The Faithful Redeemer [Exodus Pt.1]

What does a story about a bunch of cranky slaves being freed from bondage in Egypt have to do with me, a Christian living in the 21st century? Well it has as much to do with the God who delivered them as it does with our own need for redemption. Remember last time when we noticed that the Apostle Paul pointed to Ancient Israel as a type for us to consider in 1 Corinthians 10:11.

The Faithful Redeemer – SERMON AUDIO

As Exodus begins, we are introduced to the family of a man named Israel and we are told that they all arrived safely in the land of Egypt. This are the subject of God’s blessing and His promise to a man named Abraham who lived a couple of generations before them. We need to begin with these men and their names in order to be assured that what follows is in line with God’s covenant. It is a demonstration if His Word being good and it work among the sons of men.

Exodus 1:1-5  Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:  2  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;  3  Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;  4  Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.  5  All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

However, the very next words seem a bit strange. Time passes and those people are no longer around, yet the promise to the posterity of Abraham and through him Jacob, are still being accomplished.

Exodus 1:6-7  And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.  7  But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

This should come as not surprise because it is just how the Lord said it would happen.

Genesis 15:13-16  Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.  14  And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.  15  Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.  16  But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

God brought His people through a lot. He formed them and kept them and freed them and prospered them. He did it through the events of their lives even while they were unaware it was happening. One of Jacob’s sons, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers and through God’s intervention was the source of their provision when they arrived. (You probably know the story in Genesis 39-50) We see this idea come from his own lips as he says to his brothers once they come to realize that he is the governor of Egypt; “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)
The question may occur to you, Why did God do it that way? Couldn’t He have just gone “ZAP” and made His people, quick and clean? Sure, He could have, but that was not His purpose. If they are a type or example to us, what comfort could we draw from their lives and relationship to God, they need to live lives that are like ours in some way. We live in a world where we are in bondage to sin and where we struggle with sin and disobedience. Because of our place in the world, we need to see God at work in people’s lives who are like us, who struggle and have to deal with the depravity of the world.
I think God also did it this way to show a temporal illustration of the eternal truth of our ultimate Redemption from sin.

Hebrews 2:14-15  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,  15  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It is all there for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:11), it needs to correspond to our reality. From it we see that God is powerful and prepared, that He is able and intends to redeem His people, that as He did to the most powerful king in the days of ancient Israel, He has also done to the most powerful of our spiritual enemies, the devil. He has illustrated the reality of our eternal redemption in His ancient people. He has given us something we can see to hold on to as we await the final redemption of our bodies and the renewal of all things.
There is a lot more here but if you want to understand it all, I encourage you to listen to the sermon. I pray that as you read and listen that you would see God, more and more, as a God who has the power, plan and purpose to redeem and that is doing so, you would be inclined to give Him the glory!

The Faithful Redeemer – SERMON AUDIO
In Christ!
Kevin