July 28, 2008

Text: Exodus 3-4
Theme: Significant Prayers (OT)

DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF "PRAYER"

1. Petitioner

a) Offers praise

b) Offers petitions

c) Pleads forgiveness

d) Waits upon the Lord

e) Obeys the Lord's instructions

2. God

a) Listening

b) Responding

c) Instructing

d) Empowering

e) Fulfilling

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE LORD

1. Appointments
"So the LORD said to Moses: 'See. I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet"    Exodus 7:1

a) Moses' Role
As God to Pharaoh

b) Aaron's Role
As a prophet

2. Message
"You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land"    Exodus 7:2

3. Explanation
"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel among them."    Exodus 7:3-5

a) God's invisible actions explained

b) Series of actions outlined:-

    i) Hardening of Pharaoh's heart

    ii) Multiplying of signs and wonders in the land of Egypt

    iii) Laying of God's hand on Egypt

    iv) Bringing out God's people

c) Goals

    i) The Egyptians shall know the Lord God of Israel

    ii) Children of Israel delivered from bondage

d) Resistance to be expected

    i) Pharaoh will not heed

    ii) Deliverance of a nation is going to be hard!

APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

1. The Outset
"Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the LORD commanded them, so they did."    Exodus 7:6

2. First Sign (Rod to snake)    Exodus 7:8-13
"So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded."    Exodus 7:10

3. First Plague (Water to blood)    Exodus 7:14-25
"And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded."    Exodus 7:20