From Pyramids to Promises - Sermon notes from Exodus

"What have we done?"

Exodus 14:1-14

1. Pharaoh changed his mind

Pharaoh's heart has been so hardened there's no way he can change his ways. We thought he was a changed man after he tells the Israelites to leave, he knows God is more powerful than him, surely he's changed. But no he's still the stubborn slave driver that he's always been. Pharaoh doesn't chase the Israelites out of Egypt for revenge on plagues but because he doesn't want to let the slaves go. It's out of arrogance and pride that he doesn't want to accept defeat. Even after his firstborn son was dead in his arms he's still as stubborn as ever. The leopard has not changed its spots.

It wasn't that pharaoh was actually sorry for what he'd done he just wanted it to stop.

2 Cor 7:10 - Have we truly changed? Are we sorry for our sin or just want to escape hell? Our sorrow needs to be true sorrow and for that to happen God has to soften our heart. We can't change our hearts but the one who made us can, God can.

2. The Israelites cried out

The Israelites just left Egypt leaving slavery and heading for freedom when they see the chariots and horses of the Egyptian army chasing after them, of course they were terrified.

They can't run and they're boxed in on all sides, there's no where to turn so what do they do?

V10: they cry out to the Lord - which is what we all should do

Even when we feel there's no where left to turn we can always turn to God, He's always there. Whatever we go through we can always call to him.

V11: The Israelites are so forgetful, just days earlier the Israelites were hiding in their homes under the lambs blood while the Egyptians firstborn sons died. 10 times they watched God crush the Egyptians and yet now they've forgotten all of that.

He has proved his faithfulness to us time and time again and yet we still worry that this time God might lose, just like the Israelites. Through thousands of years many people tried to crush the church but no one could.

Let's not make the same mistakes the Israelites did, as we look up and see the opposition in our way, we should look higher to God.

3. The Lord will fight

V13-14:
How do you conquer your fears? Moses says to not be afraid, stand firm and see the Lords salvation. The answer is they don't face their fear, all they need to do is watch God step in and conquer the Egyptians for them, the Lord will fight for us, we don't have to do anything.
Here we stand as terrified people with sin and death ahead but God says to stand still, just like the Israelites we contribute absolutely nothing, God does it all, He saves us. It's Jesus' death and resurrection that fights for us.

If you're still terrified of the judgement, God does not ask you to stand up for your sin, instead he says call on me and I will fight for you. Trust in Jesus because he accomplishes salvation for us.

The Egyptians have been a constant presence for over 400 years tormenting them, but this day was the last day they'd ever see them. God destroyed every single last one.

As we come to the cross we see Jesus destroying our sin completely, there's nothing left, though our sins were like scarlet they have been made as white as wool.

God no longer sees our sin for it is completely covered by Jesus, it's all completely finished by God. We may feel weak and vulnerable like sitting ducks, but thank the Lord that his strength is made perfect in our weakness. Do not be afraid, the Lord has fought for you and the Lord will fight for you.

6/11/22 Evening