“Because the Lord is My Shepherd”
TEXT: Exodus 13:17-14:31, KJV
Youth Focus this week: Just like many years ago God used a man named Moses to get his children out of slavery in Egypt by bringing them through the Red Sea God sent His Son Jesus to get us out of slavery in sin by doing something bigger than opening a sea, he raised Jesus from the grave. Because of the power we get when we become Christians, we will not easily Sin which simply means to do things that are opposite of what Gods Word tells us to do. But even if we do mess up sometimes Jesus forgives us the minute that we repent or say “I’m Sorry.” The stronger we become as Christians the easier it is to do what God wants and the way we get stronger is by learning about God in Sunday School, and Bible Study and Church as well as praying everyday. All of these things together help us become children who Trust and Believe that God will always take care of us no matter what because He is our Shepherd.
Memory Verse of the Month: “If you have the faith as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you” Matthew 17:20, KJV Family Focus of the Month: Leviticus 24:1 – Deuteronomy 17:20 Watch Word of Month: Service Hymn of the Month: Down at the Cross
Key Verse: “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.” Exodus 14:30, KJV
Introduction: Saved, Salvation & Deliverance are Bible words that can mean the same thing
Difference between the OT and NT understanding of being Saved or having Salvation OT Salvation (Yesha) deals exclusively with safety/deliverance from a physical enemy NT Salvation (Sodezo) deals with both deliverance from a physical OR a spiritual enemy
Romans 10:9, “thou shalt be Saved” infers that one HAS BEEN, IS BEING and WILL SOON BE, Saved
| What’s been Settled The Blood | What’s Being Sought The Bible | What’s Been Set The Building |
*Our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ and He Alone is the only one able to lead us from our past, through this present age and into the glorious future in Heaven we look forward to experiencing! The focus of tonights text is to reveal the words, ideas and thoughts that should exist when The Lord has become our Shepherd.
Background:
10th Plague/The Exodus From Ramses to Succoth From Succoth to Etham Middle of the night/about a days lead on the army
“24 Beliefs that Saved folk Should say Over and Over until they Stick”
17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
Hebrew word Nacham A primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. Breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) — comfort (self), ease (one’s self), repent(-er,-ing, self)….iow…..to give up
The idea is that the Israelites would give up if the Philistines started to war or kill them. At least the Egyptians had not taken their lives it seems but instead had taken their fight!
“A man whose thoughts can be controlled, will control himself through inaction” C. G. Woodson
Oh’ Freedom, “Before I’d be a slave, I’d be buried in my grave” Odetta, 1956
BSV: God said, Perhaps my people will give up when it gets hard and will go back to slavery
18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
1And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
In front of Baalzephon/Mt. Tiron is where you are to camp; This looks like the most unlikely places of all for people who were interested in escaping from anyone
- Trusts that where I am is where for whatever reason God has willed for me to be
3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
- Trusts that Gods will for my wilderness may be for my wellbeing
4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
- Considers that what looks like my biggest problem may be part of Gods biggest Plan
5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
- Watches its words carefully because words have consequences
6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
- Has learned that the loan you co-sign today may be yours to pay tomorrow
7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Ramah meaning Loud and Bold: running frantically for their lives
- Accepts that sometimes problems push us into purpose
9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
“we was praying and we was cussing” Unknown Author
- Convinced that Praying and Complaining is no different than Praying and Cussing
- Our verse of the month is the Christian voice of victory CR: Mt 17:20, KJV
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.
Salvation in OT means physical safety Not spiritual safety
- Trusts that after we’ve done all we can, we need only to stand
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
CR: Gen 3:1 “Lord God”, 3:3, “Elohim”
YHWH-the relational name of God
- Accepts that God has done more for me to show His love for me than I’ve ever done or can do to show my love for Him
- Believes that God has made Salvation so simple that there shouldn’t be a sinner in the city
15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
- Trust His Holy Word over our heaviest woes
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
- Believe what Gods Word is saying over what our eyes may be seeing
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
- Trust that our present story is just a small snippet of Gods prevailing Glory
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
- Believe that the same God who hardens that which eases can also ease that which is hardened
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Carol Reverends Rehab Rose Jones
- Trust that God may be seeming to hurt us in one area but actually healing us in another area
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
- Believe that some walls in our way are there because God wants them to be (JFH, CSC)
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
- Trust that maintaining focus on what’s in front of us minimizes fear over what’s behind us
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Between 2am – 5am
- Trust that every evil following us will soon end its ability to frustrate us
25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
- Believe that Gods unseen supernatural actions didn’t drown with Pharoahs Army
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
- Believe that there is no greater weapon in the world than the Word of God
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
- Believe that requests for Gods Power is always weighed against respect for Gods people
ILLUSTRATION:
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
CONCLUSION:
PRAYER LIST: