Let My People Go I Will Guide Them Exodus 13:17-22 Also available are a text-only version of the outline at www.evbapt.org/docs/evangel_sermon_outline_2015-01-25.pdf or an audio podcast at www.evbapt.org/media/evangel_sermon_2015-01-25.mp3 This is a pdf file for the PowerPoint notes for the sermon by Pastor Dave Tietjen on January 25, 2015; continuing his series on Exodus.
Introducing our story...
A poetic recitation The Road Not Taken Robert Frost and Edward Thomas
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
A personal request How can I ever discover what God wants me to do? How can I bring Him into the reality of my life? Does He still guide?
Investigating our story...
A people released They operated with the usual assumptions of most people trying to understand the workings of God: a good and powerful god would hardly allow his people to go through troubles, dangers, griefs and testings, would he? Douglas Stuart
A powerful resistance Exodus 13:17a ESV When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. Too strong to defeat Too recent to be judged
Exodus 13:17b-18 ESV A possible retreat For God said, Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
Exodus 13:19 ESV Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here. A promised removal
A promised removal Hebrews 11:22 ESV By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
A promised removal What that internment proved was that Joseph trusted in the right God, the God who kept His promise to rescue Israel. Anyone who needs any kind of help should trust in the God of Abraham, Joseph and Moses, because He is always faithful to help His people. Philip Ryken
A powerful reminder Exodus 13:21-22 ESV And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
A powerful reminder Not a practical perk... but a powerful presence
Inspiration from our story... Finding His guidance
Numbers 9:15 ESV God s leading Just enough to keep us trusting On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning....
God s leading Just enough to keep us trusting Numbers 9:17-18a ESV And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped.
God s leading Just enough to keep us trusting
God s leading Varied enough to keep us seeking His means visions Scripture advice prayer conviction peace circumstances
God s leading Varied enough to keep us seeking His measure Some thro the waters, some thro the flood, Some thro the fire, but all thro the blood. Some thro great sorrow, but God gives a song In the night season and all the day long. God Leads Us Along by G. A. Young
God s leading Personal enough to keep us leaning An important decision Following God
God s leading Personal enough to keep us leaning An important difference The pillar within John 14:16, 17b ESV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,... You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
God s leading Personal enough to keep us leaning John 16:13a ESV An important difference The pillar within When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
God s leading Personal enough to keep us leaning An important difference The pillar within Numbers 9:23a ESV At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out.
God s leading Personal enough to keep us leaning An important declaration He guides those who follow