Afterglow: The Song of Moses and Israel (Exodus 15:1-21)

(This is supplement 9 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

SERIES IN REVIEW

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways (Exodus 5:1-23) Sometimes obeying God results in things getting tougher.

God in the Here and Now! (Exodus 6:1-13) See big problems as an opportunity for God to act in a big way.

God of Israel VS "Gods" of Egypt (Exodus 7:1-13) How do you know if your greatest service for Jesus still lies ahead?

The 10 Plagues - Part 1 (Exodus 7:14-25; 8:1-32; 9:1-7) When things go wrong and we know that there's a direct relationship to what's happening and the fact that we're not living for God, we need to do more than just say we're going to change. We need to change.

The 10 Plagues - Part 2 (Exodus 9:8-35; 10:1-29) It is of vital importance that the great stories of what the Lord has done be passed down to the next generation that they might come to know God, also.

The 10 Plagues - Part 3 (Exodus 11:1-10; 12:1-29) There's a fresh beginning when you come to Jesus. The calendar begins anew!

7 glimpses of Christ in the Passover:

1. A lamb unblemished / sinless (Exodus 12:5)
2. Life scrutinized over time and proven blameless (Exodus 12:6)
3. Killed in a public execution (Exodus 12:6)
4. Substitutionary sacrifice (Exodus 12:6)
5. No bones broken prophecy (Exodus 12:46c)
6. Blood saves from God's wrath (Exodus 12:12-13)
7. Belief in Him delivers from death (Exodus 12:13)

The Exodus Begins (Exodus 12:29-41; 13:17-22) "The best way in God's will is not always a straight line." (My professor in college)

Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31) Sometimes God puts us in a fix because He's got a higher purpose.

ON THE SHORES OF THE RED SEA

Here we have Israel on the shores of the Red Sea after crossing over. (Exodus 15:1-21) They've watched the seas cave in on and drown Pharoah's entire army. They see the dead carcasses washed up on the seashore before their very eyes. And these are on a high! Wouldn't you have been? A person - a group of people - can't get any higher than this!

A song can't help but be written about what's taken place to give outlet to the inner joy that's felt. (Exodus 15:1) It's a song of praise.

And praise is to play a central part in the believer's life. After all that God's done for us to redeem us (because that's what we've really got going on here in the Escape from Egypt series - it's a story of redemption and a picture of ours) - After all that God's done for us, should there not be a wellspring of praise in our soul that rises up that cannot be quenched?

THE SONG OPENS

"Lord" (Strong's #3068) used four times in the opening verses (five times if you include the first "Lord" in v. 1a; 13 times total throughout passage). (Exodus 15:1-3)

Throughout the Escape from Egypt episode, God has been saying, "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord" (Exodus 14:18a) or something similar. Part of this whole process has been that people would come to a knowledge of God that they didn't have prior to this experience. God's enemies come to this knowledge (Egypt in particular). The nations who hear of what's taken place come to this knowledge. (Exodus 15:14-15) And now we see that Israel comes to this knowledge. They come to know God as He should be known and as they've never known Him before and as God desires that Israel know Him.

Part of the damage of the fall is that man lost his knowledge of God and his ability to know God as He really is. And Christianity is really all about the knowledge of God being restored to men and women. (John 17:3)

God's rightful position is above all else. (Exodus 15:1b) Does He occupy this place in your life?

HOW GOD DESTROYS ISRAEL'S ENEMIES

The chief circumstances of Egypt's overthrow are detailed. (Exodus 15:4-10) It's a good thing to reflect upon the circumstances of how we came to Christ and how God worked to overthrow the evil one who had us in his grip. And when was the last time you told somebody about it? It's the best way of sharing one's faith. ((Revelation 12:11ab)

And each of us has a story like Israel's that's just as exciting and miraculous because it is tied to Jesus and the cross and His resurrection on the third day and now all these years later Christ's work has found it's place in us. And we're saved today. And our eyes are open to the truth. And we care about the things of God. And it's all because of what the Lord's done for us. It's our testimony. It's an exciting and miraculous story each of us has. Don't let the devil discount your story so that you don't use it.

GOD CELEBRATED

Here we find descriptions of God's character, person and ability. (Exodus 15:11-13) The Escape from Egypt story was partially about the God of Israel versus the "gods" of Egypt. And Egypt had all of these so-called "gods" that they worshiped. And even Pharoah said at the beginning sarcastically, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice.... I do not know the Lord." (Exodus 5:2bd) But now all the gods of Egypt have been proven as falsities and the bowing down to them foolishness. And the God of the Hebrews has been revealed in all His glory. "Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord." There is none like You!!!

THE EFFECT OF THE VICTORY ON THE NATIONS

Let me just put it to you this way: Our enemies think twice before they mess with us (believers). (Exodus 15:14-19) They have to go through God first to get at us!

God does loosen our enemies' leash at times. They have to get an okay from God before they can do anything. (Job is the example!) You're more than just you. Sometimes we can fall into the trap that it's just us. But it isn't just us, my friends. If you're in Jesus, you're more than just you.

There's a rising up of the promise of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in their descendants here whereas while they were in slavery Israel thought, "It's never gonna happen that we'll be brought to the land promised our forefathers." But now after what they've seen of God and what He can do, the promise is resurrected in their hearts. (Exodus 15:16-17)

Do you need a promise resurrected in your heart? Allow God to resurrect a promise that's died. If the Escape from Egypt series has anything to minster to you, it has this. Do you see what God can do even when all seems lost?

THE WOMEN JOIN IN

Women in ministry long ago! (Exodus 15:20-21)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. God's rightful position is above all else. (Exodus 15:1b) Does He occupy this place in your life?

2. Each of us has a story to tell of how God overthrew the devil in our lives and saved us. (Exodus 15:4-10) What's yours?

3. Do you need a promise resurrected in your heart? Allow God to resurrect a promise that's died.

4. Israel stands on the shores of the Red Sea having just witnessed Pharoah's entire army drown. A song can't help but be on their lips! (Exodus 15:1) Write your own song of praise to God for what He's done for you (in redemption).

Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31)

(This is supplement 8 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

DOES THE RED SEA REALLY PART?

"'But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.'" (Mark 12:26-27)

The authenticity of the book of Exodus is proven via our Lord's quoting it and the authenticity of the Red Sea account as having taken place as written is as well. Christ has given His personal stamp of approval to the story.

GOD DIRECTS HIS PEOPLE INTO A CORNER

God directs His people into a corner. (Exodus 14:1-4) Sometimes God puts us in a fix because He's got a higher purpose behind the scenes and we need to be in a fix so He can accomplish what He wants to accomplish and He couldn't accomplish it unless we were in a fix.

