Sermon Tone Analysis

EXODUS

1:1-2:10 - Things were difficult for Israel yet ‘the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied’ (12).

Difficult times can be the making of God’s people!

Pharaoh (and Satan!) is murderously anxious about the growth of God's people (15-16; John 10:10).

God is about to move in saving power - His ‘midwives’ are preparing for the ‘birth’ of His redeemed people (17,20).

Moses was preserved in ‘a basket made of bulrushes’ (2:3).

Born again, we are preserved through God’s Word and Spirit - ‘the living and abiding Word of God’ (1 Peter 1:23).

Moses was drawn out of the water (2:10).

Israel was drawn out of the bondage in Egypt (6:6-8).

Like Israel, we have been redeemed by blood (12:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Redeemed by the Lord, we are to be consecrated to Him.

In 20:1-2, ‘the Ten Commandments’ are introduced by a declaration of God’s salvation.

Our obedience to God is to be grounded in this: He has redeemed us!

2:11-3:22 - Salvation, service, personal faith, life among God’s people - God has much to teach us.

Moses sins (2:12).

God graciously forgives (Micah 7:18-19) - this is salvation.

His sin forgiven, Moses is called to service.

He is called by the eternal God, the God who draws near to His people (3:14-15).

Saved by Christ, we are called to serve Him, the eternal ‘God’ who ‘became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:1-14).

Saved, we belong to God’s people (1 Peter 2:10).

Serving, we play our part within the ‘one body’ of Christ (Romans 12:4-5).

Moses was to serve God’s people, the people whose prayer God answered - delivering them from bondage and leading them on to great blessing (2:23-25; 3:8).

Moses was a key figure, but he did not stand alone.

The work of God made progress because the people of God went forward together.

In God’s work, we are to be participators - not spectators!

4:1-31 - Two great obstacles had to be overcome - Moses’ sense of inadequacy and Pharaoh’s stubborn resistance.

Moses had to learn that ‘our competence comes from God’ (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Part of God’s provision for Moses was Aaron (14-16).

We are not called to go it alone.

What encouragement there is in the support of our fellow-believers.

Weak believers need strengthening.

Stubborn unbelief (Pharaoh) is ready to overwhelm us.

We need strength if we are to ‘attempt great things for God’ and ‘expect great things from God’ (William Carey).

Concerning Pharaoh, God says, ‘I will harden his heart’ (21).

This was also Pharaoh’s own choice - ‘Pharaoh hardened his heart’ (8:15,32; 9:34).

God sent circumstances into Pharaoh’s life which led him to harden his own heart by rejecting God's Word.

Pharaoh’s resistance did not hinder God’s salvation - he was ‘compelled by a mighty hand’ (3:19).

God is at work - make sure you don't miss out on His blessing!

5:1-6:13 - In 4:29-31, we see Moses, the elders and the people worshipping God.

Pharaoh opposes them - ‘Who is the Lord, that I should heed His voice...?’ (2) - , and ‘the foremen of the people of Israel’ start complaining (19-21).

What does Moses do ?

- He prays.

Notice the honesty of his prayer - he asks the ‘Why ?’ question, and he protests, ‘You have not rescued Your people at all’ (22-23).

God gives His answer - redemption will be given (6:1,6-8).

Redemption - this is God’s answer to our suffering.

He gave His Son to suffer for our sins.

Through Christ, we receive salvation.

Moses had to learn to wait for the fulfilment of God’s promise.

God’s own people were not listening to him.

How could he expect the unbelieving Pharaoh to listen to him (6:9,12)?

It was not easy.

Nevertheless, this ‘charge’ had been given - ‘bring the people out’.

It shall be done!

6:14-7:24 - This list of names emphasizes that God is concerned with the ‘little people’, and not only ‘the big names’ like Moses.

Gifted individuals have their important place in carrying forward God’s purpose.

Such individuals are used by God for the blessing of the whole people of God.

The forward movement of God’s work is often preceded by great difficulties.

We must ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Adverse circumstances must not defeat us.

The Lord is calling us on to greater faith.

God’s purpose of grace moves forward according to His power and not our weakness.

Moses spoke ‘with faltering lips’ (30).

God worked miracles (8-24).

Turning to ‘sorcerers’ and ‘magicians’, Pharaoh, the servant of Satan, ‘would not listen’ to God’s servants (11,13;7:22).

‘Our God is marching on’ - to glorious victory (Church Hymnary, 318)!

7:25-8:32 - God’s work is ‘in the midst of the earth’.

He claims His own people for Himself (22-23).

To ‘all the ends of the earth’, He says, ‘Turn to Me and be saved’.

Concerning His own people, He says, ‘In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory’ (Isaiah 45:22,25).

In the plagues, we see God’s power and Pharaoh’s pride.

There is a conflict between the reality of God and Pharaoh’s fantasy.

Conflict is God’s training ground for spiritual growth.

We take our stand on the reality of God.

Those who oppose God live in a fantasy world, imagining that they can successfully oppose the mighty God of salvation - ‘To pluck from His hand the weakest, trembling soul, it never, never can be done’ (Sacred Songs and Solos.

508).

Pharaoh was neither the first nor the last to oppose God - and fail!

Put to death by men, Christ was raised by God (Acts 2:23-24) - Hallelujah!

9:1-35 - Today, we highlight three lessons: The importance of trusting Christ as your Saviour, the folly of refusing Christ’s salvation and the danger of professing conversion without really meaning it.

Each of us must choose: Will you step into Christ or remain outside of Him? Will you flee to Him and take refuge in Him or will you neglect Him and remain under judgment?

‘Flee from the wrath to come’.

‘How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?’

(20-21; Luke 3:7; Hebrews 2:3).

You can enter into salvation through faith in Christ or you can, in unbelief, remain outside of Christ (Hebrews 4:2-3).

Pharaoh ‘confessed’ his sin, but didn’t really mean it.

He had had ‘enough’ of God’s interference.

That was his ‘reason’ for admitting his sin.

This was not real repentance - only a dislike for suffering!

Make your decision for Christ, and make it real!

10:1-29 - The conflict between God and Pharaoh is a conflict between light and darkness.

We are to shine as lights - for God, the ‘Light’ in whom there is ‘no darkness at all’ (Matthew 5:16; 1 John 1:5).

God’s purpose is moving forward.

Pharaoh becomes more determined in his rebellion.

Pharaoh’s stubborn unbelief becomes his own undoing.

Pharaoh doesn’t want God.

God confirms him in his unbelief (28-29).

God says, ‘You can go your own way, but you will be spiritually dead’ (Psalm 106:13-15).

God says, ‘Do not harden your heart.

You may be very close to the point of no return’ (Hebrews 3:8; Proverbs 29:1).

Before you lose all inclination to return to the Lord, let Christ’s love touch your heart.

Only His love can ‘create in you a clean heart’.

Only His love can ‘put a new and right Spirit within you’ (Psalm 51:10).