Sermon Outline  Jan 13, 2008 Morning Service

Topic: Don’t Run to Egypt 

Text:   Exodus 32:26-31

Introduction

I.        In the scriptures Egypt is used as an analogy of a life apart from God.

A.       Zion is used to refer to the church or to a life with God.

B.       Many times the prophets had to call the people out of spiritual Egypt.

C.      And still today the same thing is going on.

II.       It can be hard to understand why people want to go back into the world.

A.       What Israel failed to understand and what we as Christians often do not seem to comprehend, is there is a danger in turning away from the will of God (Hebrews 10:26-31).

B.       Sometimes we wonder why life is so difficult.

C.      The children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt and they cried out to God because of their bondage.

D.      Why would they ever want to run back to Egypt?

Text 

I.        They were unfaithful.

A.       They lost their faith in Moses (“…as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 32:1b)).

B.       They lost their faith in God.

II.       They were uncertain.

A.       Israel didn’t know where Moses was (“…we do not know what has become of him.” (Exodus 32:1c)).

B.       Too often we begin to wonder where God is.

III.      They were unaware.

A.       The sad admission that set this whole scene in motion was, “…we do not know…” (Exodus 32:1c).

B.       Often we are caught off guard.

IV.      They were unhappy.

A.       The Hebrews were sad and depressed and didn't care much to be left alone in the wilderness.

B.       Have you ever noticed that when people get unhappy, they want to find many other people that are unhappy too?

Conclusion

I.        Our world is full of unfaithful, uncertain, unaware and unhappy people.

A.       The main reason is that God is missing from their lives.

B.       Without God you will fail in your attempt to live a life that will make you happy, and at peace with yourself.

II.       When you give up on God by returning to Egypt you give up on His blessings.

A.       Israel had no legitimate claim to the Promised Land when they turned to their calf.

B.       We give up our claim to the Promised Land when we turn to Egypt.

The Touch Of Gold…A London paper offered a prize for the best definition of money. The flowing definition was chosen as the winner:

“An article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except Heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.”