WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:11.279 As we turn to our passage this week, we do so as a pivot point in the narrative that has been building in Exodus up until this point. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:19.920 It's as if everything has been building up until this point has been setting the stage for the main purpose of the whole narrative of Exodus. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:29.519 All throughout the series, we have been saying that the main theme of Exodus is and it's on the front of your bulletin, is the God who reveals himself. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:43.119 A few weeks ago we encountered the story where God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush and proclaims his name to Moses, the great I am, Yahweh Himself. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:47.439 And in today's passage, we find another self-declaration. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:01:03.920 What we come to find as we slowly walk through this grand narrative is that God's self-revelation doesn't stop with his declared name, but continues to build through his decisive action to save his people. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:11.040 If the main point of Exodus was to discover what God's name was, then we would be able to just close the book at chapter four. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:25.519 No, the purpose of Exodus isn't just to know by what name to call the God, but to know that he is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, who rescues his people. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:29.760 That's not to say that the name of the Lord isn't significant. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.680 It shows up 14 times in chapter 6 alone. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:36.560 That's almost once every two verses. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:46.400 By the end of chapter 5, we know God's name, and we have heard of his plan to save his people, but we haven't seen it come into action yet. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:58.959 As a matter of fact, it appears as if Moses has made things worse for God's people, as they're now forced to work even harder as slaves in Egypt, and their burdens have been multiplied. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:07.519 As we look at this passage, we should be considering how the author is developing the narrative as he writes. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:14.800 Much of what we have read this morning has been necessary to set the stage about what's about to take place. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:17.199 We're going to be diving into that next week. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:25.360 It's as if the climax of the first act was God revealing himself in the burning bush back in chapters 3 and 4. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:39.840 Chapter 6, verse 3, highlights the significance of God revealing his name to Moses, drawing our attention to the fact that by this name he hadn't yet revealed himself to his people. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:51.199 Everything from this first act was meant to point us to the fact to this fact so that we would be able to understand all that Moses would do as he goes forward. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.759 If not for God's self-revelation, the actions and the faith of Moses wouldn't make sense. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:03.360 And now in chapter 6, we see the conclusion of this first act of the narrative. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:10.159 And in this concluding scene of Act 1, we begin with Moses complaining before Yahweh. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:22.560 This conversation actually begins back in chapter 5, verses 22, with Moses turning to Yahweh, and he challenges Yahweh, saying, Why have you done evil to this people? 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.000 Why did you ever send me? 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:31.680 These are sincere questions that Moses is asking God. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:40.400 Moses feels that he has done everything that the Lord commanded him to do, but from Moses' vantage point, it hasn't worked. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:44.159 And as a matter of fact, it has gotten worse for the people. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:51.840 Moses has already gone to the people of Israel and to Pharaoh, and nothing positive has resulted from it. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:57.919 Through Moses' words to Pharaoh, the only result has been worse treatment by the Egyptians. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.840 Moses' complaints make sense from his perspective. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.680 And I wonder if how many of us can relate to Moses here? 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:13.120 How many of us have had a season of life of calling us to God, asking him the big questions of why? 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:21.279 This question is one of the questions that is shared across all peoples, all nations, and throughout all time. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.959 Why, God? 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:29.360 It reminds me of the country song that I'm not going to sing, Everybody Talks to God by Aaron Lewis. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:40.560 The chorus goes like this: it says, Because whether you're a farmer in the field praying for the rain, or you curse him at the graveside, because he's called a loved one's name. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.800 You can thank him, you can blame him. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:46.639 Either way, you're going to face him, whether you believe in him or not. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:50.160 Because in the end, everybody talks to God. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:05:05.279 If you're here this morning and this song describes you or season of life that you're in right now, I hope that you see in Scripture an example of God's people calling out to him with real and raw emotion. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:08.319 Moses' cry of, why me? 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.879 is a cry that we can share with him as we also cry out to God. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:17.680 But I want us to pay attention to God's response to Moses' cry here. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:26.240 Exodus 6, verse 1 says, But the Lord said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:33.120 For with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:37.120 Moses' complaint before God is twofold. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:41.360 That the people haven't listened to him, and Pharaoh hasn't relented. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:47.519 Moses is so focused on what his enemy is doing, and his faith is being rocked. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:53.839 But God's response challenges Moses' perspective on the matter. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.879 And he tells him to pay attention to what God will do. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:59.680 Did you pay attention to that in verse 1? 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:04.560 God says, This is what I'm going to do in the beginning of verse 1. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:11.839 Moses is so fixated on what Pharaoh is doing, and God reorients Moses' focus. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.480 It's like when a parent is trying to get their child's attention. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:15.120 What do they do? 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:21.279 They put one hand on either side of the face and get down to their level and say, This is what I'm going to do. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.040 It's like God is doing that to Moses. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:25.600 He's taking them like, pay attention now. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:27.839 This is what I'm going to do. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:38.319 And God explains that he is going to as God as God explains to Moses what he's going to do, he shows him this is what Pharaoh's going to end up doing. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:43.759 Verse 1, it says, it shows us that God is going to send the people out with a strong hand. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:46.079 With a strong hand, he's going to drive them out. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:48.319 But God said, I'm going to do this. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.639 We see these two things working in tandem. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:56.079 God says, I will do this thing, and we see that it is Pharaoh who will also do this thing. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:00.959 I will, God's action, leading to He will, Pharaoh's action. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:12.879 In Moses' complaint, we see that whereas Moses focuses his attention on what Pharaoh is doing and not doing, Yahweh shows Moses what is actually going to take place. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.959 It isn't a matter of what Pharaoh is doing or going to do. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:21.839 What matters is all that Yahweh himself is going to do for his people. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:26.399 Turn your attention to verses 2 through 8 of chapter 6. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:31.199 This section of the text could be subtitled, I Will. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:45.040 It reminds me of the Under Armour commercial from 10 or so years ago, where all these people, like the most fit people on earth, are all wearing Under Armour swag, and they're doing like that ropes thing that I've never done in my life before. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:55.040 And they're like picking up big empty steel barrels and just throwing them over their heads, and they're like sprinting with a parachute tied to their back, you know, everyday stuff that we do. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:03.279 The whole like purpose of this like commercial and this media campaign was that if you have the determination, you can do it. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:06.000 And you can wear under armor to help. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:10.959 Well, what we see in Exodus 6 is that no one can do it. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.639 Moses can't make it happen. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:20.959 The people of Israel are completely helpless to try to change their circumstances. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:28.000 There's nothing to be done by the power of man, no matter if you're wearing underarm or sandals or not. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:31.680 And in steps Yahweh. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.600 Let's listen to the original I will campaign. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:41.360 It says, God spoke to Moses and said to him, I am the Lord. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:49.039 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:55.360 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as sojourners. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:04.000 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:23.120 Say therefore to the people of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:34.159 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:39.360 I will bring you to the land I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:42.639 I will give it to you for possession. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:45.120 I am the Lord. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:52.480 What an amazing promise that Yahweh gives Moses in this moment of trouble. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:59.519 God doesn't rebuke Moses for his lack of faith or the uncertainty that he has. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:06.879 Instead, he reminds Moses of who he is and helps Moses to see God's divine plan. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:17.279 As we consider the main theme of Exodus being the God who reveals himself, we read this passage and ask, who then is the Lord? 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.600 Well, these verses they tell us. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:22.399 They tell us that the Lord, he keeps his word. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.000 See that in verse 4. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.759 That he feels our foes. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.200 We see that in verse 5. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.720 That he sets us free. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:30.559 We see that at the beginning of verse 6. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.960 He brings us close to himself. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:36.879 See that in the second half of verse 6 and verse 7. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.759 And that he will eventually lead us home. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:41.279 Verse 8. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:49.919 And in between, and these promises, they're sandwiched between these book-ended declarations. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.039 I am the Lord. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:11:02.399 God reminds Moses that as much as Moses feels like he understands the people's plight, God knows it more. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:09.919 And as much as Moses wants to see his people set free set free, God wants it more. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:17.919 As much as Moses wants to see justice come for God's people, God wants it more. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:26.399 God is reminding Moses that it is his work and his will that is going to save his people. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:32.559 God is graciously putting Moses in his place as his representative. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:38.240 Moses hears God's word to him, and he communicates it to the people. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.799 And turn your eyes to verse 9. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:50.879 It says, Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:56.480 How easy is it for us to relate to the people of Israel here? 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:02.639 That week after week we we come together as God's people, as the church, to hear God's word. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.879 And we sing songs of worship to our conquering king. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:17.840 We take communion together, remembering all that God has done for us in Christ as we look forward to that final day when we will feast in God's eternal kingdom. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:30.159 In the same way that Moses reminds the people of who their God is and what he is going to do for them, we also come together to be reminded of all that God has already done for us. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.840 The Israelites couldn't see beyond their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:46.399 For us, it might be that on Monday we get stuck in traffic and we're late for that really important meeting at the office. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.679 And stress clouds our memory. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:57.440 Or it might be that we look at our bank accounts and we wonder how are we going to make it to the end of this week in the next paycheck? 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:00.559 Forgetting that God is our provider. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:10.639 Or we see the way that our kids are turning out to be too much like us, no matter how hard we try to save them from the mistakes that we made. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:16.399 Forgetting that it is the Holy Spirit who moves within us to shape us into the image of Jesus. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:30.720 I don't know about you, about what's going on in your life, but when the things of this world start to pile up on me through the week, I can oftentimes forget that the God of the universe has called me, has saved me, and is with me. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:46.639 As we consider this interaction between Moses and his doubts and God and his faithfulness, I hope that you can see that in Christ you have the freedom to bring your broken spirits to him. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:54.559 We don't read that the Israelites had a broken or a hardened spirit, like Pharaoh had, but a broken one. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:14:02.240 And in this brokenness of spirit, God reveals to them how he is going to step in for the sake of his people. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:07.919 For Moses and the Israelites, he does this by rescuing them from Egypt. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:21.279 And in Christ, we can trust and know that he has rescued us from the power of sin, hell, and Satan, and has given us a newness of life, even when our life on earth can still leave our spirit feeling broken. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:36.720 The examples I offered earlier of traffic and being late to meetings and having a tight budget and the challenges of parenting, they might seem trivial for some of us who are dealing with some of the larger hurdles or obstacles of faith. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:42.960 I know some of you have, you're facing some scary medical diagnoses right now. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:46.639 I know some of you have recently lost a loved one. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:59.679 Some of you have made radical steps of obedience and following what you believe the Lord is calling you to, similar to Moses, and you're waiting for God's plan to be made obvious to you. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:09.840 And in these moments, the big and the small, God's word promises us that Jesus is always with us, even to the end of the age. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:23.039 It's just like God promised Moses back in chapter 3, where it says, chapter 3, verse 11, it says, but Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel up out of Egypt? 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.600 This is the wrong question. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.759 It actually, Moses, it actually doesn't matter who you are. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:32.320 But he asks this question, Who am I? 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.919 God's response to this question of who am I? 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:38.159 But I will be with you. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:42.080 Doesn't really sound like a response, but it's a reassurance. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.759 He says, I will be with you. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:49.120 That's the promise that Moses was to take hold of as he goes to the people and to Pharaoh. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.480 And it's the same promise that we're to hold on to as well. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.240 But he wavers just as we waver. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:01.919 Once again, Moses turns his attention to the wrong person in the story. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:06.399 He looks inward rather than looking upward. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.960 Turn your attention to verse 6, or verse 10. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:18.320 It says, So the Lord said to Moses, Go in, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Israel go out of this land. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:24.720 But Moses said to the Lord, Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:27.120 How then shall Pharaoh listen to me? 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.000 For I am of uncircumcised lips. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:33.679 See, Moses is looking inward rather than upward. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:37.679 Anyone else in this room feel like you can relate to Moses in this scene here? 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:45.840 How many of you have ever heard our pastors talk about our desire to make a dent in lostness in Brownsburg and the surrounding community? 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:52.559 And you look inward at your abilities or lack thereof, and you feel immediately inadequate? 00:16:53.039 --> 00:17:02.720 Or you've considered the invitation to one-to-one Bible reading with someone, and you've believed that that invitation is actually for the person sitting next to you and not for yourself. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.279 How many of us forget that it's actually not about you? 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.559 But rather that the Lord your God is with you. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:21.920 How many of us, like Moses, are so prone to looking inward rather than upward to the one who's called us? 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:28.799 For Moses, it didn't matter that his lips were by his own definition uncircumcised. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.440 It didn't matter that by his own estimation they weren't fit for the task. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.440 Yahweh was with him. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:43.519 Moses looked inward at his own strengths and abilities and determined that he wasn't fit for the job and looked for an excuse. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.599 But Yahweh doesn't budge. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.240 Read verse 13. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:56.559 It says, But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:00.799 So remember that Moses is worried that the people and Pharaoh won't listen to him. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.640 And he's like, God, you shouldn't send me. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.200 I'm not going to be able to speak to them. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:09.759 And it says that Yahweh brings a charge to Moses and Aaron. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.319 He says, to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:20.319 God doesn't budge based on our self-evaluation. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:28.559 What we see in Moses trying to deflect God's calling on his life is God's resolution to accomplish his will. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:33.759 The main idea of Exodus isn't the God who reveals Moses. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:42.319 It's not the God who reveals his chosen people, it's the God who reveals himself. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:52.000 And as he reveals himself, he shows Moses and us that his plans are his plans to accomplish. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:58.799 This is meant to give us peace as we consider our inadequacies in light of God's calling on our lives. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:03.920 That it's okay to feel inadequate as you live missionally for God. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.359 Moses did. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:26.160 Verse 13, it acts as a pivot point in the narrative. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.240 The stage has been set. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:32.319 If this was a play, this is where Act 1 concludes. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:39.680 If this was a movie series, the credits would roll, and we would have to wait for the next movie in the series to be released. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:45.039 The people of Israel are going to be brought out of the land of Egypt. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:52.480 But before we can get to that action, we first have to deal with what feels like an out-of-place genealogy. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.599 Doesn't it feel like it's out of place to us? 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:03.200 Perhaps it's because in our culture and society, we don't value genealogies the same way that they did. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.599 So here's an exercise for us. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:09.200 Raise your hand if you can remember your parents' names. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.599 Thank you for class participation. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.880 That's the easy one. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.480 Keep it raised. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.240 Keep it raised. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:19.279 If you remember your grandparents' names. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.319 Both sets, first names. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:30.079 Keep your hand raised if you can remember the names, first names of all of your great-grandparents on both sides of your family. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.200 And now let's go back one more generation. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:37.039 Who can remember all those names four generations back? 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.640 I see two hands. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:52.160 Isn't it interesting for us to think about that in a matter of three, maybe four generations, our name will be all but forgotten? 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:16.079 When we think of this fact, it should cause us to consider not the name that I'm going to leave behind, but a legacy of faithfulness to follow Jesus with the hopes that in the generations down the road, that second, third, fourth generation down the road, they too will be able to say that they follow the Lord Jesus. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:24.319 But that begs the question: why is this genealogy here in the text, in the middle of chapter six? 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:29.920 Well, the primary reason why this genealogy is here is to anchor the narrative. 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:42.079 We just did an exercise that demonstrated how little we tend to remember about our past, but genealogies played a significant role in societies long before internet databases existed. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:53.279 This genealogy sits in this section of the narrative as a nod to the future reader so that they will be able to know precisely who this Moses and this Aaron are. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:59.599 In this genealogy, we see how the Exodus narrative stretches back into the past. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.119 All the way to the patriarchs, and then connects Moses and Aaron in that line. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:13.440 And as Aaron's lineage is confirmed, his role as the prophet and priest of God is verified. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:25.920 As the Exodus narrative continues to unfold, we will eventually come to find that the priestly line will continue through Aaron's direct descendants, which is alluded to here. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:34.079 So when we look at the genealogy, and thank you, Mark, for uh saying all the names that I'm gonna pass over, uh, they're all there in the text. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:38.640 As we look at the text, it starts to flow like we would assume any other genealogy. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.599 It says, these are the descendants of the tribes of Israel. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:45.119 And it goes to the firstborn son, Reuben, and lists his sons. 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:48.960 It goes to the second son, it goes to Simeon and lists his sons. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:52.640 Goes to the third son, Levi, and lists his sons. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:59.759 And if we followed the way that genealogies often go, we'd assume it's gonna go to the fourth son, which would have been Judah. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.440 But it doesn't. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:07.119 It goes from Levi and then it starts to trace down Levi's descendants from there. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:11.680 So it lists Levi's sons, there's uh Gershon, Kohath, and Meri. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:18.000 And it goes through and it lists, it lists their sons and their sons and their sons, and we see this like this. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:39.359 If you're starting to look at the actual web, like if we had a screen and we had like the family tree up there, you'd see like the tribes of Israel, and then it goes down a step, and then it goes to the sons of Levi and it goes down, and then it goes down to Kohath, and it continues to follow down this really specific branch of the family tree. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:44.880 It goes from Kohath down to Amram, Amram being the father of Aaron and Moses. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:52.480 It also talks about Izhar and his sons, of which are known the sons of Korah. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:24:01.839 And as it continues to trace these two family lines, what we're gonna come to see is that it ends with Phinehas, which we can read about him in Numbers 25. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:13.039 I encourage you if you're taking notes, write that down and check it out because we won't be talking about it in detail in uh the Exodus series, but it's important to know who this Phineas character is. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:24.079 Because in this genealogy, he's uh the author's intentionally wanting us to draw our attention, to draw a line from the patriarchs down to Phineas through Levi and Aaron. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.359 But it also goes into detail about the sons of Korah. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:32.160 And if you want to learn about the sons of Korah, go to Numbers 16 and 17. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:38.079 And what you're gonna see is these two opposing ways of uh serving the Lord. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:42.960 One way that leads to faithfulness and one that leads to the earth swallowing you up. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:47.119 So you can turn to those pages to figure out how it all goes down. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:59.359 All that to say, this genealogy is set here in the middle of the narrative to ground the reader in, okay, where does this actually fall in the history of God's people? 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:03.759 How can I actually trace back to see who these people specifically are? 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:07.119 One commentary I read this uh this week said the following. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:18.000 Although other names are mentioned, the clear focus of the genealogy is the Levitical lineage from Levi to Phineas, with Aaron standing in the midway position. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:28.880 By providing this wide-ranging genealogy, at least one purpose of the author is to place the Exodus event in its broad historical perspective. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:33.440 God's purpose reaches backward and forward. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:47.599 It reaches backward to help the reader to see how the story has led us to this point, and it points forward into the latter parts of the Exodus account and even further into the story of Jesus Christ. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:54.960 Said another way, Moses models covenant mediator, restoring knowledge of Yahweh. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:26:02.240 And Aaron models sacrificial mediation fellowship, uh restoring fellowship with Yahweh. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:11.839 Together, Aaron and Moses and their ministries, they prefigure Christ, the ultimate prophet, priest, and king. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:30.799 We don't have time to do a deep dive into all of these parallels between Jesus and how the Exodus story points to him, but when we consider the prominent roles that both Moses, of both Moses and Aaron, we should be hearing some echoes of what Jesus has done and is doing. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:43.519 Remember earlier that I compared this section of Exodus to act one of a play ending, or a movie in a series ending. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:48.640 It's almost this is in my imagination, so you're welcome to step into my brain here. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:51.839 It's almost as if this is like the credits for the movie. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:27:00.880 I can remember when uh movies used to have all the credits play at the beginning, and you'd have this, the original score of the movie being played in the background. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:09.119 And if you knew the story of the movie you're about to watch, you could see some like tidbits of the movie starting to like show up and pop up. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:12.559 One of the best examples I can think of is the movie Catch Me If You Can. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:22.240 Where if you know the story of this movie, when you watch the intro and the credits of the director and the main actors, you see the whole movie getting played out in this animation. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:27.119 I feel like this genealogy is like this the same credits. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:33.440 And it's meant to draw our attention to everything that's happened up until this point in the narrative. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:39.839 We're being reminded of the key characters, and we see the key themes again right before the action starts. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:43.200 Turn to verses uh 26 and onward. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:51.759 It says, These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:57.119 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:00.480 This Moses and this Aaron. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:09.279 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the Lord said to Moses, I am the Lord, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I say to you. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:13.039 But Moses said to the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.200 How will Pharaoh listen to me? 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.160 So the stage is now set for Act 2 to begin. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:31.440 Everything that's written in verses 26 to 30 that I just read has already been said and has already taken place, but it's repeated here to remind us of what went before the genealogy that broke our attention. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:38.720 And it begins with one of the most interesting phases or phrases in the Bible, chapter 7, verse 1. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:47.599 It says, And the Lord said to Moses, See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:53.039 And as if this phrase isn't odd enough for us to consider, it gets even more odd. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:29:01.039 This phrase, if it was a more literal word-for-word translation, uh would say, I have made you God to Pharaoh. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:11.599 The ESV and NIV and almost every other translation adds an un or like before God, trying to soften the statement that God makes to Moses. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:16.640 What does God mean that Moses will be God to Pharaoh? 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:21.920 We came across a similar phrase back in Exodus chapter 4, verse 16. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:29.680 After Moses complains to God that he is ineloquent and wishes that God would send someone else rather than him on this rescue mission. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:33.920 And there it is said that Moses would be like God to Aaron. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:36.559 What on earth is going on here? 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:43.200 What God is saying is that Moses will be God's direct representative to Pharaoh. 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:53.440 We have to remember that in the society and culture that this narrative is being told from, we have to remember that Pharaoh believed himself to be a God on earth. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:56.559 This was his identity, the God King. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:05.920 And so when Moses comes to him in the name of Yahweh, another God, he doesn't even blink an eye because he's also a God in his own eyes. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:11.839 And so by calling Moses God, it's like Yahweh is beating Pharaoh at his own game. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:20.160 It is not the king of Egypt who is God, rather, it is this shepherd and this leader of a bunch of slaves who is God. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:30.799 And this Moses God defeats Pharaoh in a manner that leaves no doubt as to who the true, uh whose true nature and source is the power of God. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:41.119 He controls the elements, he controls bugs and livestock, fire from heaven, the water of the sea, and he even has authority over life and death. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:49.759 Moses is not simply like God to Pharaoh, he truly is God to Pharaoh in that God is acting through Moses. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:57.759 Whenever Moses shows a sign to Pharaoh, as we will start to see next week, Pharaoh responds by asking his magicians to help him out. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.680 Can you see the difference here? 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:08.160 As Pharaoh parades around playing dress up God, Moses will show up and literally do the things that only God can do. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:12.400 And note that it isn't even, it's not even Pharaoh who does any of the miraculous things. 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:15.200 He asks his magicians to help him out. 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:18.000 Moses doesn't need a magician. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:22.960 As God's representative, he does the very things that only God can do. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:29.039 And in this way, Moses is God to Pharaoh in a way that Pharaoh can only imagine. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:34.640 Why does this make us so uncomfortable to hear of Moses in this regard? 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:40.319 Why does this phrase, you will be God to Pharaoh, sound so out of place? 