Leadership is God-appointed not self-assumed.
God specializes in using broken vessels.
God speaks to us today by His Holy Spirit.
Understand the high cost of neglect.
The Blood Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ July 15, 2007
“Between a Rock & a Hard Place”
Life of Moses part 7
Exodus 13-14
Key Principles from earlier weeks…
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Leadership is God-appointed not self-assumed. |
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God specializes in using broken vessels. |
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God speaks to us today by His Holy Spirit. |
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Understand the high cost of neglect. |
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The Blood Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. |
The Exodus…
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All the Israelites left in haste (after 430 years 12:41) – Exodus 12:11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover. |
Exodus 12:33-34 33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.
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Took much of the wealth of Egypt – Exodus 12:35-36 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. |
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Estimated number of two million people – Exodus 12:37-38 37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. |
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The Desert route was taken “out of Egypt” – Exodus 13:17-18 17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. |
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God Supernaturally led them through the desert |
Slide 8: Pillar of Cloud and the pillar of Fire… God Guided them, Guarded them, His presence assured them.
Exodus 13:20-22 20 After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
· Cloud by day = guidance & shade from the scorching sun and Fire by night = light & warmth from chilling cold at night… always in front of God’s people!
Slide 9: Map of actual route taken not to the “traditional” Mt Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula BUT in the land of Midian Jabel el Lawz – mountain of Moses Galatians 4:25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
1. God leads them into a Predicament
Exodus 14:1-4 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.
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Turn back and encamp… Pharaoh will “think”, I got em now… I’m Almighty God & I will be glorified! |
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The Lord needed to teach them… BUT He needed to get their attention – The Red Sea encounter! |
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Back tracking with 2 million people… Backtracking to between a rock and a hard place… |
Slide 11: Map with traditional & Real Mt Sinai locations & the “turn-around” to confuse Pharaoh – (Video 8/8)
2. Predicaments Teaches us Dependence
Exodus 14:10-12 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
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From some advantage point the Israelites caught a glimpse of the Egyptian army in pursuit after them |
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Josephus reports the Egyptian army at this time numbered 250,000 men. |
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We see them terrified & cried out to the Lord… 1st mention of Israelites crying out enmass to the Lord… Yet they had no confidence in the Lord… complained badly Moses in vs 11-12 (they needed someone to blame… blame the pastor/leader… which is ultimately is blaming God… they did not trust God. |
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Panic struck the whole camp… We should have never turned back… we should have… should have… |
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God’s very presence has led them into a God prepared cul-de-sac… now we will be massacred |
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Following God brought them to a dead end ally… a no way out situation… a boxed canyon |
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“After marching out boldly” v8… proud, arrogant, cocky, heading for the Promised Land… |
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Confronted with a major problem… predicaments break down our proud / self-centered spirit. |
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Everyone was born & raised in Egypt… they were Egyptian in lifestyle, thought process, habits |
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God got them out of Egypt NOW God needed to work on getting Egypt out of them. |
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God had to step in for them to survive… a miracle was the only option... Contrary to human reasoning! |
Slide 13: Here’s a shot of the valley leading to the Red Sea where God led them… sandy with a modern highway today… It was 18 miles to the mouth of the dry river bed
Slide 14: Aerial view of Nuweiba Beach… and where the “occasional” river empties into the Gulf of Aqaba
Slide 15: Today, Nuweiba Beach is a beautiful tourist location (notice the far shore 8 miles away and the mountains on the far Saudi side) … Today, Nuweiba Beach is like a tourist oasis with its many resorts
3. Dependence Assures God’s Blessing
Exodus 14:13-14 13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
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When we “give up” we “go up”! God dependence not independence is what God desires for us. |
God’s Prescription for Predicaments… Don’t Fear - Stand Firm – Trust God – Shut Up
(Sometimes our mouths run more than our noses… whine, blab, my, me, mine)
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Finding yourself in a predicament? Learn to depend upon the Lord and watch God work! |
4. God’s Blessings…
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Divine Protection – Exodus 14:19-20 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. |
Slide 19: Standing on the highway looking back into the “gap” with the huge beach & Red Sea to our backs… this is where the lord moved around and created a “barrier” between God’s people & the Egyptian army
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Miraculous Intervention – Exodus 14:21-22 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. |
Slide 21: Moses raise his staff in obedience then God accomplishes His miracle out of the predicament
Slide 22: The Underwater Land Bridge – not mud but a thin layer of sand, extremely flat and wide (other ends 4500’deep)
Slide 23: Dry ground, waters divided, wall of water on right & left… God’s people supernaturally delivered
Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and out stretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Are you experiencing God’s Mighty power working in your life?
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
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Enemies/Hurdles Defeated – Exodus 14:23-28 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen--the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. |
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Between 2 am & dawn… God fought against the Egyptians… confusion… chariot design flaw! |
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Waters returned, completely devastating the Egyptians… whoever followed them into the Red Sea. |
Slide 25: Scattered “junk yard” on sandy bottom… 90 degree angles, circular formations, features of human engineering… axles, hubs, wheels, straight shafts… Coral shapes matching the dimensions from chariots in Egyptian museums… Fragments of metal from 600 Egyptian chariots!
Slide 26: 20 years divers/scientist investigating… coral encrusted chariot wheels & axles!
Slide 27: Ex 14:5-6… could this be Pharaoh’s personal chariot wheel? Made of silver/metal
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Personal Spiritual Growth & Confidence – Exodus 14:29-31a But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians… |
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God is Feared, Glorified and Worshiped – Ex 14:31-15:21 |
Ex 14:31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant…
Slide 30: Chariot wheel… still brings glory to Almighty God…
Exodus 15:11-13 11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. 13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
The Deliverance song sung by the people (Ex 15)
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It takes tight places to break a lifetime of habits. |
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When hemmed in on all sides, look up to God. |
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Predicaments are God’s pathway to the Promised Land. |
This is the same Almighty God we serve today!
Aren’t you glad you know Him!
Let’s Pray
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary”, John Walvood/Roy Zuck; Victor Publishing 1985
“Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication”, Charles Swindoll; Word Publishing 1999
“Basic Stages in the Book of Ages”, Dr. Willmington; Liberty Publishing 1975
“Experiencing God”, Henry Blackaby; LifeWay Press 1990