Sermon Central
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No Turning Back Series
Contributed by Robert Higgins on May 1, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The whole point of the exodus was to establish a worldwide reputation for God. The point of the ten plagues and miraculous Red Sea crossing was to demonstrate the incredible power of God on behalf of his chosen people. The result of these great displays
Exodus Part 15: “No Turning Back”
Prayer
Review
We have seen 10 plagues and have seen the power of God at work.
The whole point of the exodus was to establish a worldwide reputation for God.
The point of the ten plagues and miraculous Red Sea crossing was to demonstrate the incredible power of God on behalf of his chosen people.
The result of these great displays would be that God’s name would be declared throughout the whole world and that there would be a reputation associated with His Name.
The world would know there is no greater god than the God of the Hebrews.
The prophets and poets of Israel years later would interpret the Exodus this way.
Isaiah says that God’s aim in the exodus was to make for himself an everlasting name.
Isaiah 63:12 & 14 “Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name… So You led Your people, to make for Yourself a glorious name.”
Psalm 106:7-8 teaches the same thing:
Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider thy wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of thy steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power
Later in the conquest, entire nations and kings would shudder when they would hear of the Israelites, because they knew what God had done on their behalf.
God’s purposes of the Exodus was not just to free some poor slaves.
God’s purpose was to make His name known in the entire earth.
His purposes haven’t changed.
His purpose in touching your life isn’t just because He loves you, (though He certainly does)
His purpose in setting you free from the yoke of sin isn’t just because He hates seeing you in slavery (which He does).
He desires that His Name be known in all the earth!
He desires that ALL PEOPLE come to know who He is and have a similar relationship with Him.
That the whole earth would know Him as God!
Exodus 13:17-22 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. …Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
A short honeymoon:
How long did your honeymoon go before your first fight?
That is the statement we are hearing. If you had a big fight before you got to the altar, you might have not gotten through the vows. You might have walked out of the church.
God is saying that if the Israelites have to face a big fight before they have learned how to trust Him and love Him, they might choose for captivity over death.
Most new Christians I have met have a nice little honeymoon effect to their relationship with God.
There seems to be a sweet time where the trials seem to melt away and everything is heavenly bliss.
They get to enjoy forgiveness and a clear conscience.
They experience answered prayer for the first time in their lives and are on cloud nine.
It is easy to sing the praises of God! Everything seems to be going your way.
But along the way, something happens that tests whether we are in love with God because of what He does for us or because of who He is.
I believe that this is the test that every one of us takes many times in our lives.
It is a test that says, “do you follow Me because I gave you that girlfriend or that job?”
Will you still follow Me if you don’t have that thing you love.
Do you love that thing more than me?
The question we are ultimately asked is “Do you love the gift more than the giver?”
God is giving the Israelites some time to learn to love Him for who He is rather than just for what He can do for them.
