as we journey together through life. Does that mean it will be easy? No but it will be awesome!

Are you in sin and bondage? If so, ask CHRIST to deliver you and to set you free by asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life. If you are a Christian but you have compromised your walk and witness as a Christian and possibly returned to your old ways, confess them. Ask GOD to forgive you and restore the joy of your salvation. Your part is to ask and repent, which means to stop and GOD’S part is to forgive, cleanse and restore. GOD never abandons HIS children. Once HIS child, you are always HIS child. HE is waiting for such a time as this to welcome you back home and back into HIS loving arms and the fold of HIS love and grace. Whether you have just received CHRIST as your Savior or rededicated your life to HIM, this moment is a new beginning. Walk with HIM and trust HIM as you journey through life upon earth. Welcome home my brother or sister in CHRIST. Blessings!!!