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and when the sun was going down a deep sleep fell upon abraham and lo a deep sleep fell upon abraham and lo and horror of great darkness fell upon and horror of great darkness fell upon him him and he said unto abram and he said unto abram no other surety that thy siege will be a no other surety that thy siege will be a stranger in a land that is not theirs stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and shall serve them and they shall afflict them four hundred and they shall afflict them four hundred years and also that nation whom they shall serve will i judge serve will i judge and afterward and afterward shall they come out with great substance shall they come out with great substance in 400 years in 400 years is a long time and so it came to pass and for years and years and for years and years the suffering went on and the faithful became fewer and further between and further between would god do nothing would god do nothing about the promises that he had made to about the promises that he had made to abraham so long ago now the sergeant of the children of israel who dwelt in egypt was 430 years israel who dwelt in egypt was 430 years and it came to pass at the end of the and it came to pass at the end of the 430 years even the self-same day 430 years even the self-same day it came to pass that all the hosts of it came to pass that all the hosts of the lord went out from the land of egypt the lord went out from the land of egypt yes god kept his promise yes god kept his promise and he was right on time but for the individuals in israel who could not as it were look back as we who could not as it were look back as we are doing now over the centuries and say are doing now over the centuries and say yes god kept his promise for the yes god kept his promise for the individuals to whom it was happening day individuals to whom it was happening day in day out in day out they were getting weary they were getting weary nothing seemed to be happening nothing seemed to be happening and i suppose life can be like that even and i suppose life can be like that even in our little span can't do brethren and in our little span can't do brethren and sisters sisters when nothing seems to happen when nothing seems to happen and day in day out and day in day out the same old grind perhaps goes on the same old grind perhaps goes on and some may be in circumstances where and some may be in circumstances where it is difficult to live the truth it is difficult to live the truth and no ray of light seems to come and no ray of light seems to come thus it was with israel and things went from bad to worse but for the faithful of course there was but for the faithful of course there was that symbol that sign that sign that something to cling to that something to cling to that faithful joseph that faithful joseph had said those years before had said those years before joseph had said unto his brethren joseph had said unto his brethren i die i die and god will surely visit you and bring and god will surely visit you and bring you out of this land unto the land which you out of this land unto the land which he swear to abram to isaac and to jacob and joseph took an oath of the children of israel saying god will surely visit of israel saying god will surely visit you and you shall carry up my bones from you and you shall carry up my bones from hence and there was the embalmed body of joseph joseph waiting waiting and for the faithful in israel they knew and for the faithful in israel they knew that one day that one day they were to observe the promise that they were to observe the promise that had been made by their fathers had been made by their fathers and that body was to go out of egypt and that body was to go out of egypt but for many but for many faith had dwindled and the faithful were becoming few and further between there's a striking similarity between the attitude of pharaoh and the attitude the attitude of pharaoh and the attitude of herod in later years before the of herod in later years before the prophet like unto moses was born prophet like unto moses was born pharaoh charged all his people saying pharaoh charged all his people saying every son that is born you shall cast every son that is born you shall cast into the river and every daughter you into the river and every daughter you shall save alive shall save alive and so it was that and so it was that the hebrew baby boys were drowned the hebrew baby boys were drowned to keep down the numbers of those who to keep down the numbers of those who might be a potential threat to egypt in might be a potential threat to egypt in a time of war would deliverance never come for many in israel in israel it seemed that the egyptians were doing it seemed that the egyptians were doing so well so well that perhaps it would be that perhaps it would be more sensible more sensible to observe to observe the gods of egypt and if we look at the gods of egypt and if we look at ezekiel chapter 20 god says to ezekiel thus saith the lord god thus saith the lord god in the day when i chose israel and in the day when i chose israel and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of jacob and made myself known house of jacob and made myself known unto them in the land of egypt when i unto them in the land of egypt when i lifted up mine hand unto them saying lifted up mine hand unto them saying i am the lord your god in the day that i i am the lord your god in the day that i lifted up mine hand unto them to bring lifted up mine hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of egypt into a them forth of the land of egypt into a land that i had aspired for them flowing land that i had aspired for them flowing with milk and honey which is the glory with milk and honey which is the glory of all lands then said i unto them cast of all lands then said i unto them cast you away every man the abominations of you away every man the abominations of his eyes and defile not yourselves with his eyes and defile not yourselves with the idols of egypt i am the lord your the idols of egypt i am the lord your god for many in egypt the egyptians were doing so well their the egyptians were doing so well their gods were looking after them our god is gods were looking after them our god is doing nothing for us doing nothing for us they beheld the prosperity of the wicked they beheld the prosperity of the wicked and little by little and little by little they came to worship they came to worship the gods of egypt the gods of egypt how sad how sad shades of the 73rd psalm shades of the 73rd psalm when the psalmist confessed that his when the psalmist confessed that his feet had well nigh slipped feet had well nigh slipped when he saw the prosperity of the wicked when he saw the prosperity of the wicked and it's so easy isn't it brother and and it's so easy isn't it brother and sisters to see the affluence in the sisters to see the affluence in the world about us how those who have not world about us how those who have not the extra demands on their time live a the extra demands on their time live a life of enjoyment of pleasure and so on life of enjoyment of pleasure and so on as for me said the psalmist my feet were as for me said the psalmist my feet were almost gone my steps at well i slipped almost gone my steps at well i slipped for i was envious at the foolish when i for i was envious at the foolish when i saw the prosperity of the wicked for saw the prosperity of the wicked for there are no bans in their death but there are no bans in their death but their strength is firm they're not in their strength is firm they're not in trouble as other men neither are they trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other men plagued like other men their eyes stand out with fatness they their eyes stand out with fatness they have more than heart could wish they have more than heart could wish they corrupt and speak wickedly concerning corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression they speak loftily they set oppression they speak loftily they set their mouth against their heavens and their mouth against their heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth their tongue walketh through the earth they say how does god know and is there they say how does god know and is there knowledge in the most high knowledge in the most high behold these are the ungodly who prosper behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world they increase in riches in the world they increase in riches verily i have cleansed my heart in vain verily i have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency for all and washed my hands in innocency for all the day long have i been plagued and the day long have i been plagued and chastened every morning chastened every morning and i thought to know this it was too and i thought to know this it was too painful for me until painful for me until until until i went into the sanctuary of god i went into the sanctuary of god then then understood i understood i their end the psalmist featured well nice slipped until he stood back and saw things in until he stood back and saw things in perspective perspective the end to which he had been called the end to which he had been called and the end to which they were destined and the end to which they were destined but for many in israel but for many in israel their feet had slipped their feet had slipped they'd given up hope they'd given up hope their faith had gone their faith had gone defile not yourselves with the idols of defile not yourselves with the idols of egypt egypt i am the lord your god but they rebelled i am the lord your god but they rebelled against me and would not hearken unto me against me and would not hearken unto me said ezekiel they did not every man cast said ezekiel they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes away the abominations of their eyes neither did they forsake the idols of neither did they forsake the idols of egypt egypt then i said i'll pour out my fury upon then i said i'll pour out my fury upon them and to accomplish my anger against them and to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of egypt them in the midst of the land of egypt but i wrought for my name's sake but i wrought for my name's sake that it should not be polluted before that it should not be polluted before the heathen among whom they were in the heathen among whom they were in whose sight i made myself known unto whose sight i made myself known unto them in bringing them forth out of the them in bringing them forth out of the land of egypt so there in the land of land of egypt so there in the land of egypt was a state of idolatry amongst egypt was a state of idolatry amongst god's own people god's own people but but as always as always there were the faithful and two such faithful were amram were amram and jochebed faithful servants of god servants of god in a land of darkness in a land of darkness and surrounded by faithlessness well it was probably thanks to the midwives it was probably thanks to the midwives shifrar and pura shifrar and pura who faithfully wrought to deliver the who faithfully wrought to deliver the young young lads of egypt before the final command lads of egypt before the final command came to drown the young suns that there came to drown the young suns that there was born to amram and jochebed was born to amram and jochebed the sun aaron the sun aaron and thanks to those faithful midwives and thanks to those faithful midwives aaron was spared aaron was spared and he started to grow and he started to grow and reached the age and reached the age of three of three and then and then the next child was born the next child was born at a time when the command was extant at a time when the command was extant that all young hebrew children should be that all young hebrew children should be drowned drowned in the waters of the nile hebrews 11 and i think and the verse that we're and i think and the verse that we're going to look at now going to look at now indicates that something very wonderful indicates that something very wonderful happened happened in the lives of amram and jochebed 23 by faith by faith moses when he was born so qed it wasn't moses when he was born so qed it wasn't the faith of moses the faith of moses by faith moses when he was born was hid by faith moses when he was born was hid three months three months of his parents of his parents because they saw he was because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid of the king's commandment commandment now what lies behind these words why was it by faith by faith that moses was hidden that moses was hidden if they just didn't want their little if they just didn't want their little son to be drowned surely it was the law son to be drowned surely it was the law of mother love that prompted them to of mother love that prompted them to hide him for as long as they could hide him for as long as they could but no but no it was it was by faith and surely if we're looking for types between moses if we're looking for types between moses and the lord jesus christ and they are and the lord jesus christ and they are bound bound was it not the case that by angelic was it not the case that by angelic visitation mary the mother of jesus visitation mary the mother of jesus was forewarned was forewarned about the birth about the birth of this one who was to save his people of this one who was to save his people from their sins from their sins it would seem it would seem that jochebed that jochebed and we can only infer this and we can only infer this that jochebed that jochebed was likewise forewarned was likewise forewarned that something at long last was going to that something at long last was going to happen amongst god's people happen amongst god's people and there was to be born one who would and there was to be born one who would deliver deliver the hebrews the hebrews from egypt from egypt and believing this word it was by faith and believing this word it was by faith that they hid him that they hid him by faith by faith that the promise that had been made that the promise that had been made would be kept by god would be kept by god and this child was not to suffer the and this child was not to suffer the fate of other hebrew children fate of other hebrew children and so they hid him three months and so they hid him three months when they saw that he was when they saw that he was a proper child a proper child now what does that mean now what does that mean two arms two legs right number of two arms two legs right number of fingers and toes fingers and toes a proper child a proper child and behind the meaning of this word and behind the meaning of this word proper is what it literally means belonging to the city the city well-born well-born now now various expressions i might use here i various expressions i might use here i don't know they may mean nothing in don't know they may mean nothing in america america but in england if someone is of the city but in england if someone is of the city pronounced like that pronounced like that a city type a city type there's something that just a little bit there's something that just a little bit different about him you know different about him you know so when he walks into a cafe it's not so when he walks into a cafe it's not like when banford walks in and they walk like when banford walks in and they walk past him and serve the other people past him and serve the other people someone rushes up to him you know and someone rushes up to him you know and they bow and scrape and they bow and scrape and something that'd be different he's of something that'd be different he's of the city the city city gent city gent perhaps you've got city gents over here perhaps you've got city gents over here i don't know belonging to the city well-born a striking child a striking child remarkable in appearance i don't know in my estimation i always reckon that newborn babies are i always reckon that newborn babies are very very very ugly i i can't get excited about all this sort i can't get excited about all this sort of slush about what a darling little of slush about what a darling little soul as a matter of fact i worked in an soul as a matter of fact i worked in an operating theater for two years and saw operating theater for two years and saw many born by cesarean section and never many born by cesarean section and never never once never once did i say did i say what a beautiful baby and when i was present at the birth of my third child my third child i gasped with horror and said to the i gasped with horror and said to the midwife midwife i wouldn't want to insult any of my i wouldn't want to insult any of my relatives by saying he looked like them relatives by saying he looked like them he looks like a baboon he looks like a baboon and she was furious and took it and she was furious and took it as a kind of sight against her own as a kind of sight against her own handiwork handiwork but there was something very striking but there was something very striking about this baby just look at act seven about this baby just look at act seven would you um would you um here again this word is used but here again this word is used but translated slightly differently acts 7 translated slightly differently acts 7 and verse 20 and verse 20 in which time moses was born and was in which time moses was born and was exceeding fair exceeding fair or is your margin say those with or is your margin say those with authorized margins authorized margins fair to god fair to god a striking child a striking child we would say we would say or perhaps or perhaps we might say today oh isn't he just we might say today oh isn't he just divine you know the expression he was divine you know the expression he was fair to god now i see in this something that was a something that was a a faith booster to amram and joker bed a faith booster to amram and joker bed the child that was to be born just look the child that was to be born just look at him way out a remarkable looking child so here we're a remarkable looking child so here we're introduced to moses as a babe introduced to moses as a babe as a striking physique and their faith was strengthened and of course this is how and of course this is how god builds up god builds up the faith of his servants the faith of his servants what did they call him what did they call him i don't know i don't know nobody knows nobody knows what they called him if i was asked to make a guess i would say they called him joshua i would say they called him joshua but i don't know but i don't know nobody knows nobody knows is not recorded in scripture what amram is not recorded in scripture what amram and jacob and jacob called this called this young brother of aarons young brother of aarons perhaps it was joshua perhaps it was joshua but of course that was not to be his but of course that was not to be his name name and uh so we come back to exodus chapter and uh so we come back to exodus chapter 2 2 and we find how the well-known story of and we find how the well-known story of course you can't keep a young babe hid course you can't keep a young babe hid for any longer than three months i think for any longer than three months i think they did a remarkable job if they kept they did a remarkable job if they kept it hid for three months you wouldn't it hid for three months you wouldn't have kept mine here for three hours but have kept mine here for three hours but uh uh they did their best and then there came they did their best and then there came the time the time when they committed him to god when they committed him to god they struggled in their own way they struggled in their own way to preserve this one who was to be the to preserve this one who was to be the savior of israel savior of israel and then it got too much for them and and then it got too much for them and they committed him to god they committed him to god and there the ark and there the ark saved that young child in the waters saved that young child in the waters the waters the waters that were to be the death of so many of those babes of unfaithful israelites given to idolatry israelites given to idolatry those were the very waters those were the very waters that saved that saved this young child of amram and joker ben this young child of amram and joker ben that's a figure of course that runs that's a figure of course that runs right through scripture well as we shall right through scripture well as we shall be seeing the waters of the red sea they be seeing the waters of the red sea they were the saving of israel they were the were the saving of israel they were the destruction of egypt destruction of egypt the waters of baptism the waters of baptism by refusing the waters of baptism by refusing the waters of baptism we're told in luke's gospel record that we're told in luke's gospel record that the pharisees rejected the council of the pharisees rejected the council of god against themselves being not god against themselves being not baptized of him after john's baptism baptized of him after john's baptism and yet it's the waters of baptism that and yet it's the waters of baptism that save the people of god save the people of god the word itself the word itself is that which condemns the world is that which condemns the world it's the word of life that brings it's the word of life that brings salvation to the children of god salvation to the children of god and so we could go on but these waters and so we could go on but these waters that were the salvation of this young that were the salvation of this young babe babe were the destruction of so many of the were the destruction of so many of the young sons of the hebrews young sons of the hebrews and then we know how pharaoh's daughter and then we know how pharaoh's daughter heard the young child heard the young child crying crying and and sending her maids the young child was sending her maids the young child was drawn from the water and miriam who'd drawn from the water and miriam who'd been set to watch been set to watch goes to fetch what we'd call today a wet goes to fetch what we'd call today a wet nurse to bring up the young child and nurse to bring up the young child and when it was weaned when it was weaned then then pharaoh's daughter would take it to pharaoh's daughter would take it to herself oh how wonderfully the hand of herself oh how wonderfully the hand of god operates god operates that this one who according to the edict that this one who according to the edict of pharaoh of pharaoh was to be destroyed was to be destroyed was destined to come right into his own was destined to come right into his own courts courts god delights in paradox god delights in paradox and thus it was here and thus it was here and the quick witted young medium of and the quick witted young medium of course course rushes rushes to fetch to fetch jochebed jochebed that she might suckle this young child that she might suckle this young child and then and then here are the jews god's people here are the jews god's people she got paid for doing it isn't it she got paid for doing it isn't it lovely lovely she even got paid for doing it she even got paid for doing it i don't know how the jews do it i don't know how the jews do it blessing of god's people blessing of god's people marvelous isn't it how god blesses his marvelous isn't it how god blesses his people take this child away and nurse it for me and i'll give you thy wages and i'll give you thy wages and the woman took the child and nursed and the woman took the child and nursed it it never was a child never was a child reared more carefully by its nurse and the child grew and she brought him unto pharaoh's daughter and he became unto pharaoh's daughter and he became her son her son and she called his name moses from so and she called his name moses from so from now on from now on we know him as moses we know him as moses because he was drawn out because he was drawn out drawn out of the waters of the nile and during that valuable time and we don't know how old he would be when don't know how old he would be when finally he came into the care of this finally he came into the care of this princess princess during those valuable early years during those valuable early years joker bed joker bed would cram it would cram it everything she knew everything she knew abraham abraham isaac isaac jacob the promises and he was the one jacob the promises and he was the one that one day would deliver that one day would deliver his people and thus it is with young children thus it is with young children they accept what mummy says that's it they assume that everyone else is uh right down the same line right down the same line when when my little girl my little girl was very little she used to play with was very little she used to play with one or two of the other little girls at one or two of the other little girls at the meeting at a game called meetings the meeting at a game called meetings and they used to put a hat on you know and they used to put a hat on you know get a bit of bread and used to play get a bit of bread and used to play meetings meetings and that was a good game to play and that was a good game to play and of course when she went to school and of course when she went to school the teacher gave them a bit of free time the teacher gave them a bit of free time just to observe the children what would just to observe the children what would they do so that she could assess the they do so that she could assess the children children and she began to organize those about and she began to organize those about her those little girl as well her those little girl as well and they said what shall we play and she and they said what shall we play and she said we'll play meetings said we'll play meetings and their mouth just sagged open and she and their mouth just sagged open and she thought they were a bit dense couldn't thought they were a bit dense couldn't understand it and then of course as understand it and then of course as children grow they slowly find out children grow they slowly find out that the ways of mummy and daddy are the that the ways of mummy and daddy are the lives lives that it's a tiny little exception in a that it's a tiny little exception in a big wide world big wide world but for moses but for moses what jochebed told him that was it what jochebed told him that was it and and so later of course so later of course when it was that when it was that moses saw those two men and an egyptian and an egyptian and a hebrew and a hebrew the egyptian was the egyptian was smiting the hebrew smiting the hebrew that uh moses anger was aroused that uh moses anger was aroused and he slew and he slew the egyptian the egyptian now one might say well yes that's um now one might say well yes that's um we know that we know that but uh the next day but uh the next day when uh when uh he saw two hebrews fighting and abraded he saw two hebrews fighting and abraded them them he was amazed at the he was amazed at the retort that he retort that he got stephen in his speech in act seven got stephen in his speech in act seven said this said this verse 24 seeing one of them suffer wrong verse 24 seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended him he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed and and avenged him that was oppressed and smote the egyptian for he supposed his smote the egyptian for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that brethren would have understood how that god by his hand would deliver them but god by his hand would deliver them but they understood not they understood not and moses was amazed he thought it was quite well known says stephen that he was to be the deliverer that he was to be the deliverer he was amazed that they didn't know and it's little verses like this that lead us to believe lead us to believe this idea that jochebed was forewarned this idea that jochebed was forewarned by god that this one that was to be born by god that this one that was to be born was to be the deliverer was to be the deliverer and it was by faith and it was by faith that she hid him and also the the wonder of foreseeing the day of christ this was not confined to abraham jesus said abraham rejoiced to see my day he said abraham rejoiced to see my day he saw it and was glad saw it and was glad i think i think people like amram people like amram and jochebed and jochebed and moses and moses and joshua and joshua and david and david and all these great men of old they too and all these great men of old they too saw the day of christ saw the day of christ and were glad so then moses from a young child was educated in the matter of redemption and educated in the matter of redemption and that he was to be the one who was to that he was to be the one who was to bring god's people out from the land of bring god's people out from the land of egypt when he was adopted by pharaoh's daughter of course daughter of course and and brought into the courts of egypt brought into the courts of egypt there he would be educated there he would be educated there he would have this princely there he would have this princely upbringing and no doubt in the archives no doubt in the archives and in amongst the scrolls of egypt and in amongst the scrolls of egypt he would come across he would come across these scrolls scrolls that had been started from very very early years in man's from very very early years in man's history i think it is a reasonable assumption that although we call the first five that although we call the first five books books the books of moses the books of moses because he set them in order like that because he set them in order like that yes yes but faithful men but faithful men were picked out by the holy spirit over were picked out by the holy spirit over the years to set down the chronicles of the years to set down the chronicles of human history human history that is why in the book of genesis you that is why in the book of genesis you come across those genealogies in little come across those genealogies in little groups groups we don't wait till the end of the book we don't wait till the end of the book of genesis and then get the whole lot of genesis and then get the whole lot right from adam down right from adam down so that as each faithful scribe so that as each faithful scribe wrote wrote about what eating let's say for the sake about what eating let's say for the sake of argument the first one was seth i of argument the first one was seth i don't know who it was don't know who it was and seth was inspired and seth was inspired to set down to set down the wonders of creation the experiences the wonders of creation the experiences of adam and eve and went right on up to of adam and eve and went right on up to his own day and then he died and the scrolls would be passed on and the scrolls would be passed on and the next faithful chronicler would and the next faithful chronicler would then take up the genealogies that then take up the genealogies that followed on followed on and he would set down the history up to and he would set down the history up to his day his day inspired to write it correctly and so inspired to write it correctly and so they would go on and on until they came they would go on and on until they came down to abraham to isaac down to abraham to isaac to jacob to jacob to to joseph and then the cobwebs in the archives of egypt and then came moses and as he came in his education to look and as he came in his education to look through the libraries through the libraries of egypt in all their learning of egypt in all their learning so these valuable scrolls so these valuable scrolls came into his possession came into his possession how avidly he would read them his education was of the very best if we look at acts was of the very best if we look at acts chapter 7. we see there in verse 22 22 moses was learned in all the wisdom of moses was learned in all the wisdom of the egyptians the egyptians now let's just think about that for a now let's just think about that for a moment moment he was not a specialist he was not a specialist not like today when not like today when one can study silicon chips or something one can study silicon chips or something and not know how to cook an egg and not know how to cook an egg and and because we live in an age of because we live in an age of specialization specialization he was educated in he was educated in all the wisdom of the egyptians all the wisdom of the egyptians in engineering in engineering in languages in languages mathematics all their spheres a brilliant man he became but the verse goes on in acts 7 22 moses was learned in all the wisdom of moses was learned in all the wisdom of the egyptians and was mighty in words the egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds and in deeds now remember we mentioned yesterday the now remember we mentioned yesterday the idea of moses being a rather me man idea of moses being a rather me man and there is the danger that we confuse and there is the danger that we confuse the word meek with weak and they completely dissimilar these words a meek man a humble man yes but weak a humble man yes but weak never never he was mighty in words he was mighty in words he was a man that could command he was a man that could command he was a prince in egypt and in deeds and if we turn back the pages of and if we turn back the pages of josephus the hebrew historian josephus the hebrew historian we find that he became a great general we find that he became a great general in the armies of pharaoh in the armies of pharaoh he led successful campaigns even against he led successful campaigns even against the ethiopians that were mighty the ethiopians that were mighty in battle in battle and always he was victorious a man of tremendous physique exceptionally strong exceptionally strong fine looking well educated kind of man that made the girl's heart flutter this was the one this was the vessel this was the vessel that god was shaping for his great that god was shaping for his great mission mission mighty in words and in deeds the jealousy of his older brother was mounting why do we say that well you'll see as we go on well you'll see as we go on but it was there was his older brother aaron in all the wretchedness in all the wretchedness of the slavery of egypt of the slavery of egypt and there was his kid brother and there was his kid brother living it up in the courts living it up in the courts this one that was going to be the this one that was going to be the deliverer deliverer he's taking a long time isn't he he's taking a long time isn't he having a fine time of it and the years passed by forty years forty years passed by and then then there came then there came that momentous day that momentous day and reading on in acts chapter seven we read verse 23 23 when he was full 40 years old it came when he was full 40 years old it came into his heart into his heart to visit his brethren the children of to visit his brethren the children of israel israel it came into his heart who planted the thought in his heart here surely moses was moved here surely moses was moved by a power by a power from on high from on high it came into his heart to visit his it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of israel brethren the children of israel and not only visit and not only visit but to stand alongside them but to stand alongside them in in all their hardship all their hardship hebrews 11. there was more here than just a casual sightseeing tour he'd known what was sightseeing tour he'd known what was going on over the years here there was going on over the years here there was an identifying an identifying of himself with his brethren of himself with his brethren hebrews chapter 11 and verse 24. by faith moses when he was come to years as we just read when he was 40 as we just read when he was 40 refused to be called the son of refused to be called the son of pharaoh's daughter pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction choosing rather to suffer affliction with with alongside the people of god alongside the people of god than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season season and what pleasures they were for him to and what pleasures they were for him to enjoy in the courts of pharaoh enjoy in the courts of pharaoh and so he associated himself and so he associated himself with the slaves with the slaves he renounced his title he renounced his title as the son of pharaoh's daughter as the son of pharaoh's daughter verse 26 esteeming the reproach for verse 26 esteeming the reproach for christ christ greater riches than the treasured in greater riches than the treasured in egypt egypt reproach for christ reproach for christ the fellowship of his suffering the fellowship of his suffering and christ hadn't been born but moses and christ hadn't been born but moses had seen the day of christ as that had seen the day of christ as that abraham his forefather greater riches in the treasury treasured in egypt in egypt here was the man of faith here was the man of faith for he had respect unto the recompense for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward the promises that have been made to abram to isaac and to jacob by faith he forsook egypt not fearing the wrath of the king not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing him who is for he endured as seeing him who is invisible invisible seeing with the eye seeing with the eye of faith we turn back to keep a finger there in hebrews 11 and we turn back to exodus hebrews 11 and we turn back to exodus chapter two chapter two and verse 11 there he saw the egyptians smiting a hebrew hebrew and having looked cautiously this way and having looked cautiously this way and that and that when he saw that there was no man he when he saw that there was no man he slew the egyptian and hit him in the slew the egyptian and hit him in the sand and then he saw the two hebrews striving the next day and the next day and said wherefores mightiest ally fellow said wherefores mightiest ally fellow and receive the retort who made the uh and receive the retort who made the uh prince and a judge over us prince and a judge over us intended how to kill me as thou killeth intended how to kill me as thou killeth the egyptian the egyptian and here there was this and here there was this rejection rejection god who had sent them a deliverer god who had sent them a deliverer his people his people rejected rejected here of course here of course is a superb type of christ he came unto is a superb type of christ he came unto his own his own and his own received him not and his own received him not and so he was spurned and so he was spurned and moses realized that the truth was and moses realized that the truth was out and he feared and said surely this out and he feared and said surely this thing is known thing is known now you notice what it says there now you notice what it says there moses moses feared feared and said and said surely this thing is known surely this thing is known now when pharaoh heard this thing he now when pharaoh heard this thing he sought to slay moses but no moses fled sought to slay moses but no moses fled from the face of pharaoh from the face of pharaoh so there we have it so there we have it moses moses feared feared and he fled and he fled from pharaoh from pharaoh now keep a finger in there and return now keep a finger in there and return back back to uh to uh hebrews 11 27 27 by faith by faith he forsook egypt not fearing he forsook egypt not fearing the wrath the wrath of the king of the king well did he well did he or didn't he or didn't he and of course the critic and of course the critic leaps on verses like this in glee leaps on verses like this in glee there you are the bible contradicts there you are the bible contradicts itself but of course it doesn't itself but of course it doesn't but we must of course find some but we must of course find some explanation here this word forsook forsook in hebrews 11 verse 27 in hebrews 11 verse 27 by faith he forsook egypt by faith he forsook egypt it's translated left it's translated left in acts 24 27 just to get the feeling of in acts 24 27 just to get the feeling of the meaning it might be worth just the meaning it might be worth just turning that verse up acts 24 27 there we read after two years porsche's festus came into felix room and felix festus came into felix room and felix willing to show the jews of pleasure willing to show the jews of pleasure left paul bound left paul bound now that doesn't mean to say now that doesn't mean to say that um felix had sort of been rubbing shoulders with had sort of been rubbing shoulders with paul in prison paul in prison and then he eventually said well paul and then he eventually said well paul i'm going to leave you and went out of i'm going to leave you and went out of the prison and left him the prison and left him it doesn't mean that at all it just means he he forsook him he left him just forsook him he left him just dropped him and that is what moses did with egypt and all did with egypt and all that it offered moses he just forsook it that it offered moses he just forsook it dropped it renounced it cut it off dropped it renounced it cut it off this is the meaning here of this word this is the meaning here of this word left and of course it refers back to a left and of course it refers back to a few verses before in hebrews 11 by faith few verses before in hebrews 11 by faith moses when he was come to years refused moses when he was come to years refused to be called the son of pharaoh's to be called the son of pharaoh's daughter daughter choosing rather to self-reflection with choosing rather to self-reflection with the people of god the people of god he renounced his title he forsook egypt he renounced his title he forsook egypt and all that it meant and in effect said and all that it meant and in effect said to pharaoh i don't care what you think to pharaoh i don't care what you think about it i'm not going to be called the about it i'm not going to be called the son of your daughter anymore son of your daughter anymore and in this he feared not the reaction and in this he feared not the reaction of pharaoh and associated himself with the hebrew slaves slaves that's right that's right but then but then after he had slain that egyptian after he had slain that egyptian then then then he feared the wrath of pharaoh then he feared the wrath of pharaoh and fled moses the deliverer had struck had struck a blow a blow for freedom for freedom and had killed and had killed one egyptian one egyptian just one just one it wasn't to be like this it wasn't to be like this moses was to see far greater things than moses was to see far greater things than this this in his delivering of israel but then he in his delivering of israel but then he fled and went into the land of midian fled and went into the land of midian now why did he go now why did he go to midian to midian if we turn quickly to genesis 25 i think if we turn quickly to genesis 25 i think we'll see and verse 1. abraham took a wife and called her 1. abraham took a wife and called her name keturah and she bear him zimran and name keturah and she bear him zimran and jokshan and medan and midian jokshan and medan and midian now now midian then was a son of abraham midian then was a son of abraham and one thing that we can be certain of and one thing that we can be certain of is that abraham instructed all his sons is that abraham instructed all his sons whether whether born of concubines or not born of concubines or not in the fear of god in the fear of god so somewhere back in the history of so somewhere back in the history of midian midian there was this knowledge of god there was this knowledge of god and if moses was looking for somewhere and if moses was looking for somewhere to flee then it is understandable that to flee then it is understandable that he would flee to a place where at least he would flee to a place where at least there would be there would be some knowledge of the god that he feared some knowledge of the god that he feared and worshiped and worshiped and so he makes this great journey to and so he makes this great journey to midian and he sits down by well midian and he sits down by well and the seven daughters and the seven daughters of jethro the priest or prince of midian of jethro the priest or prince of midian came to came to water their father's flocks water their father's flocks and there were the bully boys there of and there were the bully boys there of course they're always the bully boys course they're always the bully boys about and the about and the shepherds the local shepherds came and shepherds the local shepherds came and drove them away drove them away and here we see the and here we see the attitude of moses he could not bear the attitude of moses he could not bear the idea of unfairness of oppression idea of unfairness of oppression and the hand that slew the egyptian was and the hand that slew the egyptian was here again raised in anger as he drove here again raised in anger as he drove away the shepherds away the shepherds and this after a journey that he'd just and this after a journey that he'd just undertaken undertaken a weary man a weary man but not too weary with the air of but not too weary with the air of authority authority to drive away these local shepherds and to drive away these local shepherds and he a lone stranger there it is you see he a lone stranger there it is you see it comes out doesn't it a striking man a it comes out doesn't it a striking man a man used to command man used to command a powerful man a powerful man not flat out like we'd have been after a not flat out like we'd have been after a trek like that trek like that and he couldn't stand unfairness and he couldn't stand unfairness and oppression of the weak and oppression of the weak and he has to intercede and he has to intercede not only does he intercede and drive not only does he intercede and drive away the shepherd but he waters away the shepherd but he waters the flocks of jethro the flocks of jethro and so the girls come home to father and so the girls come home to father and they say he says you've been quick and they say he says you've been quick today girl so moses today girl so moses with this great physique of his he did with this great physique of his he did the job quickly even the job quickly even and as far as we know and as far as we know he'd never watered sheep before he'd never watered sheep before he was just quick they'd like some of our weight as a table you know table you know get on with get on with feeding the sheep quick and they gave the explanation an egyptian delivered us out of the hand an egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds of the shepherds so he'd still got his square beard or so he'd still got his square beard or whatever it was you know whatever it was you know to them he was an egyptian to them he was an egyptian still with that appearance that style still with that appearance that style that dress that dress an egyptian delivered us out of the hand an egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and also do water in a of the shepherds and also do water in a forest and water the flock and they said forest and water the flock and they said well where is he well where is he you've left him outside you've left him outside call him that he made bread call him that he made bread and moses came and moses came a friendship was struck up and he dwelt a friendship was struck up and he dwelt with them now you see how at home moses with them now you see how at home moses is with this is with this prince or this priest of million prince or this priest of million sort of sort of upper class getting on with upper class upper class getting on with upper class they felt at home at one together they felt at home at one together whether the seven girls quarreled i whether the seven girls quarreled i don't know don't know but zipporah was the lucky one but zipporah was the lucky one and and she got moses she got moses and so they were married and so they were married the king of egypt died the king of egypt died nothing else seemed to change life went nothing else seemed to change life went on and the children of israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried and reason of the bondage and they cried and their cry came up unto god by reason of their cry came up unto god by reason of the bondage and god heard their the bondage and god heard their groanings and god remembered his groanings and god remembered his covenant with abraham with isaac and covenant with abraham with isaac and with jacob with jacob god never god never never forgets and in the worst of our problems that we in the worst of our problems that we have to deal with in life have to deal with in life let us always remember that it isn't let us always remember that it isn't that god hasn't noticed that god hasn't noticed he notices he notices and he never forgets and he never forgets and he knows what we can take and he knows what we can take and what we can stand and what we can stand and god looked upon the children of and god looked upon the children of israel and god had respect unto them but israel and god had respect unto them but to moses to moses in the desert of sinai in the desert of sinai searching for pastures for the flocks of searching for pastures for the flocks of jethro jethro it must have seemed that after all it must have seemed that after all what he learned from his faithful mother what he learned from his faithful mother jochebed jochebed must surely have been wrong must surely have been wrong he'd slain one egyptian he'd slain one egyptian and that was 40 years ago and that was 40 years ago and still and still nothing happened nothing happened but of course god was completing the but of course god was completing the education of moses this one who was to education of moses this one who was to be the great deliverer not only was he be the great deliverer not only was he to be a mighty general mighty in word to be a mighty general mighty in word indeed indeed but he was to be but he was to be a shepherd a shepherd a shepherd who could lead the flock of a shepherd who could lead the flock of god god with patience with patience with perseverance with perseverance alone alone and this was the great point and this was the great point alone and then the burning bush and moses turns aside the burning bush and moses turns aside and the voice draw not nigh hither put and the voice draw not nigh hither put off thy shoes from off thy feet for the off thy shoes from off thy feet for the place where on that stand is this holy place where on that stand is this holy ground ground i am the god of thy father the god of i am the god of thy father the god of abraham the god of isaac the god of abraham the god of isaac the god of jacob and moses hid his face and he was jacob and moses hid his face and he was afraid to look upon god elohim god god mighty ones but there was more that he was to learn and he was afraid and then this wondrous news i know their sorrows i know their sorrows i am come down to deliver them out of i am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the egyptians and to bring the hand of the egyptians and to bring them up out of that land and to a good them up out of that land and to a good land and a lodge into a land flowing land and a lodge into a land flowing with milk and honey with milk and honey now therefore behold the cry of the now therefore behold the cry of the children of israel is come unto me and i children of israel is come unto me and i have also seen the oppression where with have also seen the oppression where with the egyptians oppressed them come now the egyptians oppressed them come now therefore and i will send thee unto therefore and i will send thee unto pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of israel out of people the children of israel out of egypt egypt and moses said and moses said who am i who am i who who am i and god said i will be with thee people like david said that who am i and you put those two things together and you put those two things together and you've got a successful leader and you've got a successful leader the one who says the one who says who am i who am i and god says and god says i will be with thee i will be with thee and in a humble and a meek spirit the and in a humble and a meek spirit the almighty can operate well who shall i say has sent me when i come come to my people to my people and god said i am that i am and god said i am that i am or as it is more correctly translated i or as it is more correctly translated i will be that i will be will be that i will be say unto them my will be has sent me say unto them my will be has sent me unto you the lord god of your fathers the god of abraham the god of isaac and the god of abraham the god of isaac and the god of jacob hath sent me unto you this is my jacob hath sent me unto you this is my name forever and this is my memorial name forever and this is my memorial unto all generations unto all generations i will be that i will be lord god yahweh yahweh elohim he who shall be mighty ones god elohim he who shall be mighty ones god had been manifest and revealed in his had been manifest and revealed in his angels but he was yet to be angels but he was yet to be revealed in this people that he was revealed in this people that he was calling out for his name calling out for his name this was the purpose this was the purpose of almighty god and this was his of almighty god and this was his memorial name and of course that in memorial name and of course that in itself is a study verse 19 of exodus 3 and i am sure that the king of egypt will not let you go the king of egypt will not let you go no not by a mighty hand so there he was forewarned but he said they shall come out and but he said they shall come out and every woman shall borrow of her neighbor every woman shall borrow of her neighbor i like that word borrow i like that word borrow borrow of her neighbor borrow of her neighbor jewels of silver jewels of gold and jewels of silver jewels of gold and these jewels of gold were to play such a these jewels of gold were to play such a part part in the bringing out of god's people in the bringing out of god's people and yet and yet moses now a man of 80 is doubtful moses now a man of 80 is doubtful too long has gone by too long has gone by they'll doubt me he said they won't they'll doubt me he said they won't believe it and then come the the signs believe it and then come the the signs the rod into a serpent the rod into a serpent and moses fled from the serpents and and moses fled from the serpents and then he sees it by the tail and it then he sees it by the tail and it becomes a rod again this rod that was to becomes a rod again this rod that was to play such a part play such a part in the delivering of god's people in the delivering of god's people and then put now thine hand into thy and then put now thine hand into thy bosom bosom and he draws it forth and it's leprous and he draws it forth and it's leprous as white as snow as white as snow and he places it in again and he places it in again and it is healed and the sign of the serpent and the sign and the sign of leprosy of leprosy were not without significance were not without significance in the experiences of this people that in the experiences of this people that god was to deliver god was to deliver and bring them forth and bring them forth through the waters through the waters that they should be his people that they should be his people and they were to think very bitterly in and they were to think very bitterly in later years later years of this sign of this sign of the serpent symbols of course not lost upon us in their significance and then there was to be the pouring out there was to be the pouring out of water of water that it should become blood on the dry that it should become blood on the dry land land that was to be the third sign and of that was to be the third sign and of course it was that course it was that outpouring of blood and water outpouring of blood and water that brought deliverance from the that brought deliverance from the serpent's bite serpent's bite and the dread plague and the dread plague of leprous sin of leprous sin but there those are just types in but there those are just types in passing passing moses still makes excuses verse 10. moses still makes excuses verse 10. he's an old man now 80 years old he's an old man now 80 years old oh my lord i am not eloquent neither oh my lord i am not eloquent neither here to for nor since i have spoken unto here to for nor since i have spoken unto thy servant but i am slow of speech and thy servant but i am slow of speech and of slow tongue of slow tongue oh oh was he was he but didn't we read but didn't we read only a short time ago only a short time ago that he was that he was mighty in word mighty in word was this some sort of false modesty then was this some sort of false modesty then now let's get it quite clear moses was a now let's get it quite clear moses was a man of great power man of great power in his words and in his command in his words and in his command what did he mean then when he said i am what did he mean then when he said i am slow of speech slow of speech and of a slow tongue and of a slow tongue well there isn't time to go into a great well there isn't time to go into a great study of these words perhaps those of study of these words perhaps those of you are jotting notes might make like to you are jotting notes might make like to make a note that the first word slow make a note that the first word slow is is really really cabbad in the original or great cabbad in the original or great and and we'll just look at one example of it we'll just look at one example of it there are several is in one kings there are several is in one kings chapter 10 and verse 2 verse 2 the queen of sheba came to jerusalem the queen of sheba came to jerusalem with a very great train with camels of with a very great train with camels of their spices and very much gold and their spices and very much gold and precious stones a great train precious stones a great train terrific impressive terrific impressive great great and the second word slow i am slow of and the second word slow i am slow of speech and of a slow tongue speech and of a slow tongue [Music] [Music] that means that means um um we have it uh translated heavy in 1 we have it uh translated heavy in 1 kings 12. if we just look at that for a kings 12. if we just look at that for a moment one kings while we're in that moment one kings while we're in that part of scripture 1 kings 12 part of scripture 1 kings 12 and verse 4 thy father made our yoke and verse 4 thy father made our yoke grievous grievous now therefore make thou the grievous now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter and we will which he put upon us lighter and we will serve thee and uh the first word grace that great company the first word grace that great company the queen of sheba is also used of the queen of sheba is also used of armies in the scripture too so we have armies in the scripture too so we have this idea this idea of mighty of mighty great great slow moving but unstoppable slow moving but unstoppable steady and what moses is saying to god here with that crowd in israel now with that crowd in israel now i'm too old i'm too old you need the slick talker you need the slick talker now i'm not going to go amongst the now i'm not going to go amongst the politicians of america and pick out the politicians of america and pick out the slick talkers but you know that's what i slick talkers but you know that's what i mean mean you can sway masses like this you know you can sway masses like this you know up today and down to bother the quick up today and down to bother the quick slick talk that sort of thing and we've slick talk that sort of thing and we've got them in england too i'm not getting got them in england too i'm not getting an american an american the quick slick talk is the politician the quick slick talk is the politician kind of that's the man you want lord kind of that's the man you want lord not someone like this not someone like this steady steady powerful words words of sense powerful words words of sense that need to be thought about considered that need to be thought about considered right words and god rebukes motives who made man's mouth who made man's mouth or who maketh the dumb or who maketh the dumb now therefore go and i will be with thy now therefore go and i will be with thy mouth mouth oh my lord send i pray thee by the hand oh my lord send i pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send or the margin of him whom thou wilt send or the margin says whom now should it send and the anger of the lord was kindled against moses and he said he's not heir against moses and he said he's not heir on the levite thy brother on the levite thy brother i know that he can speak well i know that he can speak well so that teaches us something about aaron so that teaches us something about aaron does he not does he not behold he cometh forth to meet thee and behold he cometh forth to meet thee and when he sees thee he will be glad when he sees thee he will be glad in his heart well you'd expect him to be glad in his heart heart after not seeing his brother for 40 after not seeing his brother for 40 years wouldn't you years wouldn't you or living it up in the courts of pharaoh for 40 years for 40 years and what good's it done and what good's it done and where is he and where is he and why are we still here in our slavery and why are we still here in our slavery young waster and that expression that expression aaron the levite aaron the levite was god really reminding moses that his was god really reminding moses that his own brother was of his own tribe of levi no aaron the levite was a title aaron the levite was a title and aaron as the son of a faithful man and aaron as the son of a faithful man amram was looked up to by the faithful amram was looked up to by the faithful amongst the slaves of egypt amongst the slaves of egypt and somebody was going to come and somebody was going to come who was to be higher than aaron and he wasn't going to go down well you know what brothers are you know what brothers are but it was moses but it was moses who was to be the great deliverer thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth and i will be with thy in his mouth and i will be with thy mouth and with his mouth and will teach mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do you what you shall do and he shall be thy spokesman unto the and he shall be thy spokesman unto the people and he shall be even he shall be people and he shall be even he shall be to the instead of a mouth to the instead of a mouth and thou shall be to him and that was the position of moses in the site of israel in the site of israel and later and later in the site of egypt in the site of egypt this one who had been prepared this one who had been prepared by god by god to be the great deliverer

Transcript

and so they came out from the land of egypt out from the land of egypt right on time right on time in ranks of five in ranks of five in an orderly in an orderly company company a mixed multitude we read a mixed multitude we read many of the egyptians many of the egyptians saw sense and joined the ranks of those who left egypt and with them they were taking the bones of joseph chapter 13 verse 19 of joseph chapter 13 verse 19 moses took the bones of joseph with him moses took the bones of joseph with him that faithful forefather of theirs who that faithful forefather of theirs who had left that command that one day had left that command that one day they were to take up his coffin and bury they were to take up his coffin and bury him him in the land in the land of his fathers for he had sworn the children of israel saying god sworn the children of israel saying god will surely visit you and you shall will surely visit you and you shall carry up my bones away hence with you carry up my bones away hence with you and for the faithful there had always and for the faithful there had always been that body of joseph been that body of joseph that one day they would take with them and there was the guidance of god the lord went before them the lord went before them by day in the pillar of cloud to lead by day in the pillar of cloud to lead them them and by night in a pillar of fire to give and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light them light to go by day to go by day and night and night he took not away the pillar of the cloud he took not away the pillar of the cloud by dane or the pillar of fire by night by dane or the pillar of fire by night from before the people and there was the wondrous provision of god of god for his people for his people he never failed he never failed he always went before them he always went before them seeking out the way seeking out the way there was light by night there was light by night and the cooling shadow of the cloud by and the cooling shadow of the cloud by day day how wondrous was the provision of god how wondrous was the provision of god for his people and always there was that for his people and always there was that visual comfort visual comfort of his presence with them of his presence with them and then and then there was this apparent reversal there was this apparent reversal the pursuing egyptians the pursuing egyptians no wonder the people cried to moses no wonder the people cried to moses in their anguish in their anguish and feared if we look at chapter 15 verse 9 it is quite clear quite clear what would have happened had pharaoh's what would have happened had pharaoh's forces overtaken them forces overtaken them i will pursue i will overtake i will i will pursue i will overtake i will divide the spoil my lusts shall be divide the spoil my lusts shall be satisfied upon them satisfied upon them i will draw my sword my hand shall i will draw my sword my hand shall destroy them destroy them and it is quite clear that and it is quite clear that there would have been much of that there would have been much of that vented upon the fleeing slaves and there stood moses alone alone the sea before him the sea before him the might of egypt behind him the might of egypt behind him but the lord was with him but the lord was with him stand still stand still and see the salvation of the lord which and see the salvation of the lord which he will show you today he will show you today for the egyptians whom you've seen today for the egyptians whom you've seen today you shall see them again no more forever you shall see them again no more forever the lord shall fight for you and you the lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace and with this he's still the multitude and then we know there was this wondrous and then we know there was this wondrous provision whereby israel was commanded to walk forward to walk forward you notice the order of events it's you notice the order of events it's interesting isn't it again this act of interesting isn't it again this act of faith verse 15 faith verse 15 speak to the children of israel that speak to the children of israel that they go forward they go forward and they were commanded actually to move and they were commanded actually to move forward towards the waters forward towards the waters as yet there had been no dividing of the as yet there had been no dividing of the sea sea it seemed a suicidal a foolish thing to it seemed a suicidal a foolish thing to do do and here faith was tested and here faith was tested they were to go they were to go forward and god's promise was that they would walk through on dry land walk through on dry land and then the east wind and then the east wind that drove back the sea that night that drove back the sea that night and we can imagine the and we can imagine the incredulity incredulity of israel as they moved forward on dry of israel as they moved forward on dry land verse 22 the children of israel went into the midst of the sea into the midst of the sea upon dry ground upon dry ground the wind would be contrary the wind would be contrary a wind powerful enough to drive back a wind powerful enough to drive back those waters was a wind they got right those waters was a wind they got right in their teeth in their teeth as they headed eastward as they headed eastward and so they battled against that mighty and so they battled against that mighty wind and then we think of the new testament comment on this of the new testament comment on this wondrous fact one corinthians 10 wondrous fact one corinthians 10 and it shows us the stature of moses in and it shows us the stature of moses in his type his type of christ of christ 1 corinthians 10 1 corinthians 10 and verse 2 and verse 2 they were all baptized into moses they were all baptized into moses in the cloud and in the sea in the cloud and in the sea more correctly translated there into more correctly translated there into rather than unto they were all baptized rather than unto they were all baptized into moses into moses in the cloud and in the sea the exact in the cloud and in the sea the exact expression of course that we have in expression of course that we have in romans 6 romans 6 baptized into christ baptized into christ in a later dispensation the antitype of in a later dispensation the antitype of what was happening here what was happening here but we mention this because it shows the but we mention this because it shows the stature of moses they were all baptized stature of moses they were all baptized into moses and then of course the egyptians pursued the egyptians pursued it's interesting to see how wonderfully it's interesting to see how wonderfully the almighty the almighty prevented the egyptians from overtaking prevented the egyptians from overtaking them as they approached the waters the pillar of cloud went from before their face and stood behind them their face and stood behind them and it was a cloud and darkness to the and it was a cloud and darkness to the egyptians but it was light to the camp egyptians but it was light to the camp of israel of israel and here is another case and here is another case of that which the lord employs in this of that which the lord employs in this matter of salvation being a source of matter of salvation being a source of help help to the faithful to the faithful and a source of hindrance and a source of hindrance to the unfaithful to the unfaithful it was the same cloud it was the same cloud it gave light to god's people and it gave light to god's people and darkness to his enemies darkness to his enemies thus it is with the word of god thus it is with the word of god it is foolishness it is foolishness to those who will not submit themselves to those who will not submit themselves to the will of god to the will of god it is a word of life it is a word of life to those who do to those who do it is the condemnation it is the condemnation of those who reject it well here it was of those who reject it well here it was in the cloud and then of course we know how the waters of the red sea returned waters of the red sea returned and covered the chariots and the and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of pharaoh horsemen and all the host of pharaoh that came into the sea after them thus the lord saved israel that day out of the hand of the egyptians of the hand of the egyptians and israel saw the egyptians dead and israel saw the egyptians dead upon the seashore there they were those that once they'd envied those that once they'd envied those that had worshipped the gods of those that had worshipped the gods of egypt and had seemed to do so well their egypt and had seemed to do so well their eyes stood out with fatness they were eyes stood out with fatness they were all going the same way in this all going the same way in this affluent and prosperous land dead their heads their heads lulling lulling in inane and thinking sameness in inane and thinking sameness the waves broken on the shore then understood i and the joneses they would see no more they would see no more how glad they were how glad they were that they had broken rank that they had broken rank with the joneses that once they'd envied and so god vent his wrath upon egypt vent his wrath upon egypt for the sake of his great name for the sake of his great name and his people israel when thou passest through the waters i will be with thee i will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire the fire thou shall not be burned thou shall not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for i am the lord thy god the holy one for i am the lord thy god the holy one of israel thy savior of israel thy savior i gave egypt for thy ransom said isaiah in his 43rd chapter i gave egypt i gave egypt for thy ransom for thy ransom a tool a tool in the hand of the almighty in the hand of the almighty as he redeemed his people as he redeemed his people thus saith the lord which maketh away in thus saith the lord which maketh away in the sea and a path in the mighty waters the sea and a path in the mighty waters which bringeth forth the chariot and which bringeth forth the chariot and horse the army and the power they shall horse the army and the power they shall lie down together lie down together they shall not rise they are extinct they shall not rise they are extinct they are quenched they are quenched thus the prophet goes on in that 43rd thus the prophet goes on in that 43rd chapter chapter egypt had now been given egypt had now been given for the redemption of god's people for the redemption of god's people and israel saw that great work which the and israel saw that great work which the lord did upon the egyptians and the lord did upon the egyptians and the people feared the lord and believed the people feared the lord and believed the lord and his servant moses lord and his servant moses then sang moses and the children of then sang moses and the children of israel this song to the lord i understand we're going to enjoy listening to singing listening to singing on saturday evening all being well on saturday evening all being well and in order that this shall be an and in order that this shall be an enjoyable evening enjoyable evening there is some hard work being done day there is some hard work being done day by day and practice that terrific congregation joined in singing i wonder when they'd been doing their practice before it had all happened that thus they could sing well now they'd worship god marvelous marvelous things were going well of course they things were going well of course they worshipped god of course they could sing worshipped god of course they could sing his praise he saved them from the hand of him that hated them and redeemed them from the hated them and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy 106 psalm verse 11 and hand of the enemy 106 psalm verse 11 and the waters cover their enemies there was the waters cover their enemies there was not one of them left then believed they not one of them left then believed they his words they sang his praise they soon his words they sang his praise they soon forgot forgot the very next verse he just runs the very next verse he just runs straight on they sang his praise they soon forgot his works oh what sad irony in that song and we shall see just how soon it was and we shall see just how soon it was that they forgot and moses sang sang and the people with him a wonderful song and the people with him a wonderful song this in itself a study we just want to this in itself a study we just want to pick out pick out one or two phrases that's all we have one or two phrases that's all we have time for time for verse 2 of exodus 15 verse 2 of exodus 15 this song of moses the lord is my this song of moses the lord is my strength and song and he has become my strength and song and he has become my salvation he is my god and i will salvation he is my god and i will prepare him and habitation prepare him and habitation my father's god and i will exalt him my father's god and i will exalt him now there was the now there was the vow of moses and all who were faithful vow of moses and all who were faithful as they joined in that singing as they joined in that singing i will prepare him i will prepare him and habitation and habitation and he wasn't singing and he wasn't singing about the tabernacle that was to be about the tabernacle that was to be built if a man love me said christ said christ he'll keep my commandments he'll keep my commandments and i'll love him and my father will and i'll love him and my father will love him love him and we will come and make our abode with and we will come and make our abode with him i stand at the door and knock and knock there's the habitation that the lord there's the habitation that the lord seeks that great spiritual temple seeks that great spiritual temple in which there are many mansions or many in which there are many mansions or many dwelling places many rooms dwelling places many rooms that vast company of the faithful that vast company of the faithful each one each one part of that habitation part of that habitation of god through the spirit of god through the spirit i will prepare him and habitation and in i will prepare him and habitation and in this wilderness journey of trial there this wilderness journey of trial there were those who would be faithful and were those who would be faithful and would would humbly submitting themselves to the will humbly submitting themselves to the will of god of god prepare for him prepare for him a habitation a habitation in which god would be pleased to dwell in which god would be pleased to dwell forever verse 6 thy right hand o lord has become glorious in power thy right hand o lord glorious in power thy right hand o lord hath dashed in peace is the enemy and hath dashed in peace is the enemy and one day one day he who was the right hand the right arm he who was the right hand the right arm of the lord almighty would dash in of the lord almighty would dash in pieces the greatest enemies of all pieces the greatest enemies of all of sin of sin and death and death there's so much wrapped up in this there's so much wrapped up in this wondrous song of moses wondrous song of moses verse 20 verse 20 then miriam the prophetess the sister of then miriam the prophetess the sister of aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with the women went out after her with timbers and dances and miriam answered timbers and dances and miriam answered them and so we get these responses as singing and dancing before the lord they praised him and thanked him for all they praised him and thanked him for all that had happened that had happened and it would seem that the refrain is and it would seem that the refrain is sung by the women here miriam answered sung by the women here miriam answered them the men them the men sing you to the lord for he hath sing you to the lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea until rider hath he thrown into the sea until the various parts are taken up of this the various parts are taken up of this wondrous song so moses moses brought israel brought israel from the red sea well just let's keep this little family touch just let's keep this little family touch moses brought them moses brought them just let's look at micah 6 just let's look at micah 6 4. we must not forget the family of moses these were people these were people with their own family problems with their own family problems already aaron has had to stand down and already aaron has had to stand down and moses has had to move forward into chief moses has had to move forward into chief position micah 6 4 i brought thee up out of the land of i brought thee up out of the land of egypt egypt and redeemed the out of the house of and redeemed the out of the house of servants servants and i sent before thee and i sent before thee moses moses aaron aaron and miriam looks like a committee of three and that's how aaron and miriam figured and that's how aaron and miriam figured it should be it should be but but they were not to lose sight of the fact they were not to lose sight of the fact that it was moses that it was moses who brought israel from the red sea who brought israel from the red sea exodus 15 22. exodus 15 22. moses was their leader moses was their leader but this little verse in micah gives us but this little verse in micah gives us a hint a hint of trouble to come in the wilderness of trouble to come in the wilderness journey so just make a little mental journey so just make a little mental parcel of that one parcel of that one and keep it there and keep it there moses brought israel moses brought israel from the red sea from the red sea hosea chapter 12 hosea chapter 12 these little comments of scripture these little comments of scripture fascinate me fascinate me from all over the scripture old from all over the scripture old testament and new there are just these testament and new there are just these little verses little verses that throw such light on these exciting that throw such light on these exciting accounts accounts in exodus josiah 12 13 by a prophet by a prophet the lord brought israel out of egypt the lord brought israel out of egypt and by a prophet was he preserved and that prophet was moses the power of those words the power of those words by a prophet the lord brought israel out by a prophet the lord brought israel out of egypt and by a prophet of egypt and by a prophet was he preserved was he preserved so moses brought israel so moses brought israel from the red sea and then they came to mara and the bitter waters and the people and the bitter waters and the people murmured murmured what are we going to drink they soon forgot but then there was provided a tree that life-giving waters might result might result oh and the types are all there aren't oh and the types are all there aren't they they that tree that was to be that there might be waters of life and then god's assurance as moses and the people as moses and the people faced with their backs to the sea faced with their backs to the sea they faced that great and terrible they faced that great and terrible wilderness wilderness had they come had they