Sermon Central
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God's Providence In The Deliverance
Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 8, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: The word “providence” holds a certain amount of mystery for many; while with others it’s a term denoting the sovereignty of God. With the children of Israel providence wasn’t just a term it was their life, God was working in them and through them to show
I. God’s preparation for deliverance
Exodus 2:1-10 speaks of the birth of Moses and how God protected him from the evil powers at work in the land of Egypt at that time. Now, Thermuthis the daughter of Pharaoh was moved with compassion upon hearing the babe cry, knowing him to be a Hebrew she brought him out of the water, gave him a name and called him her son.
1. God raises up a man, Moses
2. God educates a man, Moses
Between verse 10 and 11 there has been some time that has elapsed: Dr. Albert Barnes writes, “His training and education was, humanly speaking, all but indispensable to the efficient accomplishment of his work as the predestined leader and instructor of his countrymen.”
A. Moses was educated along with other royalty
B. Moses was accustomed to the rituals, and worship of the Egyptians
Josephus in the writings of the antiquities of the Jews makes this statement concerning Moses, “The king was not hasty to slay him, God himself, whose providence PROTECTED Moses, inclining the King to spare him. He was, therefore, educated with great care. So the Hebrews depended on him, and were of good hopes that great things would be done by him, but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his education.
C. Everyone knew Moses was a Hebrew
Only through the providence of God was Moses allowed to remain alive and therefore was used to serve the Purpose of Jehovah.
3. God separates a man, Moses (11)
Not only did the people know who Moses was, he knew who he was; and most likely the relationship that he had fostered with his biological mother had been a heavy weight as well as the daily events he saw his fellow Hebrew endure.
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Something had taken place in the heart of Moses, for almost 40 years he had enjoyed, what some would call the good life, while his fellow Hebrew people suffered. It is worth noting that during this duration of time, “God was preparing Moses” for what would be the greatest event in Hebrew history at that time.
A. Moses identifies himself with Israel
a. By his compassion for them
b. By his attempt of protection for those being persecuted (11-12) the killing of the Egyptian.
B. Moses separates himself from the Egyptians
To separate from sin and identify with the people of God is a picture of repentance; Moses, at this point has been convicted and now repenting of not identifying with the Hebrew earlier.
a. Moses flees for his life
b. Moses also rejected by his brethren
Sadly, Moses desired to identify with his brethren but they would not identify with him.
4. God calls a man, Moses (3:1-14)
One of the very foundational truths of scripture is that God never calls a man without equipping him for the task at hand. Moses tried to make many excuses as to why he couldn’t but the fact remains, if God says we can, we can!!!
A. Moses drawn to the burning bush
The preincarnate Christ appears in the bush, which catches Moses attention. Now, “the bush burned and was not consumed” gives rise to the truth that Moses set back for a moment and watched this great sight then he stated, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”
B. Moses spoken to from the bush
It is during this time that Jehovah reveals His master plan for the life of Moses and the people of Israel.
(1 I know their sufferings, verse 7
When the preincarnate Christ speaks of the sufferings of man, He knows perfectly well what it means to be grieved, for he became just like us for the purpose of death.
(2 I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians
(3 To bring them into the promised land
(4 I will send thee unto Pharaoh
(5 I will be with thee
5. God commissions a man, Moses (15-22)
(1 Jehovah God has sent me unto you
(2 Jehovah God will lead you out of bondage unto the Promised Land
(3 I will be the instrument that God will use to bring you out
II. The announcement of God’s deliverance 4:29-31
29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
