Foundations: Journey through the Wilderness – Part 4

Foundations: Journey through the Wilderness – Part 4

Foundations – Exodus Not your usual Thanksgiving text… Exodus 11:1-12:30 October 7, 2018

I. A POWERFUL and DISTURBING story. (11:1-12:30)
A. Understanding the FLOW of the TEXT. (10:28-29; 11:1,9)
B. A PIVOTAL moment in TIME. (12:2,14)
C. SOME honest QUESTIONS. (12:29-30)
D. The DANGER of eliminating MYSTERY. (12:24-28; I Tim 3:9)

The story of the Passover in Exodus 11 and 12 ranks right up there with Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac. There is a tremendous power in the story, but it also elicits some really difficult questions about the nature of God and how He works. The questions are important, but there comes a point when they can help us actually distance ourselves from what the text calls us to.

1. What is your initial reaction to this 10th plague? What questions does it bring up inside of you?
2. Are you more “accepting” or more “questioning” when it comes to some of the mystery (mysteries) of God?

II. Some FOUNDATIONAL truths to CONSIDER. (Ps 1:2)
A. A BROKEN and REBELLIOUS world. (Ex. 5:2; 12:12-13)
B. A God of JUSTICE and MERCY. (12:12-13, 22-23)
C. The BEGINNING of something NEW. (12:1; 2 Cor 5:17)

When there are things I don’t know about God or the Bible, I like to review the things that seem clearer. Often the things that are clear help us to live with the mystery of what we don’t understand. The story of the Passover reminds us of some things that we all know to be true.

3. Kid’s question: If there was one thing that you think God should change about the world today what would it be?
4. Where do you see injustice around you? How do you react to it?
5. When have you sensed that God is doing a new thing in your own life? What precipitated it?

III. How PASSOVER breeds THANKSGIVING. (I Cor. 5:7)
A. There is a BATTLE for CONTROL. (Ex 5:2; Lk. 6:46)
1. We can use JUSTICE for our own PURPOSE. (Mt. 23:23-24; Rom. 12:17-21)
B. The Cross is where JUSTICE and MERCY meet… (Heb 9:13-14)
C. …and SURRENDER brings FREEDOM. (Gal. 5:1)

This OT story says so much to our current call to thankfulness. While we don’t understand all of what God is doing here, it is clear that He is pointing forward to the day that He will give Himself as our passover lamb. Our surrender to that gift brings us freedom that couldn’t come any other way.

6. Do we fight God for control? In what ways? How can we know if we are using justice as a way to maintain our own control?
7. What does the cross, the meeting of justice and mercy, say to your life right now?
8. Where might God be calling you to deepen your surrender to Him and His way, even if you don’t understand?