Follow the Lamb

Follow the Lamb

“The Way Out!”
Exodus 19:1-6, 20:1-2

   Even though the Lamb of God did not become flesh and dwell among us, and as a man, die on the cross for us, until 4,000 years after the fall of man in Genesis, the Scriptures are replete with “types” and “illustrations” of One who would come, and the way He would deliver lost man from his sin.

   The Westminster Confession of Faith says it this way:

“Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ til after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect of all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent’s head, and the Lamb, slain from the beginning of the world, being yesterday, and today the same, and forever.”

Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.8:VI

   In Genesis, God told the serpent, One would come from the “Seed” of the woman who would crush his head and redeem those who had followed him into sin.

• That “Seed” of the Savior – the Lamb of God – was handed down from generation to generation by God’s sovereign choice.
• Satan’s purpose was to destroy the channel through which that “Seed” traveled.
• God’s purpose was to protect and preserve that “Seed” until the time was right to send His Son to be our Savior.
• At the end of Genesis, the “Seed” had been entrusted to JUDAH, the fourth son of Jacob.

   The second book of the Bible is called “Exodus.”

• In Hebrew, Exodus means, “These are the names.” (1:1)
• In English, Exodus means, “The way out.”

The theme of Exodus is “Redemption.”

• Exodus reveals God’s plan for lost man’s redemption.
  • It is totally of God – Israel was helpless and could only cry out unto God for deliverance.
  • It is through a Person – Moses is to Exodus what Jesus is to the gospels – Moses became the Deliverer; Jesus became our Savior.
  • It is through the blood of a lamb – the blood of that innocent lamb that was splashed on the doorposts of their homes was a picture of the blood of the Lamb of God that flowed from the cross.
  • It is by the power of God alone – just as God delivered the Hebrews as they went down into parted waters of the Red Sea, so God will deliver those who die to themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.
    

    1. The Purpose – God’s Power to Save.

   In the “Song of Moses” (Exodus 15:13), Moses recognized God’s mighty power to save.

• “In thy loving kindness, Thou has led the people whom Thou has redeemed. In Thy strength, Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation.”

   God demonstrated that power in many ways, including:

• Protecting the people of Israel from the plague of death by accepting the death (the blood) of an innocent lamb as a substitute for the death of their firstborn.
  • Every firstborn Egyptian child died that night – not just little children, but the “firstborn” of every Egyptian family and the firstborn of every animal.
• Delivering the people of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea.
  • The whole Egyptian army, including horses and chariots, all drowned in the same waters.

   In 2nd Thessalonians 2:13, the Apostle Paul said: “We should always give thanks unto God because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit.”

 2.The People – God’s prerogative to save.

The four main characters of the Book of Exodus:

The Hebrews – the Israelites – God’s chosen people.

• Exodus 19:6 – “You shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
• Deuteronomy 6:7-8 – “The Lord did not…choose you because you were more in number than any people…but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your ancestors.”

Pharaoh – A Picture of Satan – the god of this world.

• Just as the Israelites were slaves to Pharaoh, every unbeliever is a slave to Satan and in bondage to his evil ways.
• Just as Pharaoh tried to keep the Israelites from leaving Egypt and obeying God, Satan desires to keep people from leaving the system of the world and following after God!

Moses – A Picture of Christ – the Savior of man.

• As a baby – Just as Moses was supposed to have been killed under the order of Pharaoh, so Jesus was supposed to have been killed under the orders of Herod.
• As a man – Just as Moses spent 80 years of his life ridding himself of himself so He could be used of God to deliver His people from slavery, so Jesus, being God of very God, humbled Himself, and submitted Himself unto the Father, so He could deliver lost man from his sins.

God the Father – Master Designer – Sovereign God

• Secular History books validate the accuracy of the events of Exodus, i.e., they are historical facts.
• But only those whose eyes have been opened to the truth by the Holy Spirit can see God’s hand, working all things according to His purpose!
  

  3. The Pictures – the Pattern of the Savior

• The Voice of the Burning Bush (3:16)
• The Passover Lamb of God (12:1-28)
• The Unleavened Bread (13:3-10)
• The Rock/Pillar of Cloud and Fire (13:21-22)
• The Red Sea Crossing (14:1-31)
• The Manna from Heaven (16:1-36)
• The Source of Living Water (17:1-7)
• The Tabernacle and Priesthood (Ch 25-30)