You're Still Here

Christ in Genesis and the Book of Exodus as the Christian “You Are Here” Map

So let us pray Lord Jesus as we open up your word and we begin to study the book of Exodus. We pray Lord that you would help us to see how the book of Exodus points to you points to you our Passover lamb and to our Salvation from the dominion of the devil and the drowning of your foes in the waters of our baptism.

We ask this all in Jesus name. Amen. Today we're gonna do kind of a little bit of prep work. We're gonna be looking at the book of Exodus. Now. We finished up the book of Genesis and we've been noting as we worked our way through the book of Genesis that We can see pictures of Jesus in type and shadow.

The pinnacle type and shadow person in the book of Genesis is Joseph and Joseph really in type and shadow points us to Jesus's incarnation his death resurrection Exaltation and salvation of the whole world with the changing of the books.

We're going to say the typology is going to get scrambled if you would it's kind of like a Rubik's Cube. It's gonna get scrambled again. We're gonna put it back together and have a slightly different pattern this time, but it's still working from the same idea that well, all of this is pointing to Christ and Not that I've ever asked for directions.

I need to make that perfectly clear. I understand that there's a clause in the man book that says that you're not allowed to actually stop and ask for directions.

What was that?

Yeah, so the idea here is is that I'm neither confirming nor denying that I've ever asked for directions. But when I've been to the mall I've noticed that there's a kiosk there at the mall and it has these funny words on it.

You are here. Okay. Now I can neither confirm nor deny that I've ever looked at this kiosk. But what I find in the book of Exodus is this is that the story of the Exodus is the you are here map of the Christian life.

I want you to kind of think about that for a second as The story opens we are following the story of the children of Israel now as a group and now here's kind of the important thing is Israel the Israel that's Important to God is Israel the that's important to God those who are genetically descendants of Abraham or those who have the faith of Abraham the faith of Abraham.

Okay, when it says all of Israel will be saved is it talking about those who are genetically Jewish or those Who have the faith of Abraham? Faith of Abraham. So here's the idea and I'll kind of start with a bunny trail first because we're kind of laying some groundwork today in Dispensational churches if you're not familiar what dispensational ism is there's this belief that somehow World history is chopped up into these Dispensations and that currently we're in the church Dispensation and that when the rapture happens, it'll be a different dispensation.

And so what's weird is is depending on who you talk to about? Dispensations they'll talk about potentially different ways in which people are saved during different dispensations. Which panic begs the question is where did they get this information from because I don't seem to have the in the Bible I can't see it saying and thus change the dispensation.

Anything like that so dispensationalism foists on scripture something that isn't there if you would they they think that they're reading it out. But it's not they're actually putting it over scripture.

But here's the idea in dispensational circles. They have what I would consider not an unbiblical but in the wrong emphasis when it comes to understanding the importance of Physical Israel. Now I want to make sure that you understand what I'm not saying I am NOT saying That we are Palestinians and that we want Israel wiped up them off the map.

That's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is is that just because somebody is genetically Jewish and now lives in the newly reinstituted nation-state of Israel. Doesn't somehow give them some kind of a special status with God.

Israel, the Remnant, and the Meaning of Romans 11

So what happens in dispensational circles is that people will emphatically state? Maybe I should turn Facebook off. Hang on a second here, that'll help. Okay. Yeah, that's my maybe I should do this. Hang on a second here.

Let's just put do not disturb on there we go. Okay. You never know if somebody might want to like take off my head theologically and Roseboro you're a jerk. You know that happens sometimes, you know, I don't know my thing.

But anyway, what'll happen this going back to our thing here is. What'll happen is is that? They'll invoke from Scripture that the one who is against Israel has somehow cursed themselves. God curses those who are opposed to Israel which kind of begs the question which Israel Are we talking about and so there's a lot of confusion going on and we as Christians must get this in our heads.

Is that all of us who are Gentiles any of you Norwegian here? You know, yeah, you Norwegians. I hate to say this. You're not Jewish. I'm Pretty sure of this. I do not see any of the people that I know who are Jewish saying oofta.

Okay, or you betcha or anything like that? That being the case though, what is our status as? Christians in the New Covenant and we have to start to kind of lay this all out because then we can see how the book of Exodus Becomes like the you are here and gives us a road map for the Christian faith.

We're gonna take a look I know there's a strange place to start. We're going to start in the book of Romans and we're gonna start at chapter 11. And we're gonna know what Paul says we'll review Hebrews 11 this will help us to kind of get the important things.

So Paul says in Romans 11, I asked then has God rejected his people. By no means I Myself am an Israelite a descendant of Abraham a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

Do you not know what scripture says of Elijah and watch how he's talking about his people how he appeals to God against Israel. Lord, they've killed your prophets. They have demolished your altars. I Alone am left and they seek my life.

But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for myself 7 ,000 men who have not bowed the knee to but all. So to at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works.

Otherwise grace would no longer be grace kind of setting the table here if you would and so you'll notice Here this helps us so if let's say Hypothetically the current nation-state of Israel that they enact a policy that is Contrary to just basic human rights and the United States of America Says to Israel that policy of yours is bad.

You need to rethink your policy. We are not in agreement with you. Are we opposing Israel? No, we're not are Opposing in Israel that if we disagree with that God is going to curse us.

No.

All right, and this is where you've got to pay attention in Scripture because when Scripture talks about Israel It talks about Israel in several different ways and you need to note in which way it's referring.

The first way Israel is used is of a person Jacob has his name changed to Israel the one who struggles with God. His descendants are the children of Israel. They are physical genetic descendants but the physical genetic descendants are not the ones of note and We know this because one of this this is one of the passages and just think about this.

When we read in the Old Testament in the book of 2nd Kings the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. Did that take place in Rome or did it take place in the nation of Israel? Nation took place in the nation.

So it took place in the so-called promised land. I'm saying that on purpose. Among a people who are the chosen of God, but how many of them? Had the same faith as Abraham the same faith as Israel according to this text.

There was only several thousand who had not bent the knee to Baal and God had kept for himself a remnant. Does that make sense. So when we're talking about Israel, are we talking about the person we talking about the nation-state and those who are genetically?

Descendants or are we talking about Israel who are those who trust in the Messiah? Because the scripture talks about Israel in different ways and it's important to pay attention. Because the ones who are cursed of God for opposing Israel are not cursed for opposing a nation-state and This makes perfect sense when you understand who was it that God sent to punish Israel?

For their Continued insistence and stiff-necked stubbornness to refuse to repent of their idolatry. God sent Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadnezzar not only did he oppose Israel 90 of everybody who was genetically Jewish at that time lost their lives in that campaign.

Only a remnant 10 of them survived the ordeal. Jerusalem itself was sacked the temple was destroyed the walls of Jerusalem were torn down. Did God punish Nebuchadnezzar for opposing Israel?

No.

Nebuchadnezzar dies in the faith in Fact we've read this before there's a letter written to you from Nebuchadnezzar. Have you read it in the book of Daniel? It's actually addressed to you. You should read it.

So here's the idea is that there's some really bad ideas that somehow the nation-state of Israel Reestablished in 1948 is some kind of a sacred cow. It's not. The nation-state of Israel for the most part is like every other nation on the earth comprised of mostly unbelievers with a remnant of those who trust in Christ with the forgiveness of their sins and It's not easy for those who are Christians living in the nation-state of Israel to preach the gospel.

It's not. So which is real are we talking about? So let's continue with this text. What then Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking the elect Obtained it the rest were hardened as it is written. God gave them a spirit of stupor eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear down to this very day.

David says let their table become a snare and a trap a stumbling block and a Retribution for them let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see and bend their backs forever. This is the description of the hardening of those who are genetically descended from Israel.

What did God do in? The year 70 AD. Through the hands of the Romans. He destroyed Jerusalem and he scraped and I mean this it was like God's hand took the temple and Scraped it off the temple mount. The temple stands in a rock heap Off to the side of the temple mount to this day.

Now I'm gonna make a note here. Due to this simple historical fact There is not a single person on planet earth who is capable of practicing biblical Judaism. Not one person. Does not the Mosaic Covenant demand animal sacrifices at the temple.

There hasn't been true Judaism on planet earth since then. Which kind of begs the question is what are we Christians? What are we exactly? Are we a departure from? Judaism or are we exactly the same as well Abraham and his faith?

I kind of want you to think about these things. So I asked did they stumble in order that they might fall well by no means. Rather through their trespass salvation has now come to the Gentiles. So as to make Israel jealous now if their trespass means riches for the world and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles How much more will their inclusion mean now?

I am speaking to you Gentiles. That would be you Norwegians and as much then as I am an apostle to the Norwegians knows what I did there, right? I Magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world. What will their acceptance mean but life from the dead if the dough offered as first fruits is holy. So is the so the whole lump is the whole lump and if the root is holy so are the branches, but if some of the branches were watch this broken off and You Norwegians although a wild olive shoot were grafted in I would say a very cold snowy olive shoot.

You were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. Do not be arrogant toward the branches if you are remember it is not you who supports the root. But the root that supports you.

Then you will say well branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in that is true. They were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud do but fear for if God did not spare the natural branches Neither will he spare you note then the kindness and the severity of God.

Severity towards those who fall into God's kindness to you provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you two will be cut off and Even and even they if they do not continue in their unbelief will be grafted in for God has the power to graft them in.

Again for if you were cut from what is by nature a wallet wild olive tree and grafted Contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree. How much more will these the natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

So lest you be wise in your own side I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery brothers a partial heart a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and in this way all Israel will be saved as it is written.

The deliverer will come from Zion. He will banish ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. That's kind of a lot to to take in all at once but kind of get this the gist of this and you notice that Paul here writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is talking about Israel in two ways genetic Israel and Those who are in the olive tree.

Israel is a cultivated olive branch. We Gentiles have been grafted into Israel by God. Those branches that persisted in unbelief. They've been broken off. Are they part of Israel anymore? No in the same way that you know, a dozen roses is no longer part of The rosebush on which they grew so you when we talk about Israel the person.

Those who are genetically descendants. Those who are grafted into the olive tree. That's us. So in other words I'm looking at Israel right now. So Janet you can say On the Israel eat. I'm an Israelite.

Right. Yes, I say on the Israel eat. Don would say on the Israeli. It's really it is the feminine masculine. It's Israeli.

It talks about Israel.

Equals Jacob, but then Jacob why?

No, no it keep they keep switching back and forth after his name has been changed. Right after his death he's he's going to cut you know. But see even that's not even consistent. I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob yeah, it's it's as if his name that his name that is changed takes on a different significance.

It's not just for him only and I think I haven't been able to find what I would consider a Good explanation for it. There's there's people who've noticed it and written on it, but I can't say that I I That anyone's settled it in my mind.

So in this sense, this is what where we have to pay attention. And it's it's a lot like how the word law is used in Scripture. Sometimes law is referring to commandments. Sometimes law is referring to the Torah.

Sometimes law is you know, it's something totally different than even that so they got wide narrow in the word Israel has a very narrow narrow narrow sense to round to one person. It has a Slightly wider but still narrow sense referring to a group of people who are descended from that guy but then it has this broad term that is quite mysterious and it actually is referring to us and The church hasn't replaced Israel the church has been grafted into it.

You see the difference. Well, yeah, that's all kind of part of the stumbling block of it let me give you a another historical example of this. That that will take it out of the Middle East context for a second.

Let's put it into Europe. At the time of the Nazis, I don't know if you remember this in history. But the Nazis were not fond of the Jews in fact those who were genetically Jewish were scapegoated for all of the problems in Germany and Austria after after the Treaty of Versailles and the the ending of World War one they were scapegoated for everything and Part of this kind of philosophically goes back to and this is one of the you know ingredients in this is.