come from from the frying pan to the fire the frying pan to the fire [Music] [Music] or had they come as it were to quote the or had they come as it were to quote the scripture from the iron furnace scripture from the iron furnace to a great and terrible wilderness we considered yesterday the horrors of the iron furnace god had said to moses in later years moses in later years the lord hath taken you and brought you the lord hath taken you and brought you forth out of the iron furnace even out forth out of the iron furnace even out of egypt of egypt to be unto him a people of inheritance to be unto him a people of inheritance as you are this day as you are this day they'd come out of the iron furnace they'd come out of the iron furnace but surely they had come but surely they had come into a great into a great and terrible wilderness i wonder what we'd have felt like if we had stood if we had stood in moses shoes in moses shoes and faced that and faced that terrible wilderness terrible wilderness with that great company with that great company of people behind us of people behind us a fickle people a fickle people a people that could rise in rebellion a a people that could rise in rebellion a people that could take up stones to people that could take up stones to stone and here they were now facing were now facing this great wilderness this great wilderness psalm 105. he brought them forth also with silver and gold and gold and there was not one feeble person and there was not one feeble person among their tribes among their tribes that's a wondrous thing isn't it that's a wondrous thing isn't it just imagine that night as they came just imagine that night as they came forth from egypt that forth from egypt that terrific exodus to the red sea terrific exodus to the red sea a sick child a mother going into labor an old grandfather an old grandfather about to die about to die the chaos it would have caused in those the chaos it would have caused in those families but no woman brought forth no child was sick sick no elderly person died no elderly person died as the lord overruled as the lord overruled there was not there was not one feeble person one feeble person among their tribes not one and so moses had done it moses had done it he brought them forth from egypt he brought them to the wilderness and the news would spread and the news would spread and it did and it did it would spread to the land of midian it would spread to the land of midian to zipporah to zipporah all the grief all the grief of that woman of that woman in a fit of paddy in a fit of paddy she'd sent back she'd sent back she'd been sent back she'd been sent back she lost her prince she lost her prince that wonderful man that wonderful man and it wasn't a wild goose chase and it wasn't a wild goose chase he'd done it he'd done it but god was right the impossible had happened she lost him she lost him in a fit of paddy all the grief of mine that they must have been there but uh the triumph the triumph of the red sea was now passed of the red sea was now passed and they faced this great and terrible and they faced this great and terrible wilderness and when we departed from horeb we went through all that great and terrible through all that great and terrible wilderness moses later said wilderness moses later said which you saw by the way of the mountain which you saw by the way of the mountain of the amorites as the lord our god of the amorites as the lord our god commanded us commanded us that great and terrible wilderness and again in deuteronomy 32 moses paints graphically for us moses paints graphically for us what they had to encounter and how wonderfully the lord had catered for them had catered for them deuteronomy 32 deuteronomy 32 verse 10 verse 10 he found him he found him israel israel in a desert land in a desert land in the waste in the waste howling wilderness what a terrible place for those people to camp that's waste waste howling wilderness howling wilderness you know you know brothers and sisters brothers and sisters camping can have its problems in ideal camping can have its problems in ideal conditions conditions i just didn't know how we'd have got on i just didn't know how we'd have got on in that in that those terrific hot winds that could those terrific hot winds that could sweep across that peninsula sweep across that peninsula just think about the your ecclesia just think about it for a minute but they were people just like us we sort of they were people just like us we sort of tend to think it was a lump of people tend to think it was a lump of people israel there they were but they were all israel there they were but they were all individuals just like us individuals just like us think about this room now think about this room now young and old young and old easily adaptable easily adaptable those rather british who like things you those rather british who like things you know just the same as they've always had know just the same as they've always had them and don't like change you know them and don't like change you know all there all there in that great in that great howling wilderness jeremiah chapter 2 verse 6 chapter 2 verse 6 neither said they where is the lord that neither said they where is the lord that brought us up out of the land of egypt brought us up out of the land of egypt that led us through the wilderness that led us through the wilderness through a land of deserts and of pits through a land of deserts and of pits through a land of drought and the shadow through a land of drought and the shadow of death of death through a land that no man passed through a land that no man passed through and where no man dwelts never will they be left in any kind of doubt of this in any kind of doubt of this that verse in deuteronomy 32 concerning that verse in deuteronomy 32 concerning that waste howling wilderness we go on that waste howling wilderness we go on to the very next verse eleven as an to the very next verse eleven as an eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them bared at them on her wings taketh them bared at them on her wings so the lord alone did lead him wings so the lord alone did lead him and there was no strange god with him and there was no strange god with him so when they came through the waters of so when they came through the waters of the red sea the red sea there was no strange god among them now that's wonderful isn't it the gods of egypt the gods of egypt yes they've renounced them yes they've renounced them in those first plagues they'd had them in those first plagues they'd had them sort of tugged out of their hands they'd sort of tugged out of their hands they'd had to drop them had to drop them there was no strange god among them there was no strange god among them as they went through the waters of as they went through the waters of baptism baptism for the start of this wilderness journey for the start of this wilderness journey and and it's like that in baptism it's like that in baptism just for that happy time just for that happy time that great enthusiasm that passing that great enthusiasm that passing through the waters through the waters the gods of this world renounced the gods of this world renounced no strange god if only if only it could stay like that but they seem to come back and they did with israel and they did with israel but just for this happy time but just for this happy time just now fresh through the waters there just now fresh through the waters there was no strange god among them was no strange god among them and the lord their god and the lord their god was leading them was leading them and he would provide and he would provide well what would be the practical well what would be the practical problems that we would think of food well i mean that's just the first i've well i mean that's just the first i've got on my list what would they do with food about food but it's all there psalm 105 and verse 40 40 the people asked the people asked and he brought quails and he brought quails and satisfied them and satisfied them with the bread of heaven no problem food food and drink and drink were to be provided psalm 78 were to be provided psalm 78 here was the drink here was the drink psalm 78 psalm 78 verse verse 15. he claimed the rocks in the 15. he claimed the rocks in the wilderness wilderness and gave them drink and gave them drink as out of the great depths as out of the great depths not not rather warm tepid sort of water near the rather warm tepid sort of water near the service surface but cool service surface but cool clear water clear water as from the great depths as from the great depths iced water iced water lovely to drink lovely to drink verse 16 he brought streams also out of verse 16 he brought streams also out of the rock and caused waters to run down the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers then read verse 20 having read all that about the provision having read all that about the provision of all this plentiful water then read of all this plentiful water then read verse 20. verse 20. behold he smote the rock behold he smote the rock that the waters gushed out and the that the waters gushed out and the streams overflowed so this provision of water didn't have to wait until moses took a rod and to wait until moses took a rod and struck the rock and here we see an insight into the hardness of hearts an insight into the hardness of hearts of these people of these people as they move forward into that great and as they move forward into that great and terrible wilderness a land of drought terrible wilderness a land of drought streams opened up before them how else would those would those thousands of people thousands of people have kept all their flocks and herds and have kept all their flocks and herds and cattle cattle that would not only suffice for eating that would not only suffice for eating but for sacrifices too but for sacrifices too so the streams opened up provision was so the streams opened up provision was made they didn't go thirsty for years and then just then just a couple of happy occasions had water a couple of happy occasions had water provided out of the rock but god was to test their faith and just for a little while the water supply diminished just to see the murmuring started straight away so don't let us think they went all the so don't let us think they went all the way from the sweetened waters of mara way from the sweetened waters of mara to the striking of the rock without to the striking of the rock without water that didn't water that didn't it was just that for a little while it was just that for a little while god withdrew the water to test them god withdrew the water to test them but we should come to that shortly what are we going to do if there are no traders there traders there no tray route trade routes no tray route trade routes what are we going to do about clothes what are we going to do about clothes especially under circumstances like that especially under circumstances like that and there is the provision in and there is the provision in deuteronomy 29 deuteronomy 29 verse 5 moses in later years was to say verse 5 moses in later years was to say i have led you forty years in the i have led you forty years in the wilderness your clothes are not waxing wilderness your clothes are not waxing old upon you and thy shoe is not waxing old upon you and thy shoe is not waxing old upon thy foot old upon thy foot there was no need for clothes there was no need for clothes no need for shoes but uh supposing the children became sick supposing the children became sick supposing there was an epidemic supposing there was an epidemic where were all the medicines of egypt where were all the medicines of egypt deuteronomy 7 deuteronomy 7 verse 14 there thou shalt be blessed above all people there shall not be male or female people there shall not be male or female barren among you or among your cattle barren among you or among your cattle and the lord will take away from thee and the lord will take away from thee all sickness all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases and will put none of the evil diseases of egypt which thou knowest upon thee of egypt which thou knowest upon thee but will lay them upon all them that but will lay them upon all them that hate thee hate thee no sickness no sickness no disease no disease perfect health waters in abundance food plentifully food plentifully and good food too and uh supposing by night supposing by night there there were troubles in the camp you know brother and sister i think we should keep this idea of family should keep this idea of family experiences before us experiences before us they were people like us you know you're they were people like us you know you're camping camping and just at three in the morning when and just at three in the morning when elusive sleep elusive sleep has come at last those precious short has come at last those precious short hours hours daddy daddy daddy i want it yes all right daddy i want it yes all right the tent is unleashed you know the tent is unleashed you know and it's pitch black outside and you and it's pitch black outside and you trip over the guy ropes they got street lighting street lighting straight down the avenues of all that straight down the avenues of all that orderly encampment orderly encampment it was never dark it was never dark it was light it was light all the time all the time psalm 78 verse 14 14 in the daytime also he led them with a in the daytime also he led them with a cloud cloud and all the night and all the night with a light of fire with a light of fire wasn't lights out at 12 o'clock wasn't lights out at 12 o'clock the light was there all the time the light was there all the time no problems but uh how about allies how about allies they were attacked during their they were attacked during their wilderness journey that's true wilderness journey that's true by those who saw the approaching danger by those who saw the approaching danger of the advances advancing armies of of the advances advancing armies of israel israel how about if they were attacked how about if they were attacked where would be their allies where would be their allies oh deuteronomy 1 verse 30. oh deuteronomy 1 verse 30. the lord your god which goeth before you the lord your god which goeth before you he shall fight for you according to all he shall fight for you according to all that he did for you in egypt before your that he did for you in egypt before your eyes the might of god would be there of god would be there no danger from the forces of men no danger from the forces of men and we think of the words of the lord and we think of the words of the lord jesus in later years jesus in later years take no anxious thought for the morrow take no anxious thought for the morrow what shall we put on and where with all what shall we put on and where with all shall we be clothed shall we be clothed for after all these things that the for after all these things that the gentiles seek gentiles seek god knows what you have need of god knows what you have need of and he knew what his people had need of and he knew what his people had need of in this great wilderness in this great wilderness and he provided and he provided exodus chapter 16 exodus chapter 16 just for a little while just for a little while it seemed that he might not it seemed that he might not and food supplies and food supplies would run low would run low unleavened bread would unleavened bread would run out exodus chapter 16 the whole congregation verse 2 murmured the whole congregation verse 2 murmured against moses and aaron in the against moses and aaron in the wilderness and the children of israel wilderness and the children of israel said would to god we died by the hand of said would to god we died by the hand of the lord in the land of egypt brethren the lord in the land of egypt brethren and sisters what did this remark sound and sisters what did this remark sound like in heaven like in heaven after all he done and graciousness unthankfulness unthankfulness what must it sound like in heaven what must it sound like in heaven and the lord who has provided for us in and the lord who has provided for us in life life far more than we need far more than we need and the grumbles come and the grumbles come what does it sound like in heaven word to god we had died by the hand of the to god we had died by the hand of the lord in the land of egypt when we sat by lord in the land of egypt when we sat by the flesh pots when we didn't eat bread the flesh pots when we didn't eat bread to the full to the full you brought us forth into the wilderness you brought us forth into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger to kill this whole assembly with hunger here was this testing and that was their here was this testing and that was their response response that was their reaction that was their reaction well well here was to be a great lesson verse 6 6 moses and aaron's said to the children moses and aaron's said to the children of israel of israel this was at the command of god this was at the command of god at even at even then you shall know that the lord has then you shall know that the lord has brought you out from the land of egypt brought you out from the land of egypt and in the morning and in the morning then you shall see the glory of the lord then you shall see the glory of the lord two points then two points then that even they were to see something that even they were to see something that would remind them of that from that would remind them of that from which they'd come out of the land of egypt and the flesh parts and the flesh parts that they hankered after now that they hankered after now and in the morning and in the morning they would see the glory of the lord well verse 10 it came to pass as aaron spake unto the it came to pass as aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of whole congregation of the children of israel that they looked toward the israel that they looked toward the wilderness and behold the glory of the wilderness and behold the glory of the lord appeared in the cloud lord appeared in the cloud ah ah but god had said it would be in the but god had said it would be in the morning morning that they would see the glory of the that they would see the glory of the lord lord and the lord never makes mistakes with and the lord never makes mistakes with his timetables his timetables always on schedule always on schedule right on time right on time so this wasn't the glory of which he had so this wasn't the glory of which he had spoken spoken well evening came verse 13 it came to pass that had even the quails it came to pass that had even the quails came up and curled the camp meeting plenty are at even are at even then you shall know that the lord hath then you shall know that the lord hath brought you out from the land of egypt brought you out from the land of egypt they'd hank it after those flesh bots they'd hank it after those flesh bots and now here was all this flesh to eat and then the morning verse 14 verse 14 and when the dew that lay was gone up and when the dew that lay was gone up behold upon the face of the wilderness behold upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing as small there lay a small round thing as small as the frost on the ground as the frost on the ground and when the children of israel saw it and when the children of israel saw it they said one to another they said one to another it is manner for they wish not what it was which literally translated means which literally translated means what's it and to many in israel that's all it was that's all it was just so much what's it just so much what's it and every day they went out and gathered and every day they went out and gathered up the watches up the watches that's it manner that's what it means but to those with eyes to see with eyes of faith it was the glory of with eyes of faith it was the glory of the lord the lord there is more there is more to the glory of the lord to the glory of the lord than a very bright light as we shall see later in the heights of horeb for here was a provision was a provision of life of life by a loving father by a loving father for his undeserving children never let us lose sight of that aspect of that aspect of god's glory of god's glory as we glorify his name as we glorify his name in the morning they were to see in the morning they were to see the glory of the lord the glory of the lord and there it was and there it was and to many and to many it was so much watson on sunday morning brethren just as god willing brethren just as god willing we shall all take bread and see in it the glory of the lord the glory of the lord in a faithful provision in a faithful provision for the life for the life of his children that he loves and so mana was provided and then they come and then they come to first to first exodus 17 verse 3 the people thirsted for water and the people murmured against moses and the people murmured against moses same old refrain wherefore is this that same old refrain wherefore is this that thus brought us up out of egypt to kill thus brought us up out of egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with us and our children and our cattle with thirst thirst if it had been the days of tape if it had been the days of tape recorders that have had a little tape recorders that have had a little tape and just played the same old tape every and just played the same old tape every time something went wrong and moses cried to the lord saying what shall i do to this people they be almost shall i do to this people they be almost ready to stone me you notice it doesn't say stone us you usually find that you usually find that aaron isn't just sort of around when aaron isn't just sort of around when these things happen moses knew what it was to stand alone he was the one who in in later years later years was thus to cry was thus to cry wherefore hast thou afflicted thy wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant servant and wherefore have i not found favor in and wherefore have i not found favor in thy sight thy sight the thou layest the thou layest the burden the burden of all this people upon me of all this people upon me and you imagine an inverted pyramid and at that base the shoulders of one man moses you've got the picture the burden of all these people upon me the lord said to moses go before the people and take with thee go before the people and take with thee the elders of israel and thy rod where the elders of israel and thy rod where with thou smotish the river with thou smotish the river take in thine hand and go behold i will take in thine hand and go behold i will stand before thee there upon the rock in stand before thee there upon the rock in horeb horeb and with this angry mob behind him moses and with this angry mob behind him moses had the comfort of seeing there the had the comfort of seeing there the angels of god's presence angels of god's presence on the rock and thou shalt smite the rock and they shall come water out of it and the shall come water out of it and the people may drink people may drink and thus moses did interesting verse eight then came amalek came amalek and fought with israel and fought with israel in referendum in referendum now all the types that lie behind that now all the types that lie behind that striking we shall leave until a later striking we shall leave until a later day's study day's study suffice to say that here was provision suffice to say that here was provision of water in abundance for the people as of water in abundance for the people as it had been before it had been before the water supply was back the water supply was back marvelous murmuring stops but that first word in verse 8 we must look at all the words we must look at all the words then then then came amalek and fought with israel then came amalek and fought with israel in referendum now that word then is not without its significance significance water in the desert water in the desert was in short supply was in short supply it is already it is already attracting attention amongst surrounding nations that seem to be water in sinai be water in sinai and here amalek and here amalek wants to lay claim to this fantastic wants to lay claim to this fantastic water supply now at refidem this was water supply now at refidem this was trouble that abram had that isaac had trouble that abram had that isaac had that when wells were digged then there that when wells were digged then there was fighting and squabbling over the was fighting and squabbling over the wells wells and that was in canaan how much more and that was in canaan how much more in the sinai peninsula and verse 18 17 god says remember what amalek did unto god says remember what amalek did unto thee by the way when you came forth out thee by the way when you came forth out of egypt how he met thee by the way and of egypt how he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of thee even all that smote the hindmost of thee even all that were feeble behind thee when there was were feeble behind thee when there was faint and weary and he feared not god faint and weary and he feared not god and so the spies of amalek must have seen this wondrous provision as moses struck the rock as moses struck the rock and feared not god and feared not god and the sign of this miracle and the sign of this miracle but simply came down and attacked israel but simply came down and attacked israel in a most cowardly way in a most cowardly way the little kiddies that were tired at the little kiddies that were tired at the back the back what a rotten way what a rotten way of trying to claim waters that were not of trying to claim waters that were not theirs and god never forgave amalek for theirs and god never forgave amalek for that that that cowardly attack that cowardly attack as they came for the waters and feared as they came for the waters and feared not god not god but that word then at the beginning of but that word then at the beginning of verse 8 shows that it followed hard on verse 8 shows that it followed hard on the heels of that miracle and then at last jethro brings a very humble zipporah a very humble zipporah chapter 18 chapter 18 when jethro the priest and midian moses when jethro the priest and midian moses father-in-law heard of all that god had father-in-law heard of all that god had done for moses and for israel his people done for moses and for israel his people and that the lord had brought israel out and that the lord had brought israel out of egypt just as he promised he would of egypt just as he promised he would then jethro moses father-in-law took then jethro moses father-in-law took zipporah moses wife zipporah moses wife after he had sent her back and her two after he had sent her back and her two sons and brought them to moses and jethro verse 5 jethro moses and jethro verse 5 jethro moses father-in-law came with his sons and his father-in-law came with his sons and his wife unto moses into the wilderness wife unto moses into the wilderness where he encamped where he encamped at the mount of god at the mount of god and he said unto moses i thy and he said unto moses i thy father-in-law jethro and come unto thee father-in-law jethro and come unto thee and thy wife and thy wife and their two sons with her and their two sons with her and moses went out to meet his and moses went out to meet his father-in-law father-in-law and did a basement and did a basement and kissed him and kissed him and they asked each other of their and they asked each other of their welfare welfare and they came into the tent and they came into the tent and moses told his father-in-law and moses told his father-in-law all that the lord had done and to all that the lord had done and to pharaoh unto the egyptians for israel's pharaoh unto the egyptians for israel's sake sake and all the travail that had come upon and all the travail that had come upon them by the way them by the way and how the lord delivered them and and how the lord delivered them and jethro rejoiced for all the goodness jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the lord had done to israel whom which the lord had done to israel whom he had delivered out of the hand of the he had delivered out of the hand of the egyptians egyptians and so here now the family and so here now the family is reunited is reunited as they come towards as they come towards the mount of god the mount of god to receive to receive the law of god the law of god that royal law that royal law which we shall consider tomorrow which we shall consider tomorrow but let us just think but let us just think again again along the family line along the family line as we leave our study for today as we leave our study for today all that time all that time as moses came as moses came forth from egypt forth from egypt with those great armies with those great armies when there were so many problems when there were so many problems when the when the comfort of talking it over with his wife comfort of talking it over with his wife in his tent in his tent unburdening himself unburdening himself someone to talk to someone to talk to and he'd been alone and sometimes it is in the will of god that the difficult paths of life that the difficult paths of life are walked are walked alone alone as regards marriage as regards marriage by some of his children and through that difficult period moses stood moses stood alone but he stood and didn't fail and didn't fail and god knows best and god knows best for all his children for all his children what a man this was what a man this was who could stand alone who could stand alone with the burden with the burden of all that people of all that people on him

