The Pursuit of a Father for His Son

                         (Exodus 4:18-23)

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 18 Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 

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 19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 

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 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand. 

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 21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 

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 22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 

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 23 “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”

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       God’s Love Comforts His Servant

             (Exodus 4:18-20)

     Key verse: “Then Moses departed…”

* ++The reluctant servant finally takes a step of obedience.

* ++Moses surrenders to God’s will and begins moving toward Egypt.

* ++Key truth: God delights in growing weak faith. The important thing is not the size of our faith, but the object of our faith.

* ++God nurtures and strengthens early steps of obedience.

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     You don’t need perfect faith . 

     Just take the next step of obedience  

     God has placed before you.

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  God’s Love Confronts His Enemy (vv. 21)

  Key verse: “I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”

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* ++Obedience does not guarantee immediate success and can introduce opposition.

* ++The pathway of God’s will is sometimes the pathway of greatest resistance yet it remains the safest place because God is there.

* ++God hardens Pharaoh’s heart to expose what is already there: human rebellion and love for autonomy.

* ++Central question of Exodus: Who is truly Lord?

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  God’s Love Pursues His Son (vv. 22-23)

  Key verses: “Israel is My son, My firstborn… Let My son go… I will kill your son, your firstborn.”

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* ++These are some of the most tender words in Exodus. God calls Israel “My son” — not just His nation or people.

* ++The Exodus is about a Father rescuing His son.

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* ++Every plague, miracle, and judgment flows from the determined love of a Father who refuses to abandon His son.

* ++“My firstborn” speaks of special relationship, privilege, inheritance, and covenant love.

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     Jesus: The True Son and Faithful Firstborn

* ++Israel was called God’s son but repeatedly failed.

* ++Jesus came as an Israelite and succeeded where Israel failed.

* ++Jesus is God’s Son by nature (eternal, beloved, unique).

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* ++At the cross, the Son who deserved blessing, honor, and life received wrath, shame, and death.

* ++Why? So that rebels could become sons and those with no inheritance could receive one.

* ++The cross is where our adoption was purchased.

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           Sons and Heirs

* ++When God saves us, He adopts us and gives us the full standing of sons.

* Every believer (male and female) receives the inheritance rights of a firstborn son.

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* Romans 8:17: “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”

* Everything that belongs to Christ becomes ours by grace.

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                   Communion

* ++We come to the table not as strangers or orphans, but as sons and heirs.

* ++The bread and cup remind us that our place in God’s family was purchased by Jesus.

* ++The Father gave up His Firstborn Son so that we could become firstborn sons.

* ++That is the gospel. That is the greater Exodus.