Sermon: Pioneers: Our Job Is the Journey
#1703-AM
Mark Schindler
Given 12-Apr-23; 72 minutes
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transcript:
On this Last Day of Unleavened Bread, another very significant piece in God’s incredible purpose from before the foundation of the earth, to create man in the image and likeness of God, we are going to begin before the beginning. So please turn with me to John 1.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:10-14 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Although this may not be the specific purpose statement of the sermon this morning, it does contain the SPS within it, and it is where we really need to begin this morning, as a memorial of God’s final deliverance of Israel from their slave masters in Egypt. But more importantly, this is a day when we should more carefully consider our final deliverance from the slavery of this world that is only to be found in Jesus Christ.
Just as Israel came through deliverance only by the miraculous intervention of God, delivering them physically from bondage in Egypt, we too have come through the waters of baptism and the old man has been buried to be raised anew with Jesus Christ.
However, as we have heard several times throughout these days, we are still battling the carnal nature that came with us as we continue on our wilderness journey, while knowing that through Jesus Christ our citizenship is already beyond the wilderness and in heaven with the Father and the Son, as the apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, but only because of the work of Jesus Christ and His fidelity to the Father and Their purpose from before the foundation of the earth.
Fidelity of the Father and the Word, regardless of the cost, has always been a hallmark characteristic of Them both in accomplishing Their purpose in the journey They have set before us into Their Family.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Greek word here, in this first sentence of John’s quickly declared magnificent work of Jesus Christ that is translated as “with” “the Word was with God” would better be translated “toward.” This word in the Greek is pros. It is Strong’s #4314 and is actually a preposition of direction, which may be better translated as “toward,” indicating the direction in which one is headed.
Perhaps for the purposes of this sermon today, it may be helpful to think it of this way: in the beginning of the Father and the Word’s plan to create man in Their image and likeness, the Word of God, who became the only way into the Kingdom of God, faithfully guides us on the journey in Their direction.
Just as the Word was guiding Israel through the Red Sea and out of bondage of Egypt, He is guiding the elect, and then all of mankind, out of Satan's bondage to sin and eventually to all those places He has carefully prepared for us.
John 1:15-18 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Not only is He the guide but He provides everything we need to successfully complete the journey. However, brethren, as it was costly to Him, so too it must be costly to us if we are to succeed. But we will succeed if we stay behind Him having received grace upon grace. No matter what direction He has determined to lead us, if we keep our eyes focused on Him, using the gifts He has graciously given, we will reach the journey’s end that the Father and Word determined from the beginning.
A while ago Nancy and I were watching a program that very graphically portrayed the pain, suffering, and difficulties of a wagon train moving into the relatively unknown land of the American West in the 1800s.
The caravan was mostly made up of a group of immigrants who came to the New World from Europe seeking the 1800s American dream of prosperity. They were seeking the independence and opportunity that they had never known within the class system of Europe. It was more than merely receiving their own piece of land that could be theirs when they reached the wide-open spaces of the American West (in this case the beautiful Oregon Territory). It was the promise of having the resources to fulfill their personal ambitions that were driven by their innate talents, and the desire for self-satisfaction and personally reaping the rewards of their labors.
The perils and hardships they faced became more difficult as the days and weeks passed. Not only were they struggling with the difficulties of traveling through often severe terrain and weather, but they frequently faced the often violent denizens that inhabited the lawless territories, both animal and men.
Also thrown into the mix were their own self-serving carnal natures, fed by several factors, including the fear of the unknown and every man’s own opinion that best suited what they considered their own goals and needs.
The group was a snapshot of society as a whole: good/bad, selfish/selfless, kind/mean, violent/peaceful, patient/impulsive, reckless/cautious, strong/weak.
They all had the same goal in mind, but with many different ideas of what that goal meant to them personally, driven by their own personalities and world views.
Leading the caravan was a grizzled wagon master, who had not only made the trek before but was also formerly an officer in the Civil War. In that capacity he had to make life and death decisions to direct others in a fight for survival in one of the most gruesome conflicts in American history.
He had led men into battle and was quite familiar with making the hard decisions that were needed in dealing with survival within disastrous situations on a group and individual level.
He was prepared to lead this group of neophyte pioneers to their goal because he understood firsthand what it would take to get there and the cost along the way.
These people started out with a goal in mind, but had only the slightest idea of what it would cost to get there—but this leader knew the cost.
To the main point of this sermon today, there was a particular moment of clarity in the story when they came to a river that had to be crossed to continue their journey. They came to a place in the river shallow enough for them to ford horses, cattle, wagons to the other side.
They decided that the following morning they would ford the river with the wagons first, followed by the 100 head of cattle. This was so that the heavy trampling cattle did not soften the river bottom too much before the wagon wheels would pass through it. But overnight the river rose and in order not to get bogged down in the river and then get swept away in the swiftly moving current, they had to jettison most of their possessions.
In addition, someone went ahead on horseback with a rope that needed to be securely fastened on both sides of the river so the people could on foot cross single file, while holding onto the heavy rope. If they panicked and let go, as some did, they would be swept away and drown.
The wagons then would follow with a single driver. But if the drivers were not patient and carefully followed instructions to avoid the river-bottom drop offs that the rider on horseback had identified, they too would be get bogged down and swept away.
The scene at the river was almost devastating as some died because they panicked in fear and did not follow directions that would have kept them on the journey.
But perhaps even more important to this message today, on this Last Day of Unleavened Bread, as we recall our journey from the slavery of sin to the Kingdom of God as pictured in Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, is the confrontational conversation that took place between the wagon master in the film and those who were in the caravan.
As I said, the rushing water level in the river had risen overnight and some more adjustments had to be made. The wagon master told everyone on the caravan “Unload your wagons. If it’s not absolutely necessary it doesn’t make the trip.”
These people were carrying their lifelong possessions with them, and in one of the wagons, the wagon master came across a piano that he said was an unnecessary load that was too heavy for the crossing.
At this point the spokesman for the group came forward and said, “It’s necessary, he’s a musician!” To which the wagon train master bellowed unconditionally. “No! He’s not a musician and you’re not a carpenter and he’s not a blacksmith! You’re pioneers and that’s all you are ‘til you get there! You have no homes, no jobs, no farms. You have the journey, that’s it!”
To which the spokesman replied, “These things can’t be replaced. You’re sending him to Oregon to be a beggar in the streets!” Again, from the wagon master “These are his choices. If he won’t do this he loads his wagon and goes back to Fort Worth or I burn his wagon to the ground!”
As the man is unloading his wagon and leaving his piano among the vast field of all the off-loaded personal possessions that would have otherwise been the source of sure death in the rapids at the crossing, the wagon master’s second in command of the caravan tells the wagon master “They’re gonna hate you!” To which he replied “At least they’ll still be alive to do it!”
Brethren, I took a bit of time to describe a fictional circumstance that was built on the true history of the pioneer’s journey in the 1800s American West because, it is a very clear allegory for the journey that we face today.
On this day we celebrate the Last Day of Unleavened Bread and the day when God finalized His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. But there was a long journey ahead of them and in considering God’s faithfulness to accomplish what He has set out to do, they could have been free if they obeyed Him.
I Corinthians 10:1-15 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as in common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.
Brethren, this may seem quite grim and a difficult journey to follow. It may even seem as harsh to us as that wagon master’s declaration of two choices for those who would not do what sacrificially needed to be done. “Go back with all your possessions that you treasure or have your wagon burned to the ground.” Both choices for those who refused to sacrificially keep moving forward meant a return to the shackles of slavery.
However, because God is faithful to make sure our journey is successful through Jesus Christ, He will always make a way of escape from perils along the way if we stay faithful to Him.
We must not become discouraged in this journey! So let us read I Corinthians 10:13 from a couple of alternate translations that may more fully express the hope in that verse.
I Corinthians 10:13 (AMP) No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].
I Corinthians 10:13 (Basic English) You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.
I Corinthians 10:13 (GNB) Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
Now, as we get farther into this sermon let us make sure God’s Word about this very important historical event is clear in our minds. But I would like us to consider a bit of the physical differences of God’s delivery of Israel from Egypt and His delivery of us from the shackles of sin, while keeping in mind the allegory within the pioneers’ journey.
We will pick it up first with the beginning of Unleavened Bread and then skip on through to this day recounting God’s delivery of Israel from Pharaoh's hand.
We will be starting with the morning after sunrise, when it was permissible for them to leave their homes, after they faithfully kept the Passover at the beginning of the 14th.
Exodus 12:31-32 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.”
