The Fruit Born from Biblical Obedience
Notes
Transcript
Exodus 4:18-31
Exodus 4:18-31
Recap of our look at Moses up to this point
Circumstances of Moses’ birth
The experiences of Moses
The call of Moses (burning bush)
The excuses/arguments of Moses
The conclusion of the passages we looked at last week, detail God’s righteous anger against Moses’ excuses/arguments and hesitancy to go and deliver His people from bondage: Exodus 4:14a“So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses...” From this verse, God would then be the one speaking:
Moses’ excuses were done
Moses’ arguments were finished
Moses need not say any more, God would do the rest of the talking b/t verses 14-17
Exodus 4:14b-17 “... “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.””
Moses had argued so much, he angered the Lord. What Moses, and believers today must realize is, no excuse or argument is valid when it comes to God’s call on a person’s life. His call is not a suggestion, nor a “Hey Moses, if you feel like going, let me know,” kinda event. It is purposeful, it is intentional, and its a commandment.
Moses was to surrender to God’s call: to go and proclaim the message of deliverance and redemption, of freedom and liberty. Despite how much he argued, God had chosen His man—Moses now had a choice—He could go in obedience, or he could go like Jonah.
In God’s call on our lives, we can put our yes on the altar and go in Biblical obedience—or we can be Jonah and go grumbling
Despite the excuses we make and the arguments we formulate—If God has called us (you), you must go. The choice then becomes, “do I go in Biblical obedience, or do I go like Jonah.”
Today we discuss the fruit which is born from Biblical obedience. The hope is, when we see and learn of the fruit born from Moses’ Biblical obedience, we will realize the same fruit is reserved and promised for us when we walk & go in Biblical obedience.
I. (v.18-19) 1st divine fruit from Biblical obedience—then God’s assurance
Exodus 4:18-19 “So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.””
(CONTEXT)—Note two things:
Moses obeyed
He left the desert, went home to lay plans to go to Egypt
He had worked for Jethro (father-in-law) for 40-years; whatever arrangements existed had to be worked out:
Going back to Jethro and seeking his permission reveals Moses’ kindness and respect towards Him as, Jethro
Was the head of the family
Was the father of Zipporah (Moses’ wife)
In going back to Jethro, Moses was displaying a character that did not ignore the effect it would have on his wife’s family
He asked permission of Jethro,
He made arrangements before he left
He obeyed with meekness, humility, and a quiet spirit
Moses did not mention God’s call; he only asked to go see his people
Moses did not act super-spiritual
God gave Moses divine assurance
God gave Moses the assurance of
Safety
Security
Protection
God informed Moses the men who sought his life were now dead
The coast was clear and there was no reason to fear
***Remember*** Moses was a wanted man—with a debt to pay (his life) for killing an Egyptian official, some 40 years prior
God was faithful to Moses:
Moses was now obedient to God’s call on his life and therefore God was giving His servant assurance
Moses learned, that which once threatened his life, no longer loomed over him—he was free to go about and do God’s will
(YOU and ME)
Our obedience
In God calling us, we know God is calling us to (likely)
Surrender where we have been to go where we are supposed to be
Surrender what we have been doing, to do what He’s called us to do
Surrender how we’ve been living to live how He calls us to live
In God calling us, we must understand this:
God’s call on your life (our lives) is our first loyalty—even above/before family; at the same time we must recognize
God’s call on our lives will effect families, jobs, friendships—and we must be considerate of those people/situations
Putting your “yes on the altar,” doesn’t negate the fact that you must be considerate to those your call will affect:
Family (spouse, children, etc)
Friends
Current job
In God calling us, we must remember to have a position of
Humility, Selflessness and reverence. Why?
***God’s call on you life is a reflection of His mercy on your life—it’s in His mercy that we are sent/called/gifted opportunities to serve Him—it’s a privilege and not an entitlement***
There is not one of us that has a right to consider ourselves super-spiritual above another
God’s assurance (Look at the symmetry here!!!) Remember—Egypt is a picture of the world and Pharaoh a picture of Satan
What (who) once threatened Moses’ life was now dead and no longer a threat to him—which freed him to go and do God’s will
(Believer)-What (who) once threatened your life (wages of sin) has been put to death—and through the cross of Christ—sin no longer looms over you, threatening and condemning you—the great fear of man—death—has been put to death—and you are free to know God’s will and meet Him there.
