The God Who Delivers His People

Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.

The God Who Delivers His People

Exodus 1–15

Introduction

Today’s title is “The God Who Delivers His People.”
It’s a very long passage—Exodus chapters 1 to 15—so I will highlight a few key points.

First of all, thank you so much for coming today. Some of you came because your friends invited you, some out of curiosity, and some may be searching for something deeper. Whatever your reason, I hope that tonight you will learn something about this person we call our God.

Tonight, I want to share some insights from the Bible about a man named Moses. Some of you may have heard of Moses through the movie The Prince of Egypt. It’s quite an old movie, but still a popular one. Some of you may also know the song “When You Believe.” While the movie draws from the biblical story, it includes dramatic additions. Tonight, we want to look at what the Bible actually says—especially about the character of God.

Let us begin with a word of prayer.

Background: The Story of Moses

Moses was born during a chaotic time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. A power-hungry and ruthless Pharaoh ordered the death of all Israelite baby boys. Yet Moses survived by God’s grace, because God had a plan for him.

Let us walk through six key moments in Moses’ life:

1. Moses Flees Egypt
   As a young man, Moses saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. In anger, he killed the Egyptian. When this became known, Moses fled Egypt.
2. The Burning Bush
   God appeared to Moses in a burning bush on Mount Horeb and commanded him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites.
3. Pharaoh Refuses
   Moses and Aaron obeyed and told Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” But Pharaoh refused.
4. The Ten Plagues
   God sent plagues upon Egypt—such as water turning to blood, darkness, and finally the death of every firstborn.
5. Israel Is Released
   After the final plague, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go.
6. The Red Sea Crossing
   Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them. Trapped at the Red Sea, God parted the waters through Moses. The Israelites crossed safely, and the Egyptian army drowned.

Two Key Moments

Tonight, we will focus on two key moments:

1. The burning bush
2. The final plague and deliverance

1. The Burning Bush: God Hears and Is in Control

In Exodus 3:7–8, the Lord says:

“I have indeed seen the misery of my people… I have heard them crying out… and I am concerned about their suffering… So I have come down to rescue them.”

From this, we learn two things:

(1) God Hears Our Suffering

God saw the Israelites’ misery. He heard their cries. Their suffering was not ignored.

(2) Suffering Does Not Mean God Is Not in Control

Even while Israel was oppressed, God was still in control.

How do we know? Because 400 years earlier, God had already told Abraham that his descendants would be afflicted for 400 years (Genesis 15:13), and that He would deliver them afterward.

Throughout the story:

• God predicted the plagues before they happened
• God executed each event according to His plan
• God fulfilled His promise to deliver Israel

From this, we learn:

• God has His reasons for His deeds
• God has His reasons for His timing

Sometimes His timing is long—400 years in this case. If you are in a season where you do not understand God’s reasons or His pace, do not give up trusting Him. Scripture shows that God always knows what He is doing.

Therefore, we can trust in God’s provision in our trials.

2. The Passover: The Means of Deliverance

Before the final plague, God gave instructions in Exodus 12.

Each household was to take a lamb:

• Without blemish
• A male, one year old

They were to kill the lamb and put its blood on the doorposts.

Why?

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you… no plague will destroy you.”

What Happened?

• God struck the firstborn of Egypt
• But the Israelites were spared
• Because of the blood on the doorposts

A sacrifice was made, and because of that, judgment passed over them.

The Deeper Meaning: Pointing to Jesus Christ

This account points to a greater truth—Jesus Christ.

The Problem of Sin

When God created Adam and Eve, there was no sin. But they disobeyed God, rejecting His authority. As a result:

• Humanity became separated from God
• The penalty of sin is death

No amount of good works can bridge this gap.

The Solution

The only acceptable payment was the death of Jesus Christ:

• Perfect and sinless
• The sacrificial Lamb
• Died for the sins of the world

Anyone who repents and believes in Him will be saved. This is the gospel—the good news.

Parallels: The Lamb and Jesus

We see clear parallels:

1. The lamb was without blemish
   → Jesus was sinless
2. The lamb was killed and its blood shed
   → Jesus died and shed His blood
3. The lamb was a substitute
   → Jesus died as our substitute

Salvation Is Not Based on Status

Here is a key point:

God does not choose based on human status.

Pharaoh was powerful—wealth, influence, authority. Yet he was not saved.

For the Israelites, God did not look at:

• Their wealth
• Their possessions
• Their status

He looked only at one thing: the blood on the doorposts.

Nothing they owned could save them. Only the blood could.

Likewise:

• Salvation is not based on status, wealth, or works
• It is based on trusting in God’s provision

Anyone can be saved:

• The lowest in status
• The poorest
• Even the worst sinner

If they repent and believe in Christ.

Two Groups of People

In this story, there are only two groups:

• Those who believed (Israelites) → delivered
• Those who rejected (Egyptians) → judged

Similarly today:

• Those who believe in Jesus are saved
• Those who reject Him are not

The Response: Joy and Worship

How would someone respond after being freed from slavery?

With joy.

The Israelites, after being delivered, sang praises to God (Exodus 15).

The Hebrew lyrics in The Prince of Egypt actually come directly from this song:

• “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously”
• “Who is like You, O Lord?”
• “In Your love, You lead the people You have redeemed”

These were real words sung by real people who experienced deliverance by a real God.

Illustration: The Crocodile Rescue

Let me end with a story.

A couple in Nigeria went fishing. A crocodile attacked the wife and dragged her into the water. She cried out, and her husband jumped in, fought the crocodile, and rescued her. Both were injured, but both survived.

What a picture of love—a man willing to risk his life for his wife.

Now imagine if the wife said,
“I don’t think he’s good enough. I’ll find someone better.”

That would not make sense.

Yet this reflects how we sometimes treat God.

God has already shown His love:

• He sent His Son
• He gave His life for us

But we say, “That’s not enough.”

The truth is:

• God is the one rescuing us
• Sin and the devil are the crocodile

Let us not reject the One who saves us.

Conclusion

Let us not be like the Egyptians who turned away from God. Instead:

• Repent of our sins
• Believe that Jesus died for us
• Trust in the God who delivers His people

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the story of Moses. Thank You for showing us that You are the God who delivers His people.

I pray for those who are hurting—that they will know You are in control. I pray that we will repent of our sins and believe that Jesus came to save us.

In Jesus’ most precious name we pray, Amen.