(To read my blog post: About "Fixes" (Are You in a Fix?), click here.)

PHAROAH CHOOSES TO PURSUE ISRAEL

"The Lord continued to strengthen Pharoah's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel." (Exodus 14:8a; NLT)

God's sovereignty in bringing about His purposes and plans and man's own choice is seen here. (Exodus 14:5-8) Pharoah decides to proceed in a certain direction and it happens to be how God's decided things would flow. I don't know where the sovereignty of God leaves off and man's free will comes into play, and vice versa. It's one of the great mysteries of the cosmos that we live in. But somehow we still have the freedom to make choices and the Lord's plan moves forward also and at the same time in the midst of those choices. Free will and God's sovereignty work together like a hand in a glove. It's a mystery. And we see it happening here.

"Six hundred Egyptian war chariots [are] bearing down on the helpless Israelites, who [are] trapped between the mountains and the sea. The war chariots each [carry] two people - one to drive and one to fight. These chariots [are] made of a wood or leather cab place over two wheels and they [are] pulled by horses. These [are] the armored tanks of Bible times. But even their power [is] no match for God, who [destroys] both the chariots and their soldiers." (NLT 116)

PHAROAH OVERTAKES ISRAEL AND ISRAEL'S RESPONSE

In Exodus 14:9-12 Israel refers back to that moment right after Moses first approached Pharoah and before the plagues and they were so despondent that they wouldn't listen to Moses who had just received a new message from the Lord. (Exodus 6:9) God overlooks the bad side of Israel's reaction this time. (They pray, first!) It will, however, prove to be their pattern. They will end up wandering and then dying in the wilderness because of it ~ because of unbelief. (Note the contrast between unbelief in Exodus 14:10-12 and the faith in Exodus 14:31.)

MOSES COMFORTS THE PEOPLE

Moses is the perfect example of the attitude we should have when we're trapped. (Exodus 14:13-14) "The people [are] hostile and despairing, but Moses [encourages] them to watch the wonderful way God [will] rescue them." (NLT 116)

GOD INSTRUCTS MOSES ON WHAT TO DO

Man cooperates with God in bringing about God's purposes. (Exodus 14:15-18) Moses must do something (Exodus 14:16) while God will do something else. (Exodus 14:17)

There's a time to get down on your knees and then there's a time to get up and do something. (Exodus 14:15) Some Christians never get to doing what they're supposed to do because they're always "praying about it." Jesus prayed, but then He carried the cross.

THE ANGEL OF GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL

God demonstrates His power to keep His people from the enemy. (Exodus 14:19-20) In Christ we are out of the reach of the evil one. The devil can't get His hands on you!

THE RED SEA IS PARTED AND ISRAEL MOVES THROUGH

God's first approach is to bring us through our problems rather than removing us from them. (Exodus 14:21-22) It is His means to cause us to learn more about who He is and grow in our confidence and trust in Him. He wants us to be full of faith! The best way to develop faith is to put us in a position where faith is required which is the place of problems.

"There [is] no apparent way of escape, but the Lord [opens] up a dry path through the sea. Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a problem and see no way out. Don't panic: God can open up a way." (NLT 116-117)

Chorus: God will make a way where there seems to be no way. (Who is this a word for? Who needs to hear it?)

THE EGYPTIANS FOLLOW AFTER ISRAEL

This is amazing. This is stupidity. (Exodus 14:23-25) What fool will follow Israel into a sea that's been miraculously opened up and think that it'll somehow stay open for him, too?

Here's the foolishness of religion that thinks God will help a person though you've never given Him the time of day (though God does do just that a lot of times, despite these).

THE EGYPTIANS ARE DROWNED IN THE SEA

Pharoah is not killed? (Exodus 14:26-31) Only those who go into the sea are.

"Chapter 14 concludes by observing that 'the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses (v. 31)." (Hamilton 181)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Think back to the fixes you've found yourself in. (Exodus 14:1-4) What was God's part in it?

2. Have you ever had your back up against a wall? (Exodus 14:9-12) How did you respond?

3. What do you think about the following statement?: Some Christians never get to doing what they're supposed to do because they're always "praying about it." (Exodus 14:15-16)

4. Does the Red Sea rally part with walls of water on both sides? (Exodus 14:21-22) How would you answer a skeptic?

The Exodus Begins (Exodus 12:29-41; 13:17-22)

(This is supplement 7 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

PLAGUE #10: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN

The 10th plague is a direct visitation of the Lord Himself versus the other 9 plagues (water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness) which are intensifications of natural events Egypt was familar with. The emphasis of God taking action in this plague is seen in Exodus 12:12-13, 23, 27, 29. The "destroyer" (an angel it is believed) is the Lord's means.

"Every firstborn child of the Egyptians [dies], but the Israelite children [are] spared because the blood of the lamb [has] been smeared on their doorframes." (NLT 112)

God's reach is seen here (Exodus 12:29) - from Pharoah's own house (the upper echelons of Egyptian government) to the lowest jail cells - in a bad outcome. As it has to do with us: God is able to reach us no matter where we're at and would rather bring about good outcomes in our lives is His first desire. (Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 29:11)

Pharaoh finally gives in, does it God's way and lets Israel go. (Exodus 12:31-32) Why doesn't he (Pharoah) just capitulate earlier? Men and women would save themselves a whole lotta grief and headaches in life if they'd just turn to the Lord rather than wait until things go sour. What is it about us (humankind)?

ISRAEL'S DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT BEGINS

The Israelites have already been attired for this moment. (Exodus 12:33) They've prepared their unleavened cakes so they're ready to depart at a moment's notice. (Exodus 12:34, 39) They've asked for articles of silver and gold and clothing. (Exodus 12:35) And the Egyptians have provided them with these things. (Exodus 12:36)

The Tabernacle in the wilderness will be constructed using these very articles of silver and gold received from Egypt at the departure of the Israelites from there that takes place here. And way back at the burning bush and Moses' encounter there (some 9 months earlier), God spoke of how this plundering of the Egyptians would take place. (Exodus 3:21-22)

The point here is God knows the end of our lives from the beginning and is gonna get us from Point A to Point B (and all the way to Point Z!).

And even the best of Christians can wonder if they're gonna make it and go the distance depending on the challenges that arise. And even Moses in our story did. (Exodus 5:22-23)

And to have the Israelites go from their bondage to slavery for over four centuries (Exodus 12:41) to the point where the slave masters who have treated them so cruelly are going to hand them from out of their own pockets riches let alone release them, I mean, you can't just bring that kind of thing about on your own. You need some outside assistance.

