Exodus 1:1–2:10; Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:13-21

Bringing the sermon home:

In chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we read of God’s vision for His creation: a world filled with worshippers with whom He may dwell. In chapter 3, we read of humanity’s rebellion against God’s benevolent rule. But before being cast out of God’s presence to live in a broken world until it eventually takes their lives, Adam and Eve are given a promise: a descendant of theirs is going to arise who will succeed where they have failed. As the chapters of Genesis unfold, we see the expectation that the Promised One will reverse the curse of brokenness that humanity brought upon the world.

As Exodus begins, we are still awaiting the birth of that savior. The descendants of Jacob, whom God had renamed as Israel, are enslaved in Egypt, away from the land that had been promised to their forefather Abraham. Yet, even while suffering oppression, God continues to bless the people of Israel with children. The second chapter of Exodus records the birth of Moses as he is providentially spared from death and raised within the very household of the Pharaoh who had ordered that he be killed at birth. While Moses would go on to deliver the people of Israel from their earthly oppressors, he did eventually die, and the curse of sin and death remained upon the world.

As the Hebrew Bible concludes, we are still left waiting for the birth of a savior. But then, hundreds of years later, the Promised One is miraculously born to a virgin named Mary. In Luke 2 and Matthew 2, we read of His humble birth and its many parallels with the birth of Moses. However, unlike Moses, Jesus was not born tainted by sin, and thus, in His death, He defeated death for all who trust in Him and await His return. And so, we begin each Advent season singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel… and cheer our spirits by thine advent here.”

Sermon outline:

• 1:1-22
  
  Oppressed by their enemies, the people of God await a savior.
  
  
• 2:1-10
  
  In his humble birth, their savior was spared from death.
  
  
• Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:13-21
  
  In His humble birth, our Savior came to defeat death.