The Exodus Way Part 5: Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him?

Send us your questions or feedback hereThe Exodus Way Part 5: Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him?In this podcast we spend time in the Exodus story asking a question that still sits behind much of everyday life, whether or not we notice it: "Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him?"Pharaoh doesn't doubt God's existence. He questions God's right to rule. And everything that follows in Exodus 5–12 is God's response. These are not random acts of power, but a revelation of reality itself.We see that the plagues are not just about showing Pharaoh God's power; they are also about defeating Egypt's gods and exposing the deeper assumptions Egypt lived by - assumptions that didn't feel like "religion" at all but felt instead just how the world worked: Life comes from the Nile. Security comes from power. Stability comes from control. Worth comes from success.God doesn't debate those assumptions. He shows that they cannot be trusted and that He alone is Lord.That's what brings the Exodus story uncomfortably close to home. Most of us don't bow down to false gods. We simply assume them. We assume money will keep us safe. That control will keep us steady. That comfort will make life good. That success proves our worth. And most of the time, those assumptions work… until pressure comes.Exodus shows us that when false gods are asked to save us, they don't just fail, they enslave. Anxiety rises. Rest disappears. Fear takes over. And when those "realities" start to collapse, people either harden like Pharaoh or begin, slowly and imperfectly, to trust God again.The gospel doesn't just expose what can't save us, it replaces it. Where false gods collapse under pressure, Jesus carries the weight. And He carries us with Him.Reflection:In the plagues, God exposes the things Egypt trusted to give life and stability. As you look at your own life, what things have you tended to rely on to keep everything "working"?When something you rely on feels shaken, what usually happens next for you? Do you find yourself anxious, defensive, or more open to trusting God? What might that reveal about where your security has been coming from?Can you think of a time when something that felt solid in your life failed, but God proved more faithful than you expected? How did that experience shape your view of Him?The plagues expose what can't give life, but they also point toward the freedom God is offering. As you reflect on your own life, you might be aware of something that isn't quite right — perhaps there's fear, control, or the need to keep everything together. Instead of stopping there, can you imagine what freedom might look like in that area if God were at work?What might it look like this week to respond like Israel rather than Pharaoh: not hardening your heart, but loosening your grip and choosing trust, even in a small way?If you find what Dean has said interesting and have a question, please use the 'Ask Dean' link to get it to us as we will try to put together a Q and R podcast in due course. Thank you for your support and for listening in!You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text.Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.