And we have outside assistance in this walk of faith of ours. Don't you ever forget it. "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6; NIV)

The Israelites' departure takes place in the dead of night. (Exodus 12:37) The size of the group departing is believed to be upwards of 2 million people. They are mixed in other nationalities including Egyptians who decide to join up after the miracles they've seen in Egypt. Some of these have been married to Hebrews.

GOD HIMSELF GUIDES THE ISRAELITES

"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, 'The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:17)

The first move on the journey is a detour. God leads the Israelites via a longer route so as to avoid the Philistines.

Two truths:

(1) "The best way in God's will is not always a straight line." (My professor in college);

(2) God knows what our breaking point is and won't push us past it.

You might think you're so tough (spiritually speaking), but there is stuff out there that you can't handle. (Mark 14:66-72)

And sometimes God leads us this way when we thought we should go that way. After all it's shorter (our story today). But He knows best and sees the affects that certain situations will have on us to the point where we might even abandon the faith. God does not put us in the pressure cooker beyond what we can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13) There is encouragement in this. Whatever you're going through, God seems to think you're up to the challenge. You might not think you are, but He obviously does or He wouldn't have allowed it. You're made up of a whole lot more than you think you are.

"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, 'God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.'" (Exodus 13:19)

Joseph spoke/prophesied of this very thing long before Moses was a twinkle in his father's eye and here it is happening! (Genesis 50:22-26)

Joseph states what is to be a promise (Genesis 50:25) to be held on to by the Jews during their captivity in Egypt ~ that they will indeed leave some day (and continue on to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). It sure doesn't look like it for some 430 years and up until the 9 months of plagues. But if God says it's gonna happen (via Joseph in Genesis 50!), then it's gonna happen.

What's God spoken to you and it seems impossible that it'll ever happen?

Two truths of the Christian life:

(1) Upon leaving Egypt, the Israelites are not left alone to fend for themselves. Instead, they are led by the Divine Presence and realize it through the direct and continuing manifestation of God's glory. (Exodus 13:20-22)

So we, too, who have left "Egypt" and the bondage to sin are not left alone to fend for ourselves, but we receive the Holy Spirit to direct and guide us in the way we should go just like the Israelites of old. (Isaiah 30:21) We have the Divine Presence within our heart! (John 14:16-17; 1 John 4:4b)

(2) And just as the Lord won't remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from the Israelites sight and experience (Exodus 13:22), so He'll never leave us nor will He ever forsake us in our journey with Him and promises to always be there to be looked to and called upon for guidance and help. (Hebrews 13:5)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Do you know anyone that it's gonna take a crisis in their lives before they'll come to Jesus Christ for forgiveness? Was that you before you got saved (gave your heart to God)? If so, why did you wait? (Exodus 12:29-32)

2. Have you ever wondered if you were gonna make it? (Exodus 5:22-23; 12:33-41)

3. We all have a breaking point. God knows it and won't push us past it. (Exodus 13:17) How does the thought of that encourage you?

4. What's God spoken to you and it seems impossible that it'll ever happen? (Exodus 13:19; Genesis 50:22-26)

The 10 Plagues - Part 3 (Exodus 11:1-12:29)

(This is supplement 6 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

SUMMARY FROM WHENCE WE'VE COME

Over nine months God has demonstrated His power to Pharoah that he might repent by letting Israel go. Pharoah will not and so now he and Egypt are subject to the final blow.

PLAGUE #10: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN

This (Exodus 12) is a most precious passage ranking up there with Isaiah 53, the suffering Servant, and the Gospel accounts of our Lord's passion. This is the height of the Scriptures as we look into God's heart and there we discover "the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:8b; NIV)

LAST PLAGUE ANNOUNCEMENT

The last plague is announced in Exodus 11:1-10. But there's some confusion. Wycliffe offers this explanation: Exodus 11:4-8 is part of the conversation with Pharoah prior to Moses' departure in chapter 10. We find the conversation would have been placed there between Exodus 10:27 and Exodus 10:28. (That's what you call "reading between the lines.") It (the conversation) is included in Exodus 11 since its focus is the last plague itself? (I agree)

If there's something we don't understand in the Bible, it's not the Bible that's the issue. It's our understanding

The outline of Exodus 11:1-10 goes like this:

11:1-3. Instructions before the announcement.
11:3. In parentheses in the New Living Translation.
11:4-8. Last plague announcement.
11:9. God confirms Pharoah's response.
11:10. A capsilization of all that's taken place.

THE DISTINCTION OF GOD'S PEOPLE

A distinction is made between God's people and the Egyptians. (Exodus 11:7)

There is a difference (and there is to be a difference!) between the people of God and the people of the world. God makes the distinction and we are to continue in it. We aren't the same as we were before we received Christ. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, we are God's. How do you see yourself? As a distinct people we are to live a distinct life.

People ought to be able to notice a difference about Christians. Still Christians stumble and fall into sin at times. The difference between believers and the world, however, is it's not their direction/bent as it is the world's. (Sinning isn't.) Believers are being made free from sin (sanctification process). Unbelievers are becoming more and more in bondage to it.

PASSOVER INSTRUCTIONS

This is Christ and the centrality of His work communicated here. (Exodus 12:1-14) It is Christ's sacrifice that breaks the back of the evil one.

And the Lord takes Israel to be His own here and distinguishes her from the nations. The Jews officially become the people of God at the last plague against Egypt.

A new calendar is established. (Exodus 12:1-2) God affords fresh beginnings. There's a fresh beginning when you come to Jesus! (2 Corinthians 5:17) The calendar begins anew! Also, there's a fresh beginning each time we stumble into sin. (1 John 1:9)

GLIMPSES OF CHRIST AND HIS WORK IN THE PASSOVER

There are 7 glimpses of Christ and His work in the Passover (Exodus 12:3-14):

1. A lamb unblemished/sinless. (Exodus 12:5)

"[K]nowing that you were not redeemed with persishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

2. Life scrutinized over time and proven without fault. (Exodus 12:3, 6)

Passover lamb scrutinized for four days prior to sacrifice. "'I find no fault (guilt; NAS) in Him,' Pilate declared." (John 18:38c)

3. Killed in a public execution. (Exodus 12:6)

4. Substitutionary sacrifice. (Exodus 12:6)

The lamb is both a sacrifice and a substitutionary sacrifice. It is given in place of another (the firstborn) who would have died if not for the substitution.

5. No bone broken prophecy. (Exodus 12:46c)

"[B]ut coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'Not a bone of Him shall be broken.'" (John 19:33. 36)

6. Blood saves from God's wrath. (Exodus 12:12-13)

Are you under the blood?

7. Belief in delivers from death. (Exodus 12:13; John 3:16)

FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

We find the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Exodus 12:15-20. It starts as the Passover Lamb is sacrificed. (Exodus 12:6, 18) It continues from the 15th to the 21st day. (The Passover lamb is chosen on the 10th, scrutinized for four days, then sacrificed on the 14th.)

"The unleavened cakes [are] symbolic of the new life as cleansed from the leaven of a sinful nature. For this reason the Israelites [are] to put away all the leaven of the Egyptian nature, the leaven of malice and wickedness [(1 Corinthians 5:8)], and by eating pure and holy bread and meeting for the worship of God to show that they [are] walking in newness of life." (Wycliffe 61)

EXECUTION OF THE PLAGUE

There is no safe place outside the covering of the blood. (Exodus 12:29)

Are you under the blood?

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between the people of God and the people of the world? (Exodus 11:7; 1 Peter 2:9-12)

2. Read Exodus 12:13-14 and v. 46. Do you see any glimpses of Christ and His work (His life, His crucifixion) in the Passover instructions? (Clue: I see 7 of them.)

3. What would you say to someone who thinks there is more than one way to God, that all religions are the same?

4. The executions of the tenth plague takes place in Exodus 12:29. In one single verse everything changes. Pharoah is broken and lets Israel go. With this in mind, think upon the following statement: There is no safe place outside of the covering of the blood.

10 Tips on How to Lead a "Live" Chat on Twitter

"The sower went out to sow. ...Some seeds fell on good soil." (Mark 4:3b, 8a)

I've been teaching the Bible on Twitter in recent days via a "live" chat. (For more information, click here.)

I have come to recognize a number of things that are helpful in leading / promoting a "live" chat.

I thought I might share them with you...

10 Tips on How to Lead a "Live" Chat on Twitter:

Tip 1: Write a blog post on the topic prior to. (You really should have a blog as a home base for all of your social media efforts.) Build momentum, anticipation. (To read: 7 Mistakes Christian Bloggers Can Make, click here.)

Tip 2: Have an outline of tweets beforehand. It doesn't have to be comprehensive (though mine always are ~ that's just me). Then you can offer a free download. (To read: How to Create a Free Download, click here.)

Tip 3: During the chat, don't just tweet with your friends. Be humble enough to leave the "clique" and communicate especially with the newbies. Prioritize them via retweets.

Tip 4: Build your own followership apart from the chat time. You will always have them as part of your chat audience.

Tip 5: (Goes with Tip 4) Don't worry about who's there and who's not. (I once taught a Bible study with only one in attendance ~ a large spider on the ceiling.) And always remember: You never know who's lurking (listening in, but not making their presence known).

Tip 6: Promote, promote, promote. And then after you've done all that, promote some more. Tweet your blog post (Tip 1) and the time of your chat often.

Tip 7: Pray, pray, pray for God to anoint (energize) you as a chat facilitator / teacher. Call upon the Lord to move upon those who are supposed to hear what you have to say. Leave the results up to Him.

Tip 8: Do your best to be present on Twitter as regularly as you can aside from your chat time (and the chat hashtag stream). Again, reach out beyond the friends / followers (Tip 3) that you already have.

Tip 9: Capitalize on the popularity of Pinterest. Create a "board" on the topic of your chat, then tweet it with the time of your chat. (To see my Escape from Egypt Pinterest board, click here.)

Tip 10: Add a level of podcasting to further personalize your chat. Use iTalk on the iPad. Keep it under a minute. (To listen to my first try, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• 15 Social Media Mistakes You Might Make
• 10 Commandments of Blogging

The 10 Plagues - Part 2 (Exodus 8:20-10:29)

(This is supplement 5 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

PLAGUES ARE MIRACLES

The plagues are intensifications of natural events the Egyptians are familiar with (at least the first nine plagues are; the last is a direct intervention of God). "Their severity (Wycliffe says), and even more, their appearance and disappearance at the word of Moses mark[s] them as miraculous." (pg 57)

GROUPS OF PLAGUES

(a) Three groups of three each, then #10.
(b) 1 and 2, 4 and 5, 7 and 8 announced to Pharoah prior to; 3, 6 and 9 come unannounced.
(c) First three (first group) fall upon Egypt and Israel; last two groups (of three) fall upon Egypt alone.
(d) Progressively severe; the last three virtually ruin the land.

THE PLAGUES

(See Psalm 105:26ff which summarizes the plagues.)

Pre-miracle: Aaron's rod becomes a snake. (Exodus 7:1-13)

1. Water to blood. (Exodus 7:14-25)
2. Swarms of frogs. (Exodus 8:1-15)
3. Gnats (or lice) on man and beast. (Exodus 8:16-19)
4. Swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-32)
5. Disease (murrain) upon livestock. (Exodus 9:1-17)
6. Boils on man and beast. (Exodus 9:8-12)
7. Hail + thunder and lightning. (Exodus 9:13-35)
8. Swarms of locusts. (Exodus 10:1-20)
9. 3 days of thick darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29)
10. Death of the firstborn. (Exodus 11:1-12:36)

THE PLAGUES APPLIED

NOTE: These next six plagues (number 4 through 9) have no affect on Israel.

Plague #4: Swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-32)

Pharoah wants to negotiate terms of release. (Exodus 8:25ff)

POINT: There are no negotiations with God. We either do things His way or we get left behind / out of the loop.

Plague #5: Disease (murrain) upon livestock. (Exodus 9:1-7)

Time is allowed for Pharoah to consider what the Lord has said and the consequences of his positive or negative response. But even after an entire night, he still refuses to let Israel go.

POINT: There is a line to be crossed where it is too late to repent.

There is a moment where the consequences of our negative response to God catches up with us and we pay the ultimate price. Hell is full of people who put off getting right with God until tomorrow.

"And Pharoah sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead." (Exodus 9:7a)

murrain: "any of the various diseases of cattle, as anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and Texas fever." (dictionary.com)

Plague #6: Boils on man and beast. (Exodus 9:8-12)

Some people could care less until it affects them and theirs. Don't care about the the cattle/livestock suffering and dying, but now it's on them.

POINT: "If lesser judgments do not work, God will send greater." (Matthew Henry)

Plague #7: Hail, thunder, lightning. (Exodus 9:13-35)

The last triad of plagues is devastating. "Never again [will] Egypt rise to the height of power and glory reached in this dynasty." (Keil and Delitzsch)

Egypt has known hail (Exodus 9:18), but nothing like this! Similar plague in Revelation 16:21: Bowl #7 of the 7 bowls of wrath. (Bowl of wrath #1 is similar to plague #6.)

POINT: Even in judgment, God is merciful and provides a way of escape. (Exodus 9:19)

Plague #8: Swarms of locusts. (Exodus 10:1-20)

Egypt has known locusts, but nothing like these locusts!

"The fact that the wind blew a day and a night before bringing the locusts, [shows] that they [come] from a great distance, and therefore [prove] to the Egyptians that the omnipotence of Jehovah [reaches] far beyond the borders of Egypt and [rules] over every land." (Wycliffe 60)

POINT: God's power and rule extends far beyond just an amazing story long ago and into our very lives today ~ your life!

Plague #9: 3 days of thick darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29)

Comes unannounced like #3 (gnats) and #6 (boils).

Picture here of eternal damnation?

"Most scholars agree that the darkness [is] probably caused by the hamsin, the fierce sandstorm so dreaded in the East. The hot dry wind, like the blast of a furnace, fills the air with sand and dust, so that the sun is blotted out. The heat, the dust, and the static electricity make conditions almost unbearable physically. Added to this is the affect on mind and spirit of the thick and oppressive darkness. This plague [concludes] the manifestation of God's wonders and is a forbidding prelude to the final act of judgment." (Wycliffe 60)

After all this (all nine plagues), Pharoah still won't give in.

POINT: There are some people that won't get saved (accept Jesus Christ) no matter what happens or what witness they receive.

But we don't know who those people are. So there's no excuse to give up on anybody.

Who have you given up on?

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. (Goes with Plague #5) What do you think of the fact that God gives us time to consider the consequences of our actions when He really could (and maybe should) squish us like ants in our unbelief? (2 Peter 3:9)

2. (Goes with Plague #6) Some people simply won't consider spiritual things unless something really bad happens. Why do you think that is?

3. (Goes with Plague #8) How might it change the way you think and live if you really believed God was active and alive and right by your side in the midst of your life and struggles?

4. (Goes with Plague #9) Have you given up on anybody as regards whether or not they could come to Christ? Put them back on your prayer list. There is still time for them to get saved up until they breath their final breath.

The 10 Plagues - Part 1 (Exodus 7:14-8:19)

(This is supplement 4 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

OVERALL POINTS

The main emphasis of the entirety of the 10 plagues experience / episodes is this: (1) God is all powerful (ominipotent). The question is: How big is your God? And (2) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward; not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9; KJV) God gives Pharoah chance after chance after chance to repent. But Pharoah will have none of it (God's mercy).

PLAGUES ARE MIRACLES

The plagues are intensifications of natural events the Egyptians are familiar with (at least the first nine plagues are; the last is a direct intervention of God). "Their severity (Wycliffe says), and even more, their appearance and disappearance at the word of Moses mark[s] them as miraculous." (pg 57)

GROUPS OF PLAGUES

(a) Three groups of three each, then #10.
(b) 1 and 2, 4 and 5, 7 and 8 announced to Pharoah prior to; 3, 6 and 9 come unannounced.
(c) First three (first group) fall upon Egypt and Israel; last two groups (of three) fall upon Egypt alone.
(d) Progressively severe; the last three virtually ruin the land.

THE PLAGUES

(See Psalm 105:26ff which summarizes the plagues.)

Pre-miracle: Aaron's rod becomes a snake. (Exodus 7:1-13)

1. Water to blood. (Exodus 7:14-25)
2. Swarms of frogs. (Exodus 8:1-15)
3. Gnats (or lice) on man and beast. (Exodus 8:16-19)
4. Swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-32)
5. Disease (murrain) upon livestock. (Exodus 9:1-17)
6. Boils on man and beast. (Exodus 9:8-12)
7. Hail + thunder and lightning. (Exodus 9:13-35)
8. Swarms of locusts. (Exodus 10:1-20)
9. 3 days of thick darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29)
10. Death of the firstborn. (Exodus 11:1-12:36)

PLAGUES RELATIONSHIP TO EGYPTIAN "GODS"

(Disclaimer: May only be coincidental relationship!)

1. Hapi, god of the Nile, bringer of fertility.
2. Hek/qet, the frog-headed goddess of fruitfulness.
3. Unknown.
4. Kheper(a), in the form of a beetle.
5. Many Egyptian gods and goddesses are pictured in hieroglyphics zoomorphically ("Art that imagines humans as animals" ~ dictionary.com). Cow-headed goddess (Hathor), ram-headed and goose-headed male figures (Khnum, Amon, Geb), female queen of the gods with cow's or ram's horns on her head (Isis).
6. Unknown.
7. Nut, the sky goddess and protectress of the dead.
8. Serapia, protector from locusts.
9. Re, personification of the sun, king of the gods, father of mankind.
10. Possibly Taurt, goddess of maternity, who presided over childbirth; later a protective household deity.

PURPOSE OF THE PLAGUES

God really wants Pharoah to know Him ~ in personal and intimate trusting relationship. (Exodus 7:5; 17a) To have let the Israelites go would have been a blessing to Pharoah and Egypt. Imagine what the story would have been if he had!

THE PLAGUES APPLIED

Plague #1: Water to blood. (Exodus 7:14-25)

Pharoah is on his way out to pay homage to the Nile River it is thought. (Exodus 7:15) "This is your god, Pharoah, putrid, vile, stinky, rotting and loathsome compared to the glorious Christ who calls you to repentance and life!"

POINT: Worshiping something other than God is hazardous to your health.

Plague #2: Swarms of frogs. (Exodus 8:1-15)

Frogs fill the Nile marshes. But not in these numbers. Pharoah starts to budge. (Exodus 8:8) When plagues subsides, Pharoah goes back to his old self.

POINT: We need to do more than just say we're gonna change.

Plague #3: Gnats / lice / mosquitoes. (Exodus 8:16-19)

No time limit on this plague like the first two. Likely goes on for quite a while. (Water to blood lasts 7 days. "Frogs" lasts until Pharoah picks the day it should stop.)  Magicians, Jannes and Jambres, cannot duplicate this miracle like the first two plagues. "This is the finger of God," they say. It isn't a recognition of God, but a recognition of the supernatural origin of the plague as Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8-9) can't produce it through their magic arts or demonic reliance/source.

POINT: Not everyone who talks about "god" is talking about God.

CONTEST?

Coming to #mkbiblechat this Friday: "The 10 Plagues-Part 1." B 1st one to tweet all 10 and win 3 #FF mentions to approx 100k followers :)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. On a piece of paper write down the 10 plagues. Then open your Bible to see how many you got right. (Exodus 7:14-12:29)

2. The purpose of the plagues is to free the Israelites from Egypt. But there are other purposes beyond that. Can you think of any? (Exodus 7:5; 7:17a)

3. Pharoah is on his way out to pay homage to the Nile River it is thought. (Exodus 7:15) What are some false "gods" that people worship today?

4. Have you ever heard anybody talking about "god" who wasn't really talking about God? (Exodus 8:19)

God of Israel versus "Gods" of Egypt (Exodus 7:1-13)

(This is supplement 3 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

INTERIM PASSAGE

Exodus 6:14-26 is the genealogy of Moses and Aaron. "Genealogies were used to establish credentials and authority as well as outlining the history of a family." (NLT 103)

TWO CONVERSATIONS

Conversation #1 (between God and Moses) takes place in Exodus 5:22-6:8 where God helps Moses sort through his feelings and explains to him how He's gonna act. (Exodus 6:1) Moses then speaks to the people. (Exodus 6:9a) The people don't listen because they're just too discouraged. (Exodus 6:9b)

Conversation #2 takes place in Exodus 6:10-13. where Moses tells the Lord the people won't listen so why should Pharoah listen (especially since it's all about Moses' inadequate speaking ability after all!). God commands Moses to go to Pharoah anyway.

Whether or not the conversation in Exodus 7:1-5 is a continuation of the interaction of Exodus 6:10-13, I don't know. It could be.

The point of it all is we need to go to God when we're discouraged in ministry (and it will happen, does happen, I have seen it happen in my own life and in other ministers' lives ~ it will happen in yours, too!) ~ we need to go to God when we're discouraged in ministry or ready to give up and He can and will give us a good word to help us continue on. It's really an important part of what's going on in the entirety of these conversational verses.

WHAT MOSES CAN EXPECT

The Lord makes Moses "as God to Pharoah." (Exodus 7:1) Has to do with Moses being put on the same par with the Egyptian leader. (Pharoahs were considered "gods" themselves.)

Wycliffe says: "Moses [is] given divine authority and power over Pharoah., while Aaron [is] commissioned to serve as Moses' prophet or spokesman. This [is] to be no repetition of the first encounter with Pharoah." (pg 57)

Moses was worried about being inadequate. God is the One who makes us adequate. "I can do all things through [Jesus Christ] who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Our reliance is not to be on charisma or personality or speaking ability.

If Moses and Aaron are to be successful in their mission and see Israel freed, they must speak everything God tells them to speak and not leave anything out. (Exodus 7:2, 6) Don't make adjustments to what God says for you to do. No adjustments! King Saul made "adjustments" to the instructions he received from Samuel and, boy, did he pay for it! (1 Samuel 13:8-14)

"'But I will harden Pharoah's heart.'" (Exodus 7:3) In other passages of the story it reads "Pharoah's heart was hardened" or "And Pharoah hardened his heart." Other translations of "harden": (from Wycliffe) make obstinate (American); make stubborn (Moffatt): make...stubborn and hard (Amplified).

HARDENING PHAROAH'S HEART

"The same sun that melts wax hardens clay." It's all about the substance. God doesn't make the Pharoah stubborn by "hardening" him as "hardening" is more of a squeezing out of what's already inside.

What would come out if God put the "squeeze" on you? (Luke 22:31; Mark 14:66-72)

Pharoah is not really God's. Neither will he submit to God. And so God puts the "squeeze" on / hardens Pharoah's heart. This is what comes out ~ what's already there.

And God gets His way even with the most stubborn. (Exodus 7:4-5) Pharoah is a picture of the devil (and Antichrist to come, too).

Exodus 7:7 is one of my favorite verses. It's a verse for seniors! (How old are you?) People in their later years of life can be and are still in many places used by the Lord. How do you know if your greatest service for Jesus still lies ahead especially helping people "escape from Egypt"? :)

Moses receives more specifics as regards what he can expect when he meets with Pharoah. (Exodus 7:8-9) God speaks to him about what he is to do. Pharoah will say, "Prove yourselves by working a miracle." (Revised Standard Version)

We are to preach the Word and expect signs and wonders to follow as confirmation of the Word. (Right?)

THE CONFRONTATION

This is Jannes and Jambres here in Exodus 7:10-12. (2 Timothy 3:8-9) They are able to duplicate miracle via tricks or Satanic power as "worshiping gods of the underworld was part of their religion." (NLT 104)

A good time to talk about miracles: (1) Just because somebody does a miracle doesn't mean they're of God; (2) Miracles will play a major role in the deception of the last days. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10; Revelation 13:13-14)

And what is it with man? I mean, that we could possibly think that somehow we could compete against God as Jannes and Jambres do here among other Egyptian magicians and tricksters? (Exodus 7:10-12) And as God begins by toying with these. (It's kind of like a cat playing with a mouse between its paws.) And God would have had it that the phone rang, "Hello! Hello!" in their heads when they saw their staffs /snakes (representing multiple Egyptian "gods"? ~ it's possible) swallowed up by Aaron's staff / snake (representing the one true God? ~ that's possible, too.). And as God isn't quick to destroy Egypt and would have had it another way if they cooperated. "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) But these guys in Egypt will just not have it.

PHAROAH'S RESPONSE

We have Pharoah's response to what's taken place in Exodus 7:13. He's "squeezed." And the stubbornness that already resides in Pharoah's heart is revealed.

Let me ask it again: What would come out if God put the "squeeze" on you?

May it be nothing but Christ. (Matthew 5:16)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. "And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharoah." (Exodus 7:7) Come up with an application from this verse to share.

2. "But I will harden Pharoah's heart." (Exodus 7:3a) Does this mean that Pharoah had no chance to repent ~ he was a victim of fate ~ or does it mean something else? (A New Testament example is Judas.)

3. Have you ever seen a miracle follow the preaching of the Word? (Exodus 7:8-9)

4. What reference in the New Testament is further proof that the events of Exodus 7:10-13 really happened? (Clue: Look in the Pastoral Epistles.)

God in the Here and Now! (Exodus 6:1-13)

(This is supplement 2 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

CENTRAL POINT

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'WHO IS and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" (Revelation 1:8)

God is not only a God of the past and of the future. He is a God of the present, too!

MAYBE GOD'S FORGOTTEN ME?

