PITP #05

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD... I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant... I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments... and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. (Exodus 6:1–7)

When the deliverer comes, his own people say "we will not have this man to rule over us"—and the plagues that follow are God's answer to a single question: "Who is the Lord?"

Where We Left Off: Israel in Bondage

Last week we looked at the first part of Exodus. After 430 years, the children of Israel find themselves in captivity in Egypt. They had gone down as a group of about 70 people for their protection and blessing, but 430 years later they had become a strong nation, multiplying exceedingly in the land. They were blessed—until there arose a pharaoh who didn't know their history, who didn't know how Joseph, one of the leaders of the tribes of Israel, had saved the Egyptians from a great famine.

Through Joseph's God-given ability to interpret Pharaoh's dream of seven years of plenty and seven of famine, he ascended to be prime minister over Egypt. Under his leadership they stockpiled food, and Egypt and many others were sustained. But now that's in the history books. Over time history seems to change and be revised—we've seen it even in our own nation's 232-year history—and the Egyptians no longer knew who this people group was.

The Jewish people did not integrate into Egypt. They were set apart, with their own customs, laws, language, and their own God. The rest of Egypt looked on them with disdain—in fact, with hatred. They were shepherds, and the Egyptians could not stand shepherds. So when a pharaoh arose who didn't know Joseph, he was concerned by what he saw among this nation.

Six Things, and a Deliverer with Plagues

We looked at six things last week. First, there was a new king, who came with unrighteous decrees and heavy burdens. These caused the people to cry out to God—and did God hear? He absolutely did. He heard and answered by sending forth Moses, who is a picture and type of the Messiah, just as Moses himself declared in Deuteronomy 18:15. But when Moses came down to set the children of Israel free, he came with ten plagues that would ultimately bring their deliverance.

When the children of Israel began to cry out, God remembered His covenant. It's not that God forgot—they forgot. They forgot they were God's chosen people. Now, crying out, they were in a sense reminding Him: we are your chosen people. Underline verse 7: "ye shall know that I am the LORD your God." One of the primary purposes of all God was about to do was that they—and the Egyptians, and the rest of the world—would know that He truly is God.

Rejected at His First Coming—and His Second

"And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage" (Exodus 6:9). Put an exclamation point next to that verse. Moses comes to bring deliverance, and his people do not receive him with open arms.

This was not the first time. Turn back to Exodus 2. When Moses was 40 and had grown up in the house of the Egyptians, he went to help his people, saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and killed the Egyptian. Then he desired to rule over them. But they said, "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?" (v. 14). At his first coming Moses was not received.

Do you see the correlation? Moses is a type of the Messiah, who would come the first time 2,000 years ago, and his own people would say, "We will not have this man to rule over us." Now at his second coming, in Exodus 6, they still won't hearken—for anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. God sends a deliverer with a message of love—"I have come to set you free"—and because of all the cruel things they'd gone through, they couldn't receive it.

"God Doesn't Love Us"

Do we see this again today? Talk with Jewish people about their heritage and the Lord, and many will say, "God doesn't love us. If God loved us, we would not have gone through all the cruel bondage." And their history is filled with hardship—kicked out of Russia in the 1800s, tortured and expelled from Spain in 1492, expelled from England in 1280, and what they suffered in Germany in the last century. As a result many Jews today say God doesn't love them, and when you bring the message of the Messiah, they are often hardened toward it.

It would take the plagues upon Egypt and the shelter God placed over His own people for Israel to warm up to Moses and see that he had truly come to deliver them. Jesus will come once again, and the New Testament tells us He still has a plan for the children of Israel. Zechariah tells us that one day they will look on Him whom they have pierced—but not until after a time of great tribulation, a time of plagues, just like we see in Exodus.

This passage was read in synagogues around the world just this last Sabbath. This coming Sabbath they read Exodus 6 through the end of chapter 9—the plagues. During those plagues God sheltered His people while He poured out judgment on Egypt, and through that judgment and shelter Israel began to see that God does love them. One day they will look on Christ and ask where He received His wounds, and He will say, "in the house of my friends."

The Plagues: God's Answer to "Who Is the Lord?"

We are moving into a time in prophetic history where these things will begin to take place again, and we see the outline here in Exodus. The ten plagues are grouped in a fascinating way. Nine are plagues from God upon the people; the tenth was a special plague applied specifically to Pharaoh but affecting all Egypt. The nine are divided into three sets.

The first set: the Nile turned to blood, frogs, then lice. The second set: flies, disease upon the livestock, then boils. The third set: hail with fire, locusts, then thick darkness. In each group of three, the first two plagues came with a warning—"repent, let my people go, or else"—and the third came suddenly, with no warning. Two warnings and two plagues, then a sudden plague; again, and again. And then the final plague, the killing of the firstborn, which finally caused Pharaoh not only to let Israel go but to drive them out.

These plagues are God's answer to Pharaoh's question in Exodus 5:2: "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD." God says, in effect, "You don't know who I am? Let me show you who I am." And He tells Moses in Exodus 7:4–5, "the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt."

Toppling the Gods of Egypt

The Egyptians had a god for nearly everything—gods of frogs, beetles, and flies, gods of the river, the sky, and the underworld. When the one true God came into the land, He caused every one of them to tremble and collapse.

When God turned the Nile to blood, He showed that Khnum, guardian of the Nile, and Hapi, spirit of the Nile, were nothing—and that Osiris, whose bloodstream the Nile was said to be, was not worthy of worship. When He sent frogs, He knocked the goddess Heket, worshiped as a frog, out of the sky. Interestingly, when Pharaoh asked Moses to remove the frogs and Moses asked when, Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow"—I always wonder why he wanted one more night with the frogs.

He toppled Hathor, the cow- or bull-god, by destroying their livestock. He humiliated Imhotep, god of medicine, by sending boils the magicians could not cure—and which were on the magicians themselves so badly they couldn't even stand before Moses. (Revelation speaks of a similar boil on those who take the mark of the beast.) He showed Himself greater than Nut, the sky goddess, by hail and fire from heaven, and greater than Seth, protector of crops, by the locusts. With three days of darkness that could be felt—an oppressive, spiritual darkness—He overthrew Ra, the sun god. And finally He overthrew Osiris, giver of life, when Pharaoh's firstborn died—for Pharaoh was worshiped as a deity who could not die, yet in one night the destroyer killed all the firstborn of Egypt, including Pharaoh's.

God Does Not Change

I am convinced that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus says in Revelation 1 that He is the first and the last, who was and is and is to come. Malachi 3 says, "I am God, and I do not change." For some reason the church in the West thinks the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New. I don't believe that. God still speaks—the question is whether we are listening.

He calls out with the same message as in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Even Egypt could have experienced healing had they turned to God. He desired that they repent, but Pharaoh constantly hardened his heart.

Some ask about God hardening Pharaoh's heart. The Hebrew words differ. When Pharaoh hardened his own heart, that was his action. When God hardened it, He made it strong and stiff—confirming Pharaoh in the direction he had already chosen. Pharaoh continually refused God's call, and so ultimately Pharaoh and his armies would be killed—all for the deliverance of God's people and the glorification of His name.

Zealous for His Glory

A passage that has always stood out to me is Exodus 14. After Pharaoh lets Israel go, he changes his mind and pursues them. Israel is trapped—the Red Sea before them, mountains on either side, the army behind. God tells Moses to lift his staff and the sea will part. But notice verse 4: "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them."

If I were Moses I'd have said, "Time out—if you can make him follow us, why not just send him home?" But God says, "I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." God is exceedingly zealous for His glory. Let me say it again: God is exceedingly zealous for His glory. He is determined to deliver all who turn to Him, and to be glorified over those who will not. God will be glorified by your obedience or by your rebellion. If you determine that you will not follow God, His righteous wrath will be glorified in your life. But if you say, "Lord, I want to follow you," He will deliver you.

A New Exodus and the Land of Israel

Why are we looking at Exodus 1–14? Because I believe God is speaking to us. America holds the largest gathering of Jewish people outside the land of Israel, and it is about the only nation in history that has been consistently favorable to them. Today there are roughly equal numbers of Jews in Israel and in the United States. But I wholeheartedly believe there will be a new Exodus—that the children of Israel will begin to depart from the United States. Part of it may already be appearing in our economic crisis, and part may come through a shift in policy toward Israel. But there also needs to be something to lure the people back to the promised land.

Israel has historically had few natural resources while its neighbors—Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE—are rich with oil. Yet some prophetic passages seem to indicate oil will be found in Israel in the last days. I read just hours ago that a very large cache of natural gas was found off the coast of Haifa—enough to power the nation for at least 30 years and to sell on the world market. Groups are drilling for oil now along the Golan Heights, in the Valley of Jezreel (Armageddon), and near the Dead Sea. If those large pools exist, Israel could become one of the richest nations in the world—a strong lure to return.

There's something else interesting. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, a coalition of nations—Persia, Gog and Magog (often identified with Russia), and other largely Islamic nations—gathers to attack Israel "to take a spoil," to seize a reward. Until now Israel hasn't had much anyone would want, except the Temple Mount.

Dividing God's Land

I looked today at the new administration's foreign-policy views and searched for Israel. The new Obama administration has made clear it would like a two-state solution—dividing the land of Israel between Palestinians and Jews. But Joel 3 says, "in those days... when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations... and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land."

God says judgment will come to those who divide the land of Israel. Why? Because it is God's land—His property, which He leased to the people He chose.

Indicators of Judgment: Isaiah 19

I believe there are certain prophetic passages I would call indicators of judgment. Turn to Isaiah 19. "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it" (v. 1). Egypt in Scripture is often a type of the world. The judgment comes swiftly, and the first thing that happens is that the gods of the nation tremble and fall—a god being simply whatever you place your trust in.