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:45.519 What if this phrase isn't meant to be extraordinary but ordinary? 00:31:46.400 --> 00:32:08.720 What if we read this phrase from Exodus chapter 7, next to Genesis chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, where it says, Then God said, Let us make man in our in our image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:11.119 So God created man in his own image. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.960 In the image of God, he created him. 00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:15.279 Male and female, he created them. 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:24.880 It sounds like by God's power, Moses is given the opportunity to be not superhuman, but truly human. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:31.519 It's like Moses was able to live as one made in the image of God to Pharaoh. 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:42.240 He is far from perfect in his execution, but what we see in this phrase and throughout the story of Exodus is a picture of what Adam's pre-fall relationship with creation was. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:47.119 Before the fall, we see that Adam and Eve had real communion with God in the garden. 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:52.079 In Exodus, we see God having a special communion with Pharaoh. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.519 Sorry, with Moses. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:33:01.599 We see that they had dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:05.200 And after the fall, that communion and that dominion was marred. 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:15.759 When we turn ahead to the New Testament, to Romans chapter 8, we read that for creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:29.680 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:35.440 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:40.400 Creation has been groaning, waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:48.000 Moses was given a special calling from God in a time when the image of God was almost unrecognizable and forgotten. 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:55.519 And when we look at the grand meta-narrative of Scripture, we come to find that in Christ we have been made new. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:34:00.640 When Christ came, he didn't represent God to us in the same way that Moses did. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:09.599 See, Moses was God to Pharaoh in the sense that he was given the responsibility and the ability to do all the things that God commanded him to do throughout his mission. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:12.079 When Jesus came, it was different. 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:20.000 Colossians 1, verse 15 tells us that he, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:30.960 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:36.800 Moses demonstrated dominion over Pharaoh, but imperfectly. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:38.800 We read about his imperfection. 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:44.800 We read about it earlier this morning, and how he doubted God's decision to even use him in this mission. 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:51.760 Christ's dominion isn't over a certain king or a general kingdom, but over sin and death. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:57.599 When Christ came, he embodied the glory of humanity that was lost in the garden. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:04.239 See, oftentimes when we think about the humanity of Jesus, we emphasize the aspects that make him feel more like us. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:12.000 Rather than emphasizing those aspects that make him a true image bearer. 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:24.880 What this means for us today is that in a similar way that Moses was God to Pharaoh as an image bearer of Yahweh, those of us who are in Christ Jesus have a similar responsibility and a role today. 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:33.199 Remember that Moses was sent to Pharaoh to bring God's people out of the land of Egypt and to release them from captivity. 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:45.440 This image of God rescuing his people from Egypt is a major theme throughout the whole Old Testament, with Egypt being used as a constant reminder of all that God has done to save his chosen people. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:49.679 Moses wasn't the one who saved the people, God did that. 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:55.840 Moses had a role to play, but we have to be careful to properly weigh the work that Moses did. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:01.280 It reminds me of when one of the kids asks me or Katie if they can help prepare food in the kitchen. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.800 Like, hey, can I help? 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:08.239 It's like, uh, I don't really need help cutting these apples, but sure, you can help. 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:10.960 And we try to give them a task to help along with it. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:15.199 So that being the case, that God doesn't need our help. 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:21.920 He does choose to work in and through his chosen people to bring about change in this world. 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:27.039 Not only in Moses and in the past, but in us here and now. 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:34.239 We were just told about Moses being enabled to represent God to Pharaoh as a true image bearer. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:42.400 If you're a Christian, then you're also called to represent God in your life as you work for him in his kingdom. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:52.639 Without our mind, we turn our attention to 2 Corinthians, where Paul writes and he says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:55.840 The old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 00:36:56.079 --> 00:37:05.039 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us, gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:17.039 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:25.840 Therefore, we are ambassadors of Christ, God making his appeal through us. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:30.559 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:39.360 For our sake he made him who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:50.800 In the same way that God was making his appeal to Pharaoh through Moses, he is now making his appeal to all people through those of us who have been reconciled. 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:55.280 I know it made you uncomfortable to hear the phrase that Moses was God to Pharaoh. 00:37:55.519 --> 00:38:05.039 How does it make you feel to hear that you have been called to be a true image bearer to your neighbor, to your coworker, to your classmate? 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:17.920 That in the same way that Moses was tasked to represent God before Pharaoh, God in his wisdom has chosen to make you and me his representatives and has entrusted us with this ministry of reconciliation. 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.880 Who? 00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.079 Me? 00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:23.679 But God, I ain't good with words. 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:26.719 Yeah, Moses wasn't either, apparently. 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:29.119 But that's apparently not the point. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:35.679 Because God's word promises that he will be with us and that it is actually him who saves his people. 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:40.559 I'm not saying that we're gonna have the ability to part C's. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:46.239 I'm not expecting you to call gnats to this town, and please don't. 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:51.199 If anything, I think that our calling is more significant than the wondrous signs of Moses. 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:59.119 And it reminds me of the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man, the one whose friends lowered him down through the roof on a mat. 00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:03.199 And in this scene, Jesus does something that sometimes gets overlooked. 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:12.239 And so as the man gets lowered down through the roof and the dust settles, it says that Jesus looks at his friends who brought the man. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:24.000 And in Mark chapter 2, verse 5, it says this it says that when Jesus saw their faith, the faith of the friends, he then turned to the paralytic. 00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:31.280 After he's already said that your sins have been forgiven, he turns to him at that, or sorry, he turns to him there and says, Your sins have been forgiven. 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.440 I missed the point there. 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:38.559 He looks at the man and he says, Your sins have been forgiven. 00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:41.280 Based on the faith of his friends. 00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:45.920 At that point, he doesn't say, You're healed, get up and take your mat and walk. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:48.480 He says, Your sins have been forgiven. 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:58.159 And only after some of the Pharisees of the crowd started to question in their hearts that Jesus had the ability to forgive a man's sins, did he choose to actually heal the man? 00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:01.119 Where he tells him to take up his mat and walk. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:13.519 As Christians, we aren't promised that we will perform the same miracles of Moses, but as we faithfully love one another as Christ loves us, we're told that people will come to faith in Jesus and have their sins forgiven. 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:20.719 If we live on mission as true image bearers of God, he will empower us with this ministry of reconciliation. 00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:25.280 God called out to Moses and told him what to do. 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:32.000 And through God's revealed word, we see that our responsibility and role in his kingdom is made clear. 00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:43.599 That for better or for worse, God has determined that the best means by which to spread the truth of his reconciliation available to humanity is through you and is through me. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:47.519 That means that your interactions at the baseball diamond are redeemable. 00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:50.000 Your time at the checkout line is redeemable. 00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:53.840 Talking with your friends between classes is redeemable. 00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:58.159 As you love your children and care for them at home, that's redeemable. 00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:08.880 And as we reflect on this bizarre phrase from Exodus 7, verse 1, we come to find that in Christ we are likewise called to be God's image bearers wherever we live, work, and play. 00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:16.159 That the Holy Spirit may stir in the hearts of those who live, that we live with, that they might come to know the one true God. 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:25.199 As Moses interacts with the false God of Egypt, the one true God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob is going to rescue his people out of slavery in Egypt. 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:28.000 And the Egyptians will know that he is the Lord. 00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:34.320 And as we go out from here and interact with those in our life, who is it that the people that we interact with are going to come to know? 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:42.639 Are they going to come to know you as you once were, or will they come to know Jesus who reveals himself through his newly created image bearers? 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:46.159 Moses doubted and looked inward rather than upward. 00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:54.719 And as you go into this week, I would encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus, to look upward at the founder and the perfecter of your faith. 00:41:55.039 --> 00:42:00.000 Jesus, we need your help in this because we are so prone to look inward rather than upward. 00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:06.480 And so, Lord, we ask that you would do a work in us and that you would prepare us for this ministry of reconciliation. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:08.480 For we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:09.280 Amen.