The is the writings of Nietzsche. I don't know if you've ever read Nietzsche. It's quite awful. And what Nietzsche basically did he was kind of talking about why is it that we follow the moral law? That was given to a group of people who were slaves.

And so the moral law the Ten Commandments. They Nietzsche hated them because he considered that slave morality. And so he came up with this clever way of describing things and he basically said, you know, why don't you know?

Why don't we follow the you know? Some kind of a moral law from a people who are healthy strong conquerors and he kind of told the parable of how Wolves do not follow the moral law of sheep. So when a wolf kills a sheep other wolves say that's the good job good on you.

But if you're a sheep, you're thinking that's terrible wolves are bad. But if you're a wolf you think that's great. Okay lunch exactly so the idea here is is that he he likened morality as something that isn't isn't Universal and applicable across the board.

He basically said morality is actually connected to the community that you are a part of. So if you're part of the German community, well the Germanic community the Aryans we were strong Conquerors we were out that we are the ones who resisted the Romans and we did all this stuff.

We all were German. We're ah, so why would we want to embrace a slave morality of Jews is the way Nietzsche argued. And so what happens is is that as Nietzsche's ideas? Infiltrate into Western European culture.

Especially in Germany where they're already got this propaganda where they're blaming all of their problems on the Jews. What impact then is this going to have on Christianity? Well the There was a movement then in the in-between years between World War one and World War two and the name of the movement was Called the Deutsche Christian movement or the German Church.

Or you know the you know, the Deutsche Kirche Movement the the German Church movement and you know what they set about to do to remove all of the Jewish elements of Christianity and the question is how do you do that?

Jesus was Jewish and so they literally They hated Judaism so much and Jews so much. They sought to create kind of an Aryan Christianity and And get rid of all of the Jewish pieces of it the Old Testament was practically out certain parts of the liturgy.

Disappeared you didn't talk about Jesus's Jewishness. And so what this ends up doing is totally Changing the Christian faith altogether. The Deutsche Christian the Deutsche Kirche movement. That's not Christianity.

If there are any adherents of it today. They're not they're not brothers and sisters in Christ their heretics and so the idea here is is that and we need to get this a large part of the world is Extremely anti-semitic still to this day.

I mean the whole Muslim world is Extremely viscerally anti-semitic. So We don't get to fall into that category in Christ is neither Jew nor Greek slave nor free. Christ has bled for the sins of everybody.

So we don't get to entertain racist thoughts of people in order. We get to scapegoat by race. This is evil. It's wrong and When we see it We need to stand against it and call it out for what it is. That's sin.

That's a breaking of several commandments and you stand up for them but at the same time we also have to come to grips with Christianity comes to us directly through a Jewish line and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of who?

David. How long? Forever now I have of the opinion just kind of doing some basic Work with the tribes of humanity that our depiction of Norwegian. Jesus is a little little white. He's a little bit white.

I think his hair was probably darker than that. He probably had olive skin. But I find it fascinating throughout Christianity around the world that there's always this tendency to portray Jesus. According to the tribes that we're from in Africa Jesus is often portrayed as an African there I have artwork depicting Jesus with Christians in Asia where Jesus looks decidedly like well He's Asian.

Let me see. That's kind of the idea then if you think about it, is that yeah, he's one of us. He and that is right. He is one of us and We've got to get this Jew or Greek it doesn't matter. We are all Human, we're all descendants of Adam and Eve.

So let's continue then. Looking then at Romans that we're getting our basis. So as regards to the gospel those who are genetically Jewish who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. They are enemies for your sake but as regard elections as as regard to election.

They are loved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God is still holding out his hands. To the Jews today telling them to repent and to believe in Christ for just as you were at one time disobedient to God.

You've now received mercy because of their disobedience. So they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you. They may also now receive mercy for God has consigned all to disobedience that he might have mercy on all.

