Where is God?
Listen to the Sermon
Series: Where is God? Exodus 1-2
Speaker: Drew Caperton
Date: January 18, 2026
Sermon Summary
The book of Exodus opens with a problem many people recognize immediately: God seems absent. Israel grows from a family into a people, only to find themselves oppressed, enslaved, and forgotten by those in power. Exodus 1 tells the story almost entirely from the perspective of the oppressors, placing us inside the confusion and fear of generational suffering. This sermon looks at why Scripture begins this way, what it reveals about God’s character, and how God forms His people through adversity rather than avoiding it.
Big Idea
God may feel absent in seasons of suffering, but He is actively forming His people for faithfulness, strength, and trust.
Scripture Texts
Primary: Exodus 1:1–14
Supporting: 1 Corinthians 10:11
Sermon Outline
I. Exodus as Context for Knowing God
Exodus is ancient, grounded in real history, and shaped by a single theological voice.
God reveals Himself personally, giving His covenant name, Yahweh.
Exodus shows God’s complex nature: compassionate, patient, faithful, and just.
II. From Family to Enslaved People (Exodus 1:1–7)
Israel grows from seventy people into a nation.
God’s promises are advancing quietly, even before conflict begins.
III. Fear Turns to Oppression (Exodus 1:8–14)
A new king forgets Joseph and rewrites history.
Fear leads Egypt to invent threats and justify cruelty.
Oppression multiplies suffering—but cannot stop God’s purposes.
IV. Experiencing the Silence of God
Israel knows the stories of God but has not yet experienced Him personally.
Secondhand faith is tested when life becomes unbearable.
The text places us inside the emotional reality of waiting on God.
V. A Modern Parallel
Many have heard stories of God’s faithfulness but struggle to trust Him today.
Public scandals, moral failures, and shallow Christianity erode confidence.
The question remains: Is God still at work?
VI. God Is Not Finished With His People
God is still saving, calling, sustaining, and growing His church.
Faith is often formed in pain, not comfort.
VII. What God Is Doing Through Adversity
The point of life is not to avoid hardship but to trust God through it.
God uses adversity to form strong, mature, faithful people.
A shaped people become a help to others and a witness to the world.
Why This Matters
Many people walk through seasons where God feels distant, silent, or absent. Exodus reminds us that silence does not mean inactivity. God often works beneath the surface, forming endurance, clarity, and trust. Faith that survives hardship becomes faith that can serve others, lead families, and endure suffering without losing hope.
Discussion & Reflection Questions
When have you felt like God was absent in your life?
How does knowing Israel’s long season of suffering shape your expectations of faith?
What is the difference between knowing stories about God and experiencing Him personally?
How might God be forming you through difficulty rather than removing it?
What is one area of life God may be calling you to embrace rather than escape?
Next Steps
Visit Chisenhall Fellowship this Sunday.
Find a Home Group and walk through Scripture with others seeking honest, grounded faith.
