Sermons

Summary: Do we really know HOW God saves? Are we giving Him the full appreciation of His saving work?

These words were spoken to the physical Israelites: “For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… (Isa. 43:3, NIV.)

He who made the great claim added: “I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior” (verse 11, NIV).

He is no ordinary savior! His Supremacy as the Savior was emphasized, when He declared: “…I am God” (verse 12, NIV.) David acknowledged it: “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Ps 68:19, NIV).

Consider what God said to Moses, when the Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt:

"Therefore, say to the Israelites: `I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD’" (Ex. 6:6-8, NIV).

Notice His Words: “I WILL BRING YOU OUT…” “I WILL FREE YOU FROM BEING SLAVES…” “I WILL REDEEM YOU…”

In the first part of verse 7, we read: “I WILL TAKE YOU AS MY OWN PEOPLE, and I will be your God…” And the next verse states: “And I WILL BRING YOU to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU as a possession.”

Do you sense the determination and the certainty in those words?

Are you not in awe of the One who made such powerful declaration? – relating the deliverance of those who were even unwilling to listen to Moses and controlled by a powerful ruler who refused to release them.

First, imagine the disappointment of the Israelites. They believed that they would be free at the first attempt of Moses to demand their freedom. Instead, Pharaoh made the “work harder” for them

Yet, in such condition, the Sovereign Savior declared: “…I am the LORD your God, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT from under the yoke of the Egyptians” (Ex. 6:7, NIV).

While the Israelites were still in Egypt – languishing in their disappointment and hardship – for God, He had already brought them out of Egypt! His Will is as good as done.

That’s how God saves!

When Moses repeated those words to the Israelites, “they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage” (verse 9, NIV).

We read in the next verses: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.’ But Moses said to the LORD, ‘If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?’” (Ex 6:10-12, NIV.)

BUT, did the refusal of the Israelites to listen and the “hardened” heart of Pharaoh prevent God from saving the Israelites from slavery?

We read in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (NIV).

God declared in Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (NIV).

Job also said, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2, NIV).

“Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" as we read also in Isaiah 43:13 (NIV).

When the Sovereign God plans to save, His purpose will prevail. If He says He will save you, it will be accomplished. No one or nothing can prevent it. And when He works for your deliverance, nothing you will miss in your freedom.

That’s how God saves.

The psalmist said, “Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake” (Ps. 79:9, NIV).

God will also save not because we deserve it. He will save not because we have done something worthy in His sight. We do not even deserve His mercy. He will save for the glory of His Holy Name.

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