PURSUED: “Blood On The Door”
Exodus 3:7-8, “Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land.”
Exodus 11:4-8, “4Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. 5 All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. 6 Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. 7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. 8 All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.”
Exodus 12:11-13, “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
GOD DOESN’T LEAVE HIS PEOPLE TO FACE JUDGEMENT WITHOUT PROVIDING A WAY OF REDEMPTION.
TRUTH: GOD’S PURSUIT OF HUMANITY ISN’T JUST ABOUT FINDING US. IT’S ABOUT FREEING US.
THE BLOOD SAVES
1. GOD HEARS THE CRY OF PEOPLE IN BONDAGE
Exodus 3:7-8, “Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land.”
GOD: sees
GOD: hears
GOD: knows
GOD: acts.
**GOD’S SILENCE IS NOT PROOF OF GOD’S APATHY.
Psalm 34:17, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”
TRUTH: GOD’S LOVE DOESN’T MERELY NOTICE OUR BONDAGE; GOD’S LOVE MOVES TOWARDS OUR DELIVERANCE.
2. GOD PROVIDES WHAT WE CANNOT PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES
Exodus 12:13, “But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
**THE ISRAELITES WERE NOT SAVED BY THE STRENGTH OF THE DOOR; THEY WERE SAVED BY STRENGTH OF GOD’S PROVISION AND GRACE.
GRACE IS NOT GOD REWARDING US FOR PAYING A DEBT WE COULDN’T AFFORD. GRACE IS GOD PROVIDING WHAT WE COULD NEVER PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES.
Romans 5:8-9, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”
3. FAITH HAS TO RESPOND TO GOD’S PROVISION
Exodus 12:24-27, “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.”
TRUTH: FAITH ISN’T MERELY BELIEVING THAT GOD’S WAY EXIST; FAITH IS TRUSTING HIM ENOUGH TO RESPOND
THE PURSUED PATTERN:
GOD: initiates
GOD: provides
GOD: calls
PEOPLE: respond in faith
OBEDIENCE IS NOT THE PRICE OF GRACE; IT IS THE RESPONSE OF TRUST
James 2:17, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
4. THE BLOOD ON THE DOOR POINTS US TO JESUS
Exodus 12:13, “But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 Corinthians 5:7, “Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.”
TRUTH: GOD’S LOVE MOVES TOWARDS US BEFORE WE CAN MAKE OURSELVES WORTHY OF IT.
**THE CROSS REVEALS BOTH THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN AND THE DEPTH OF GOD’S LOVE.
MY RESPONSE
STOP BELIEVING YOU ARE TOO FAR GONE
STOP TRYING TO EARN WHAT GOD OFFERS BY GRACE
RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION
REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE
