This is an exposition of Exodus 3:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018.
Intro:
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever been convinced that no one knew or cared about your circumstance? It is bad enough to hurt. It’s hard enough to suffer some injustice or some indignity but to suffer knowing that someone who has the power to do something about your pain but just doesn’t care is unbearable.
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The second chapter of Exodus ends with the Hebrews “groaning because of their suffering.” The writer says they, “Cried out for help.” Centuries before a family of 70 came to Egypt to escape a famine. In Egypt they experienced the good life. Over time they grew from just 70 in number to a “great people.” It is said that the land was filled with them. They had settled into Egyptian life and life was good. They enjoyed the status of a favored people due to the life and influence of Joseph, the son of Jacob whom God had placed in power. Over time things changed. A new king came to power who viewed the Hebrew people as suspect. A surge in Egyptian nationalism brought about a great change. First there was suspicion but that soon gave way to fear, which fuel hostility, that erupted into hatred. They were afflicted and enslaved but in no time an order was given to murder every son born to the Hebrews. By the time we reach chapter 3 the Hebrews had been suffering under such a regime for 80 years. 80 years, that’s a long time to suffer. 8 decades of pain, humiliation and back-breaking labor takes its toll. “God, where are you? Why haven’t you responded? Why don’t you do something?” Can you sense the pain and the frustration? Wouldn’t you be frustrated? Are you frustrated with God’s lack of response? How do we deal with our pain, our hurt when it seems God is indifferent? Our text this morning is found in the 3rd chapter of Exodus.
Exodus 3:1-10
Remember the big picture:
God is sovereignly at work (His is not passive, He is not the watchmaker God).
God is sovereignly at work saving a special people.
God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.
The message hammered home throughout the book of Exodus is that God is always at work. He does not slumber nor does He sleep. Our God is not indifferent. He knows and cares for His people. There are times that is hard to believe. There are times when we are certain that cannot be but that is the consistent testimony of Scripture. Our God works all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The promise is not that everything that happens is good but that God uses it for our good. There are no wasted experiences in the economy of God. We are assured that everything that comes our way has to passed by Him. If He allows it, He allows it for a reason. There is purpose in all things. You may never know the specific purpose for a thing that happen in your life but you know the ultimate purpose for everything, it is to prepare you for eternity. It is for the purpose of comforting you to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus. It is so that you can bring glory and honor to God.
Thesis: The third chapter of Exodus vividly reminds us of the secret, ceaseless care of God for His own.
Too often we think of salvation and the work of God only in terms of heaven. We think of salvation and the life of faith as a life insurance transaction. I walk an aisle, I say a prayer, sign a card and I’m given my “get out of hell free” card and I go on my way. Oh, sure there are a few perks that come with the plan. If things get too tough I can pray and God will get my out of some tight spot but for the most part I live my life and God will do His part when death comes knocking. No! To enter into salvation is to pass from death to life. It is to move from being the object of His sovereign and righteous wrath to the object of His loving grace. It is to embark on a life-long journey into holiness.
At the moment of salvation God begins a work in you that He will bring to completion.
Salvation is a gracious work of God that is past, present and future.
Justification, sanctification and glorification.
Saved, being saved and ultimately saved.
You become the object of His secret, ceaseless care.
Genuine salvation always brings a progression in holiness because God is always at work in you!
Even when you are sure He isn’t.
There are three things I want to note in our text.
- God providentially prepares His people through ordinary means. (3:1-2a)
- God graciously awakens His servants through Divine Encounter. (3:2-6)
- God encourages His people through a show of sovereign mercy. (3:7-10)
Conclusion:
400 years under the whip making Pharaoh’s bricks and building Pharaoh’s cities. They’ve cried out, “Save us! Deliver us!” They thought they were forgotten. They were convinced God was unresponsive. All they while they were the object of His secret, ceaseless care. Now, the time has come for their deliverance.
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