We've seen in our own nation, over the last several years, things we trust in shake and fall. In 2001 two very important buildings fell, part of the Pentagon was destroyed, Wall Street and the financial district were decimated, and our war machine was struck. It's not politically correct, but I believe that is God removing His hand of protection. I don't believe God flew the planes into the buildings—but when God removes His hand of protection, the enemy is allowed to come in.

We see this in Job. Satan said, "Remove your hedge of protection and he'll curse you." God did, and the enemy came in like a flood: robbers killed the servants and stole everything Job trusted in; a whirlwind destroyed his children's house. These look like ordinary disasters, but behind the scenes God had removed His protection. We've seen the same things in our nation—the wealth man trusts in decimated within months, an entire city disrupted by Katrina in 2005.

More Indicators

Isaiah 19 continues: "I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians... city against city, and kingdom against kingdom" (v. 2)—civil unrest. I read today that California has a $42 billion deficit; the governor warns there may be no tax refunds, only IOUs, and that welfare checks may not be paid in coming months. To me that is an equation for civil unrest.

"The spirit of Egypt shall fail... I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols" (v. 3)—failed leadership, judges who call good evil and evil good. "The Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them" (v. 4)—tyranny. The waters fail and the rivers dry up (v. 5)—drought. The crops and fishermen mourn (vv. 7–10)—famine, industrial and economic collapse. "The princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish" (v. 11)—loss of wise counsel. The leaders cause Egypt to err "as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit" (v. 14)—foolish leaders leading the people astray. There is no work for the nation (v. 15)—great unemployment. Egypt becomes like a fearful woman (v. 16)—loss of courage and strength. And finally, "the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt" (v. 17)—their captives become their captors.

The Cause: Leviticus 26

Why do these curses come? The answer is in Leviticus 26. "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image... for I am the LORD your God" (v. 1). If there are no false gods in a land, God doesn't need to move in and topple them. "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments... I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase" (vv. 3–4). The threshing will reach to the vintage and the vintage to the sowing time—year-round abundance. There will be peace; none shall make you afraid; evil beasts and the sword removed; your enemies falling before you. "I will set my tabernacle among you... and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people" (vv. 11–12). There are blessings in obedience.

"But if ye will not hearken unto me... I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror" (vv. 14–16)—disease, fever, sorrow of heart, enemies devouring your harvest. "And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins" (v. 18). Seven means completion—complete, perfected judgment. He makes "your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass" (v. 19)—drought and famine—and again "seven times more plagues" (v. 21), wild beasts, the sword that avenges His covenant, pestilence, broken staff of bread so "ye shall eat, and not be satisfied" (v. 26). Repeatedly: if you walk contrary to Him, He will walk contrary to you and chastise you seven times for your sins.

Is America a Christian Nation?

Why would God bring judgment, plagues, and curses upon a nation? It has everything to do with that nation's disobedience. For many years it's been said the United States is a Christian nation. I no longer believe that's the case. Barna Research reports that Christianity is no longer the default religion in America. We've become a secularized, pluralistic society that invokes every god out there—did you hear the inauguration yesterday, invoking Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, as if we're all one big happy family?

Those who depart from the Lord and contend with the counsel of the Most High will find themselves in bondage and under judgment—because God cannot dwell in the midst of a sinful people. In Leviticus 26 He promises, "I will dwell among you," but when a nation becomes sinful He removes His presence, and the enemy comes in like a flood. I believe we are seeing that, and will see it even more.

I pray for revival in our nation, and I do believe that in the last days the Lord will pour out His Spirit on all flesh and we will see a great revival. Yet in all my study of prophecy I've never been able to find America definitively in the prophetic passages. That may be because the Lord Himself descends with a shout, the dead in Christ rise first, and we are caught up to be with Him forever. That is why the church looks for His coming and says, "Come, Lord Jesus." The Spirit and the bride say, Come.

Until then, even though it may be the most politically incorrect thing to say, I believe the Lord is removing His presence from our nation and the enemy is coming in like a flood. I do not believe God is specifically flying hurricanes or planes into our buildings—but a nation that blesses God will be blessed by God, and we have largely departed from that. Many churches no longer believe this is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. I thank God I'm part of a church that does. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, You prayed in John 17 that Your Word is truth. As we live in a nation that largely believes in relativism, that every path leads to You, we know there is only one way—that You, Jesus, are the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by You. I pray for my brothers and sisters here, that we as a church would boldly proclaim the truth of Your Word, because it is Your truth that sanctifies and cleanses us, making us ready for the day we stand before You. I look forward to that day; until You come, give us boldness to speak sound doctrine, the things that transform lives. I know that in this city and county many know You, but a great number do not. Please open a door of opportunity for us to share the gospel of truth with those who are sick and dying tonight. We ask it in the mighty and precious name of Jesus. Amen.