The One True Son (Chris Barnes)

Text: Exodus 4-6

OBSERVE – In God’s instructions to Moses, we see the heart of a Father who longs to be with his child. God commanded Moses to say these words when confronting Pharaoh: “This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me” (Exodus 4: 22-23). We see here that God cared very much about what happened to the Israelites. Out of all the nations of the world, he went to great lengths to rescue them from slavery. The Egyptians had made the Israelites their slaves and appointed slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. The Israelites had cried out in distress and their Father had heard their cries.

INTERPRET – Here we see that God cared so much about what happened to the Israelites. Their loving Father wanted to rescue his children so that they could be together with him as a family. God wanted to lead them to a place that they could worship him and that he could dwell with them. God wanted to be able to share his fatherly love with his children. God would later describe his longing for Israel through his prophet Hosea: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1). This care and concern for his children was evident to them when Moses and Aaron had shared everything the Lord had said “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped” (Exodus 4: 31). But God’s son Israel always proved to disappoint. Often God’s son grumbled and complained and rejected the Father who loved him. The people of Israel simply could not live up to their Father’s standard. Another Son was needed who would be about his Father’s business, accomplish his Father’s purpose, display his Father’s likeness and demonstrate his Father’s love.

APPLICATION – From his early days, Jesus seemed to understand his unique purpose, as well as his unique relationship, as God’s Son. When Jesus’ parents found him in the temple courts at age twelve, he said, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2: 49). Jesus was everything that God the Father had ever wanted in a Son. By his perfect obedience to his Father, he did what Israel could never do. And because of what the Son of God accomplished in his obedience at the Cross, everyone who comes to him in faith becomes a true child of God. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3: 26). Despite his incredible love for them, the Israelites’ disobedience prevented them from being a family. And despite our own best efforts, we too will disappoint God on our own merits. However, God sent his Son to rescue us so we can one day be together as a family. When we put our faith and trust in the One True Son, we can be a part of God’s family and know with certainty that we will arrive home safely.  “Jesus died for sinners to bring us safely home to God” (1 Peter 3: 18).

QUESTIONS – Do you ever try to please God on your own strength and merit just to end up feeling like you disappointed your heavenly Father? What changes when you remember everything that God did for you through his Son? Does this change your attitude in regards to how you serve God?

PRAYER – Loving Father, you have rescued me so that we can be together as a family. I know the day is coming when, because of what your beloved Son has done, we will all be together in the place you are preparing for us, safe at home with you. AMEN.

SONG - 10,000 Reasons (Matt Redman)