Overcome the Darkness

Audio Teaching

Notes

Premise No. 1: As Christians, we must understand the story as the Egyptians. We dwell in darkness before salvation, and we are the mixed multitude who hooked ourselves to Israel and their God.

Premise No. 2: We are now also connected with the Israel part of the narrative as it shows us the outine of the redemption story.

Premise No. 3: The Sages teach us that we must find our voice in the Passover story and tell it as it happened to us and our ancestors. At various points in our lives, we must overcome outer and inner Egypt’s to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives.

Portion Text: Exodus 10:21-26 ESV

What is Darkness?

Ex. 10:21-23

Strong’s H#2822 Darkness: literal darkness.

“a darkness to be felt”: misery, ignorance, sorrow, gloom, death.

“They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days.”

• They felt the darkness to the point that they could not physically move for three days.
•  Darkness does the same thing to us spiritually; it paralyzes us.

“But all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”

What is the spiritual lesson for us in this plague?

Psa. 119:105

Jn. 8:31-36

• Abide in My Word
• You are truly My disciples
  • Jn. 6:47-71 
  • The text calls them disciples, yet they turn back.
  • Why did they turn back? Because they understood in a natural sense and not a spiritual sense.
  • Their hearing was dull, and their light (understanding) was darkness.
  • Lk. 11:33-36
  • Peter responded, “You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn. 6:68).
    • The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. – Psa. 19:7
    • If you would enter life, keep the commandments. – Mt. 19:17b
    • “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” – Mt. 23:2-3
    • You must strive to enter the narrow door (Lk. 13:22-30)
    • Wicked things vs. true works (Jn. 3:16-21) [read the whole chapter, see also Jn. 6-10].
• Jn. 8:34-36 – This is the overcoming of darkness!
• We defeat sin when we walk in the light. When we leave the light and return to darkness (sin), how great is that darkness? [read 1 John for a full explanation].
• We must have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to obey.

Don’t let the Enemy Direct Your Worship

Ex. 8:25 “Go sacrifice to your God within the land [of Egypt].”

• Salvation – but don’t leave the ways of the world. This isn’t a true or complete redemption.

Ex. 8:28 “I will let you go to sacrifice to the lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far.”

• Don’t be too holy.

Ex. 10:8-11 – Pharoh didn’t want the children to be obedient and fully learn the ways of God.

• Deut. 11:18-21; Ex. 12:26-27; Jos. 4:5-7

Ex. 10:24 “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”

• Animals were essential to the worship of God.
• Notice how Pharoh kept stipulating how the worship of God would be conducted.

The Blood on the Doorpost

Ex. 12:21-23

• Protection and deliverance
• Destination: Mount Sinai
• Purpose: Receiving the Torah (Instruction/Pathway)
• Power: Holiness
• Pentecost: Torah and Holy Spirit