Oh the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments how inscrutable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor or who has given a gift to him that he might Be repaid for from him and through him and to him are all things to him be glory forever and ever.

Amen, so God still loves him still cares for them and it scripture it describes God is continually holding out his hands as arms calling to a stubborn and a stiff-necked people. Calling them to do what?

To repent to believe to be forgiven. Now this is another important note here. Then we've all heard of what's called Orthodox Judaism you've heard of it. Now. I want to make something very clear in Christian circles when we think of.

Orthodoxy.

Okay, it can have one of two meanings. You're either talking about the Eastern Church like the Eastern Orthodox the Russian Orthodox. It's kind of like a denomination or you're talking about orthodoxy in the sense that you're you're Discussing Christians who actually are Orthodox in their doctrine in their theology.

Does that make sense? So when we talk about Orthodox Judaism, that's what it's called. But I need to make I kind of reiterate what I said there isn't a single person genetically Jewish who is capable of practicing biblical Judaism.

So the question is where does Orthodox Judaism come from? What is its theological predecessor. Answer the religion of the Pharisees where the hair were the Pharisees Heretics or were they true Jews to truly Jewish in their religion, huh?

They were pretending to be Jewish. Okay, but they were heretics. Where in the Old Testament is the office of Pharisee ever mentioned? Nowhere when we get to the end of the Old Testament the book of Malachi or Malachi if you're Italian.

Okay.

When you get to the book of Malachi and the book of Malachi closes the revelation of God in the Old Testament. And then there's a 400 year period where God does not speak when the Old Testament closes.

How many times are the Pharisees mentioned? Zero zero times. So when the New Testament opens with the preaching of John the Baptist. If you're if you're reading it from cover to cover and paying attention, right?

You've never heard of a single Pharisee if you're just reading the Bible cover to cover and you know that there's a 400 year gap the the lights. Turn on this, you know. And everything opens with the preaching of John the Baptist in the Gospels and you hear of these Pharisees who are on the scene.

Your immediate question should be who are these guys? Where did they come from? Where did they come from? The answer is they came up during the intertestamental period after after the Jews come back from captivity in Babylon conquest of Alexander the Great and the cultural frictions that were created by that and This is where it gets interesting.

Daniel himself prophesies about Alexander the Great quite explicitly. He shows up and Jerusalem is not destroyed. Alexander the Great did not sack Jerusalem, you know, why? Read Josephus. Josephus explains this the Jewish high priest go out.

You know to have a parlay with Alexander the Great and say we expected you let me show where I'll show you what our prophet says here in the book of Daniel about you and Alexander the Great thought well, this is best thing ever and he didn't sack Jerusalem.

He didn't conquer it. He didn't need to they basically bent the knee they could see the handwriting on the wall. This guy was gonna conquer the whole world and he did. I'm not gonna place that bet on the Vikings today.

I'm just saying The Dodgers lost so at me in sports, you know, if that's my bookie I'm just saying although I have to admit that it is kind of cool that the Cubs won. You know, so it's like I was thinking if the Dodgers had to lose losing to the Cubs in that manner I'm okay with this, you know, I've come.

I.

Know yet again. We he lost another NLCS. Anyway, that's a whole nother story my apologies. Okay, so kind of coming in here where this is all prolegomena. So in the intertestamental period Israel now is no longer sovereign.

Israel is under the control of what's called the Ptolemaic Empire because after after Alexander the Great Dies and he dies really young what happens to the Empire that he created it's cut up. It's cut up into four pieces this is where we get the story of Cleopatra and all this kind of intriguing that going along with those lines and this is Before the Romans, but here's the thing.

They bring in Greek culture Greek the Greek language. Which is why Koine Greek becomes the language all over the all over the Empire. But with the Greek culture, they're bringing the pantheon of gods and and It was a real big cultural rub.

For.

The Jews in that time and there was like there were there were battles and wars and fighting against in order fighting for their right to remain Jewish and All this kind of stuff and in that turmoil in the midst of all of this the Pharisees rise up they rise up and They come with this message That God not only gave us the Torah.

