23 After a long time …
the Israelites groaned under
their slavery, and cried out.
Out of the slavery their cry
for help rose up to God.
24 God heard their groaning,
and God remembered
his covenant with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
25 God looked upon the Israelites,
and God took notice of them.
Exodus 2
Yesterday we introduced Step 2 of the Exodus Pattern for Greater Freedom in Life.
· Exodus 1 reveals Step 1: The first step to freedom – as we detailed yesterday – is: We must admit that we are powerless over _______—and that our lives have become unmanageable.
· Exodus 2 reveals Step 2: “After a long time … the Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out.” That’s it. That’s step two: Cry out to God!
But wait! There’s a second part to this second step – let’s call it Step 2b …
· We next have to trust that if and when we truly and totally cry out to God, our “groaning” will “r[i]se up to God.” Do you believe that?
· We have to trust that “God [will] hear[ our cry].” Do you believe that?
· We have to trust that “God [will] remember[] his covenant [and be faithful to his promises].” Do you believe that?
Today I want to show you how central this second point is to the heart of God. Our cry and God’s answer is not just one isolated incident! Answering heartfelt cries is God’s heart! It’s how he works!
Take, for example, the plight of the people in the Book of Judges:
· God would bless the children of Israel, and things in their nation would go well for them.
· But soon the people would forget God and his provision. They’d take credit for their own success. And they’d gradually – then persistently – rebel against God. And God would take his hand of protection off of them, and things would get worse and worse.
· Finally God’s people would reach such a despicable point that essentially “all” of them would cry out with one voice.
· And then … God would rescue them by raising up a new Judge, a deliverer.
Their cry was the beginning of the victory. (Personalize that: Our cry is the beginning of the victory!)
Do you see that? Let me give you a few examples from just the first few chapters of Judges …
· Judges 3:9 -- But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
· Judges 3:15 -- But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera …
· Judges 4:3 -- Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help … So … God subdued King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites.
· Judges 6:6 -- Thus Israel was greatly impoverished because of Midian; and the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
Let’s you think those are just a few examples, Jesus constantly worked that way too!
· Mark 6:49-51 -- when [the disciples] saw [Jesus] walking on the sea, they … cried out … [and] immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased.
· Matthew 14:30-31 -- But when [Peter] noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him …
· Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus … a blind beggar … heard that … Jesus of Nazareth [was passing by, and] he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” … [And] Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight …
· Mark 9:23-24 – Jesus said … “All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the [troubled] child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” … [So] Jesus took [the boy] by the hand and lifted him up …
The pattern is firmly established: When we totally, fully, humbly cry, God does hear and will deliver.
Indeed, our cry is the beginning of the victory!
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who doesn’t want
to be whale food
(Lord, humble me to cry before
I’m swallowed like Jonah)
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