So, we've been talking about Israel being “God's timepiece.” Prophecy is being fulfilled that will count down to the return of Christ and the nation of Israel will be in the center of it. So last week we talked about the Day of the Lord…. the Day of His coming, when He initiates His judgments…it ushers in a longer period of time that is considered to be His Day as well, and that is His thousand year reign.
I'm returning to the beginning again to talk about what makes Israel so special…. God is looking for people who will have a relationship with Him. Jacob’s family went down into Egypt as a family of 70 people for a period of 400 years and when they came out of Egypt they were 600,000 men plus women and children. But before they left Egypt they were languishing under the burden of slavery for many years.
So, enter Moses, the future Deliverer, who is saved from the river by Pharaoh's daughter and is raised in the royal palace. Later, at the age of 40, he identifies with the people of God, kills an Egyptian and flees into the wilderness of Midian, and he lives there for 40 years. And at 80 years old God calls him.
God tells him to go- tell the people I've seen their suffering and I will bring you up to the land that I have promised you. So, Moses packs up the family and starts to return to the land of Egypt. How is he ever going to get Pharaoh to agree to release his entire labour force-the people of Israel? On the way the Lord speaks to him and gives him a message to give to Pharaoh.
Exodus 4: 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me.
So, Moses is on the road to redemption. Redemption, that's an interesting word, isn't it? To redeem something means to cash in something in order to receive something in return. For Moses, it means a personal redemption - to make up for a mistake - Moses wants to redeem himself of the mistake he made. But redemption has a bigger meaning for Israel because God wants to buy back His people.
The term Redemption comes from the slave market. In ancient times when people had personal debt; you became enslaved to the person to whom you owe money. You were actually a slave of that person - you became their property - but a rich relative could redeem you if he had the money...buy you back! Pay the ransom price and set you free. This is what God is about to do for His people who He loves.
So the next day after the death and devastation of Egypt, Israel is released. God had told them to kill a lamb and smear it on the blood posts and the angel of death would pass over- it’s a symbol of Christ our Lamb, who was killed for us to redeem us from the slave market of sin so that we can be free to serve Him. And all we need to do is “apply” the sacrifice of His blood to our lives and receive forgiveness.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “ Road to Redemption.”
Blessings,
Kevin
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