1. Exodus Part 1
OT Series Sermon 8
Gabe Orea XICF – Jan 7, 2018.

2. Historicity
Some problems

4. Historicity
God’s character
Some problems

5. “I am sure many of the Israelites were more sinners than the Egyptian babies that were sacrificed.” Jaisis.
Some problems

6. Historicity
God’s character
Difficult narrative
Some problems

7. Some problems Historicity God’s character Difficult narrative
24 On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then she said, “A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.”
Ex. 4.
God’s character
Difficult narrative
Some problems

8. Some problems Historicity God’s character Difficult narrative
24 On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then she said, “A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.”
Ex. 4.
God’s character
Difficult narrative
This is weird! Have you ever see the Lord TRYING to do something and not accomplishing it?
Some problems

9. Big Picture Israel Hebrews People of Israel
However, there is no such thing as purity of race. The sons of Moses himself were already mix blooded because he married a woman from Midian, a non-Israelite (2:21). Also, we will see that the mass of people that came out from Egypt and that remained together from that point on were not only the children of Israel but it was a mixed multitude (12:38). Finally, as long as outsiders were circumcised, they could belong to Israel’s traditions, effectively mixing with Israel (12:48-49).
Therefore, the identity of belonging to the people of God, namely Israel, is beyond ethnic or racial factors. The essence of being an Israelite, and thus being part of the covenant with God, is to belong to God by submission and obedience. This becomes more obvious in the NT when people submitting their lives to Christ would become part of the “spiritual” Israel.
This is all about IDENTITY. God offers you what most powerful nations deny you, that s, a national identity. God offers you a heavenly citizenship, just imagine!
The Hebrews became the people of God; the Mexicans that follow Christ also become the people of God! The Nigerians that submit their lives to Christ, also become the people of God; and the same is true for the Canadians, and Ukrainians, Japanese, and all other nations on earth. From our earthly citizenship we move into citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Isn’t that awesome? Well, this is part of the message of Exodus. Bringing a worthy identity to otherwise lost people.
Big Picture
Israel

10. Big Picture Israel Hebrews People of Israel Slavery Freedom
The Israelites were under slavery for about 430 years. It is in the Exodus where we see them receiving their freedom.
This gives me some light about the justice issue in the character of God. If we read all the calamities God sent to Egypt, they were certainly terrible; however, how long all together did they last? I don’t know, maybe a couple of months? Even considering the death of the Egyptian first born, which again, if read superficially looks terrible and indeed is a tragedy to the Egyptians, keep in mind that they had enslaved the Hebrews for more than 400 years! I hope this helps to keep things in perspective.
Big Picture
Israel

11. 7 The Israelites multiplied, 8 And a new king rose over Egypt … 9 And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the Israelites are greater and more numerous than us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, lest they become many, and when war happens, they also will join our enemies and will fight against us and go up from the land.” 13 and the Egyptians … ruthlessly enslaved them.
The pharaoh’s fear is the fear of every oppressor, ancient or modern. The oppressed are necessary to do the dirty work no citizen wants to do, but they are feared and controlled as a potential enemy.
Under which context is God mentioned the first time in Exodus? This is the type of questions are important to ask as we approach a new book because that will likely help us understand the main thrust and purpose of the book.
Slavery 1

12. What to do about oppression?
15 And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives …16 “When you help the Hebrews give birth, you will look, … if he is a son, you will put him to death, and if she is a daughter, she will live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and they did not do as the king of Egypt had said to them. They let the boys live.
The fear of God makes these women resist the deadly orders of the king and save the lives of the male children of the Hebrew women. So it is that the first mention of God in this book introduces him as one who provokes resistance to oppression in the name of life.
The story of Exodus does not start with Moses, but with the active resistance of brave women! It is actually because of what this brave women did, that Moses and many other boys were born, in a direct disobedience to the King. In chapter 2 we also see that it was the boldness and cleverness of two women who actually saved the life of baby Moses (it was his mother and his sister). In other words, remove the roles of women and you lose the whole Exodus! We wouldn’t even have Moses! Praise God for these women of action.
I hope nowadays we would do more to recognize our brave sisters, our women of action.
That is why I love Elim Home ministry, because it is not only about praying but also about getting into action against oppression and slavery! Exactly what these women did in the story of Exodus. 1
What to do about oppression?