This exposition of Exodus 5:1-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 20, 2018.
Intro:
They were thrilled. After 400 years of slavery, finally some good news. After years of crying out to God and hearing nothing in response it seems that God has indeed been at work and He has come down to deliver His chosen people.
[sections collapse="always"][section title="Read More"]
Moses and Aaron have come with a fantastic tale of God revealing himself to Moses in a bush that burned but was not consumed. He gave specific instruction about how Moses and Aaron were to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the children of Israel. Their message was validated by signs and wonders. This was a great day. A day they thought would never come. Slavery is all any of them had ever known. Their ancestors came to Egypt to escape a famine but for centuries now, they have been slaves. They have endured incredible hardship including Pharaoh’s attempt at genocide. Thus the people, knowing that God had heard their cry and had seen their affliction and had come to visit them, bowed their heads and worshiped. Armed with the promises of God, Moses and Aaron went to the royal palace to demand the release of the Hebrew people. Our text this morning is found in the 5th chapter of Exodus.
Text: Exodus 5:1-23
The opening chapters of Exodus have set the stage for this confrontation with Pharaoh.
Chapter 5 is the account of the first encounter with Pharaoh. Chapter 4 ends with the people rejoicing in worship. Chapter 5 will end in bitterness and pain.
Thesis: Exodus chapter 5 is a reminder that we live in a fallen, broken world and the life of faith is often dark and difficult.
If someone tells you, “Just trust Jesus and everything will be great” you should run! It is in fairytales that people live happily ever after. The Christian faith is no fairytale. The gospel is the glorious good news that God loves us and has provided the answer to our sin problem. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of our sin is death. But God, in love, sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to bear the penalty for our sin and purchase our redemption. The gospel assures us that through faith in the Lord Jesus we are cleansed from our sin and set on the path that leads to eternal joy in relationship with the Father. Having believed in Christ we then are called to the obedience of faith that is lived out in the sin-cursed world. Life has its ups and downs, its heartaches and victories as we grow in holiness and Christ-likeness. Yes, there is joy and peace in the midst of our struggle. We are not immune from heartache here.
What is the “big picture” from Exodus?
God is sovereignly working to save a special people for His own glory.
God is at work - always, in everything, even when we are convinced He’s not.
The dominant note throughout is the sovereignty of God, the working of providence.
It is critical that you remember that as we consider 3 painful truths from our text.
- The ungodly, in ignorance and unbelief, arrogantly refuse God’s commands. (5:1-5)
- The righteous suffer at the hands of the ungodly. (5:6-14)
- Pain and suffering darken the understanding of God’s people causing them to forget God’s promises and even accuse Him of great evil. (5:15-23)
Conclusion:
Life in this fallen, sin-cursed world is often dark and difficult. Even the people of God falter in their faith. In their pain they cried out, confused, dazed by their circumstance. But God is at work and hope is born in the very next verse - But the LORD said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.
Listen child of God when the days are dark and difficult. When hope is all but lost - hang on. Our Sovereign God is at work. He is faithful to His word. He is worthy of your trust. Deliverance will come and you will stand amazed.
[/section][/sections]