WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.280 Thank you, Melissa. 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:03.040 That was it's not easy. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.480 It's it's very difficult. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:15.039 I mean, even I, a lot of times uh confession, blueletterbible.org, there's this little feature, has a little microphone, and you click it and it tells you how to say certain words. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:18.960 And I use it all the time because I read these words, I have no idea how to say them. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:26.000 All right, so uh we're in Exodus, still in Exodus, about halfway through, and so we are uh learning this story. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:30.160 We're going through the story about how God has rescued his people. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:32.799 These people, the Hebrews, they were in slavery in Egypt. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:33.520 You remember this? 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:37.920 They were making bricks, they were suffering, they were there for about 400 years. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:47.200 They were miserable, they were crying out, and uh finally God sends this very unlikely guy, Moses, to go and help lead them out of slavery. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:57.200 And so we get this story about them trekking across the wilderness, the desert, and they're headed toward what is called the promised land, which is uh modern-day Israel, which is known as Canaan, also in the Bible. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:04.640 And so they're headed there, and that's where they're gonna uh build their cities and their nation, and that's where they're gonna live and have their lives. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.959 But it doesn't take a few weeks like it should. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:08.799 It takes them a very long time. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:12.879 It takes them about 40 years because they just keep settling down along the way. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.959 And this is where we get all these really interesting stories along the way. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.560 Now, maybe you're here, and we we look at this story today, this Exodus 17 that Melissa read. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.200 We get this story, and we get a story about a battle. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.319 It's like these Old Testament guys, and it's a battle. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:34.879 And then and maybe you could even, if you're not familiar with the Bible, not familiar with church, you could even think, what could this ever have to do with my life? 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:42.239 Like, what could this story in the Old Testament, some battle, and there's a guy on a mountain and his arms are up and everything's great, and his arms are down and everything's horrible. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:44.959 Like, what could this ever have to do with my life? 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:54.000 And so uh perhaps you'll hang with me as I tell the story, um, and I think it will come together for you by the end if you're willing to hang with me. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:58.799 Um, and I think you'll be blown away by the story and what the story means. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:05.680 Um for me, it all kind of came together on Wednesday, and ever since I've been kind of blown away by this story. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.159 So I'm gonna reread parts of it that helps me, helps us as we travel through the text. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:12.240 Um, so I'll reread parts of it as we go. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.759 So, Exodus 17, verses 8 through 11. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:19.759 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephadim. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.520 So Moses said to Joshua, Choose for us men and go out and fight with Amalek. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:29.360 Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand, so this great symbol of authority and power. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:36.000 So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek while Moses, Aaron, and her went up to the top of the hill. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:53.840 Whenever Moses held up his hand, so this symbol, this position of surrender to God and need of God, and God's authority and his ability, uh, whenever Moses stood like that and fought with Amalek, while Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.240 And whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek, um Amalek prevailed. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:03.680 So hands up, Israel's prevailing, hands down, Amalek's prevailing. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.960 And so the battle's down in the valley, they're up on the mountain. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:12.159 And so what we see here is we see that our most productive position is surrender. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.759 Our most productive position is dependence on God. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:24.240 And what we also see here, which is really interesting, is that Moses can't even maintain his ability to reveal his need. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:25.360 Isn't that interesting? 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:34.240 Like, so his position of need is the thing that's helping, and yet he can't even maintain the position of need. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:41.599 Like, this is how dire our condition is, is that like we can't even maintain the position of showing that we are in need of help. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:46.560 And so he actually needs help to maintain the position of communicating that he needs help. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.280 There's like layers and layers of needing help, basically. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.479 So, verse 12. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.560 But Moses' hands grew weary. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:04:01.120 So they took a stone and they put it under him, and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:03.759 So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:08.319 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.319 So God was teaching these people something. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:11.680 That's what we keep seeing in these stories. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:16.240 Yes, they're stories, they're history, but God is teaching them something. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.399 He's taking them somewhere. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:22.959 Because at the end of this story, um God tells Moses, write this down. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:28.319 You need to write this down in a book, and you need to recite it in the ear of Joshua. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.600 These people need to remember this. 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.560 These people need to remember how victory comes. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:36.560 These people need to remember this. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:43.439 And then Moses goes and he builds an altar, another sign of just surrender and worship. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:47.519 And he calls the altar the Lord is my banner. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:48.079 Right? 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.920 Because I mean that's really what's going on here. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.399 Is Moses is confessing that the Lord is my banner. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:00.879 It's not him, it's not Joshua, it's it's not like uh my greatness is the banner here or my my goodness. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.240 I mean, it's it's that the Lord is my banner. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:08.240 So about 10 years ago, uh Christy and I were newly married. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:26.399 I began to uh interview at Church of the Apostles in Atlanta for a pastoral position, and so I uh in my first interview, um, I show up at this big, prestigious, beautiful, wonderful church, and I have on literally my only pair of khakis and the only button-up shirt I own. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:30.399 And they were these super baggy khakis, and they're cargo pants. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.959 They weren't even like real khakis, they were cargo pants. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:34.399 Um, and so this is all I own. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.639 The only pair of khakis I own, the only button-up shirt I owned. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.079 That's what I wore to the interview. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:48.079 I'm so intimidated walking in there because there was like all like a lot of slate going on, a lot of oak trim and stained glass, and it was all very overwhelming from where I had come from. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:52.079 And start with interviews, like one interview, and then another interview, and another interview. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.560 I mean, multiple interviews that day, and then more interviews later. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:56.319 It was like getting into the CIA. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:00.240 Literally, it felt like getting in the CIA, like this must be what it's like. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:04.959 And so the the last step was an interview with a psychologist. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:12.319 And so uh the psychologist he had sent some tests to me before, and so I'd do all these tests, like personality tests and profiles and all this kind of stuff. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.040 And then we get on the phone, because I think the guy's in Dallas or something. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.000 So we get on the phone and he says, we're gonna talk for about an hour and a half. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.360 Um, the first hour and 15 minutes, um, I'm just gonna ask you questions. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:22.480 Okay, and that's great. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.800 And then he said, last 15 minutes, we'll do something a little bit different. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:28.560 So we go through the hour and 15 minutes, and he's just asking me question after question. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.759 I'm answering, we're just working our way through all these different questions. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:37.040 And then we end the hour 15 minutes, and he says, Okay, um, here's what we're gonna do, last 15 minutes. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:45.759 I'm gonna give you scenarios, um, detailed scenarios, and then I'm gonna tell you what you would do in that scenario, and you tell me if I'm correct. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:53.839 And so he get he just lays out these scenarios, like really detailed scenarios, where it is so clear in my mind what I would do. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.839 And over and over and over again, he nailed me. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:04.160 I mean, it was un I mean, for 15 minutes it's just like you know, scenario, scenario, nailed me every time. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:10.720 I mean, we get to the end of those 15 minutes of those scenarios, and I just was like, what was that? 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:13.360 Like, what that was amazing. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:18.399 I mean, how could you have known to the to that depth exactly what I would do? 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:25.040 And he just said, Um, well, most of humanity, most of us, uh, we behave in patterns. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:33.920 And if you know the pattern, you can predict pretty much with 95% accuracy exactly how somebody will behave. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.240 Well, I've been thinking about this. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:42.000 Um, mainly because reading through Exodus, it just is like it's a pattern. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.160 Like you just keep seeing the same thing over and over and over again. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:50.160 I mean, we keep, it's like I keep preaching the same sermon with a different story, right? 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:54.480 I mean, it's the same thing on repeat, it's the same story in a different scene. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:08:09.120 It's just it, right, is delivered from Pharaoh out of slavery, delivered from Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea, delivered from hunger in the desert, delivered from thirst in the desert, and then today delivered from an enemy in battle. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.600 It's the same scene over and over and over again. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:19.040 Now listen what happens in this story because uh Moses' father-in-law shows up. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:20.480 Jethro, good name. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:21.680 Beverly Hillbillies, right? 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:22.079 You remember? 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:22.560 Anybody? 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:23.199 Okay, thanks. 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:23.680 Anyways. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.920 All right, so Moses' father-in-law shows up. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:30.079 Moses tells him of this pattern, right? 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:37.440 He says, We were delivered here, we were delivered here, we were delivered here, we were delivered here. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.639 And here's what happens in chapter 18, verse 11 and 12. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.360 And this is this is Jethro's response. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:49.759 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:09:00.480 So what's clear is what's clear is that our lives have effect on people. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.600 We sort of don't want it to be that way. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:08.559 We sort of want us just to be independent and like we don't have to worry about that. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:09.759 But it we do. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.679 Our lives have effect on people. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:13.600 They see something. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:18.559 But the question is, is what do they see? 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:25.440 And the question, furthermore, is what is the story that actually resonates? 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:27.840 What is the story that actually resonates? 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.759 See, the the this has everything to do with a big church word if you're around church. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.720 This has everything to do with evangelism. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:35.919 I mean, that that's the word. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:46.399 And no, I know maybe perhaps it comes with baggage from you if you come from maybe a legalistic background, or maybe it comes with baggage because maybe you've seen that word so like intertwined within the political world. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:50.720 And so maybe it comes with some baggage and some misunderstanding, it's very possible. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:57.120 But the word basically means this God making himself known in this world through us. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:59.039 That's that's what it means. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:07.200 So I've told of this great experience of mine, this great evangelism experience of mine before, but it's just so good I can't ever pass up a chance to share it. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:20.000 So I was in an evangelism class as a high school student, and we we would all gather together at the church and we'd split up into teams of like three or four, and we would show up at people's houses on Tuesday evening. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:20.960 Anybody do this? 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:24.960 Some of you, okay, and some of you had good experience with it, some have bad experience with it. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:28.879 And so I had some good experience, some bad experience, probably more bad than good. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:39.120 And here's what we would do: um, we would show up at people's homes, and I don't they weren't expecting us, mind you, but we showed up, and I'm pretty sure they didn't want us to come in, but we just sort of like worked our way in. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:40.559 We were like pretty good at that. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.320 And we would get in, and we then some good would come of it because we would share the gospel. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:49.200 We would share how these people could be made right with God, how they could be forgiven, what Jesus did for them, right? 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.559 Like we would lay that out. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.559 And then it got bad because we wouldn't leave. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.480 Like we just wouldn't leave until they prayed the prayer at the end of the deal. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:00.639 And I could close, I was a closer, like, I mean, I could get the job done. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.919 I was just really good at it. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:19.120 And part of it was just sort of like the pressure, like you have four people in your living room, and there's just like you know, you're just like this little like 15-year-old girl, and then there's like all these like teenage seniors, and you know, and you're all in there and you're not leaving, and it's like we're not leaving, and you like it's like three cents prayer, we can get this done, and then we can leave. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:30.159 And we would all go back to to the church, and we had a board at the front of the classroom, and we had our names, and then um we would mark, like literally mark like Russ, how many do you have today? 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.080 Oh, you had three this evening, you know. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.519 Great, good job for you. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:36.879 And like, and it was like it was the score was kept, okay? 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:40.399 So uh I have some baggage, right? 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.799 That's my evangelism bitterness. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.679 Y'all feel it. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:53.919 Some of you was you were listening to me and you were sort of like not along, like I remember that, or like you had an experience with that, or maybe you're you're hearing that, and you're like, that guy's a little warped on this issue, all right? 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.960 But that's my um my bitterness and my baggage with evangelism. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.799 But here's here's what I've learned. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:04.799 I I don't really have baggage with evangelism. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.879 I have baggage with something else. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:14.720 I have baggage with a with a form of evangelism that I didn't like. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:15.840 Right? 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.559 So many of us, this is kind of a side note. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:23.200 I mean, many of us have baggage with church or faith or something within Christian faith. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:32.559 And I I'm wondering if you really have baggage with that, or if you have baggage with a form of it that you experienced that wasn't healthy. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.440 Because evangelism itself, right? 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.519 I mean, evangelism itself is just God making himself known in the world through you. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:47.120 So a few points give this kind of structure for us, talking about evangelism and what this could mean. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:50.559 And what we see with Moses and Jethro as Moses tells Jethro the story. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:57.200 Uh the first point is this evangelism is about something outside of you, given to you, right? 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.960 So often the first thing we make it is about like what's happened to you. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.200 Just tell what's happened to you, and nobody can argue with that. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:07.120 Well, that's not necessarily true because a lot of people have faith stories that have an effect on their lives. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:17.360 But primarily, evangelism is about something done outside of you, primarily the cross, and then it's given to you, his righteousness is given to you. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:22.080 And so that's the word evangelism has the same Greek root word as the word gospel. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.639 That is good news, not good advice, not like the great transformation my life has had. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:34.080 The core of evangelism is the news, the news of what was done outside of you and given to you, right? 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.679 And this is what Moses is doing. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:44.559 He's telling this story, and the story he tells is not how great we are and how we have our act together, and look how we worked our way out of this tough situation and this situation. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.440 The story he's telling is like we were at our end. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:49.440 Like we were really in trouble. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:57.039 Like at the Red Sea, when we were hungry, when we were thirsty in this battle, like we were at our end, and then God delivered us. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.279 We were exhausted, and God gave us rest. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.720 We were filled with shame and and and God gave me peace. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.639 This is what Moses is doing. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:09.039 He's laying out a story of what God has done. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:25.759 And Jethro's, he's not seeing that these people are put together and wonderful, and he's seeing that these people are fragile and they're sinful, but God's really pursued them and loved them and delivered them and done something for them. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:31.200 So evangelism is primarily about something done outside of you and given to you. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:36.159 And then number two is the story is always of our need and his sufficiency. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.320 This is what brings him glory. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.360 This is also what brings transformation within us. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:46.720 But the story's always, this is the core of the stories, our need and his sufficiency. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:55.759 Because Moses' story today, this text, chapter 17, Moses' story is about being broken in the battle, not macho on the mountain. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:58.879 Like how I did that alliteration, worked on that all week, took me all week. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:06.559 The story is about him being broken in the battle, his need, not being macho on the mountain, and everything he could do to make this happen. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.159 Right? 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:18.720 Broken for our sin and our greed and our lust and our anxiety and our fear and exhaustion, and just realizing that like we have when we come before God, we have nothing, and we need him to come toward us. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:27.200 And in the Exodus, we see this over and over and over again as he pursues these people and he's sufficient for these people and he rescues these people. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.039 And we need it. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:39.360 We need the delivery, we need our delivering from our inability to create our own righteousness and value and justification and all the ways when we feel a little fragile and uncertain, the things we run to. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.840 I mean, we need delivering from this. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:44.240 And God solved this problem. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:52.159 We see in Exodus how he's solving this problem, and it's carrying us to the cross, it's carrying us to the person of Jesus, right? 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:56.559 He took our sin upon himself and he gave us his righteousness. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.960 So we are forever his beloved because of his work for us. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.759 So the story is always of our need and his sufficiency. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:09.440 And the third thing is the story is sometimes a larger pattern at work. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.840 The story is sometimes a larger pattern at work. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:17.200 So I geeked out this week on patterns. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:22.799 I started to think up think about patterns, and so I was just started geeking out on math patterns. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:26.559 Um just thinking patterns and started to think about patterns and started, all right. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.559 So let's we're gonna participate together here. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:34.720 Let's just I know some of you are really geeking out and you're moving on to this one, but let's just start with this one together. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.639 Two, four, six, eight. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.759 Oh, that's didn't think of that pattern. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.559 Very good. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.000 Okay, but we'll go with ten. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.679 Okay, thank you, Keith. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.799 Lively answer. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.879 I'll be interested to see how you rhyme this one. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.480 All right, so is anybody geeking out on this right here? 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:58.639 10, 7, 49, 46, 322. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:02.639 319. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.039 Sorry, just like the heat or air. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:11.599 Alright, I couldn't even remember the next couple, so I wrote it down. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.279 Cheat sheet, anybody? 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.200 What? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:22.960 I mean you've Oh you got a calculator, that's not fair. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.160 Okay. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.400 Cycly handwriting. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.359 957. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.880 We know the next one. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:35.200 Anybody wanna know the next one? 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.279 What is it? 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.240 Anyway. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:47.519 Alright, so what so what's the what's the pattern in the first situation? 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.079 Right? 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:54.240 It's just evens every two going up, two, four, six, eight. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.319 What's the pattern in the second one? 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:02.000 Minus three multiply by seven, minus three multiply by seven. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.039 Like alternating. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.759 Okay, so some of y'all love that, you're geeking out, you loved it, you couldn't figure it out, you're a little depressed about yourself. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.880 Alright, here's the point. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.960 The point is this um we all got this, right? 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.759 Like we're see we see, we're seeing, we saw this pattern immediately. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:25.680 Now, this one, maybe a couple of us picked up on the pattern, but most of us did not pick up on the pattern here. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.160 Um here's the point. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:36.480 Sometimes there's a larger pattern at work in Exodus for these people in our lives. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:41.519 And it just because you don't see it doesn't mean there's not a pattern at work. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.519 It just means you don't see it. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.759 And maybe one day you will see it. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:49.519 And there's days when the pattern's as easy to see as this, and we love those days, right? 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:56.559 Like those are the good days when we can see the pattern, the hand of God in our lives, the anticipatory providence of God in our lives, and we love that. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.440 That is so good. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:00.960 But then there's days where the pattern's just we just don't quite see it. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:04.480 But it doesn't mean the pattern's not there. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.279 Right? 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.359 And this is what we see in the book of Exodus. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:19.519 Delivered out of their slavery, delivered from the Red Sea, delivered from hunger, delivered from thirst, delivered from amalek, over and over and over again. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.200 And these people did not always see it. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.240 They didn't always see it like this. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:29.839 A lot of times it was 10, 7, 49, 46, 322, 319, 957, 954, 6678. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:36.480 They the pattern, you don't always see the pattern, but it doesn't mean it's not there. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.720 And it is a pattern of loyal love. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.799 So there's this Hebrew word, Hasid. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:48.240 Has a little growl to it. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.200 And it's a central theme in the Old Testament. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:53.599 It's the key, it's a key to understanding God. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:02.240 And Hasid is a love that's so enduring that it persists beyond sin and betrayal, and it can mend brokenness, and it can heal. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:08.799 It's perfectly loyal love that says, I'm for you. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:11.200 I'm always for you. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:24.720 John Oswalt's a theologian, seminary professor, and he says this Hasid speaks of a completely undeserved kindness and generosity done by a person who is in a position of power. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:28.079 This was the Israelites' experience of God. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:33.839 He revealed himself to them when they were not looking for him. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:42.799 And he kept his covenant with them long after their persistent breaking of it had destroyed any reason for his continued keeping of it. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:49.759 Unlike humans, this deity was not fickle, undependable, self-serving and grasping. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:54.720 Instead, he was faithful, true, upright, and generous. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.000 Always. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:59.119 Now, a little Bible study, Psalm 136. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.079 We see this word over and over and over again. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:10.319 His Hasid endures forever, his love endures forever, his Hasid endures forever, right? 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:20.160 He delivered them out of slavery, he delivered them the Red Sea, He delivered them from hunger, he delivered them from thirst, he delivered them from Amalek, his Hasid endures forever. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:22.160 Listen to this, Isaiah 54, 10. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:32.960 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing Hasid for you will not be shaken. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:36.079 Lamentations 3 31 through 32. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:39.519 I know your morning devotion was, I'm sure you were in Lamentations this morning. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:48.400 No one is cast off by the Lord forever, though he brings grief, he will show compassion. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:52.400 So great is his unfailing Hasid. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.680 I acknowledge my sin to you, I did not cover. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.720 My iniquity? 