Transcript

good morning brothers and sisters [Music] let's take up the account in exodus from where we left off yesterday where we left off yesterday in chapter 18. in chapter 18. [Music] [Music] here now a humble here now a humble zipporah zipporah has been reunited with her prince has been reunited with her prince and jethro is appalled at what he and jethro is appalled at what he observes observes verse 13. verse 13. it came to pass on the morrow that moses it came to pass on the morrow that moses sat to judge the people and the people sat to judge the people and the people stood by moses stood by moses from the morning from the morning unto the evening and when moses father-in-law saw all that he did to the people he said that he did to the people he said what is this thing that thou doest thy what is this thing that thou doest thy people why sit as thou thyself alone people why sit as thou thyself alone and all the people stand by thee from and all the people stand by thee from mourning unto even mourning unto even the thou layers the burden of all this the thou layers the burden of all this people people on me on me it was it doesn't seem to have struck moses he says well the people come unto me to says well the people come unto me to inquire of god inquire of god when they have a matter they come to me when they have a matter they come to me and i judge between one and another and i judge between one and another and here is the main point and i do make and here is the main point and i do make them know them know the statutes of god the statutes of god and his laws so what were these statutes what were these statutes and laws and laws the same statutes and laws that had been the same statutes and laws that had been from the beginning man was not left without a written code of laws right from the a written code of laws right from the beginning beginning as the various writers of holy writ as the various writers of holy writ starting probably with seth starting probably with seth and the chronology was added to by and the chronology was added to by faithful men from time to time faithful men from time to time the next one was it no the next one was it no the next one was it shem we don't know the next one was it shem we don't know but each one brings us up to date with but each one brings us up to date with the family tree and then adds a bit more the family tree and then adds a bit more of the narrative of the history of god's of the narrative of the history of god's work with men on earth work with men on earth and these statutes and laws had been in and these statutes and laws had been in existence existence right from the beginning right from the beginning possibly they were added to from time to possibly they were added to from time to time time they could well have come into the they could well have come into the hands and ministrations of melchizedek hands and ministrations of melchizedek and this of course was one of the and this of course was one of the reasons why god wanted abraham to come reasons why god wanted abraham to come into the company of melchizedek into the company of melchizedek that he might learn things he would that he might learn things he would never learn in er of the callees and abram would become well versed in the laws in the laws of god of god if we look at genesis 26 verse 5 where the promises promises were renewed to isaac were renewed to isaac verse 4 for connection god says i will verse 4 for connection god says i will make thy seed to multiply as the stars make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and give unto thy seed all of heaven and give unto thy seed all these countries and in thy seed shall these countries and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed all the nations of the earth be blessed because because abraham obeyed my voice abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge and kept my charge my commandments my commandments my statutes my statutes and my laws there they are again and my laws there they are again they've been right the way through they've been right the way through but now in a far greater sense but now in a far greater sense the law was to be given in that here there had to be as well as as well as a law for moral conduct a law for moral conduct a law for the ritual a law for the ritual the sacrificial worship and song the sacrificial worship and song there had to be now also a civil law there had to be now also a civil law that would apply to a nation and we can divide the law into these three categories and it was all going to be set down by moses moses and coded and coded in a far more splendid way than ever in a far more splendid way than ever before but these were the statutes of god and his laws that were extant at this time his laws that were extant at this time and moses was teaching them and moses was teaching them to the people well said jethro if you go on like this you'll in so many words you'll have a you'll in so many words you'll have a nervous breakdown you're doing too much nervous breakdown you're doing too much moses there was the burden of all that people on him verse 23 if thou shall do this on him verse 23 if thou shall do this thing thing and god command thee so and god command thee so what thing well the what thing well the delegation delegation of of responsibility to responsibility to responsible people responsible people verse 21 moreover thou shalt provide out verse 21 moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear of all the people able men such as fear god men of truth have hating god men of truth have hating covetousness and place such over them to covetousness and place such over them to be rulers of thousands rulers of be rulers of thousands rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of tens and let them judge the people at tens and let them judge the people at all seasons all seasons and you just decide the great matters and you just decide the great matters now if you will do this thing and god now if you will do this thing and god command thee so then thou shalt be able command thee so then thou shalt be able to endure and all these people shall to endure and all these people shall also go to their place in peace also go to their place in peace and moses saw the sense of this and moses saw the sense of this and chose men to whom he could delegate and chose men to whom he could delegate some of the responsibility and then they come to the foot they come to the foot of that great mount of that great mount mount horeb in sinai and the people in camp there it is a high mountain if you've ever it is a high mountain if you've ever looked at photographs looked at photographs of horeb in sinai of horeb in sinai um um it isn't the sort of thing you do for it isn't the sort of thing you do for the before breakfast the before breakfast walk in the morning to just slip up walk in the morning to just slip up heaven back heaven back it's a very big mountain and i for one it's a very big mountain and i for one would be worn out by the time i'd gone would be worn out by the time i'd gone up and down it once but it seems in the ensuing chapters that moses that moses went up and down went up and down some some seven or eight times seven or eight times quite incredible quite incredible that this man of what was he now about that this man of what was he now about 82 82 should go up and down this mount all should go up and down this mount all these times a man of terrific physique of great strength was moses of great strength was moses and he was to receive this royal law as and he was to receive this royal law as james calls it in his epistle james calls it in his epistle just turn to deuteronomy chapter 4 just turn to deuteronomy chapter 4 and we'll see the and we'll see the importance of this law importance of this law in the outworking of god's purpose in in the outworking of god's purpose in israel deuteronomy 4 at the end of their wilderness journey at the end of their wilderness journey moses was to say moses was to say verse 5 behold i have taught you verse 5 behold i have taught you statutes and judgments even as the lord statutes and judgments even as the lord my god commanded me my god commanded me that you should do so in the land that you should do so in the land whether you go to possess it keep whether you go to possess it keep therefore and do them therefore and do them for this is your wisdom for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of and your understanding in the sight of the nations which you'll hear all these the nations which you'll hear all these statutes and say statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people for what nation is understanding people for what nation is there so great who hath god sown i unto there so great who hath god sown i unto them as the lord our god is in all them as the lord our god is in all things that we call upon him for and things that we call upon him for and what nation is there so great what nation is there so great and you notice the phrases coupled with and you notice the phrases coupled with that hath statutes and judgments so that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which i set righteous as all this law which i set before you this day you observe these laws said moses and you will rise to a position of and you will rise to a position of supremacy among the nations of the world supremacy among the nations of the world and it would be the law and it would be the law which would be the which would be the at the root of the whole matter of their at the root of the whole matter of their greatness greatness now certainly uh in great britain now certainly uh in great britain the law of our land was founded the law of our land was founded absolutely on the absolutely on the civil law of the law of moses civil law of the law of moses any solicitor or barrister will tell you any solicitor or barrister will tell you this this i don't know i don't know so much about america i i'm hoping to so much about america i i'm hoping to learn but learn but certainly in our country it was based on certainly in our country it was based on that and over the years as it has been that and over the years as it has been adapted and slightly watered down and adapted and slightly watered down and adjusted adjusted so the fortunes of our country so the fortunes of our country have gone downhill it is a brilliant law as a civil law to keep a nation together as a civil law to keep a nation together and it was to be their wisdom and it was to be their wisdom and the secret of their greatness and the secret of their greatness amongst the nations amongst the nations of the world of the world and of course there was this opportunity and of course there was this opportunity for israel for israel to be the vehicle or the vessel of the to be the vehicle or the vessel of the outworking of god's purpose and plan outworking of god's purpose and plan that all nations should turn to them that all nations should turn to them come to worship the god of israel and come to worship the god of israel and his name be glorified throughout the his name be glorified throughout the earth there was that opportunity given earth there was that opportunity given them yes god knew through his them yes god knew through his foreknowledge that they would not take foreknowledge that they would not take that opportunity but it was there so coming back to exodus 19 those 3 the first ascent those 3 the first ascent moses went up unto god and the lord moses went up unto god and the lord called unto him out of the mountain called unto him out of the mountain saying saying thus shall thou say to the house of thus shall thou say to the house of jacob and tell the children of israel jacob and tell the children of israel you've seen what i did unto the you've seen what i did unto the egyptians and how i bear you on eagle's egyptians and how i bear you on eagle's wings and brought you unto myself now wings and brought you unto myself now therefore therefore if you will obey my voice indeed and if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant then you shall be a keep my covenant then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the earth is mine people for all the earth is mine and you shall be unto me and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests a kingdom of priests and a holy nation and that was it moses made that ascent moses made that ascent to receive to receive just that just that the almighty thought it was worth the almighty thought it was worth that one journey up that one journey up and down and down to receive to receive just just that how important that how important are those words a kingdom of priests and an holy nation and an holy nation if if you will obey my voice you will obey my voice and keep my government so moses called the elders together and he lays these words before them he lays these words before them and there is this joyful response and there is this joyful response all that the lord has spoken we will do all that the lord has spoken we will do and moses brings the words of the people and moses brings the words of the people back to god back to god the second ascent and then another important fact we see how important important fact we see how important these phrases are because each one is these phrases are because each one is the subject of a separate ascent of the subject of a separate ascent of moses moses [Music] [Music] verse 9 the lord said to moses lo verse 9 the lord said to moses lo i come unto you but he didn't say you he didn't come to israel though i come unto though i come unto thee thee moses moses i come unto thee in a thick cloud i come unto thee in a thick cloud so that so that the people the people may hear may hear when i speak with thee when i speak with thee and believe and believe thee thee forever so moses was to be seen by the people to ascend was to be seen by the people to ascend into the mountain into the mountain they were to hear the thunderings they were to hear the thunderings and to have it impressed upon their and to have it impressed upon their minds minds that the almighty god was speaking to that the almighty god was speaking to moses moses and when moses came back and spoke to and when moses came back and spoke to them they were the words of god them they were the words of god [Music] see i have made thee a god unto aaron see i have made thee a god unto pharaoh see i have made thee a god unto pharaoh and now and now a god a god unto his people unto his people here was the position here was the position of moses of moses the representative of the almighty the representative of the almighty to his people to his people verse 10 the lord said unto moses go verse 10 the lord said unto moses go unto the people unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow so and sanctify them today and tomorrow so he tells them tells moses to go back to he tells them tells moses to go back to the people with this special message let them sanctify themselves today sanctify themselves today and tomorrow and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes and let them wash their clothes and be ready and be ready against the third day for the third day against the third day for the third day the lord will come down in the sight of the lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount sinai all the people upon mount sinai and you just said bounds unto the people and you just said bounds unto the people round about round about they were not to break through the they were not to break through the bounds and so there is now this idea forced home upon israel forced home upon israel i will be sanctified i will be sanctified in them the drawn i mean in them the drawn i mean there had to be a preparing there had to be a preparing a physical washing as an indication of a cleansing of thoughts of preparing of a cleansing of thoughts of preparing the mind the mind of a smartening of a smartening a respect a respect a reverence a reverence a time of preparation they were going to meet their god their god and i think here brother and sisters in and i think here brother and sisters in passing there's a lesson for us passing there's a lesson for us we do not likely waltz we do not likely waltz into the presence of that consuming fire it is well to sit quietly for a few moments for a few moments before before we sing our first hymn it is also good after we leave the after we leave the address of the almighty in our address of the almighty in our concluding prayers to sit for a moment in quiet reverence in quiet reverence before we take our leave before we take our leave of the almighty of the almighty and talk one with another and talk one with another they may sound just little things but their tokens of respect for almighty god he's the same god he alters not and so moses comes down and the people and the people are sanctified are sanctified even to the washing of the clothes even to the washing of the clothes are preparing are preparing and then on the third day verse 16 and then on the third day verse 16 there are the thunders and lightnings there are the thunders and lightnings and thick cloud upon the mount as god and thick cloud upon the mount as god brought down brought down a great and wondrous veil lest that people be consumed by the glory of his presence it must have been [Music] [Music] a very a very thick cloud thick cloud that covered that mountain because we know that the almighty that the almighty as paul describes into timothy as paul describes into timothy is that blessed only potentates the king is that blessed only potentates the king of kings and lord of lords who only hath of kings and lord of lords who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see hath seen nor can see to whom be honor and power everlasting to whom be honor and power everlasting amen and then with this terrifying manifestation of the closeness of god manifestation of the closeness of god the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that was in the so that all the people that was in the camp trembled and when it says all the people there it means it means all the people all the people moses included moses included and the writer to the hebrews years and the writer to the hebrews years later was to record the confession of later was to record the confession of moses on this great occasion moses on this great occasion when they heard the sound of a trumpet when they heard the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words which voice they and the voice of words which voice they that heard entreated that the word that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore for should not be spoken to them anymore for they could not endure that which was they could not endure that which was commanded commanded and so terrible is the sight that moses and so terrible is the sight that moses said said i exceedingly fear i exceedingly fear and quake and quake and i don't suppose it did anything for and i don't suppose it did anything for the comfort of the people when they the comfort of the people when they turned as they always did at moments turned as they always did at moments like this to their leader like this to their leader and saw that moses and saw that moses was shaking and this sound of a trumpet that sound of a trumpet that one day that sound of a trumpet that one day will even call forth will even call forth the dead in christ the dead in christ what a thrilling sound and mount sinai verse 18 was all together on a smoke because the lord together on a smoke because the lord descend upon it in fire and the smoke descend upon it in fire and the smoke that i've ascended to the smoke of a that i've ascended to the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quake furnace and the whole mountain quake greatly and so by earthquake and by fire greatly and so by earthquake and by fire the lord impressed his people the lord impressed his people and the voice of the trumpet sounded and the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed louder and louder and long and waxed louder and louder and moses spoke and god answered him by a moses spoke and god answered him by a voice and moses was called up to that darkness to that darkness of that great cloud of that great cloud no wonder he was shaking and god called him up for this third visit visit to give him one message to give him one message what was it what was it verse 21 verse 21 go down go down charge the people lest they break charge the people lest they break through unto the lord to gaze and many through unto the lord to gaze and many of them perish of them perish and let the priests also which come near and let the priests also which come near to the lord sanctify themselves lest the to the lord sanctify themselves lest the lord break forth upon them and moses said but we've set the bounds lord as you command him wasn't good enough verse 24 away get thee down and thou shall come up thou thee down and thou shall come up thou and air and with thee but let not the and air and with thee but let not the priests and the people break through to priests and the people break through to come up unto the lord lest he break come up unto the lord lest he break forth upon them forth upon them there was that special message there was that special message and so moses returned to the camp and and so moses returned to the camp and then to the unspeakable terror of israel then to the unspeakable terror of israel god spoke to them all god spoke to them all direct direct from the mountain from the mountain so where is all the so where is all the the civil law and the law of ritual and the civil law and the law of ritual and so on was passed by moses so on was passed by moses there were these ten cardinal there were these ten cardinal commandments that came direct from god commandments that came direct from god to the people to the people and thus they thundered from the heights and thus they thundered from the heights of horeb of horeb those words that we know so well in those words that we know so well in exodus 20 exodus 20 now known as now known as the ten commandments the people were obviously terrified terrified deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 33 did ever people hear the voice of god did ever people hear the voice of god speaking out of the midst of the fire as speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live 36 out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice that he might instruct thee his voice that he might instruct thee and upon earth he showed thee his great and upon earth he showed thee his great fire and thou heardest his words out of fire and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire chapter 5 verse 22 these words and he's just recited there you'll and he's just recited there you'll notice the ten commandments notice the ten commandments these words the lord spake unto all your these words the lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire of the cloud and of the of the fire of the cloud and of the thick darkness with a great voice thick darkness with a great voice and he added no more and he added no more he wrote them in two tables of stone and he wrote them in two tables of stone and delivered them unto me delivered them unto me so you'll notice so you'll notice that it was after those words were that it was after those words were thundered from the heights of horeb and thundered from the heights of horeb and the people heard them direct that they the people heard them direct that they were then written were then written by the hand of god on tables of stone by the hand of god on tables of stone ready for the time when moses should ready for the time when moses should come up to receive them come up to receive them and it came to pass when you heard the and it came to pass when you heard the voice out of the midst of the fire for voice out of the midst of the fire for the mountain did burn with fire that you the mountain did burn with fire that you came near unto me even all the heads of came near unto me even all the heads of your tribes and your elders and said your tribes and your elders and said behold the lord our god hath showed us behold the lord our god hath showed us his glory and his greatness and we've his glory and his greatness and we've heard his voice out of the midst of the heard his voice out of the midst of the fire fire we have seen this day that god doth talk we have seen this day that god doth talk with man and he liveth with man and he liveth now therefore why should we die for this now therefore why should we die for this great fire will consume us if we hear great fire will consume us if we hear the voice of the lord our god any more the voice of the lord our god any more we shall die for who is there of all we shall die for who is there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the flesh that hath heard the voice of the living god speak out of the midst of the living god speak out of the midst of the fire as we have and lived fire as we have and lived go thou near and hear all that the lord go thou near and hear all that the lord our god shall say and speak thou unto us our god shall say and speak thou unto us