The surrender of salvation is a person’s initial step of obedience which ushers in the assurance of God and is the catalyst for loving others
1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
From this foundation—each act obedience is rooted in a faith which states
“I will go and I will follow, b/c of what you’ve done
II. (v.20-23) 2nd divine fruit from Biblical obedience—God’s guidance
Exodus 4:20-23 “Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand. And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ””
(Context)
Moses was fully obedient
He set out to make a permanent move to Egypt
He took his wife and two sons with him
He took the rod of God just as God instructed him to
Exodus 4:17 “And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.””
God’s response (fruit of Biblical obedience)? Moses’ trust and obedience had now opened the door for God—even despite his earlier excuses/arguments, had now opened the door for the Lord to direct and guide Moses--3 things God instructed/guided Moses in:
Moses was to go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles God had given him the power to do (v.21)
Moses was, however, to know that God was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not allow the people to go. (This part of Scripture has called a lot of conversations—so at a somewhat high-view, broad-stroke, we will go over this slowly)
What does this mean?
B/T Exodus 4 and Exodus 14, God is said to harden Pharaoh’s heart 10 different times
B/T Exodus 7 and Exodus 12, Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart
Three different Hebrew words are translated “hardened” and are used in the above verses:
“Chazaq”—meaning to be strong, braced, or tightened--carries the idea of, “being strongly against or stubborn,” to be, “set against God”
“Kabad”—meaning to be heavy, weighty, or hard—carries the idea of, “being dull and unresponsive to God’s Spirit”
“Qashah”—meaning to be sharp, severe, cruel, and hard—carries the idea of, “being obstinate”
What does the mean regarding Pharaoh?
Pharaoh was braced against God—he was dull and unresponsive to God—He was obstinate and stubborn towards God and His Word
Pharaoh hardened his heart long before God is said to have hardened Pharaoh’s heart; Pharaoh
Hardened his heart against the first miraculous sign performed by Moses—turning a rod into a snake
Hardened his heart towards God as a result of the first 5 plagues
What do we need to know today in regards to this? Some are quick to think that God supernaturally turned Pharaoh’s heart here, but the truth is the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was the natural affect of a soul, who’s life was dedicated to the rejection of God:
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened b/c he made it hard throughout the years—b/c of time and time again, he decisions to reject, refuse, and rebuke the Word of God
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened b/c it deserved to be hardened
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened b/c he intentionally hardened his heart
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened b/c he found it so easy to do wrong and sin, and
God is love—and in His love, He must execute justice. Love demands a person be dealt with fairly, honestly, and with decency
God is righteous—and He has to execute justice--righteousness demands a person’s transgressions and rebellion bear consequences,
Because of this and Pharaoh’s stubborn unrepentant heart,
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened—God turned him over to his debased mind and selfish/evil desires
Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;”
Pharaoh’s heart deserved to be hardened; why? His entire life he had
Worshipped false gods and idols
Lived an ungodly and unrighteous life
Rejected God, HIs Word, and the warnings of God to repent and believe
If you are still struggling with this, think of this way, per Alexander MaClaren
“God hardens no man’s heart, who has not first hardened it himself.”
“Was not the accumulation of plagues, intended as they were to soften, a cause of hardening?
“Does not the gospel, if rejected, harden, making conscience and wills less susceptible?”
“The same fire softens wax and hardens clay.”
“Whoever is not brought near is driven farther off by the influence which brings to bear on us”
What does this have to do with you and me?
God calls us in some way every day. He calls us to
Repent of sin
Minister to the poor
Pursue sanctification
Be a witness of Christ when the opportunities arise
Live holy lives—to be believers known not only from what we flee from—but be known for Who/What we flee towards
Everyday we have an opportunity to respond to Him in these ways and others, and though it may not be noticeable, each time we deny and refuse, reject and rebuke obedience—our hearts are gradually hardened
Why did God give this guidance to Moses? God did not want Moses to be caught by surprise or discouraged when he experienced Pharaoh
Reject the message
Refuse to let the people
Moses was to proclaim the Word of God and this included 3 things:
Israel was, “God’s Son, even His firstborn
“In this statement Israel was brought into the closest, most loving and honored relationship that could be realized in the ancient Near East. The eldest son was given a place of special honor and respect.” (F.B Huey)
Pharaoh was to free Israel so that Israel could serve and live for God (v.23)
Exodus 4:23 “So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ””
As God told Moses to declare to Pharaoh to let His people (Israel), so to does Jesus Christ declare the same message to Satan in His final words on the cross, “it is finished
Why? Because is sending Christ to the cross, God was proclaiming:
“I sought you—you were lost, I sought you b/c you are worth the cost!”]
