Sejana Shines

Watch my 10 minute mini-sermon exploring the question, “Are we free?” from Exodus 15:22-27.

Are we free? A message from Exodus 15:22-27

Exodus 7 – plagues

Exodus 12 – first Passover with the blood of a perfect lamb

Exodus 12:33-36 – plunder the Egyptians

Exodus 12:30 – a lot of death (and sadness)

Exodus 14 – Crossing of the sea

Exodus 14:10-22 – You brought us here to die??

Exodus 14:26-31 Egyptians soldiers were drowned

Exodus 15 – “Praise break”

Exodus 15:22 – 27 (NRSV) – main passage, first obstacle after leaving bondage

22 Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea,[a] and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah.[b] 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 He cried out to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a piece of wood;[c] he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord[d] made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.

Exodus 1:11, 16 – enslavement by the Egyptians

Africana Bible (sample pages found here https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9780800621254/The-Africana-Bible-Reading-Israel-Scriptures-from-Africa-and-the-African-Diaspora ) – Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams wrote the commentary on Exodus.

“This first experience of freedom is a bitter one, as the Israelites learn what it means to be bought with a price. They were freed from Egypt but now belong to YHWH. They used to serve Pharaoh, but now they must serve YHWH and this God has the ability to inflict plagues as well as to heal. Moreover, their first experience of freedom reminds Israel that there is much to learn about this God. After all, what kind of God leads thirst people to water they cannot drink?” – (Fentress-Williams, pg. 85)

(YHWH = Jehovah = Hebrew name of God)

1 Peter 1:18-19 – bought with a price

Final thoughts

This summer, I’m taking two accelerated courses and my first one is Christian Scriptures 1. For one of the projects, I chose to submit 3 ten minute sermons on one of the 10 Old Testament books we are covering in class. I chose this assignment so that I could practice delivering Biblical messages to others in a way that every day people can understand. Let me know how I did by sharing your feedback here, via YouTube, or of course you can contact me via social media or email through the buttons on this site.

Blessings to you and yours,

Sejana