The vastness of God's eternity

Sermon notes from Sunday 9 February 2014 (pm)

Exodus 14 verses 1 – 3, 13 – 16 and 23 – 31

In chapter 14 verses 1 and 2 they have been delivered out of Egypt and their course had brought them to this very juncture in time, right to the verge of the Red Sea.  As look out on the Red Sea they are facing the vastness of the Sea before them but when they look over their shoulder they can see nothing but the wilderness and the enemy coming in upon them.  Pharaoh and the Egyptians want to reclaim them again and bring them back to Egypt.  As we look out from this juncture in our lives we can see the vastness of God’s eternity and not one of us knows where take that first step will be in eternity.  This is preparation ground for eternity. 

The despair this people felt on their hearts, minds and souls.  They are trying to get out of the clutches of Pharaoh.  They felt they could never break that grasp of the enemy, could never get rid of them.  For 400 years they had spent in bondage in Egypt.  God promised that he would make of them a great nation under Pharaoh’s control.  Their bondage was hard.  The taskmasters asked them to collect straw in the fields to make bricks.  The bricks were used to build great cities in Egypt.  Their tally of bricks had to reach a quota at the end of the day.  God brought them out of that land and they were now looking to the vastness of the Red Sea before them with the enemy behind them.  Maybe God has brought you to that place of despair where he will save your precious soul.  In Acts 16 we read of the Philippian jail.  2 men were brought in to the jailer’s care.  He was told to look after them very carefully.  He thrust them into a dark cold cell, then he beat them and put them in stocks.  The last thing he heard from them was singing.  He was awakened by a great earthquake.  God brought him to that place to save his soul.  Do you know anything about the saving of your soul?  The jailer looked down the corridor and saw every door was lying open.  His heart failed him for fear.  He was going to take his own life.  That is not a new thing today.  There are people in such despair today and don’t know which way to turn.  For them the only way out is to take their own life.  Paul and Silas cried out to the jailer “do yourself no harm we are all here.”  They had the joy of pointing him to the place of salvation.  Maybe you are in that place of despair.  You need to be saved and maybe you realise that.  Verses 11 and 12 they thought going to die in the wilderness, such was the despair they felt.  Many today are caught up in drugs, gambling and alcohol.  Can you imagine the despair of the man who lay beside the pool of Siloam. (John 9)  For 37 years he lay there.  Imagine the despair he had in his heart.  He waited for the troubling of the waters and never thought he would be cured until one day he met the Lord.  “Would you like to be healed?” Jesus asked him.  “Sir I have no man to help me when the waters are stirred so that I may enter the waters and be healed.”  If Jesus was here right now he would be asking “do you want to be saved, to have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life, assured of a home in heaven?”  Many in society feel that same despair.  Paul said “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2 verse 2)  The sinner is in a fix before him – in front of him is a righteous God and behind him is the enemy. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10 verse 31)

The direction that was given – verse 15.  God told the people to move forward.  God brings the people to that place of total helplessness.  He doesn’t leave us there though, he points the way out of the darkness where we are in.  It must have seemed the most ridiculous thing as he stood there in front of the Red Sea.  The command was to go forward.  The very next step would take them into the waters, into the unseen.  God was making a way of deliverance for this people from the enemy.  It would take courage and faith in the word of God.  If ever your soul is to saved it will take courage to acknowledge the situation you are in.  For you to step out and take the Lord as Saviour and Lord it will take faith in the finished work of Calvary, to acknowledge nothing else will get you into heaven.  He died on the cross to forgive you of your sins, paid the price for your sins.  What you have to do is acknowledge what he has done.  Remember when the children of Israel were going through the swollen rivers of Jordan and Joshua brought them through it.  The waters flooded the banks because it was harvest time.  The command was given to the priests at that time to carry the ark of the covenant on their shoulders.  Joshua told them to step into the waters.  There was a strong current flowing at that time.  It wasn’t until their feet touched the waters that the waters stood on either side and dried up.  A step of faith, that is what the Lord calls for every man and woman.  He asks you to step into the unknown.  God has given to you and I a direction that will break the power of sin in our lives.  “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.”  Maybe that direction might seem ridiculous right where you are.  Revelation 3 verse 20.  Jesus is standing at your heart’s door.  The handle is on the inside.  He is waiting for you to turn the handle and open the door.  This direction is not appreciated by every one.  As God speaks to your heart, shows you the direction you have got to take are you going to turn your back on him and say not for me or will you come to Christ?  It will take faith in the finished work of Calvary.  “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  You can be gloriously saved.

The distraction of the enemy.  God opened the Red Sea and the children of Israel walked across on dry ground.  When the enemy tried to do the same they were not able to do it.  The Lord will break the grip of the enemy on your soul.  Remember the leper in the gospel who came to Jesus one day.  His life was in total ruins.  He was just a leper and it was a deadly killer like sin in our hearts.  It begins so harmlessly.  “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” (James 1 verse 14)  It is like baiting a hook for a fish.  The fish is enticed when that bait is put into the water.  When that lust is conceived in our heart it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.  Leprosy would bring suffering and pain in the body and also death.  That is what sin brings also – separation from God in the next life.  David should have been out fighting with his army instead he was lying in his bed.  He went out onto his roof and saw Bathsheba.  He looked then he lingered and then he lusted and finally he lost out on God.  Will we play about with sin?   

The delight – verse 31.  They began to sing a song – chapter 15 verse 1.  In Acts 2 when 3000 souls were saved they began to praise God.  Philip came down to Samaria and preached the word of God.  There was great joy in the city.  The only thing that is offered to you is God’s free salvation.  What you do with Jesus Christ will stand for time and for eternity.  Wouldn’t it be an awful thing to reject him and go out into a lost eternity, remembering this night down through the ages of eternity?