Everyone faces times in their lives where circumstances go kaput. And even though we remember the testimonies of old how God moved and we know the Lord will act in the future (Jesus is coming soon!), still we wonder, "Will God act now (in "real time"!)? Will God take action for me?" That's the real question. "What about in the here and now ~ today?" That's what really matters to us, doesn't it?

WHERE WE LEFT OFF IN PREVIOUS STUDY

We left Moses at the end of his rope in the last two verses of Exodus chapter 5. Moses wants out of his pastorate. "This must not be God's will that I be here," is how Moses feels as Pharoah doesn't go along with the script when Moses says, "Let my people go." Moses did well to go to the Lord with his feelings and problem. (Exodus 5:22-23)

GOD IN THE HERE AND NOW FOR MOSES

And so here Moses is in v. 1 of Exodus 6. It's in the here and now for Moses and Israel that they're facing serious trouble and difficulty. A crisis! It doesn't matter about the past. It doesn't matter about the future. What matters is today. Where is God today? And God is here for Moses and Israel in Exodus 6:1!

The answer to the question: "Will God act in the here and now for me?" Yes, He will! Yes, God will!

"'Now you shall see what I will do to Pharoah (God says); for under compulsion he shall let them (Israel) go, and under compulsion he shall drive them out of his land.'" "I'm gonna do something," God says to Moses. "I'm gonna do something in the here and now. I'm gonna act."

MOSES CAN'T QUIT YET

I mentioned last time God isn't intimidated by our feelings. He's the One that gave us the ability to feel in the first place, after all! God wants us to express ourselves to Him. And tell Him like it is. "This is where I'm at, Lord. This is how I feel! I'm depressed. I'm discouraged. I'm spent." It's prayer! It's praying!

Even Jesus expressed His deepest and harshest feeling to the Lord, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?," He declared from the cross. It was a question about whether God was God in the here and now.

When we do express our feelings to God, it's then, I'm convinced, that we open ourselves up to His ability to help us sort through our feelings and the issues that are on our hearts and give us the strength to carry on when we thought there was no way we could.

And Moses can't quit his pastorate yet even though he feels like it. If Moses does, he'll miss out on everything God has in mind with the plagues and the Passover Lamb (the picture of Christ during this momentous time ~ it's Jesus who delivers the Jews from Egypt by the way!) and crossing the Red Sea and the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, etc. Let alone what Moses is going to learn about God and come to know about God (listen) that Moses would never have had the chance if he gave up!

And so God helps Moses sort through His feelings and gives Moses the assurance he needs to continue in Exodus 6:1-13.

WHAT GOD SAYS TO MOSES

The first thing God says to Moses is He's gonna break Pharoah. (Exodus 6:1) God is the only one that can do it.

And now in Exodus 6:2-3: "Lord" (v. 3; NAS) equals "Yahweh." (It's the same in Exodus 6:2 and Exodus 6:6.) Unger's Bible Dictionary says: "The Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHWH) traditionally pronounced Jehovah...." (Tetra / grammaton means: "4 letter.")

It isn't that God hasn't appeared to Abraham as Yahweh (God's "here and now" name; He was revealed as the "here and now" redeemer; the ram caught in a thicket so Isaac was spared was Abraham's experience with Yahweh), but now He's going to appear as Yahweh to Moses and Israel to the point where they're going to know the Lord at a greater depth and revelation than the forefathers. There's to be an expansion. Moses and Israel are gonna experience God ~ Yahweh ~ like they never have before. And they would never have had the opportunity to know God at this depth except for the situation they found themselves in and the breaking point they were allowed to get to.

APPLICATION: And many times we're put in situations and it's not that God somehow enjoys dangling us over the precipice to see how we'll react, but it's so that we can learn more about who He is and experience Him at a greater depth of level of knowledge. And come to a deeper understanding of His love and power and care for us. It's one thing to know about God; it's another thing to "know" God. (Selah ~ pause to reflect)

TWO BRIEF POINTS

(1) God watches over His promises to bring them to pass. (Exodus 6:4) God in the here and now.

(2) God hears our groanings. (Exodus 6:5) God in the here and now.

TWO MORE THINGS 

(1) See big problems as an opportunity for God to act in a big way. (Exodus 6:6-8) Rather than withdraw and sulk, allow faith to rise up. Can you just imagine those around you when they see how you respond? And could it be that God is poised to answer YOUR big problems in a big way?

(2) The Lord makes good on His promises. He does indeed free the Jews from slavery. (Exodus 6:6) He does indeed become Israel's God and accepts them as His people. (Exodus 6:7) He does indeed lead them to the Promised Land. (Exodus 6:8) Israel's redemption is a snapshot of ours! God frees us from slavery to sin. He becomes our God and accepts us as His people. He then leads us to a new life in Christ as we follow after Him.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Lesson #1: Keep your eyes on the Lord until He performs and despite setbacks.

After receiving assurance from God, Moses returns to the people to tell them what God has spoken. (Exodus 6:9) They are too discouraged to listen. And why should they believe now anyway? Last time they did, it only led to further suffering and pain.

Sometimes God speaks and change doesn't come right away. And a lot of times, instead, it's setbacks that take center stage, first, which can affect people to the point where they won't want to be a part of the program anymore. A leader realizes this and looks past the lack of change and looks past the setbacks to the God who has spoken. A leader keeps his eyes on God and keeps believing until God acts ~ until God does what He said. (This is a lesson for followers, too!)

Lesson #2: Remain persistent even when all seems lost and it looks like everyone's abandoning you.

Moses gives excuses why he can't do the job. (Exodus 6:10-13) It isn't Moses' eloquence that's meant to do the trick anyway. (Exodus 6:12) It's God's power.

Anybody can serve God when the task is easy and everyone's behind it. The real test is when you remain persistent when all seems lost.

God orders Moses to go back to Pharoah and finish the job. (Exodus 6:13) Sometimes we just need to be commanded to do what's right. "But the Lord ordered Moses and Aaron to return to Pharoah, king of Egypt, and to demand that he let the people of Israel leave Egypt." (New Living Translation)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Sometimes a person finds him or herself thinking thoughts like somehow maybe God's forgotten them. What verses in the Bible might you offer these people as comfort?