He gave us the oral Torah so they've got the secondary word from God and this tradition of the elders and That this is as binding if not more binding than the written Torah. Because this is and this is the way they kind of couched it.

The oral Torah was given to us so that the Gentiles would never hear it. So when the scene opens on the Gospels with the preaching of John the Baptist, there are the Pharisees. They're in control and their theology and their doctrine is not Christian it's not it's not biblical.

They've added to the scriptures and Jesus is constantly having this collision with them. And what are they for real their heretics? That's literally what they are and he's constantly in collision with them but Jesus is crucified died buried raised again ascended into heaven and Christianity begins to spread.

They continue offering sacrifices at the temple as if it's you know it's this unbroken chain and then God sends the Romans and wipes the temple off the temple mount and the Jews that survived the last people standing.

Were the Pharisees the Pharisees of the last people standing and so it was the Pharisees who created The Jewish religion that we see today that is known as Orthodox Judaism. How do you remain a Jew and worship Yahweh.

Without a temple. They came up with the solution for that. Does that make sense? So what is you know, what is the religion in modern-day Israel today? Is it biblical Judaism? No, it is not. It is the Pharisees religion.

Kind of morphed into a 21st century version of it. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the faith of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Has nothing to do with Old Covenant Judaism at all. It's very detached from it now I say all of this so that you can kind of rightly kind of orient yourself in your thinking because like I've said then the story of Exodus becomes for us the kiosk.

That we can say here we are. Because the story of the Exodus is actually the same story about us because it's written about us in type and shadow. So when the scene opens in the book of Exodus without even looking at it.

Where do we find? Israel, where are they? They're in Egypt. They're not in their land. They're in Egypt. Who is in charge of Egypt. Pharaoh is he a good guy or bad guy? What is their status in Egypt? Slaves.

Hard work turmoil. Constant, you know this just being ground into powder now. Think about this for a second without even looking at you begin to see how this is starting to play out. Okay, let me show you a text.

Baptism, Slavery, and Deliverance in Romans 6 and Colossians 1

Ephesians 2. Oh No, let me do this. Romans 6. Romans 6 what should we say? Are we the continuing sins of the grace may abound? No by no means. How can we who died to sins to live in it? Do you not know that all of us who've been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death?

We were buried therefore by him by baptism in the death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory Of the Father we too might walk in newness of night. For if you've been united with him in a death like his.

We shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. And you thinking what's all this baptismal stuff have to do with anything. Stay with me. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing.

So that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. So when the story opens in Exodus the children of Israel are in slavery in Slavery. To whom Pharaoh. Pharaoh is what. Pharaoh is a God King? Is he a true God or a false God?

False God, let me give you another cross-reference. And so here we've got this this theme in Scripture of enslavement. But there's a little bit more Colossians 1. He is the image of the invisible God verse 15 the firstborn of all creation by him all things were created in heaven on earth.

Visible and invisible thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body.

He is the beginning of the firstborn from the dead that in everything he might be preeminent for in him The fullness of God was what pleased to dwell and through him to reconcile himself to all things on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of the cross.

And you who were once alienated and Hostile in mind doing evil deeds. He has now reconciled by his body of flesh in order to present you holy and blameless and above report approach if indeed you continue in the faith stable and steadfast not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard and so you Get this idea of what Christ has done.

But there's also a mention of the fact that he has delivered us verse 13 going back. He Christ has delivered us from the Dominion of Darkness transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sin.

So the word for dominion or domain is exousia. So the power of darkness. So Israel finds itself enslaved to a false God under the dominion of darkness if you would. And the story of the Exodus is God's great rescue of Israel from slavery into freedom as They spend an entire lifetime Wandering in the wilderness because 40 years is a generation.

They spend an entire adult lifetime in the wilderness and then they're finally taken into the promised land. So here's the idea the this is the map that says you are here.