CELEBRATE: GOD DELIVERS A PEOPLE FROM SLAVERY

Date: Sep 13, 1998

Bible Passage: Exodus 2:23-25; 5:1-2; 12:29-32; 15:1-2

Key Verses: Exodus 2:23-24

Session Focus: To see that God hears and reaches out for us as we cry out to Him.

Exodus 2:23-25 23During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

Exodus 5:1-2 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.'"2Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

Exodus 12:29-32 29At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."

Exodus 15:1-2 1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Comments concerning Exodus 2:23-25?

Freedom from sin will only come to us when we realize that we are sin's slaves and then cry out to God for His deliverance. This verse shows us that God has concern for them due to the position of their hearts - heavy laden and helpless. God is still the same today abundant in grace to those who are of humble hearts before Him but deaf to those who are full of self pride. Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." This is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. When our flesh is full it has a way of causing our spirits to become proud and self reliant. This is probably why our Lord tells us to watch and pray! Prayer keeps our hearts reliant upon Him and not ourselves. It keeps our spiritual ears tuned up and gets our hearts watching for His return like the parable of the five wise virgins that had plenty of oil in their lamps when the bridegroom appeared.

Additional scriptures on humility; Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Daniel 10:12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Corinthians 3:18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [1]

1.1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind

Comments concerning Exodus 5:1-2?

To the weak God is gentle and tender ( Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;), but to the proud God is strong and forceful,

(Revelation 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." [1] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

1.15 Psalm 2:9).

God knew that Pharaoh's heart was blind and filled with himself but still gave Pharaoh the opportunity to listen to wisdom. Exodus 12:29-32 was a natural result with Pharaoh giving in due to being overpowered by God's Almighty Power. But, blessed are those who willingly bring their own wills into subjection to Christ's without the use of force. For there is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Those that have done so out of willing hearts of love will enter into everlasting Righteousness, Peace and Joy in His eternal home and those who have done so out of force into everlasting torment. Why shouldn't we surrender willingly to the One who has gone through so much pain and agony on our behalf? To do so would only mean a lifetime full of joy and peace here below as the Israelites experienced in Exodus 15:1-2, but also with an eternity of indescribable joy before us. 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

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