all that the lord our god shall speak all that the lord our god shall speak unto thee and we'll hear it and do it unto thee and we'll hear it and do it and here there was this terror moses no and here there was this terror moses no more you go moses you listen and you tell us you listen and you tell us that's what it meant that's what it meant to hear to hear the voice of the almighty the voice of the almighty and we noticed the reaction and we noticed the reaction verse 28 verse 28 the lord heard the voice of your words the lord heard the voice of your words and the lord said to me i have heard the and the lord said to me i have heard the voice of the words of this people which voice of the words of this people which they've spoken unto thee they have well they've spoken unto thee they have well said said all that they've spoken all that they've spoken oh that there was such an heart in them oh that there was such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always that it might be commandments always that it might be well with them and with their children well with them and with their children forever god was pleased at this response of the people people this terror this terror this fear this reverence this fear this reverence they're all lessons for us brethren and they're all lessons for us brethren and sisters sisters yes we must love the lord our god yes we must love the lord our god we must also fear him he still is a consuming fire a consuming fire and you notice in those words that we and you notice in those words that we just read just read how frequently the word fire occurs and then the people the people stood afar off back to exodus 20 and verse 21 the people stood afar off and moses drew near unto the thick and moses drew near unto the thick darkness where god was darkness where god was that thick darkness that indicated the that thick darkness that indicated the closeness of god's presence that thick darkness that one day was to come down was to come down upon golgotha as the almighty drew drew very very near to his son that thick darkness where god was and then the law followed law followed and moses remains there in the mount and moses remains there in the mount receiving receiving a wondrous law we turn over quickly to chapter 23 hear words of comfort hear words of comfort verse 20 behold i send an angel before verse 20 behold i send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way and to thee to keep thee in the way and to bring thee into the place which i have bring thee into the place which i have prepared prepared beware of him and obey his voice provoke beware of him and obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your him not for he will not pardon your transgression for my name is in him so here was a wondrous and comforting promise promise the angel bearing the name of god the angel bearing the name of god was to go before them chapter 24 and he said unto moses and he said unto moses come up unto the lord thou and aaron come up unto the lord thou and aaron nadab and abihu and 70 of the elders of nadab and abihu and 70 of the elders of israel israel and worship afar off and worship afar off and moses alone shall come near the lord and moses alone shall come near the lord but they shall not come nigh neither but they shall not come nigh neither shall the people go up with him so with shall the people go up with him so with this concluding commandment this concluding commandment verse 3 moses returns now from his verse 3 moses returns now from his fourth visit into the heights of horeb and moses came and told the people all the words of the lord and all these the words of the lord and all these judgments judgments and you notice the response of the and you notice the response of the people is the same all the words which people is the same all the words which the lord has said will we do the lord has said will we do and then moses wrote all these words of and then moses wrote all these words of the lord so now he sits down the lord so now he sits down in writing all that he has learned in in writing all that he has learned in the mount the mount aided by the spirit to do this aided by the spirit to do this with unfaltering accuracy and then there is the offering there is the offering the shedding of blood the shedding of blood at the altar at the altar as this solemn moment arises as this solemn moment arises when the people having when the people having responded to the responded to the law of god law of god the matter the covenant the matter the covenant is now sealed is now sealed in blood in blood they were to observe god's law they were to observe god's law and would be and would be a holy nation a holy nation a kingdom of priests a kingdom of priests his people his people and there were the two sides of the and there were the two sides of the covenant verse 7 he took this book he took this book that he'd just written that he'd just written this book of the covenant this book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people and read in the audience of the people and they said and they said all the lord hath said will we do and be all the lord hath said will we do and be obedient obedient and moses took the blood and sprinkled and moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said it on the people and said behold the blood of the covenant which behold the blood of the covenant which the lord hath made with you concerning the lord hath made with you concerning all these words all these words there it was there it was the matter now sealed the matter now sealed the covenant made the covenant made and agreed upon and agreed upon solemnly sealed in blood then those rather strange verses difficult for us to imagine really from difficult for us to imagine really from verse 9 on verse 9 on then went up moses aaron then went up moses aaron nadab and the bahu and 70 of the elders nadab and the bahu and 70 of the elders of israel of israel and they saw the god of israel and they saw the god of israel and there was under his feet as it were and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone and as a paved work of a sapphire stone and as it were the body of heaven in his it were the body of heaven in his clearness clearness and upon the nobles of the children of and upon the nobles of the children of israel he laid not his hand israel he laid not his hand and they saw god and they saw god and he'd eat and drink you notice this is god is god capital g small o small d capital g small o small d here these here these angels were seen by the nobles of israel nobles of israel and there they at and drank and there they at and drank in their presence in their presence and there was this and there was this wondrous vision wondrous vision under his feet as it were a paved work under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone and as it were the of sapphire stone and as it were the body of heaven body of heaven in his clearness in his clearness that wondrous blue purity eternity eternity the almighty what responsibility they lay now upon the shoulders of aaron upon the shoulders of aaron nay down nay down and abihu and abihu having had this privileged experience verse 12 the lord said unto moses come up to me into the mount and be there up to me into the mount and be there and i will give thee tables of stone and i will give thee tables of stone he'd already written them he'd already written them they were all ready they were all ready always there is this timing always there is this timing the people had to be ready against the the people had to be ready against the third day third day the stones were got ready for the visit the stones were got ready for the visit of moses everything always of moses everything always ready ready on time no hitch the lord and commandments which i have written the thou mayest teach them written the thou mayest teach them and moses rose up and his minister and moses rose up and his minister joshua joshua and moses went up into the mount of god and moses went up into the mount of god and before he left the camp he said to and before he left the camp he said to the elders the elders tarry ye here for us until we come again tarry ye here for us until we come again unto you and behold aaron and her with unto you and behold aaron and her with you if any man have any matter to do let you if any man have any matter to do let him come unto them him come unto them and moses went up into the mount and the and moses went up into the mount and the cloud covered the mount cloud covered the mount and the glory of the lord abode upon man and the glory of the lord abode upon man sinai sinai and the cloud covered it six days and the cloud covered it six days and the seventh day he called unto moses and the seventh day he called unto moses out of the midst of the cloud and the out of the midst of the cloud and the sight of the glory of the lord was like sight of the glory of the lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of israel in the eyes of the children of israel and moses went into the midst of the and moses went into the midst of the cloud cloud and got him up into the mount and moses and got him up into the mount and moses was in the mount forty days was in the mount forty days and forty nights that's a long time to go without bread or water miraculously preserved by god he couldn't have done what he did even a he couldn't have done what he did even a man of his strength and prowess man of his strength and prowess unless he'd been preserved by god some six weeks almost he was there he was there and now right into the law of ritual and and now right into the law of ritual and sacrifice thrilling thoughts contained amongst here we just pick out one or two verse 8 here we just pick out one or two verse 8 of chapter 25 of chapter 25 let them make me a sanctuary that i may let them make me a sanctuary that i may dwell among them dwell among them and we learn from hebrews 8 5 that there and we learn from hebrews 8 5 that there was a pattern and a type that was showed was a pattern and a type that was showed moses in the mountain he had to make it moses in the mountain he had to make it exactly according to that type and that exactly according to that type and that pattern pattern because of the lessons it was to teach because of the lessons it was to teach and it was drilled into moses here that and it was drilled into moses here that it had to be it had to be exactly according to the pattern exactly according to the pattern moses who learnt moses who learnt that it wasn't enough to circumcise one that it wasn't enough to circumcise one of his sons it had to be all sons of his sons it had to be all sons and it did matter and it did matter that god would be sanctified in them that god would be sanctified in them that were to draw nigh him that were to draw nigh him the pattern here had to be exact the pattern here had to be exact approximations wouldn't do approximations wouldn't do the exact materials the exact dimensions according to all that i show thee after the pattern of the tabernacle and the the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof pattern of all the instruments thereof even so shall you make it and of course amongst the pattern in the tabernacle verse 21 thou shalt put the tabernacle verse 21 thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark and in the mercy seat above upon the ark and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that i ark thou shall put the testimony that i shall give thee and there i will meet shall give thee and there i will meet with thee and i will commune with thee with thee and i will commune with thee from above the mercy seat from between from above the mercy seat from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony of all things which i of the testimony of all things which i will give thee in commandment unto the will give thee in commandment unto the children of israel there was to be the children of israel there was to be the meeting place between god meeting place between god and man the mercy seat and man the mercy seat and in our last address hopefully we and in our last address hopefully we shall take up this thought as we come shall take up this thought as we come as inevitably one is led to in a study as inevitably one is led to in a study like this to the lord jesus christ like this to the lord jesus christ himself there himself there i will meet with thee i will meet with thee and then there was the and then there was the specifications specifications for the tabernacle building for the tabernacle building we turn over to chapter 29 42 speaking of the burnt offering this shall be a continual burnt offering shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the lord where i congregation before the lord where i will meet you to speak there unto thee will meet you to speak there unto thee where i will meet you plural to speak where i will meet you plural to speak there unto thee there unto thee there would be the meeting for the there would be the meeting for the people but god would still speak to people but god would still speak to moses moses and there i will meet with the children and there i will meet with the children of israel and the tabernacle shall be of israel and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory sanctified by my glory and i will sanctify the tabernacle of and i will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation the congregation verse 45 and i will dwell among the verse 45 and i will dwell among the children of israel and will be their god children of israel and will be their god and they shall know that i am the lord and they shall know that i am the lord their god that brought them forth out of their god that brought them forth out of the land of egypt the land of egypt for that expressed purpose what purpose for that expressed purpose what purpose so that i may dwell among them so that i may dwell among them this could not be done amongst the gods this could not be done amongst the gods of egypt they had to be drawn out of egypt they had to be drawn out separated separated sanctified sanctified so that i may dwell among them what thrilling words these were for moses moses the lord their god the lord their god dwelling dwelling among them chapter 32 and here we see and here we see the indispensability we sometimes say no one's indispensable but if ever a man was indispensable in but if ever a man was indispensable in those days it was moses those days it was moses in the absence of moses chapter 32 in the absence of moses chapter 32 when the people saw that moses delayed when the people saw that moses delayed to come down out of the mount to come down out of the mount as day followed day it's the delay that as day followed day it's the delay that did it did it and for many in christ alas and for many in christ alas it's the delay it's the delay that causes the drift that causes the drift how impatient we are when they saw that he delayed to come down out of the mount the people down out of the mount the people gathered themselves together to aaron gathered themselves together to aaron and said unto him up make us guards and said unto him up make us guards which will go before us they'd never which will go before us they'd never said that to moses they'd have known what the answer would have been have been but they said it to aaron as for this moses the man that brought us up out of the land of egypt we want us up out of the land of egypt we want not what has become of him and there and said unto them break off the golden earrings there they were there they were all that all that gold that had been borrowed in inverted commerce from the borrowed in inverted commerce from the egyptians on that last dreadful night egyptians on that last dreadful night before they left before they left with such a purpose in mind with such a purpose in mind that the almighty had for it who gave that the almighty had for it who gave them the command to borrow it and here now this that was to be should have been that was to be should have been sanctified for the making of the very sanctified for the making of the very tabernacle tabernacle that was being given to moses that was being given to moses in plan in the mount at that time in plan in the mount at that time here was this very gold here was this very gold now now given given freely freely for the making of a golden calf and then those awful words at the end of verse 4 verse 4 these be thy gods these be thy gods o israel o israel which brought thee up which brought thee up out of the land of egypt and when aaron saw it he built an altar before it before it and aaron made proclamation and said and aaron made proclamation and said tomorrow is a feast tomorrow is a feast to yahweh and they had their and the people sat down to eat and drink and the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play and we can only conjecture what the what the play was that went along with the play was that went along with the worship of the idols of egypt and this was in sight of the very mount still screamed with the cloud and moses wouldn't have been able to believe his ears believe his ears verse 7 verse 7 go go get thee down get thee down for thy people which thou brought it out for thy people which thou brought it out of the land of egypt have corrupted of the land of egypt have corrupted themselves themselves which people but weren't they now my people my people why then why then thy people moses verse 9 then the lord said unto moses i have seen this people and behold it is a have seen this people and behold it is a stiff neck people now therefore let me stiff neck people now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that i may consume them and them and that i may consume them and i'll make it thee a great nation i'll make it thee a great nation and there was a command step aside moses and there was a command step aside moses let me alone let me alone that i may consume them that i may consume them as though these people now as though these people now had gone had gone too far too far in their provoking of their god and moses dares dares to disobey and stands in the breach that's been made between god and his people never must we underestimate the stature of this man of this man as he stands before this consuming fire as he stands before this consuming fire and pleads and pleads for god's people and the two desperate arguments that bring are desperate arguments that bring are brought forward by brought forward by moses what will the egyptians say when moses what will the egyptians say when they hear they hear that you have not brought them into the that you have not brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey land flowing with milk and honey remember your great name remember your great name and the second point and the second point remember the covenant to abram isaac and remember the covenant to abram isaac and israel like servants israel like servants the second point not such a strong one the second point not such a strong one because if god had made of moses a great because if god had made of moses a great nation he would still have kept the nation he would still have kept the covenant with abram with isaac and with covenant with abram with isaac and with jacob but moses desperately brings brings these arguments before god these arguments before god and and there is a stay of as it were immediate there is a stay of as it were immediate execution but the mediation isn't over yet deuteronomy 9 when moses returns to the camp he said verse 16 he said verse 16 i looked and behold you had sinned i looked and behold you had sinned against the lord your god and had made against the lord your god and had made you a molten calf you had turned aside you a molten calf you had turned aside quickly out of the way which the lord quickly out of the way which the lord had commanded you and i took the tables had commanded you and i took the tables and cast them out of my two hands and and cast them out of my two hands and break them before your eyes break them before your eyes and i fell down before the lord as of and i fell down before the lord as of the first i didn't either eat bread nor drink water because of all your sins which water because of all your sins which you'd sinned in doing wickedly in the you'd sinned in doing wickedly in the sight of the lord to provoke into anger sight of the lord to provoke into anger do not let us think that there was just do not let us think that there was just two slick little arguments that moses two slick little arguments that moses brought in five minutes as he prostrated himself before the almighty for nearly six weeks almighty for nearly six weeks pleading pleading that's some prayer verse 19 for for i was i was afraid that's an understatement if ever afraid that's an understatement if ever there was one there was one i was i was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with the lord was wrath against you to with the lord was wrath against you to destroy you but the lord hearkened unto destroy you but the lord hearkened unto me at that time also me at that time also what a man and the lord was very angry with aaron to have destroyed him to have destroyed him that i prayed for aaron at the same time whatever jealousy there may have been on the part of air and for his brother the part of air and for his brother there was nothing but love shown there was nothing but love shown by moses for aaron moses descends now for the sixth time this mounts and picks up joshua on the way down and they hear the sound of the play they hear the sound of the play that is going on involved in this that is going on involved in this worship of this scarf and moses beheld the calf and the dancing calf and the dancing and here we see this character of moses and here we see this character of moses moses a man meek yes moses a man meek yes but not weak humbly was but he was a man but not weak humbly was but he was a man of great passion of great passion he could slay a man in anger he could slay a man in anger he could go out from pharaoh in a great he could go out from pharaoh in a great rage rage he was a dynamic man and here now the scene must have missed it out in red the scene must have missed it out in red and fury he hurls the stones and breaks and fury he hurls the stones and breaks them them and calls for his brother and calls for his brother verse 21 verse 21 what did this people unto thee that thou what did this people unto thee that thou has brought so great a sin upon them has brought so great a sin upon them note the form of address verse 22 note the form of address verse 22 let not the anger of my lord lord wax hot wax hot thou knows the people they said on thou knows the people they said on mischief mischief they said make us gods and i said well if you've got any gold let them break it off so they gave it me let them break it off so they gave it me and i i cashed it into the fire and and i i cashed it into the fire and this cart came out this cart came out oh oh deary me to die layers the burden of all these people of all these people on me and then the cry went forth who is on the lord's side and they came forth the tribe of levi thus saith the lord god of israel put thus saith the lord god of israel put every man his sword on his side and go every man his sword on his side and go in and out from a gate to gate in and out from a gate to gate throughout the camp and slay every man throughout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbor and every man his neighbor and the children of levi did it and they and the children of levi did it and they fell of the people that day three fell of the people that day three thousand men and because of this the house of levi was selected as the priestly tribe this was selected as the priestly tribe this was it was it that's why levi that's why levi was selected as the priestly drive was selected as the priestly drive because they did this because they did this they'd been weak yes how sad it was that they'd been weak yes how sad it was that they had to have a leader stand up and they had to have a leader stand up and say hey who is on the lord's side say hey who is on the lord's side why didn't they say that before why didn't they say that before and stop aaron in his madness and folly and stop aaron in his madness and folly and doing what he did where were they and doing what he did where were they then then they needed a leader they needed a leader and there's such a lesson for us and there's such a lesson for us brethren and sisters brethren and sisters we must always be prepared we must always be prepared to be stand up and to be stand up and to stand up and be counted to stand up and be counted shouldn't need a leader in our midst shouldn't need a leader in our midst that we are servants of god and brethren that we are servants of god and brethren in christ in christ and right is right and wrong is wrong we shouldn't need someone to say the first words for us first words for us which men did they slay which men did they slay which women did they slay there were some who lost who lost their golden earrings probably those were the ones that they went for that was the sign and then moses and then moses says says you've sinned a great sin you've sinned a great sin and now i will go up unto the lord and now i will go up unto the lord for adventure i shall make for adventure i shall make an atonement an atonement for your sin and moses returned to the lord and said all these people have sinned a great sin all these people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold and have made them gods of gold yet now yet now if thou forgive their sin and if not blot me i pray thee out of thy book which thou hast written here was self self less less utterly selfless what a wondrous type of christ there was there was in this great mediator moses in this great mediator moses if thou wilt forgive their sin we will leave our study until tomorrow

Transcript