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.839 Isn't that great that we don't have to cover our own iniquity? 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:09.680 I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:12.480 You are a hiding place for me. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.960 You preserve me from trouble. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:19.359 You surround me with shouts of deliverance. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:29.200 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast Hasid surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:32.319 So these are patterns of Hasid. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.799 This pattern doesn't end at this battle. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.480 See, because the pattern is going somewhere. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:42.960 The pattern is going to someone. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.240 Hebrews 1 1 through 1 through 3. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:23:01.279 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:14.400 He, Christ, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:20.960 After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:28.160 So I woke up Thursday morning thinking about all the things I've failed at. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.599 I don't know why. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:40.640 I don't I don't know if you wake, sometimes you just wake up and you wake up and you're like your brain is just processing stuff and you're like just need to get out of it, you're trying to get out of it, but you don't quite I don't know why I woke up that way. 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.680 I just woke up that way. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.279 I woke up thinking about all the things I've failed at. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:51.680 And I sort of moved on from that to all the things I'm anxious about, really great, you know, uh process for the morning. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:24:27.759 And um so I decided to just go for a walk, and so I just I went for a walk and just praying through the concerns in my life, all these uncertainties that make me drive me crazy or make me stressed, and and somewhere along the walk, thinking about the pattern in Exodus and the pattern of deliverance and the pattern of Hasid, um it was like the thing that I received, and I'm not like a you know, I didn't hear some voice or something strange happen to me on Cherokee uh Street there, Marietta, but it was like I heard um within my spirit, Russ, the pattern hasn't stopped. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:31.680 Like the the pattern has not stopped. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:35.920 The pattern of Hasid was fulfilled in Jesus. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:45.920 For you to know it in fulfillment and to be at rest, that you don't you don't ever have to question it, but the pattern has not stopped for you. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:55.920 Meaning that there's still anticipatory providence and care and love for you today and tomorrow. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:25:05.279 And in that anxiety and in that fear and in that shame, there's still love and care for you in that difficulty and in that victory. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:05.839 Right? 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.480 I mean, that's Psalm 32, 10. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.640 That his Hasid surrounds us. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:16.640 This pattern, it surrounds us. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.640 We live in it. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:22.559 So, my brothers and sisters, this is the story. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.319 This is your story. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:30.160 This is the story of the pattern of Hasid that we see in Exodus, and we can see it in our lives. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:34.000 And so may we rest and speak of this story. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:39.680 May you walk in the pattern of Hasid, in the love of Jesus. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:44.960 May you find deliverance in the person and the work of Jesus for you. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.720 Let's pray together. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:04.880 God, we come before you, and there are many days when we feel like Moses on the mountain, and we can't hold our hands up another moment. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:15.119 There are many times we feel like we're in the valley and we are being beaten by our failures or our shame or our fear. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.559 Our questions and our doubt. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:37.839 God, thank you that your Hasid toward us is not dependent on how perfect we are. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:43.759 But it is upon our confession of our need. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:49.759 And so we come before you and we raise our hands. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:55.359 A position of surrender to say we do not have our acts together. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:01.119 We go our own way, we forget you, we like to fight battles on our own. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:14.559 We love to worry, we love to feel ashamed, and forgive us for our pity and for our pride, and we need your help. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:29.119 We need your spirit in us to heal wounds, to help us trust greater and the work you did for us, that you are sufficient and you are capable and you are enough. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:36.799 Would you help us in our moments of running away from you? 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:40.079 Would you call us back? 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.839 Would you pull us back? 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:51.440 Would you help us to see in greater ways these patterns of providence that you have in our lives? 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:56.640 And in the moments we don't see them, would you give us the faith and trust? 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:02.480 And that you are still with us and you are near and you are for us. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.839 We thank you for the work of Jesus. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:09.359 That we never have to worry whether we are loved or not. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.960 And if we have faith in you, we never have to worry whether we are accepted by you or not. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:20.720 Help us to live in greater places of freedom, that our lives would honor you. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.680 In Jesus' name. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.480 Amen.