When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him he said these words, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 ESV
 
     Jesus, in Exodus, is the Lamb of God, Deliverer, and Friend. Many recognize the fact that Jesus is Son of God; the sacrificial lamb that takes away the sins of the world. But I am afraid we live in a time when people are not always willing to recognize their need to be delivered from their sin by the sacrificial blood of the Lamb. There is a general understanding of sin and the need of forgiveness but not the willingness to want deliverance through repentance. Forgiveness? Yes …… repentance or lifestyle change? No. The story of Exodus is the people of Israel in bondage and slavery in Egypt. They were praying and crying out for God to deliver them. God sent Moses to lead them from a land and lifestyle of slavery. During the last of the ten plagues upon Egypt, a death angel passed over every house killing the first born male in that household. The only escape was for the blood of a sacrificed lamb to be painted on the door post and lintel. When the angel saw the blood, it passed over that home. This story of the people Israel is our story today in Jesus.
 
THE LAMB OF GOD
     When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him he said these words, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 ESV We must realize that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb of God that was sent for the the purpose of death passing over us. Death caused by sin. Without the blood of the lamb on the door post and lentil, death was certain for the first born male in the homes throughout the land of Egypt. Without the sacrificial blood of Jesus covering our lives, we are dead in sin with no hope of life. The sacrifice of Jesus, God’s only Son, should cause you to recognize the seriousness in which God views sin. Hebrews 9: 22 states, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
 
DELIVERER
     Moses lead the people out of the land of Egypt, but God was the deliverer then as he is now. God told Moses to say to the people, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egyptians, and I will DELIVER you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched hand and with great acts of judgment.” Exodus 6:6 ESV When you receive Jesus in repentance seeking forgiveness of sin and freeing you from spiritual death, you can make the same claim as in Colossians 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
 
FRIEND
     Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11 ESV What a picture as to how personal God will be to us when we desire his presence and leadership in our lives. He has already proven he wants to be our friend. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:13-14 ESV The writer Paul said, “For I deliver to you as of first importance what I received; that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.”       1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV
 
     Lamb of God, Deliverer, Friend is who God, if not already so, can be in your life today. The people of Israel in the land of the Egyptians prayed and God took action. God continues to take action in the lives of people today who cry out to him. God continues to cover people with the blood of the lamb, deliver them from the slavery of sin and become a friend that sticks closer than a brother. May you be numbered in those who cry out to God.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David