2. Left to "Pharoah" (Satan, sin and the flesh) cannot be broken. What do you think that means?

3. Explain the difference between knowing God and knowing about God. (Exodus 6:2-8)

4. Think about it: "Lord" (Exodus 6:3; NAS) equals "Yahweh." (Same in Exodus 6:2 and Exodus 6:6.) This is the Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHWH). Abraham knew this name of God, but not at the level of depth the Hebrew nation that Moses has come to rescue will come to know it. God wants us to know Him by this name, too. We do who are saved. (John 3:16) \o/

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways (Exodus 5:1-23)

(This is supplement 1 to the #HeartChat Bible study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching his Escape from Egypt series on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

INTRODUCTION

This teaching is based on a 9-part sermon series I preached in August 2004. The "Escape from Egypt" study is relevant to our day as God will be dealing with a new Pharoah (Antichrist) soon. (Revelation 13:1-18)

MEMORY VERSES

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9)

IF WE WERE IN CHARGE

Think back over your life. And if we were in charge we would have had this and that take place. Right?

And we would have had it that the car didn't break down. And that our husband or wife didn't lose his or her job! And things would have been a whole lot easier and worked out a whole lot faster with no headache or heartache. Isn't it true if we were in charge, we'd have done things a little bit differently (a whole lot differently?) than many times God does things?

We'd have had it so we wouldn't have to suffer or be put at risk or jeopardy or face anything that would challenge us or test us. And yet that's how God many times works - just that way!

God's ways are not our ways.

FROM SOMEBODY TO NOBODY AND BACK AGAIN

It's Moses' story. He was found in a river by Pharoah's daughter after his mother hid him there. (Exodus 2:1-9) He was then raised and schooled and received his degree from the educational system of Egypt. (Exodus 2:10) Later as an adult he killed an Egyptian who was abusing one of his own, a Hebrew. (Exodus 2:11-14) Then he ran for his life when Pharoah found out about it. (Exodus 2:15) And finally, after many years in the wilderness as a sheepherder, Moses came across a burning bush where God then commissioned him to rescue Israel. (Exodus 3:1-10)

Moses' story is about a "somebody" becoming a "nobody" and back again. Do you see that?

God turns "nobodies" (the people the world throws away and will have nothing to do with) into "somebodies." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

God's ways are not our ways.

CONTEXT OF PASSAGE

People are excited with Moses coming to town and his message. (Exodus 4:27-31)

MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHAROAH

Moses and Aaron approach Pharoah with a message from the Lord. (Exodus 5:1) And Pharoah's just supposed to jump, right? (Exodus 5:2) That's how we (Americans) would have written the script. But what have I been saying?

God's ways are not our ways.

(And Moses needs a little bit more breaking to make sure he stays a nobody with the miracles yet ahead?)

CLASH BETWEEN HUMILITY AND PRIDE

Pharoah's response to Moses' persistence (Exodus 5:3): "Let the people go? Are you crazy? They're my workforce." (Exodus 5:4-5)

Pharoahs were looked at as "gods." And as Moses has been humbled through his many years in the wilderness (and is humbled even further in this episode! - and just when we think we've been humbled enough God humbles us more!) and has been brought to the point of putting his trust in and reliance upon God, Pharoah is just the opposite.

It's interesting when you know about this particular Pharoah: "Moses' old enemy, Thutmose III, [is] dead. The new Pharoah, Amenhotep II, [is] probably 22 [years old] when confronted by the 80-year-old Moses." (Teacher's Commentary 81) (Exodus 7:7)

But this Pharoah is in charge and ain't no one gonna tell him what to do. "Who does this old guy think he is anyway?"

BRICKS WITH NO STRAW

In response to Moses' request, Pharoah increases the workload of the Israelites. (Exodus 5:6-12) "Mixing straw with mud made bricks stronger and more durable. Pharoah [has] supplied the slaves with straw, but now he [makes] them find their own straw and keep up their production quota as well." (NLT 102)

And it gets real hard for the Israelites now. Before Moses came it was bad, but now it's gotten worse. And as God is in the process of delivering them from Egypt (bringing about their escape). But you wouldn't know it!

And we obey the Lord, and we do what God says, and then what do we get? Hardship results. And as sometimes obeying God results in things getting harder and tougher and more intense and we can face a breaking point.

FOREMAN ARE BEATEN

And as now the foremen are beaten. (Exodus 5:13-14) Things are getting real tough. The limit is pushed. It starts with no straw, but now people are getting hurt. And it's all on account of Moses and his grandiose idea of saying to Pharoah, "Let my people go."

"The mode of beating was by the offender being laid flat on the ground and generally held by the hands and feet while the chastisement was administered." (JF&B Commentary)

And it's these same foremen who have just spoken to Pharoah after having been beaten (Exodus 5:15-19) who wait for Moses and Aaron and then communicate their despair and frustration to them. (Exodus 5:20-21)

MOSES' RESPONSE

You might not think Moses is a real good leader reading what he says after all that's transpired. (Exodus 5:22-23) And you might be tempted to think that you would have done better. But you wouldn't have. Trust me.

And yet there's something good in these verses that you might not notice otherwise. And though Moses is basicallly whining and saying, "Woe is me. I want out of this pastorate. I want to go to another church." And though Moses is speaking like that here, he is doing something good at the same time. And there is something in these verses if you look close enough that you might not notice otherwise.

Listen. Moses goes to God with his problem. It's as simple as that. It's not so much about what Moses says. It's not so much about how Moses feels and that Moses wants to quit his ministry. Instead, it's about him going to God with his problem.

And sometimes things turn sour when God steps in to bring about deliverance (an escape from Egypt).
God's ways are not our ways.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. We each have our stories - tales of times in our lives where we were pushed to the limit and then God came through. Can you remember a story from your own life?

2. Moses wants to quit his (quote) "pastorate" (church!) after things get worse rather than better. (Exodus 5:22-23) Have you ever wanted to quit something that you knew in your heart God called you to do?

3. God turns "somebodies" into "nobodies" and "nobodies" into "somebodies." What do you think that means?

4. Memorize Isaiah 55:8-9 and be ready to tweet it in bible chat. :)

Escape from Egypt #HeartChat Bible Study (Friday mornings, 9:30 am EST on Twitter)

Topics and Passages:
(click titles for notes)

June 22 - God's Way Are Not Our Ways (Exodus 5:1-23)
June 29 - God in the Here and Now! (Exodus 6:1-13)

July 6 - God of Israel versus "Gods" of Egypt (Exodus 7:1-13)
July 13 - The 10 Plagues - Part 1 (Exodus 7:14-8:19)
July 20 - The 10 Plagues - Part 2 (Exodus 8:20-10:29)
July 27 - The 10 Plagues - Part 3 (Exodus 11:1-12:29)

Aug 3 - The Exodus Begins (Exodus 12:29-41; 13:17-22)
Aug 10 - Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31)
Aug 17 - The Song of Moses / Afterglow (Exodus 15:1-21)

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9)