a big question mark seemed to hang over that as moses prostrated himself before the lord all these people have sinned the great sin sin and have made them gods of gold and have made them gods of gold yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin and if not blot me i pray the out of thy and if not blot me i pray the out of thy book which thou hast written book which thou hast written and so yesterday we left moses there and so yesterday we left moses there in that selfless pleading mediation in that selfless pleading mediation for that wayward people of israel and as we think on them let us remember the one let us remember the one that pleads in heaven now we're made of the same stuff that they were do we always appreciate what's being done for us in heaven done for us in heaven israel didn't appreciate all that was israel didn't appreciate all that was being done for them being done for them by their leader moses now by their leader moses now in this his in this his seventh journey seventh journey as he approaches his seventh journey as he approaches his seventh journey into the mount the reply of the lord is is i suppose we would say today i suppose we would say today cool chilling it's there for us in exodus chapter 32 it's there for us in exodus chapter 32 and verse 33 whosoever hath sinned against me him will i blot out of my book him will i blot out of my book therefore now go therefore now go lead the people to the place of which i lead the people to the place of which i have spoken unto thee and it's then that have spoken unto thee and it's then that the chill comes for moses because in his fourth ascent of the mount had in his fourth ascent of the mount had been that wondrous promise then in the subsequent journey there was the the far greater promise i will dwell in the midst of thee dwell in the midst of thee not only was the angel going to go not only was the angel going to go before before but god brings moses to higher things but god brings moses to higher things i i will dwell among you will dwell among you god was going to be in their midst god was going to be in their midst thrilling things had been planned for thrilling things had been planned for israel israel and now the chill of this next phrase and now the chill of this next phrase behold and its sinister tones were not lost on moses moses we've gone back juan peg we've gone back juan peg in the wondrous in the wondrous opportunities opportunities that god was offering to israel that god was offering to israel verse two of the next chapter verse two of the next chapter i will send an angel before thee i will send an angel before thee verse three unto a land flowing with verse three unto a land flowing with milk and honey milk and honey for i will not go up in the midst of for i will not go up in the midst of thee without a stiff neck people what had israel done and so moses descends from the mount the seventh time and he comes to the people and shows them in symbol what they've and shows them in symbol what they've done verse 7 moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camper far off pitched it without the camper far off from the camp from the camp and called it the tabernacle of the and called it the tabernacle of the congregation you stupid people look what you've done look what you've done look what you've thrown away and he takes this tent of meeting that that preceded the main tabernacle that that preceded the main tabernacle that was to be built that was to be built and pitches it outside the camp to show them the horror the horror of what god now threatens to withdraw of what god now threatens to withdraw that is the promise that his presence that is the promise that his presence would go with them and he would dwell would go with them and he would dwell among them among them and so this tabernacle is pitched and so this tabernacle is pitched outside the camp and there at the door of that tabernacle verse 11 at the door of that tabernacle verse 11 the lord spake unto moses the lord spake unto moses face to face face to face as a man speaketh as a man speaketh to his friend all the elevated status of moses as he rises as he rises to the ranks to the ranks of abraham the friend of god these great of abraham the friend of god these great giants of all giants of all the lord spoke to moses face to face the lord spoke to moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend but moses now is in the depths is in the depths our brother paul mentioned in his our brother paul mentioned in his opening prayer opening prayer to which we all said amen to which we all said amen [Music] [Music] that there are those who that there are those who go through the trough of depression go through the trough of depression right now right now sometimes depressions sometimes depressions made the worse because made the worse because they're not known to others they're not known to others but known to the lord and moses was in a but known to the lord and moses was in a trough here now trough here now have deep depression have deep depression see thou sayest to me bring up this see thou sayest to me bring up this people people and thou hast not let me know whom thou and thou hast not let me know whom thou would send with me would send with me thou has said thou has said i know thee by name i know thee by name god knew moses name of course he knew god knew moses name of course he knew his name his name what an absurd statement what an absurd statement yes in the english but here yes in the english but here as moses talks with god this meant far as moses talks with god this meant far more than that to know the name in this more than that to know the name in this sense was to know the person through and sense was to know the person through and through moses said to god that he had said that he had said i know thee motors verse 13 therefore now i pray thee if i have found grace in thy sight if i have found grace in thy sight show me now thy way show me now thy way that i moses long to know god as god knew him to know absolutely the one with whom he dealt and then this pinnacle of his mediation that i may find grace in thy sight and and consider that this nation consider that this nation is thy people remember what the lord has said to moses remember what the lord has said to moses go get thee down for thy people which go get thee down for thy people which thou brought his forth out of the land thou brought his forth out of the land of egypt and now moses in his mediation of egypt and now moses in his mediation hands them hands them back to the lord back to the lord consider consider that this nation that this nation is thy people is thy people and the answer the lord in verse 14 and the answer the lord in verse 14 must have done so much to comfort moses must have done so much to comfort moses and the lord said and the lord said my presence my presence shall go with thee shall go with thee thus it was that when the great thus it was that when the great tabernacle was built it was pitched in tabernacle was built it was pitched in the midst of the camp the midst of the camp and so we see here this and so we see here this conclusion to this conclusion to this long period of mediation on the part of long period of mediation on the part of moses there had been that stay of immediate execution in the mount execution in the mount and then this pleading this imploring and then this pleading this imploring this beseeching this beseeching that eventually god relents that eventually god relents and says and says my presence my presence shall go with thee shall go with thee what a mediator what a mediator what a man this was god had said in that psalm we read it that he would destroy them had not moses that he would destroy them had not moses his chosen stood before him in the his chosen stood before him in the breach breach to turn away his wrath to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them lest he should destroy them but moses hadn't stopped at that but moses hadn't stopped at that and now the wonder of the promise was and now the wonder of the promise was there again there again god would dwell in the midst god would dwell in the midst of his people and then moses implores god verse verse 17 the lord said unto moses i will do 17 the lord said unto moses i will do this thing that thou hast spoken for thou hast found grace in my sights and i know thee by name and i know thee by name and moses said i beseech thee and moses said i beseech thee show me thy glory show me thy glory it seems here in this pleading of moses it seems here in this pleading of moses now for himself that there is a feeling now for himself that there is a feeling of great need in his trough that god would manifest himself to him absolutely absolutely that he might know god well it was not to be there and then thou canst not see my face for there thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live shall no man see me and live and yet there was provision made and yet there was provision made for this for this manifestation of the glory of god to manifestation of the glory of god to moses in the mount moses in the mount and there was proclaimed before moses and there was proclaimed before moses the name of the lord verse 5 of the next the name of the lord verse 5 of the next chapter chapter as moses makes his eighth ascent into as moses makes his eighth ascent into the mount the mount this time this aging man has to carry with him has to carry with him two tables of stone like unto the first two tables of stone like unto the first and he carries these two great tablets and he carries these two great tablets up this mount up this mount unaided unaided a man of great physique a man of great physique an exciting man an exciting man waiting for this manifestation waiting for this manifestation whatever it may be verse 5 and the lord descended in the cloud and and the lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the lord and the lord passed by name of the lord and the lord passed by before him and proclaimed the lord of before him and proclaimed the lord of the lord god merciful and gracious long the lord god merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the sin and that will by no means clear the guilty a merciful god and yet a god who would punish sin and yet a god who would punish sin would be forgiven yes would be forgiven yes but because sin was forgiven but because sin was forgiven did not mean to say that it would go did not mean to say that it would go unpunished and we do well to take note of these words in our lives words in our lives god will forgive sin yes because his mercy endures forever but that does not mean to say but that does not mean to say that sin will go that sin will go unpunished unpunished and sometimes in our lives and sometimes in our lives the rod of correction of a loving father the rod of correction of a loving father will bring his children back verse 8 moses made haste moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth and bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped this receding glory this afterglow this afterglow of the brilliance of the divine presence of the brilliance of the divine presence and he could not gaze and he could not gaze and bowser his face to the ground what a tremendous experience this was for moses for moses but there was the glory of the lord but there was the glory of the lord revealed revealed not just in the brilliant light wondrous not just in the brilliant light wondrous though that was though that was and from that light he he he hid his and from that light he he he hid his eyes eyes but it was in the name and the character but it was in the name and the character of god of god that mercy that grace that pity that that mercy that grace that pity that long-suffering nature of god long-suffering nature of god in this was his glory proclaimed to in this was his glory proclaimed to moses now and then there follows this long sergeanting of moses in the this long sergeanting of moses in the mountains he receives these great laws of ritual from god the people are forgiven verse 11 observe thou that which i commanded this observe thou that which i commanded this day behold i drive out before thee the day behold i drive out before thee the amorite the canaanite the hittite the amorite the canaanite the hittite the perizzite the highlight and the jebusite perizzite the highlight and the jebusite the plan will go on the plan will go on the people have been forgiven of this the people have been forgiven of this great sin of attaching the name of great sin of attaching the name of yahweh to a golden calf yahweh to a golden calf verse 28 and he was there with the lord verse 28 and he was there with the lord forty days and forty nights forty days and forty nights he did neither eat bread nor drink water he did neither eat bread nor drink water and he wrote upon the tables the words and he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant the ten commandments and of the covenant the ten commandments and so now god wrote again so now god wrote again these words on the stones that moses had these words on the stones that moses had hewed and taken into the mountain and when moses returns from the mount verse 29 verse 29 he was unaware that this afterglow of he was unaware that this afterglow of the glory of god was reflected in his the glory of god was reflected in his own face it must have been an astonished israel that gazed on their leader that gazed on their leader as he descended as he descended a frightened israel a frightened israel we turn for a moment to the words of the we turn for a moment to the words of the apostle paul in 2 corinthians three verse seven if the ministration of death written and engraved in stones was written and engraved in stones was glorious so that the children of israel glorious so that the children of israel could not steadfastly behold the face of could not steadfastly behold the face of moses for the glory of his countenance moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away yes that which glory was to be done away yes that glory reflected in the face of moses was glory reflected in the face of moses was to fade to fade how shall not the ministration of the how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious verse 12 seeing then that we have such hope we use great plainness of speech hope we use great plainness of speech and not as moses which put a veil over and not as moses which put a veil over his face that the children of israel his face that the children of israel could not steadfastly look to the end of could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished they were not to that which is abolished they were not to see the fading of the glory see the fading of the glory and the veil was over the face of moses and the veil was over the face of moses but their minds were blinded for until but their minds were blinded for until this day remain at the same veil and this day remain at the same veil and taken away in the reading of the old taken away in the reading of the old testament which veil is done away in testament which veil is done away in christ christ as far as the jews of paul's day were as far as the jews of paul's day were concerned that glory of the first concerned that glory of the first government was still there they were still blinded they couldn't see the glory they couldn't see the glory that christ brought in that new covenant but it must have made its mark on the people on the people of israel of israel and then the tabernacle was built and then the tabernacle was built and those who had been faithful and those who had been faithful while moses was in the mount before while moses was in the mount before and had not resorted to the worship of and had not resorted to the worship of the golden calf had not provided the the golden calf had not provided the wherewithal at least to make it these wherewithal at least to make it these now bring their golden earrings for a now bring their golden earrings for a far greater service exodus 35 far greater service exodus 35 they came both men and women as many as they came both men and women as many as were willing hearted and brought were willing hearted and brought bracelets and earrings and rings and bracelets and earrings and rings and tablets of old jewels of gold and every tablets of old jewels of gold and every man that offered offered an offering of man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the lord gold unto the lord here now was the real purpose for which here now was the real purpose for which that spoiling of the egyptians had been that spoiling of the egyptians had been made made these were the faithful who had kept these were the faithful who had kept their talents for the real work of the their talents for the real work of the lord lord and so the tabernacle is made exactly and so the tabernacle is made exactly according to the pattern that was shown according to the pattern that was shown moses in the mount and we come to the moses in the mount and we come to the 40th chapter where the tabernacle is 40th chapter where the tabernacle is reared and at verse 34 then a cloud reared and at verse 34 then a cloud cover the tent of the congregation and cover the tent of the congregation and the glory of the lord filled the the glory of the lord filled the tabernacle and moses was not able to tabernacle and moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon and the because the cloud abode thereon and the glory of the lord filled the tabernacle glory of the lord filled the tabernacle and there it was in the midst of israel and there it was in the midst of israel [Music] [Music] because of that successful mediation because of that successful mediation of moses that's superman and then there is the inaugural consecration inaugural consecration of the tabernacle leviticus chapter 9 and there is the offering brought verse 5 they brought that which moses 5 they brought that which moses commanded before the tabernacle of the commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation and all the congregation congregation and all the congregation drew near and stood before the lord drew near and stood before the lord and moses said this is the thing which and moses said this is the thing which the lord commanded that you should do the lord commanded that you should do and the glory of the lord shall appear and the glory of the lord shall appear unto you unto you and moses said to aaron go unto the and moses said to aaron go unto the altar altar and offer thy sin offering and thy burnt and offer thy sin offering and thy burnt offering and make an atonement for offering and make an atonement for thyself and for the people thyself and for the people and offer the offering of the people and and offer the offering of the people and make an atonement for them as the lord make an atonement for them as the lord commanded commanded verse 22 verse 22 and aaron lifted up his hand toward the and aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them people and blessed them and came down from offering the sin and came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and offering and the burnt offering and peace offerings and moses and aaron went peace offerings and moses and aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation into the tabernacle of the congregation and came out and blessed the people and and came out and blessed the people and the glory of the lord appeared unto all the glory of the lord appeared unto all the people and there came a fire out the people and there came a fire out from before the lord and consumed upon from before the lord and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat the altar the burnt offering and the fat which when all the people saw they which when all the people saw they shouted and fell on their faces and god shouted and fell on their faces and god has accepted their offerings has accepted their offerings this tent this tent whereby he might dwell among his people whereby he might dwell among his people what a wondrous moment this was as god what a wondrous moment this was as god showed his acceptance showed his acceptance of this dwelling of this dwelling and we can hardly believe our eyes and we can hardly believe our eyes as the next verse reads as the next verse reads and nadab and abihu and nadab and abihu those two who had been privileged with those two who had been privileged with 70 elders to see that wondrous 70 elders to see that wondrous manifestation of the angels in horeb in horeb with that wondrous with that wondrous pure blue that eternal sign those two who'd been privileged to eat those two who'd been privileged to eat and drink in the presence of those and drink in the presence of those angels who had seen this fire come forth angels who had seen this fire come forth from the lord and now from the lord and now nadev and the by you the sons of aaron nadev and the by you the sons of aaron took either of them his censer and put took either of them his censer and put fire therein and put incense thereon fire therein and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the lord and offered strange fire before the lord which he commanded them not which he commanded them not there were strict commandments there were strict commandments as to as to not only what should be offered not only what should be offered but where the fire should be taken from but where the fire should be taken from from the altar but it seems that nadev and the vahu brought strange fire brought strange fire was it from their own tents was it from their own tents we don't know we don't know but we do know the response of god but we do know the response of god as the fire went out from the lord again as the fire went out from the lord again so soon after so soon after and devoured them and they died before and devoured them and they died before the lord the lord and moses said to aaron and moses said to aaron this is it that the lord spake saying this is it that the lord spake saying and here is the lesson again and here is the lesson again which moses had learnt which moses had learnt which israel must learnt i will be sanctified in them that come nigh me nigh me and before all the people and before all the people i will be glorified this lesson had had to be learned to be learned and these things are written for our and these things are written for our admonition it may be may be that there is that there is just a clue just a clue as to the reason as to the reason for why this happened if we turn over a page um um to verse eight to verse eight immediately this has happened immediately this has happened and the bodies of a nadav and by you are and the bodies of a nadav and by you are carried forth before a horrified israel carried forth before a horrified israel immediately afterwards immediately afterwards they say the lord spake to aaron saying they say the lord spake to aaron saying don't drink wine nor strong drink don't drink wine nor strong drink thou nor thy sons with thee thou nor thy sons with thee when you go into the tabernacle of the when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation lest ye die congregation lest ye die it shall be a statute forever it shall be a statute forever now why was it brought in just there and now why was it brought in just there and then like that then like that is not the influence strong is not the influence strong that nadav and abihu that nadav and abihu had been drinking had been drinking strong drink which had dulled their strong drink which had dulled their senses senses made blurred their appreciation made blurred their appreciation of what they were doing of what they were doing whom they were serving and before whom whom they were serving and before whom they were standing and the lesson was there for aaron and his remaining sons to for aaron and his remaining sons to learn there from learn there from and it's a lesson for us today and it's a lesson for us today that nothing that nothing must blur our clear perception must blur our clear perception of just who it is that we serve that's the lesson have made everybody be a lot too and so after nearly two years the camp moves on moves on numbers chapter 10 and verse 11 began to pass on the 20th day of the second month in the second day of the second month in the second year that the cloud was taken up from year that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony and off the tabernacle of the testimony and the children of israel took their the children of israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of sinai journeys out of the wilderness of sinai and so they moved forward but it is not long before the people are murmuring again are murmuring again chapter 11 verse chapter 11 verse 4 who will give us flesh to eat we remember the fish which we did eat in remember the fish which we did eat in egypt freely the cucumbers the melons egypt freely the cucumbers the melons the leeks the onions the garlic and our the leeks the onions the garlic and our soul is dried away there's nothing at soul is dried away there's nothing at all beside this manner before our eyes all beside this manner before our eyes they were sick of it they were sick of it the provision of god for his people the provision of god for his people it is then that that cry of moses goes it is then that that cry of moses goes up in verse 11. up in verse 11. wherefore have i not found favor in thy wherefore have i not found favor in thy sight sight that thou layest the burden that thou layest the burden of all his people of all his people upon me have i conceived all these upon me have i conceived all these people have i begotten them that thou people have i begotten them that thou should say unto them carry them in thy should say unto them carry them in thy bosom as a nursing father beareth the bosom as a nursing father beareth the sucking child unto the land which thou sucking child unto the land which thou swearless unto their fathers swearless unto their fathers there it was israel a babe there it was israel a babe in the arms in the arms of that mighty man moses but to ease that burden the lord says the lord says verse 16 gather unto me seventy men of the elders of israel whom there knows to be of the of israel whom there knows to be of the elders of the people and office it over elders of the people and office it over them and bring them unto the tabernacle them and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation that they may stand of the congregation that they may stand there with thee and i'll come down and there with thee and i'll come down and talk with thee there and i will take of talk with thee there and i will take of the spirit which is upon thee and will the spirit which is upon thee and will put it upon them and they shall bear the put it upon them and they shall bear the burden of this people with thee that burden of this people with thee that thou bear it not thyself alone wise counsel from the almighty and seventy and seventy were chosen to help make a mental note were chosen to help make a mental note of that of that put it in a little parcel put it in a little parcel and keep it till tomorrow will you and keep it till tomorrow will you 70 were chosen to help with the work 70 were chosen to help with the work as they go on in their journeys then as they go on in their journeys then comes this sad family bothered of comes this sad family bothered of chapter 12 and we see all that moses had chapter 12 and we see all that moses had to contend with in his journeyings to contend with in his journeyings miriam and aaron spake against moses miriam and aaron spake against moses because of the ethiopian woman whom he because of the ethiopian woman whom he had married for he had married an had married for he had married an ethiopian woman ethiopian woman it's incident incidentally it's it's incident incidentally it's interesting if you compare numbers 25 6 interesting if you compare numbers 25 6 in your own time and habakkuk 3 verse 7 in your own time and habakkuk 3 verse 7 you may see connections between you may see connections between midian midian and ethiopia and ethiopia and it could be that because of and it could be that because of intermarriage intermarriage there was ethiopian blood there was ethiopian blood in the veins of zipporah not just a in the veins of zipporah not just a little bit of study in your own time little bit of study in your own time there isn't time now there isn't time now and they said hath the lord indeed and they said hath the lord indeed spoken only by moses spoken only by moses has he not spoken also by us has he not spoken also by us and we remember of course those words and we remember of course those words from the prophet micah from the prophet micah at which we looked a little while ago at which we looked a little while ago and uh and uh miriam and aaron were beginning to feel miriam and aaron were beginning to feel it it i