Foundations: Journey through the Wilderness – Part 5

Foundations: Journey through the Wilderness – Part 5

Foundations – Exodus Between a rock and a hard place. Exodus 14:5-31 October 14, 2018

I. ONE final SHOWDOWN. (v.5-31)
A. The FEAR of the PEOPLE. (v.10-12)
B. The COMMAND of MOSES. (v.13-14)
C. The RESPONSE of GOD. (v.15-28)
D. The POINT of TRUST. (v.29-31)

Just when you thought Pharaoh had finally gotten the message he’s out to challenge Yahweh one more time. The Jews are wandering (or so it seems) in a desert area controlled by the nation of Egypt, and Pharaoh is not happy losing his slave labour force – good help is hard to find – so he saddles us the army to chase them down. Big mistake.

1. Kid’s Question: Share a time when you were really scared.
2. If you had to boil this story down to one sentence of application before the sermon, what would it be?
3. Is your “post-sermon” sentence of application different? If so, in what way?

II. Big IDEAS in this TEXT. (v.10-16)
A. Different LEVELS of BONDAGE. (v.10-12; 4:29-31; 16:3)
B. Being STILL as a battle STRATEGY. (v.13-14; Ps 46:10-11)
C. MOSES as a MEDIATOR. (v.15-16; I Cor. 10:1-2)

There is more to this text than just the origin of the kid’s song Pharaoh, Pharaoh. God is showing us some key ideas that have a lot to do with our lives today. If we look closely we may see ourselves in the faces of the children of Israel.

4. Does the idea of levels of bondage resonate with you? How have to seen it to be true?
5. What does it mean that “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” in the text? In your own life?
6. Does question 5 mean we are to be passive spiritually? Why or why not?

III. CROSSING our OWN Red Sea. (I Cor. 10:6)
A. Our MORE perfect MEDIATOR. (Heb 3:1-6; 2 Cor. 5:21)
B. Gospel FREEDOM for our deepest BONDAGE. (Rom. 6:5-23)
C. Our STRUGGLE to be STILL. (Rom. 4:5; Heb 4:9-11; Phil. 2:12-13)

Paul writes about today’s Exodus text in his first letter to Corinth – “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” (I Cor. 10:6) He tells us that there is something here in this story of crossing the Red Sea
that speaks to us and the state of our own hearts today.

7. What stands out to you personally from Romans 6:5-23? What is God saying to you through that passage?
8. How does “being still” look right now in your life? Does that come easy or is it difficult for you?