MOSES: The Message Behind the Cross
Hidden in Plain Sight - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
February 25, 2024
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There are details in Bible stories that are often easily missed. They are shadows. Things are not spelled out in black and white but if you know what to look for, it’s clearly there. It’s why this series is called, Hidden in Plain Sight. Call it “the shadow of the cross” because it falls across the entire Old Testament. Literally, in every book, you see Jesus if you know what to look for. You see what He’s coming to do. You understand why the cross is essential in God’s plan of redemption. That’s what this message is all about, finding Jesus in the story of the Exodus.
SERIES | Hidden in Plain SightThere are stories with which we are fairly familiar that have a depth a meaning we often overlook. These Old Testament stories contain what are often referred to as types and shadows of greater realities yet to come. During this season of Lent, we went to fix our attention on a couple of these well-known stories to see a deeper message hidden within. Their message helps us not only to see the amazing continuity of the story God has been telling for all time but also prepares our hearts for the coming of Christ.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. There are two psychological concepts addressed in this message related to the children of Israel and the dynamics we observe playing out in this drama.
Early in the message, Pastor Keith discussed the concept of learned helplessness illustrated by the elephant tied to a stake using a small rope and the damage done to the children of Israel by long-term slavery. Discuss the concept of learned helplessness and talk or write about where have you seen this played out in your life or that of others.
The other concept is that of the victim triangle where those who have been victimized tend to see others only in one of two roles; their rescuer or their persecutor. This, too, is something we see very clearly in how the children of Israel related to Moses. Talk or write about where you have seen this played out in your life or that of others.
2. What is your God image like? How do you see Him as He relates to you in your pain? In your failure? In your successes? In your doubts? The last crisis you went through, how did you pray? Did it reveal anything to you that might be askew in your God image?
3. After the great victory at the Red Sea (where for the first time Scripture tells us that the people believed), they are dropped off in Marah where the waters were bitter and undrinkable. Often, after a great victory, comes times of great testing. What do you learn from the story of the exodus about times such as these? What were your big takeaways from the message? Where and how have you experienced this in your own life?
4. There is so much more to this story than what meets the eye, especially what happened in Exodus 17.5-7. Take some time to re-read this passage of Scripture. Pastor Keith shared how these verses show us how the people put God on trial, found Him guilty, and executed Him. Just like we would do with Jesus many years later. This is what’s more commonly referred to as an Old Testament shadow. It is giving Israel a glimpse into a much bigger reality and story that will play out with Christ, His trial, and execution. Discuss the things that stood out to you about this story. Next week, we’ll be looking at another Old Testament story that brings a very similar message about what Christ would one day do and that’s the story of Esther. But for now, what other Old Testa