Exodus: The Melody of Exodus

IntroGood morning! Today we want to introduce our new series: a deep dive into the Book of Exodus. Just as songs like Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" or Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" borrow from earlier melodies, the Bible has a recurring melody line: the Exodus story. It’s a deliverance archetype that influences the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation, making it essential to understand.Scripture ReferencesExodus (all of it), Deuteronomy 31:9, Numbers 12:3, Luke 24:25-27, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, John 1:14, Matthew 10:28-29, John 20:21Key Points

• Exodus is the Bible's Foundational Story:
  • An Archetype for Deliverance: The Exodus story—God’s rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt—is a pattern for every major story of deliverance and redemption in the Bible. It's not just a standalone account but the source material for the whole biblical symphony.
  • Jesus's Exodus: You cannot understand Jesus without knowing Exodus. His baptism, wilderness temptation, teaching on a mountain, and death during Passover are all intentional echoes of the Exodus narrative.
  • Re-hitching the Testaments: We must reject the heresy of Marcionism, which separates the Old and New Testaments. Understanding Exodus provides the context that makes the New Testament "technicolor" and helps us appreciate God's holiness and love.
• Seven Goals for the Series:
  1. See Exodus Echoes: Recognize the themes of creation, bondage, redemption, and renewal woven throughout the Bible.
  2. Re-hitch the Testaments: Grasp that the Old Testament is essential to understanding Jesus and our faith.
  3. Understand the Sacraments: See baptism as a re-enactment of the Red Sea crossing and communion as a memorial of the Passover Lamb.
  4. Grasp the Law's Missionary Heart: Understand that God gave the law not as a set of arbitrary rules but as a distinct way of life to showcase His wisdom to the nations.
  5. Grasp God's Holiness: Appreciate the profound privilege of God's presence dwelling in us.
  6. Find True Freedom: Recognize that true liberation isn't found in a life without a master but in a "blessed bondage" to God. Like a fish in water or a train on tracks, our freedom is found in our created purpose: to worship Him.
  7. Find Yourself in the Story: The story of Israel's journey is an example and warning for us (1 Cor 10:11). Just as they were led from slavery to a wilderness, we have been delivered from the dominion of darkness into this life. We must learn to trust God through its trials, not mistaking the wilderness for the promised land.

Conclusion

The Exodus story is our story. We were once enslaved to sin and death, but have been delivered by Jesus into the "wilderness" of this life. Though the journey may feel like it takes 40 years instead of 11 days, we have hope for the Promised Land.

Calls to Action

• Find Yourself: Ask God to reveal where you are in the Exodus story this week.
• Trust: Pray for a heart to trust God in the "wilderness" of your current life.
• Worship: As we continue our worship, let's sing about our chains being broken, recognizing that our ultimate freedom is found in Jesus.

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*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.