Scripture: Exodus 3:13-14 and John 8:54-59
I. Christ delivers Israel
A. Christ links Himself inextricably to their delivery
(Compare Ex. 3:13-14 and John 8:54-59)
B. Christ is linked to their guidance (I Cor. 10:1-4)
C. Moses represents Christ (Ex. 7:1)
II. Seven definitive victories of Christ over paganism
A. Power over Sorcerers (Ex. 7:10-12)
(victory over their pagan gods by stronger powers)
B. Nile River turned to blood (Ex. 7:20-21)
(victory over their god of life)
C. Power greater than sorcerers (Ex. 7:16-18)
(victory over their pagan gods by greater power)
D. God protects His people but punishes Pharaoh’s (Ex. 8:22-23)
(victory by protecting His people and punishing pagan worshipers)
E. Magicians afflicted so they cannot stand (Ex. 9:11)
(victory by being able to afflict directly the pagan god’s spokesmen)
F. Pharaoh confesses sin (Ex. 9:27)
(victory over pharaoh – one of their gods)
G. Pharaoh’s son slain (Ex. 12:12, 29)
(victory by killing one of their future gods)
III. Christ delivers people at the Red Sea ( Ex. 14)
(victory over the entire nation and its armies, gods, pharaoh, et. al.)
Conclusion: Christ is presented in this narrative as being totally powerful and totally superior to the gods of paganism. God (Elohim) is truly the one, and only one, God of the heavens and the earth.
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Lesson Five: Christ’s Superiority to Pagan Idolatry
Introduction: As we continue our study, we need to remind ourselves that we are looking for Christ in the old Scriptures. Far too often we try to dissect God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit so much that we separate them where they are Biblically joined together. Whenever we look at Scripture pertaining to God, His actions, or His attributes, we are often looking at Christ also.
I. Christ Delivers Israel: In Exodus 3:13-14 God tells Moses that when the people ask who sent him to tell them that ‘I AM’ sent him. Jesus inextricably links Himself to this passage in John 8:54-59. Paul would again link the Christ to this portion of Jewish history in I Corinthians 10:1-4. As we look at God’s dealings with Pharaoh and Egypt we are seeing also Christ.
II. Seven Definitive Victories of Christ over Paganism: All of us have probably studied and memorized the plagues of Egypt in past years. This was a great time in the history of God’s people and deserves much study. But rather than study the plagues as such, we are going to view not all the battles, but the definitive victories of God over paganism.
(1) In Exodus 7: God demonstrates himself stronger than the representatives of paganism. While both sides produce the same ‘miracle’ God’s representative produces the stronger manifestation. God – 1, Paganism – 0.
(2) In Exodus 7: God ‘kills’ the Nile river, their God of life. God – 2, Paganism – 0.
(3) In Exodus 7: God performs a miracle the magicians cannot duplicate showing that His power is not only stronger, it is greater. God – 3, Paganism – 0.
(4) God protects His people in Genesis 8: while punishing pagan Egypt. God – 4, Paganism – 0.
(5) The pagan magicians are personally afflicted so that they cannot stand before Moses (Exodus 9:). God – 5, Paganism – 0.
(6) In Exodus 9: Pharaoh, one of their gods, confesses sin. God – 6, Paganism – 0.
(7) God kills Pharaoh’s son, one of their future gods. God – 7, Paganism – 0.
III. Christ Delivers People at the Red Sea: In this action God demonstrates His power over the entire nation, its armies, gods, Pharaoh, and so on.
Conclusion: Christ is presented in this narrative as being totally powerful and totally superior to the gods of paganism.
Thought Question:
How does Christ demonstrate His power over paganism today?