Of course, as we know Pharaoh sent out a command, but Aaron and Moses would not have come out and disobeyed God’s command. You can see for yourselves the last time Pharaoh actually saw Moses is recorded in Exodus 10:28-29, before the final plague.
Exodus 12:33-42 “Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Then the children of Israel journeyed from Ramses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds, a great deal of livestock. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because thy were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.
Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in-Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.
Notice, rather than leaving all physical possessions behind like those pioneers needed to do to lighten their load, God provided much more physically for their journey. They added great material possessions from the spoils of Egypt before their journey out began with setting sun that started the 15th day, and the first day of Unleavened Bread.
Notice it says in verse 35 that they had done all this at the word of Moses.
Let us turn back a few chapters to Exodus 3 because we need to be sure that this was done not just because Moses thought it was a good idea. This was all part of God’s plan and purpose, which would ultimately give them what they needed to take care of their needs and responsibilities that would be required in setting up the Tabernacle, where God would dwell with them during their wilderness journey.
Exodus 3:3-7 [God’s instructions to Moses all the way back at the burning bush] Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.”
Exodus 3:10-12 “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:19-22 “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Israel was God’s physical example to us! They were going to be required to leave behind many things they had become accustomed to having in Egypt, things they considered vital for their own self-satisfaction, as we will see in a few minutes.
But God had given them what He knew they would need physically to make the journey for His honor and glory, which would be part of their responsibilities, as His elect physical people of the circumcision. Those responsibilities, if carried out wholeheartedly, should have brought an idol worshipping people, as they had become within the environs of Egypt, back into alignment with the true God, the “I AM,” they would have surely been freed.
Keeping in mind what the wagon master told the pioneers in the 1880s caravan “He’s not a musician and you’re not a carpenter and he’s not a blacksmith! You're pioneers and that is all you are ‘til you get there! You have no homes, no jobs, no farms, you have the journey. That’s it!”
Israel was then in the same set of circumstances! However, just like those pioneers, their innate skills, although not the focus of their lives anymore, would be needed along the way, as we will see in a minute.
This is a necessary thing to keep in mind. It was the journey that had to be the focus, but their innate skills would be needed along the way incidental to the journey, as part of God’s plan and purpose for them.
We are going to take a very brief overview of what God provided to Israel for His glory, while we consider they were only tools to be used for the benefit of all on the journey, as part of God’s lesson to them.
First of all, without going there, let me point out that God establishes a very clear pattern of order for Israel, as recorded in Numbers 1 and 2, that reflected His own pattern of order in planning and purpose. This in itself was a daily lesson Israel was to maintain throughout their journey.
Exodus 35:4-10 [just as a small example of everything God provides] And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded.’
Exodus 35:21-29 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord’s offering.
And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, and the spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.
Brethren, these people were slaves in Egypt but on their way out God had clearly provided these things so they could learn to think like He thinks, with outgoing concern and thanksgiving as they made the journey. They also had skills to use these things.
Exodus 35:30-35 And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works.
Exodus 36:2-5 Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”
We will stop there because I just wanted this on our minds. Although their main job was the journey and faithfully following the Pillar of Fire, God provided everything they needed to make His presence among them on the journey obvious to all for His glory!
Brethren, has not God done the same thing with us? He has given all men, including us, innate physical talents and abilities. How are we using them?
Just like physical Israel, we all have different physical and mental abilities to make our way through life. Skills and abilities that men should use for His honor and glory in an orderly journey through life.
We each have proclivities for various vocations—farmers, doctors, electricians, carpenters, bankers, etc. But more importantly for our journey together, God has added something far more important: His Holy Spirit and all the gifts that go with it.
I Corinthians 12:1-12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and not one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
I Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
I Corinthians 12:25-26 That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
God has given. He now gives us those gifts to properly do our job together, and with careful thought of outgoing concern for others, with our overall focus toward the end of the journey, that is now our job—together!
Although God was physically present in various forms throughout Israel’s wilderness journey, just as with Adam and Eve, they failed to appreciate God and His purpose with an eye toward the end of the journey with Him, because of faithlessness. Those additional gifts that God has given us are so we will keep our focus on the end of the journey, while successfully working within the journey.
So let us turn to a few scriptures, again in the writings of the apostle Paul, and those gifts God has given right now to us to keep our focus on journey’s end.
I Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit, which are God’s.
II Corinthians 6:12-18 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement had the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people” Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
II Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having theses promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
When we get bogged down in the affections of this world, we forget that our job is the journey, and we do not keep the end of the journey in front of us! We do not appreciate that we are no longer merely traveling to journey’s end alongside the Tabernacle but with the very Spirit of God dwelling within us to serve the Body.
Ephesians 4:1-7 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [remember we started out with Christ in giving grace upon grace] Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for a the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Brethren, as we continue this journey, it must be together with eyes focused on the goal and not on the individual parts that God has given to make this journey as one united body. God has given us eyes to see Him, as Israel never had.
Let now go back to Exodus 13, Pharaoh's pursuit and Israel’s final deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea with God both in front and behind them, which was only the beginning of their journey to freedom.
Exodus 13:17-22 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” [Joseph was faithful to God no matter what his situation, he knew that God would be faithful.] So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
We will stop here for a minute because I would like us to consider God’s physical and awesome presence with Israel that would be there throughout their journey. Yet even this, just like God’s presence with Adam and Eve, was not enough to keep them focused on God’s faithful promise and their own efforts to stay focused in faith to make the journey.
Before going any farther, I would like you to consider the incredible and constant physical reminder God held before Israel throughout their wilderness journey that they just took for granted: His presence in the pillar of fire.
I had a very small inkling of this impressive display that stood constantly before Israel several years ago. In only the most minuscule way can this be comparable to the awesome display that God maintained before their eyes every day, but I hope it may give us just the slightest idea of what was constantly before them.
Several years ago, our youngest son Mark was driving Nancy and me to the airport just after dawn on a beautifully clear morning for a flight to the Feast of Tabernacles. As we were on a long bridge just south of Midway Airport and about 11 miles southwest of the downtown Chicago, I looked toward downtown and the picture-perfect silhouette of the Chicago skyline in the early dawn that was becoming more distinct as the sun began to rise out of the eastern reaches of Lake Michigan. Suddenly there was what looked like this incredible pillar of fire amid Chicago’s towering skyscrapers. Our son told us what I had just seen was Trump Tower, which is the second tallest building in Chicago and the seventh tallest building in the world.
Skidmore, Owens, and Merrill had designed the building so that its set-back design features, along with low-impassivity coated glass, and polished stainless steel outer curtain wall reflected Chicago’s skyline landscape. But also, because of its design, under the right circumstances and at the right time, as the rising sun hits the building, it virtually takes on the appearance of a pillar of fire. it only lasted for minutes but I thought to myself what an awesome impression God’s far more spectacular and lasting pillar of fire should have made on Israel ever day for 40 years. And yet, even that was not enough to keep them on the straight and narrow!
With this in mind let us continue in Exodus 14 with what happened after Pharaoh, with his hardened heart began to pursue Israel, cornering them in a boxed canyon at the edge of the sea.
Exodus 14:9-15 So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth before Baal Zephon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness” And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”
Brethren, please take note. Israel was to keep their focus on the journey, it was their job to move forward!
Exodus 14:18 “Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
All this was not only for the Israelite's but for those Egyptians, and perhaps more importantly, for those who died in the Sea when God resurrects them.
I do not know but God’s purpose goes far beyond the here and now, even for the Egyptians that died in the Red Sea that day.
Exodus 14:21-31 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
Then the Lord said to Moses. “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on the horsemen.” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the seas, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand on their left. So the Lord saved Israel that day out the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
We all know what happened after this. Within a very short period of days, Israel lost their focus on keeping the commands of God, denied His benevolence, and wanted to turn back from their duty to continue the journey!
What a vitally important lesson we should be able to glean from this Last Day of Unleavened Bread, while considering physical Israel’s final deliverance from the environs of slavery but in reality, was only the beginning of their journey that should have been for the glory of God!
Although we have been freed from the slavery of overwhelming carnal nature, it is still with us! But many things must be left behind.
Although we have many responsibilities and God-given gifts in this life, even they cannot be our focus. The gifts we have must not be our focus. Our focus must be on what we do with them in our responsibilities to the Body of Christ, as we all continue in unity on the journey. Our job is the journey, with our focus on Jesus Christ and the end of the journey for the glory of God.
Remember earlier in the sermon I mentioned Numbers 1 and 2 and the orderly walk through the wilderness God expects with Him at the center. The bottom line is, everyone in this world is on a journey, which we are going to see in positive examples in a minute. Everyone is on a journey in this life, just as God has set from the time He expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden, whether they see it as their focus or not.
I said we were going to look at some positive examples of this journey, but I would like us to look at the negative example first.
Please turn to Genesis 4, which of course is the record of the first murder when Cain killed Abel. But within it is a clear initial example of a primary reason God has set us on this journey.
Following their sacrifices and God’s acceptance of the properly-done sacrifice of Abel, as opposed to Cain’s sacrifice, both using gifts that only God gave in the first place.
Genesis 4:6-7 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
God is in the process of teaching us through the gifts He has given to learn, to think, to act, and to live as He lives, and rule over sin!
Now following Abel’s death at the hand of his brother Cain we can find a very important point regarding the journey we are all on and how it is conducted, either rightly or not.
Genesis 4:10-14 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”
First of all, please notice in verse 12 God removed the gift that God alone had given Cain to be a farmer. Then we see he became both fugitive and vagabond. Both words indicate aimless wandering.
In the Hebrew “fugitive” is the word nûa‛ #5128 in Strong’s and is a verb meaning to shake, to stagger, to wander. It refers to a displaced person, a wanderer, a vagrant. “Vagabond” is from the Hebrew word nûd #5110 in Strong’s and is also a verb, but more emphatically has the sense of aimless motion or actions. It refers to a person moving about aimlessly without a home.
Brethren, all of mankind is on a journey, but the curse of sin to those not under the blood of Jesus Christ with eyes on Him and the goal of the Kingdom of God, is aimlessness in motion and in action on their journey.
God brought His physical nation out of slavery! But they clung to what they had left behind and did not believe the Great God that was right before them. They did not do His will and because of their faithlessness on the journey, almost all that came out, except for a few, wandered aimlessly. Their journey to them became aimless in both motion and action.
This is both the warning of this day and the great hope that lays before us! The journey is our job and how we act in thought, word, and deed must be the actions of a people learning to live as God lives.
God will always provide for His people regardless of the struggles we face with our citizenship already in God’s Kingdom, but in this moment and this time our job before God is the journey together.
I had planned to do a survey of scriptures to remind us of those faithful like Noah, Abraham, who were faithful to their job of the journey, but for lack of time we will just turn to Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:7-16 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed and she bore a child when she was passed the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:24-29 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
Hebrews 11:36-40 Still others had trial of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since were surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Brethren, our job is the journey with our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, making sure that we are learning through the journey to be unencumbered by the things that can cause us to be swept away in the turbulent rivers of this world!
The journey itself is a teaching tool to better learn to think and act upon the Word of God.
With this idea of learning within the journey, I would like to give you a just a small but practical example that shows how God is using this journey to teach us.
The words of the apostle Paul have been mentioned often in this sermon and as Peter told us at the end of his epistle, we need to look to the apostle Paul because he teaches things that are hard to understand.
But the apostle Paul very clearly learned how to be better in line with God’s Word and how to teach the Gospel better through training on his own journey.
I would suggest that each of you, if you have not already done so, listen to Richard’s first sermon in his series on Corinthians “Themes of I Corinthians (Part 1)” that he gave on February 24, 2007. Richard uses the whole sermon to set up the circumstances in which Paul found the Corinthian church. But more importantly to the point of this sermon, you will see, as Richard lays it out, Paul learned how to better do his job, serving God and God’s people within all the trials and tribulations of his own journey and interactions with people converted or not. His job was the journey and his service to the Body of Christ within the gifts God had given to him, always learning to walk more in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, we are not on this journey alone, but with the very One who created us and has delivered us from the bondage of this world to walk as He walked on this journey Himself.
So we are going to end this sermon with a few very important but familiar scriptures to help us stay mindful of this as we continue our journey.
Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 13:22-24 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
Revelation 22:12-14 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Brethren, Jesus Christ is on this journey with us and our job, as pioneers, is the journey, always mindful of I Corinthians 10:13.
I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it [(all the way through the narrow gate and into the Kingdom of God!].
Our job, despite all the gifts God has given us, they cannot be the focus of our attention. Our job is to use those gifts because our job is the journey with our Focus on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has given us everything we need for success to those who stay on the journey with Him!
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