Exodus The book of Exodus is a story

Exodus The book of Exodus is a story of deliverance, a story of people who broke free from oppression and began a journey toward the good land that God had promised them. We learn how God brings us out of situations that keep us in bondage in order to take us into something better. Just as God prepared to deliver Israel, he sent Jesus to be our deliverer. Just as He led the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night – the Holy Spirit in our hearts leads us today. The Israelites deliverance was a process, a journey that could be completed only one step at a time, God always leads us step by step instead of moving us instantly from one situation to the next. God gave the Israelites the 10 commandments to live a blessed life, he has given us the bible as a guidebook from our journey through life. He used the Israelites journey to develop the faith and trust they would need in the promised land, He does the same for us.

HOPE Dictionary: A feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen 07 January 2018

We look for hope in so many places, Don’t we? For the believer there is only one true hope, “The Lord himself” The hope of the Israelites was to be lead out of bondage in Egypt and to be lead to the promised land. Under Pharaoh their lives were most difficult. In the book of Exodus, we must allow God to teach us to trust Him and how to follow Him as he leads us into a place of fulfilled promises and great blessing.

Moses did not want to go God sent Moses to Egypt with the aim of leading the Israelites out of slavery and into the promised land: Aaron accompanied Moses. Well this first visit to Pharaoh was a disaster. Not only did Pharaoh mock Moses and Aaron and the Lord, but he then doubled the workload of the Israelite slaves, who in turn felt all hope was gone and turned on Moses in anger. The foreman proceeded to explain to Moses and Aaron what pharaoh has done to them – Give no more straw but their quota of bricks to be made was to remain the same as when the straw was given to them.

How would you be feeling now – No Hope? What did Moses do? Move on? No. He returned to the Lord: Exodus 5 vs 22 and 23 (Read them) God listened and then calls Moses : God says: 1. Trust in my providence 2. Know me personally 3. Renew your hope in my promises

1. Trust in my providence Read chapter 6 vs 1 If Moses and Aaron had met with success on their first visit to Pharaoh, they would have most likely, congratulated themselves. God wanted the Israelites and the Egyptians to know, beyond question that He was in control of the situation. The difficulties were a means of creating utter dependence of Him.

2. Know me personally Read: Chapter 6 vs 2 God said to Moses : I am Lord. the I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty El Shaddai but by My name The Lord – Yahweh – I did not make myself known to them – In acts and great miracles. He advised Moses further: That He has established his Covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan. He advised Moses the he knew of the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians have enslaved.

• God told Moses that the trials would lead him to a deeper intimacy with God himself. The name of God – the Holy name that was so respected by the Hebrews they would not speak it. In the scripture text – they substituted LORD I capital letters is a clue that the personal name of God, Yahweh (Jehovah) appears. His name means “The I am” or “the One who is present Moses asked who was: I am who I am and what I am and will be what I will be.

“I AM. “ If you have ever wondered, “Who am I? ” You are not alone. When Moses thought the same thing, God responded with Who He is: “I AM” (Exodus 3: 14). I have pondered these awesome words for a long time, and I believe they are much more significant than we realize. What was God really saying when He referred to Himself as “I AM”?

For one thing, He is so much that there is no way to explain Him properly. How can we describe Someone Who is everything and wrap it up in one name? When Moses asked to question about God’s identity in Exodus 3: 13, evidently the Lord did not want to get into a long dissertation about Who He was because He simply told Moses, “You shall say …I AM has sent me to you”(Exodus 3: 14). By way of explanation, He preceded His statement with “I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE. ” God was saying to Moses, “You don’t have to worry about Pharaoh or anybody else. I AM able to take care of anything you encounter.

Whatever you need, I AM. Either I have it or I can get it. If it does not exist, I will create it. I have everything covered, not just now but for all the time. Relax! “We need not worry about who we are, what we can do, what we cannot do, or anything else. The great “I AM” strengthens us in our weaknesses. As long as He is with us, we can do whatever we need to do. Be more concerned about Who God is than about who you are.

To be honest with you, even as I write these words about Who God is, I can sense His presence and anointing. There is power in His name! He can handle what we think is difficult or impossible. God’s answer to our “Who am I? ” is “I AM WHO I AM. ” ALMIGHTY God is more sufficient in the face of our lack. He is truly everything.

Renew your hope in my promises. Chapter 6 vs 6 - 8 SEVEN “I WILLS” are Gods declaration, the promises are bracketed by the statement “I AM THE LORD” God secures the promise with the honour of His name. 1. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians 2. I will free you from their bondage. 3. I will rescue you with an outstretched arm. (Special & Vigorous action) and by mighty acts of judgement. 4. I will take you to me for my people. 5. I will be to you a God and you shall know that it is I, the Lord your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 6. I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand swore that I would give it Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 7. I will give it to you for a heritage, I am the Lord You have the pledge of my changeless omnipotence (Very great power) and faithfulness.

God is our hope, God does not fail, return to Him. Renew your worship – deepen your devotion Lay aside your complaints Renew your hope I His promises.

Close Matthew 28 vs 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all the days, to the close and consummation (showing great skill and flair) of the age. – Amen.