(Exodus) Exodus 1:17-22
God intervenes in the lives of the midwives and the Hebrew people, foreshadowing His plan of redemption and deliverance from sin.
In this sermon, the preacher discusses the birth of Moses and how God raised him up to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The preacher emphasizes that the book of Exodus is a powerful depiction of God's redemption and deliverance from sin, the world, and the devil. The sermon highlights the bravery of the midwives who defied Pharaoh's command to kill all male Hebrew babies, and instead saved them alive. Despite Pharaoh's attempts to exterminate the Hebrews, God intervened and the people multiplied and grew stronger. The sermon also mentions that political maneuvers in our day may not always work out, but God's plans and interventions are always successful.
Full Transcript
But notice how God always intervenes. Verse 17, "...but the midwives feared God." In other words, these people had borne a witness in the land of Egypt, and at least the midwives that had come in contact with the people, they feared God. "...and did not, as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively and are delivered, ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and waxed very mighty." In other words, this attempt to destroy all the male children just wasn't coming off very well in the land of Egypt. This is another political maneuver that didn't work out.
And believe me, there's been many a political maneuver in our day that hasn't worked out. Verse 21, "...it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses." In other words, these two women apparently had charge of them, and they became a group that was greatly respected in the land. Now, the last verse, verse 22 of chapter 1, "...And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." Now, you see, this would soon exterminate them as a race.
And the question is, is it going to succeed or work? And the fact of the matter is, I think we can already say it will not. Now, we'll see next the birth of the Deliverer, that is, the birth of Moses, whom God will raise up to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. This is the great book on redemption.
It reveals in actual picture form of how God today delivers us from sin and from the world and the flesh and the devil and saves us for heaven. For these people are to be brought into the land later on.
Sermon Outline
- God's Intervention in the Midwives
- The Failure of Pharaoh's Plan
- The Next Step in God's Plan
- Pharaoh's new command to kill all male children
- The question of whether this plan will succeed
Key Quotes
“But notice how God always intervenes.” — J. Vernon McGee
“And the fact of the matter is, I think we can already say it will not.” — J. Vernon McGee
“It reveals in actual picture form of how God today delivers us from sin and from the world and the flesh and the devil and saves us for heaven.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We can learn from the midwives' example of fearing God and disobeying unjust commands.
- God's plan of redemption is a powerful reminder of His deliverance from sin and the world.
- We can trust in God's intervention in our lives, even in the face of adversity.