|
||||
Christ Assures His Minister (1)
Exodus 3:12
Good News From The Redeemer
Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #313 ~ April 1, 2000
Christ commissioned Moses to be His minister for the salvation of His Old Covenant people from physical bondage (Exodus 3:10ff). Christ commissions gospel preachers to be His ministers for the salvation of His New Covenant people from spiritual bondage (e.g. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:8). The former is a type of the latter. Christ not only sen t Moses to be His minister (v.10), and accompanied him (v.12a), but also …
Christ assured Moses His minister (v.12b): "And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
A sign in this instance is a token given to insure faith or demonstrate authority. Christ gave two such signs to Moses. That which demonstrated Moses' authority to his hearers was the miracles he was to perform with his rod and his hand (4:1-5), sometimes through Aaron his assistant (4:29-31; 7:8-13). (The act of their rod swallowing the rods of Pharaoh's magicians demonstrated that Moses and Aaron had the greater authority: the God of Moses and Aaron was greater than the gods of the Egyptians.) The Israelites believed this sign, and therefore worshiped God and were saved. The Egyptians disbelieved this sign, and therefore were confirmed in unbelief and damned.
But the sign of which we here speak was for the benefit of Moses himself, a token to insure his own faith. His faith would understandably need such a token. He was an eighty-year-old shepherd with faulty speech (3:1; 7:7; 4:10) being sent to liberate the slaves of the greatest nation and military power in his day!
1. This sign was founded upon the premise that Moses would liberate Christ's people from Egypt. It therefore is prefaced with "When you have brought the people out of Egypt …."
2. This sign assured Moses that everyone whom he liberated from Egypt would serve Christ on the mountain where Christ had called him: "… you shall serve God on this mountain."
3. This sign emboldened Moses at every obstacle. He did indeed bring Christ's people out of Egypt (13:17f). But Mount Sinai was yet about 150 miles away, and many obstacles lay between. At each obstacle, Moses was emboldened by the sign Christ had given to him.
Consider the first obstacle: at the Red Sea (ch.14). The Egyptian army was in hot pursuit. Israel was trapped between them and the sea. The people realized they had no means of escape, and turned against Moses for having led them out of Egypt. What was Moses to do? He remembered the sign Christ had given to him! The people he had delivered from Egypt must without fail serve Christ at Mount Sinai. Emboldened by this promise, Moses realized that the Red Sea would indeed be crossed and the Egyptian army would once-for-all be defeated. "And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today'" (14:13). He then lifted his rod - the instrument with which Christ had equipped him - and pointed it toward the Red Sea. The sea parted, and the people crossed on dry land. But the Egyptians were still in hot pursuit. After every Israelite had crossed the Red Sea on dry land, Moses turned around to face the sea, and again lifted his rod and pointed it toward the sea. The sea returned to its full depth, drowning the whole Egyptian army.
The people of Israel resumed their journey to Mount Sinai, for they had an appointment to there serve God. And at every subsequent obstacle, Moses was again emboldened by the sign with which Christ has assured him. This was his assurance when the waters at Marah were too bitter to drink (15:22-27); when there was no food in the Wilderness of Sin (ch.16); when there was no water at Rephidim (17:1-7); when the Amalekites attacked (17:8-15).
All the liberated finally arrived at Mount Sinai (19:1f), where they did indeed serve Christ (19:3ff), especially in the tabernacle and the service associated with it (ch.25ff). The fulfillment of the sign proved that Christ does indeed keep His word. All whom He liberates will worship Him.
(To be continued.)
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
 |
| Gregory Ickes - WebMaster |
|---|
| www.norwich.net/surety |
| Sherburne, NY |
| Chenango County |
