MERCIFUL PRESENCE

EXODUS 1-18
tehôm = deep waters / mayim = waters


PRIOR TO EXODUS
  • The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
    • 'formless and empty' - literally, 'wild and waste' or 'topsy turvy'
  • And God made a wind (rûaḥ) blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. (Genesis 8:1b)

EXODUS
  • So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands... Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.” (Exodus 1:13,22)
  • Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. (Exodus 7:4-5)
  • Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”
    Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night. Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind (rûaḥ). The wind (rûaḥ) blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (Exodus 14:15-22)

JESUS
  • After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said. "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." (Matthew 3:16-17)
  • Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)
  • Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. (John 7:38-39a)

Exodus 1-18

BEYOND EXODUS

WATER: a transparent, life-giving liquid.
  • Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. (Joel 2:23)
  • He calmed the storm to a whisper, and stilled the waves. (Psalm 107:29)
  • ...But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore - the Lord above is mightier than these! (Psalm 93:4-5)

PRESENCE OF GOD + WATER
  • ...I will pour out my Spirit upon all people... (Acts 2:17)
  • ...the Holy Spirit had been poured out... (Acts 10:45)
  • ...He generously poured out the Spirit upon us... (Titus 3:6)
  • ...poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.. (Romans 5:5, ESV)
  • …born of water and the Spirit.... (John 3:5)
  • ...Rivers of living water [the Spirit] will flow from his hear..... (John 7:38)
  • ...Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit... (Luke 1:41)
  • ...everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.. (Acts 2:4)
  • ...be filled with the Holy Spirit... (Philippians 1:11)

LIQUID WORSHIP
  • But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God. (Philippians 2:17)

THE NEW HEAVENS & NEW EARTH

  • Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. (Revelation 21:1)
  • And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne... (Revelation 14:2-3a)