Mid-Week Bible Study Living Life in 3D Week Five: That You May Know I. It s All About Perspective - The last words out of Moses mouth: Ever since I cam to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them! Exodus 5:23 NLT - Moses is hurling accusations against God - He is angry, afraid, frustrated, confused - He is disillusioned, disheartened and dismayed 1. Moses perspective: God hadn t done His job - Things were worse, not better - This is not what Moses expected 2. God s perspective: - He was in no hurry - He was not done yet - Pharaoh would be exposed for what he was - Egypt would be revealed as deserving of judgment - Israel would be humbled II. Watch and Learn! Exodus 6:1-8 - Instead of admonishing, God encourages Now you will see what I will do - Up to this part Exodus has dealt with the preparation of the deliverer - Now it shifts its focus to Pharaoh preparing him for the exodus A. What Pharaoh will do - He will let the people go - He will force them to leave his land No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30
B. What I will do - God is about to reveal what He is going to do - He is going to reveal His true character 1. I am Yahweh! - The one who is always there - His name guarantees the future - He is eternal and never changing - God is about to reveal the full character of His name - In a way the Patriarchs never knew it - He was going to make Himself known through His deeds WHY? So they would KNOW that He was the Lord their God (YAHWEH) (Vs 7) Abraham and the Patriarchs had known God as El Shaddai God Almighty - They knew Him for His power and presence - But now they were going to know Him for His mercy and redemption 2. Because I am I will a) The God who has I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I established my covenant with them I have heard their groanings I have remembered My covenant b) The God who will free you from your oppression Vs 6 Yahweh rescues graciously - Undeserved mercy and grace - What they were unable to do, God did rescue you from your slavery Vs 6 Yahweh delivers completely - Not partial deliverance, but full redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment Vs 6
Yahweh saves powerfully - God is the one who would pay the price - Blood would be shed - A sacrifice would be made claim you as my own people be your God Vs 7 Yahweh relates intimately - They became His possession - Unworthy as they were, He claimed them as His own bring you into the land I swore to give Vs 8 Yahweh fulfills faithfully - He not only brought them out, He brought them to - He fulfills what He promises give it to you as your very won possession Vs 8 Yahweh blesses abundantly III. That You Might Know Him! - It is a gift, not based on merit, but grace Q: What is God saying to you? I will restore your marriage I will rescue you from financial ruin I will restore your joy I will be with you in your trials I will redeem you from slavery to sin I will keep My promises SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD! I will so that you will know It s as God acts that we come to know Him
It s as we experience God in our lives that we come to know Him as God of our lives - When I am just isn t good enough A. We won t! Vs 9 Moses shares God s I wills with the Israelites They respond We won t listen to you, Moses! We won t believe you, Yahweh! B. He won t! Vs 12 Moses loses heart again He responds How will Pharaoh listen to me? 6:12 Why should Pharaoh listen to me? 6:28 C. I will! 7:1-5 God commands Moses to obey His command Trust that the Great I AM will do what He has promised I have made you My representative! I have made Aaron your prophet! I will harden Pharaoh s heart! I will multiply My signs and My wonders! I will lay My hand on Egypt! I will bring out My people! THEN THE EGYPTIANS WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD! Vs 5 Notice the difference? - They will simply know that Yahweh is who He says He is - But they will not know Him as the Lord their God (6:7) That you may know Him! - God was going to reveal Himself through His power to deliver His defeat of the enemy His mercy and grace to His people - Did you know that one of God s greatest desires for you is to know Him
- Not see Him - Not feel Him - Not fully understand Him - But know Him And this is the way to have eternal life to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.. John 17:3 NLT And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 1 John 5:20 NLT Q: How well do you know God? - Do you know He is sovereign? - Do you know He is powerful? - Do you know He is faithful? - Do you know He is trustworthy? - Do you know He hears? - Do you know He cares? - Do you know He can and He will? - Do you know He loves you? - Do you know He delivers?
Mid-Week Bible Study Living Life in 3D Week Six: Hard times for a hardened heart. You ve all heard about the ten plagues. You may even be able to remember what most of them were. But do you know what their significance is? Do you understand why God had to bring about ten devastating plagues on the people of Egypt and their stubborn leader? And have you ever thought about why God chose the ten plagues that He did? During this week s study we will attempt to cover a little more territory as we look at this remarkable chapter in the story of Israel s deliverance. Look closely at Pharaoh as he attempts to go head-to-head with God Himself. Consider what God may be doing in our own day and age as men continue to harden their hearts against Him. Day One Read Exodus 3:19-20; 4:21. What does God predict will happen according to these verses? Read Exodus 7:5. What will be the result of what is about to take place? Read Exodus 7:6-13. Since God knew Pharaoh would not listen, why do you think God had Moses do this little exercise? Day Two Read Exodus 7:14-9:7. Write down a basic description of the first five plagues as you read through these passages and make note of recurring themes: Plague #1: Plague #2: Plague #3: Plague #4: Plague #5:
Day Three Read Exodus 9:8-11:14. Write down a basic description of the next five plagues as you read through these passages and make note of recurring themes: Plague #6: Plague #7: Plague #8: Plague #9: Plague #10: Day Four Read Exodus 8:8; 8:28; 9:27-28; 10:16. What indications does Pharaoh give that he is willing to let the people go? Do you think Pharaoh was serious about releasing them? Why or why not? Day Five Read Exodus 9:13-17. What does God give as the reason for not having wiped out Pharaoh and all the Egyptians before this point? According to verse 17 and Exodus 10:3, what is Pharaoh s problem? Read Exodus 9:30. What does Moses reveal about Pharaoh and his people? Read Exodus 11:1-2; 3:19-22. What does God tell the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for? Write down why you think this might be significant: