Scripture Reading: Exodus 14 | Sabbath: August 31, 2024
Memory Verse: Matthew 24:11
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Introduction: Card tricks are common, but only the living God can part the Red Sea. A miracle like that is something to build your faith on.

1. We are in the last days; we can expect the prophecies about the conditions of the last days to be fulfilled. What is prophesied about today’s prophets? Matthew 24:11.
Note: This prophecy is fulfilled every day on your television set: mind games and parlor tricks.
2. Moses had to prove himself to the children of Israel and to Pharaoh. How did he try to do it? Exodus 4:1-5, Exodus 7:8-10.
Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.
Exodus 4:2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Exodus 4:3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
Exodus 4:4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
Exodus 4:5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
Exodus 7:8 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Exodus 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
3. What a trifling performance! What did Pharaoh and his magicians think of the little stick-to-serpent miracle? Exodus 7:11.
Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
4. We know that they were not convinced. They were still not convinced after what? v 12.
Exodus 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Note: Yes, this was a miracle from above. But it was somewhat duplicated by “magicians.” By no means magnificent.
5. Pharaoh hardened his heart while the ten plagues fell on Egypt and the Egyptians. After many days, what strategically dangerous position did the children of Israel find themselves in? Exodus 14:2.
Exodus 14:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
6. What opportunity was given to Pharaoh by God? v 3.
Exodus 14:3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
7. What miracle did God use to glorify himself? v 21.
Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Note: Now that’s a miracle that proves that Jehovah is God! And it proved that Moses is His prophet.
8. What effect did the miracle have on the Egyptians? v 27, 28.
Exodus 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Exodus 14:28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
9. What effect did the miracle have on the children of Israel? v 29-31.
Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Exodus 14:30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
Exodus 14:31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
10. What variety of miracle can we expect from a false prophet? 2 Thessalonians 2:9, (Matthew 7:21-23).
2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Question: Moses was truly God’s prophet. Can a false prophet duplicate the spectacular act of Moses at the Red Sea?
11. For those who seek miracles in the last days, what should they look for? Acts 2:20, Joel 2:30, 31.
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Joel 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
Note: There are and will always be prophets claiming to heal the blind, the lame, the deaf, and the dumb. These tricks performed on television or in a far away land cannot be proven. Many have been proven to be false.
Conclusion: The most spectacular miracle is the Bible itself. However, since the Bible teaches us that before the end of this age there would be false prophets working miracles, we should not look for signs to build our faith on. Our faith is built on the Bible, and yes, there will be spectacular signs in the heavens before the Messiah returns.