brought the up out of the land of i brought the up out of the land of egypt and redeemed the out of the house egypt and redeemed the out of the house of servants and i sent before thee moses of servants and i sent before thee moses aaron and miriam aaron and miriam and now there seems to have been this and now there seems to have been this loss of face loss of face moses their brother now seems to stand moses their brother now seems to stand such a giant such a giant the incident of the golden calf had the incident of the golden calf had humbled aaron humbled aaron so much then it is that we read the man moses was very meek above all the men which was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth and were upon the face of the earth and despite that physique that prowess that despite that physique that prowess that spiritual stature he was nevertheless spiritual stature he was nevertheless still humble still humble and then there came that voice which and then there came that voice which must have sent a chill must have sent a chill through the blood of aaron and miriam through the blood of aaron and miriam verse 4 there it is verse 4 there it is come out you free come out you free takes us back to our school days isn't takes us back to our school days isn't it you know and then the math goes dry and we realize that our little secret we realize that our little secret discussions have not gone unnoticed well discussions have not gone unnoticed well there it was god dealing with his there it was god dealing with his children children come out you free here now my words if there be a prophet among you i the lord will make myself among you i the lord will make myself known unto him in a vision and will known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream my servant speak unto him in a dream my servant moses is not so moses is not so who is faithful in all mine house who is faithful in all mine house what a commendation from the almighty what a commendation from the almighty moses my servant moses my servant who is faithful in all my house a phrase which the writer to the hebrews is not which the writer to the hebrews is not slow to take up in that epistle slow to take up in that epistle with him will i speak mouth to mouth with him will i speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the lord shall he and the similitude of the lord shall he behold behold wherefore then were you not afraid to wherefore then were you not afraid to speak against my servant moses speak against my servant moses and the anger of the lord was kindled and the anger of the lord was kindled miriam is struck leprous miriam is struck leprous and we notice now that aaron once again and we notice now that aaron once again is brought low verse 11 note the phrase is brought low verse 11 note the phrase of address of address aaron said to moses alas aaron said to moses alas my my lord i beseech lord i beseech thee my lord lay not the sin upon us wherein we have lay not the sin upon us wherein we have done foolishly and wherein we have done foolishly and wherein we have sinned sinned and aaron bows before his brother and aaron bows before his brother intercession again takes place intercession again takes place and miriam is healed and miriam is healed moses that great intercessor but how sad that even that even his own family envied him his own family envied him what a curse envy is what a curse envy is and then at last they brought to the and then at last they brought to the borders of the promised land borders of the promised land there is that great moment and the spies there is that great moment and the spies go go out and come back ten of them with their out and come back ten of them with their evil report and only two faithful evil report and only two faithful and the response of the people must have and the response of the people must have been distressing beyond measure to moses been distressing beyond measure to moses chapter fourteen verse one the people chapter fourteen verse one the people lifted up their voice and cried and the lifted up their voice and cried and the people wept that night people wept that night and the whole congregation said would and the whole congregation said would god that we died in the land of egypt or god that we died in the land of egypt or would god we died in the wilderness how foolishly they spoke and god took them up on their very words them up on their very words lord god we died in this wilderness and then verse four let us make a captain and let us return to egypt captain and let us return to egypt they had their elections we read in the they had their elections we read in the book of nehemiah book of nehemiah and they elected a captain we don't know and they elected a captain we don't know what his name was what his name was it's in chapter 9 verse 17 of nehemiah it's in chapter 9 verse 17 of nehemiah that they elected one that they elected one i wonder who it i wonder who it was to go back to egypt was to go back to egypt and moses and aaron fell on their faces and moses and aaron fell on their faces before the assembly of the congregation before the assembly of the congregation of the children of israel and then it is of the children of israel and then it is that joshua rushes forward and pleads but the stones are taken by israel to stone moses and aaron to stone moses and aaron that their new leader might take them that their new leader might take them back to egypt back to egypt and just in time verse 10 all the and just in time verse 10 all the congregation birds stone them with congregation birds stone them with stones and then the glory of the lord stones and then the glory of the lord appeared in the tabernacle of the appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation and they dropped their congregation and they dropped their stones oh why had there always to be stones oh why had there always to be this visible manifestation of the this visible manifestation of the brilliance of god's glory before israel brilliance of god's glory before israel would heed how long will this people provoke me how long will this people provoke me how long will it be they believe me for all the will it be they believe me for all the signs which i have shown among them signs which i have shown among them i'll smite them with the pestilence and i'll smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them and i'll make of thee a disinherit them and i'll make of thee a greater greater great nation and mightier than they said great nation and mightier than they said god to moses and yet again he's to hear god to moses and yet again he's to hear these words could he do it again could he intercede could he intercede yet again yet again with this threat of god hanging over his with this threat of god hanging over his people and moses brings forward his same argument argument the egyptians will hear but this time he brings in a fresh argument verse 17 i beseech thee let the power of my lord be great according as thou hast my lord be great according as thou hast spoken saying spoken saying yahweh yahweh his long-suffering his long-suffering and of great mercy and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression forgiving iniquity and transgression and moses recites the very name that had and moses recites the very name that had been proclaimed before him in the mount been proclaimed before him in the mount and brings it back to god pleading that and brings it back to god pleading that name verse 20 i have pardoned i have pardoned according to thy word but as truly as i live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the shall be filled with the glory of the lord i will be that i will be despite lord i will be that i will be despite israel and so they shall not see verse 23 the land they shall not see verse 23 the land which i swear unto their fathers which i swear unto their fathers neither shall any of them that provoked neither shall any of them that provoked me see it me see it save my servant caleb save my servant caleb and of course joshua too the two and of course joshua too the two faithful spies just look at that word that phrase in the middle of verse 25 would you the middle of verse 25 would you tomorrow turn you and get you into the wilderness tomorrow tomorrow keep your finger in there and just flick keep your finger in there and just flick to hebrews chapter 3 wherefore as the holy spirit says today as the holy spirit says today if you'll hear his voice harden not your if you'll hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the propagation in the day hearts as in the propagation in the day of temptation in the wilderness of temptation in the wilderness when your father's tempted me prove me when your father's tempted me prove me and saw my works forty years and saw my works forty years verse eleven so i swear in my wrath that verse eleven so i swear in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest they shall not enter into my rest well this swearing in his wrath has well this swearing in his wrath has taken place here taken place here and whereas there was a provoking at and whereas there was a provoking at meribah yes meribah yes here was the provoking for which there here was the provoking for which there was no going back was no going back after the golden calf incident yes they after the golden calf incident yes they were still going on to the land but now were still going on to the land but now no more no more they shall not see they shall not see and this phrase today keeps going and this phrase today keeps going through this epistle of hebrews verse 13 through this epistle of hebrews verse 13 exhort one another daily while it is exhort one another daily while it is called today called today lest any of you be hardened to the lest any of you be hardened to the deceitfulness of sin deceitfulness of sin next chapter verse 7 next chapter verse 7 he limiteth a certain day saying david he limiteth a certain day saying david today after so long a time as it is said today after so long a time as it is said today if you'll hear his voice harden today if you'll hear his voice harden not your hearts not your hearts today today today today the day of opportunity the day of opportunity and israel had thrown away there today so that for them there was a dreadful there was a dreadful tomorrow tomorrow turn you turn you and get you into the wilderness and get you into the wilderness there there today today had ended had ended for them now there was only for them now there was only that awful that awful tomorrow tomorrow 38 years of it today is our day is our day of opportunity brethren envy now spreads to others in israel chapter 16 chapter 16 cora dayton and the byron cora dayton and the byron they gathered themselves together they gathered themselves together against moses and against aaron and said against moses and against aaron and said you take too much upon you seeing all you take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of the congregation are holy every one of them and the lord is among them them and the lord is among them wherefore they lift you up yourselves wherefore they lift you up yourselves among the congregation of the lord and among the congregation of the lord and moses heard it and fell on his face all moses heard it and fell on his face all the different attitudes that are there the different attitudes that are there who do you think you are up starts who do you think you are up starts and moses and moses with that commendation of god with that commendation of god is the one on his face is the one on his face meek above meek above all men all men but not weak or demonstration of humility of humility and the insult to the almighty and the insult to the almighty verse 13 verse 13 is it a small thing that thou hast is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of the land that brought us up out of the land that flowers with milk and honey to kill us flowers with milk and honey to kill us and now they give that phrase that god and now they give that phrase that god had chosen for his holy land had chosen for his holy land to the land of egypt and sin and to the land of egypt and sin and darkness darkness the insult to the almighty the insult to the almighty was there no end to it and as god threatens again verse 22 they fell upon their faces and said oh god fell upon their faces and said oh god the god of the spirit of all flesh are the god of the spirit of all flesh are one man's sin and will thou be wrath one man's sin and will thou be wrath with all the congregation this departure from the tense of these wicked men verse 26 depart i of these wicked men verse 26 depart i pray you from the tents of these wicked pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest you men and touch nothing of theirs lest you be consumed in all their sins be consumed in all their sins and the dust of the earth parted and the dust of the earth parted the dust of the earth claimed them the dust of the earth claimed them and there and there is their eternal habitation is their eternal habitation thus israel was rid thus israel was rid of this element of rebellion of this element of rebellion who for envy who for envy spoke against moses spoke against moses we come now to the 20th chapter one of the saddest chapters in the pentateuch once again the lord tests and tries israel israel for a short time the water supply is for a short time the water supply is withheld to test them will they now show withheld to test them will they now show faith in god but there is the murmuring verse for why have you brought up the congregation of have you brought up the congregation of the lord into this wilderness that we in the lord into this wilderness that we in our cattle should die there the same our cattle should die there the same murmuring they're right back where they murmuring they're right back where they started and so they fall on their faces again verse six you see how much time moses verse six you see how much time moses spent on his face spent on his face he spent a lot of time on his face did he spent a lot of time on his face did motors that supreme character meek above all men meek above all men prostrate before the lord prostrate before the lord there's a lesson for us there perhaps we don't spend enough of our lives lives with our face bowed to the ground but with our face bowed to the ground but rather rather it is lifted up to see the science the it is lifted up to see the science the dazzle his face is towards the ground again and then goes the command take the rod and then goes the command take the rod gather thou the assembly together down gather thou the assembly together down there and thy brother and speak you to there and thy brother and speak you to the rock before their eyes and it shall the rock before their eyes and it shall bring forth water and thou shall bring bring forth water and thou shall bring forth to them water out of the rock so forth to them water out of the rock so thou shall give the congregation and thou shall give the congregation and their beast drink their beast drink and moses took the rod from before the and moses took the rod from before the lord and moses and aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock congregation together before the rock and said to them here now you rebels and said to them here now you rebels must we fetch you water out of this rock must we fetch you water out of this rock and moses lifted up his hand and with and moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice and the his rod he smote the rock twice and the water came out abundantly and the water came out abundantly and the congregation drank and their beasts also congregation drank and their beasts also the lord spake unto moses near and the lord spake unto moses near and saying saying because he believed me not to sanctify because he believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of israel me in the eyes of the children of israel therefore ye shall not bring this therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which i have congregation into the land which i have given them given them and moses was thunderstruck did the sentence really really fit the crime his life's ambition swept away swept away at a stroke some have said ah because of this elevated position of ah because of this elevated position of moses it had had at length gone to his moses it had had at length gone to his head and when he said here now your head and when he said here now your rebels must we fetch you water out of rebels must we fetch you water out of this rock he was taking to himself the this rock he was taking to himself the credit credit well that's just a non-starter well that's just a non-starter never never never never would a man of the spiritual stature of would a man of the spiritual stature of moses moses think that he was providing the water think that he was providing the water from the rock and not god from the rock and not god forget it forget it just not on just not on in any case he was only quoting the in any case he was only quoting the words of god just look back at verse words of god just look back at verse eight eight it shall give forth his water and thou it shall give forth his water and thou moses shall bring forth to them watch moses shall bring forth to them watch out of the rock so thou shalt give the out of the rock so thou shalt give the congregation their beast drink congregation their beast drink so he was only repeating the words of so he was only repeating the words of god there was nothing wrong with the god there was nothing wrong with the actual words that he used actual words that he used but moses who had received that terrific but moses who had received that terrific lesson i will be sanctified in them the drawn i mean mean here was israel same position thirsting here was israel same position thirsting again take the rod go to the wrath over again take the rod go to the wrath over and over again they're no further and over again they're no further forward forward no progress has been made in their no progress has been made in their spiritual development spiritual development and moses takes his rod and in his anger and moses takes his rod and in his anger and impatience he says and impatience he says must we fetch you water out of this rock must we fetch you water out of this rock and strikes the rock unadvisedly with his lips and god in effect says moses i did not ask for it to be done like i did not ask for it to be done like that and we know that that rock was christ who should be stricken but once who should be stricken but once that life might be provided that life might be provided and this is the only example in the and this is the only example in the whole of scripture of a type of god whole of scripture of a type of god that went wrong there is no other example in the holy scripture scripture god who delights in precision god who delights in precision and accuracy and accuracy and that figure was spoiled for all time because moses became impatient became impatient and didn't follow through the command of and didn't follow through the command of god and he had not obeyed god and because he had not obeyed he hadn't sanctified god had not obeyed he hadn't sanctified god it's quite clear it's quite clear verse 24 verse 24 aaron shall be gathered to his people aaron shall be gathered to his people for he shall not enter into the land for he shall not enter into the land which i have given unto the children of which i have given unto the children of israel because you rebelled against the israel because you rebelled against the word word at the water of at the water of marybar he had not obeyed marybar he had not obeyed all the sadness of it all the sadness of it and so aaron dies and so aaron dies chapter 21 verse 4 and the people become chapter 21 verse 4 and the people become discouraged discouraged by reason of the way by reason of the way there is more murmuring there is more murmuring fiery serpents are sent fiery serpents are sent moses pleads again wilderness journey continues with this same pattern same pattern israel's sinning israel's sinning moses pleading moses pleading until until they come to the borders of the promised they come to the borders of the promised land land deuteronomy chapter one wrote it now rehearses all that has happened to them verse 37 the lord was angry with me for your sakes it was because of their sin your sakes it was because of their sin that moses did what he did that moses did what he did and was denied the privilege of taking and was denied the privilege of taking this people into the promised land for this people into the promised land for your sakes and that expression comes your sakes and that expression comes again and again again and again but joshua the son of none which but joshua the son of none which standeth before thee said god he shall standeth before thee said god he shall go in this encourage him for he shall go in this encourage him for he shall cause israel to inherit it cause israel to inherit it and here is the and here is the sign of the selfless character of moses sign of the selfless character of moses not only was he not only was he not to be given his lifetime's ambition not to be given his lifetime's ambition but it was actually to encourage the man but it was actually to encourage the man that should do it for him chapter 3 verse 25 25 i pray thee i pray thee let me go over and see the good land let me go over and see the good land that is beyond jordan that goodly that is beyond jordan that goodly mountain and lebanon mountain and lebanon that the lord was wrath with me for your that the lord was wrath with me for your sakes and would not hear me and the lord sakes and would not hear me and the lord said unto me let it suffice thee speak said unto me let it suffice thee speak no more unto me no more unto me of this matter and then moses was given that wondrous that wondrous opportunity opportunity towards the end of his days towards the end of his days of blessing israel of blessing israel in the 31st chapter he exhorts them in the 31st chapter he exhorts them to be strong and of a good courage verse 6 be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the fear not nor be afraid of them for the lord thy god he it is that that go with lord thy god he it is that that go with thee he'll not fail thee nor forsake thee he'll not fail thee nor forsake thee thee the sermon and moses called to joshua the sermon and moses called to joshua and said to him in the sight of israel and said to him in the sight of israel be strong and of a good courage for thou be strong and of a good courage for thou must go with his people into the land must go with his people into the land which the lord hath sworn to their which the lord hath sworn to their fathers to give them and thou shall fathers to give them and thou shall cause them to inherit it and the lord he cause them to inherit it and the lord he it is that that go before thee he'll be it is that that go before thee he'll be with thee he'll not fail thee neither with thee he'll not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be forsake thee fear not neither be dismayed dismayed selfless encouragement selfless encouragement how much those words must have cost how much those words must have cost moses moses and moses wrote this law and moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests the sons and delivered it to the priests the sons of levi sad words in verse 29 i know that after my death you will i know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside from the way which i've commanded aside from the way which i've commanded you you and evil will befall you in the latter and evil will befall you in the latter days days all the sadness all the sadness and the disappointment of moses as thus and the disappointment of moses as thus he had to prophesy he had to prophesy then chapter 33 then chapter 33 this is the blessing where with moses this is the blessing where with moses the man of god bless the children of the man of god bless the children of israel before his death israel before his death and so as a father he turns and blesses and so as a father he turns and blesses that great congregation verse 26 of chapter 33. there is none like unto the god of jeshurun who like unto the god of jeshurun who writeth upon the heaven in thy help and writeth upon the heaven in thy help and in his excellency on the sky in his excellency on the sky the eternal god is thy refuge and the eternal god is thy refuge and underneath underneath are the everlasting arms are the everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and say destroy them before thee and say destroy them israel then shall dwell in safety alone israel then shall dwell in safety alone the fountain of jacob shall be upon a the fountain of jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine land of corn and wine also his heavens shall drop down due also his heavens shall drop down due happy art thou o israel happy art thou o israel who is like unto thee o people saved by who is like unto thee o people saved by the lord the shield of thy help and who the lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency and thy is the sword of thy excellency and thy enemies shall be found liars unto thee enemies shall be found liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high and thou shalt tread upon their high places and thus moses work moses work came almost to its conclusion came almost to its conclusion and the final command of god to moses and the final command of god to moses to go up to go up to the mount verse 4 of chapter 34 of chapter 34 there in the height of that mountain there in the height of that mountain as he looked over as he looked over all the land all the land a wondrous land a wondrous land the lord showed him all the land of the lord showed him all the land of gilead unto dan and all naftali and the gilead unto dan and all naftali and the land of ephraim and manasseh and all the land of ephraim and manasseh and all the land of judah unto the utmost sea and land of judah unto the utmost sea and the south and the plain of the valley of the south and the plain of the valley of jericho the city of palm trees and azar jericho the city of palm trees and azar and the lord said unto him and then at the age of 120 he died he died his eye was not dimmed or his natural his eye was not dimmed or his natural force abated force abated that physique that physique that prowess that alertness that that prowess that alertness that keenness of eye keenness of eye was there until he dropped dead was there until he dropped dead and the lord buried him and the lord buried him we know not where we know not where and there arose not a prophet since in and there arose not a prophet since in israel israel like unto moses like unto moses whom the lord whom the lord knew face to face knew face to face what a fitting testimony what a fitting testimony to that man to that man who said who said i beseech thee i beseech thee show me thy glory show me thy glory he showed him the land and as we shall see in our last study tomorrow tomorrow in a wondrous sense in a wondrous sense he was yet to behold he was yet to behold the the glory glory but for a while but for a while the sleep of death the sleep of death and then his prayer was answered and then his prayer was answered and tomorrow god willing and tomorrow god willing we look the answer to his prayer