If Pharaoh refused, God would slay the firstborn son of Pharaoh (v.23)
Think of how God’s heart must have been flooded with joy, in seeing His servant trust and obey Him
How often to people think/go through this life, thinking or believing God is emotionless or un-feeling.
Who do you think gave the feeling of pride and joy to fathers/mothers who see their own children turn to Christ and walk in obedience?
Who do think gave the feelings of sadness and heartbreak to fathers/mothers who see their own children struggle/suffer/wander?
God’s heart, in seeing Moses turn from dis-trust and disobedience to wholly trusting and obeying, must have been teeming with joy, b/c now God could grant Moses His divine & perfect wisdom and direction—and the Lord does not hold His wisdom and direction as puppeteer holds his strings
(You and me)
Our obedience--
Our obedience must be obedience that is both steadfast and diligent
Steadfast- In 1 Timothy 6 Paul instructs Timothy to “keep” a commandment until the day the Lord returns: 1 Timothy 6:14 “that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,” God’s response
What is the commandment? Note verses 11-13: 1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Flee
Pursue
Fight the good fight
Lay hold of
“Keep” is a word of continuation and perseverance, a word that denotes the repeated practice of
Diligence- In the first part of 2 Peter 1:5, Peter teaches us a second truth about our obedience to follow God: 2 Peter 1:5a “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence...”
What are we to be diligent at? Note verse 5-8—2 Peter 1:5-7 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”
“Diligence” is word that carries the meaning of fully devoting/committing oneself to an activity without regards to the cost
What’s the result of our diligence in pursuing obedience?
2 Peter 1:8 “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God’s response to our steadfast and diligent obedience?
God will continually meet our needs
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
God, in your surrender of salvation not only redeems you from your bondage and slavery to sin, he doesn’t leave you to fend for ourselves—trying to navigate your way through this world
The greatest blessing God provides the believer, in our Biblical obedience, is more of Himself and we in our hearts should yearn and ache for more of Him in our lives
III.(v.24-26) 3rd fruit from Biblical obedience—God’s hand of chastisement is removed
Exodus 4:24-26 “And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.”
(Context)—What happens here is a warning to all believers!
Moses was obeying God and on his way, when God’s chastisement came upon him (v.24) Why? Moses was deliberately disobeying God in an area of his life—a critical area (here’s what happened):
Moses and his family stopped to camp
Moses became very ill and was about to die--this was God’s chastisement of Moses and it was severe
Exodus 4:24b, “...the Lord met him and sought to kill him.”
Moses was being obedient in going, so what was so bad? What was it that he was not surrendering to God that was holding him back and refusing to correct?
Moses’ wife objected to circumcision (according to Scripture)—bitterly objected—so Moses had resorted not to be obedient in this
Exodus 4:25 carries the understanding that Moses’ wife bitterly objected to circumcision
Exodus 4:25 “Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!””
Moses’ wife seems to have caused so much strife that Moses gave and put his wife and her objections before obedience to God
In an effort to “keep the peace” at home, Moses chose to avoid the argument/fussing of his wife instead of obeying God
Reminder of circumcision (3 things)
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant b/t God and man
Circumcision was the sign that a person trusted God—that he was a true follower of God
Circumcision and it’s importance were stressed by God Himself
Genesis 17:10-14 “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.””
Moses—in failing to circumcise his son was demonstrating a heart that did not trust God, that was not a true believer of God, and a not true believer in the promises of God
How could Moses lead the people unless he himself obeyed?
How could Moses teach the covenant to people if he refused to obey the covenant?
How could Moses teach the people to love, trust, and obey if he himself didn’t love, trust, and obey?
How could Moses be a servant and messenger of God if he himself was unwilling to obey God in the very basic sign of God’s great covenant?
Moses’ wife circumcised their son—but did so in anger
This was in rebellion against God
God removed His hand of chastisement and saved Moses (v.26)
Her bitter rebellion almost cost Moses his life
This would have been a devastating hinderance to the purpose of God and the ministry He had given to Moses,
But despite her anger/bitterness/frustration/rebellion—God honored Moses’ obedience and relented of His chastisement
GOD HONORS OBEDIENCE
(You and me)
Our obedience
We must be believers who obey God in all areas of our lives—not only the areas we agree to.
We cannot justify/rationalize/blame away our disobedience in certain areas of our lives only to be obedient in the rest:
We are to be people who walk in obedience:
In seasons of blessing and seasons of struggle
In seasons of rejoicing and in seasons of suffering
In all things, rather than picking and choosing
Through the perspective and lens of the Gospel and not through the lens of our circumstances
We must be believers who
Entrust their lives WHOLLY and FULLY to God.
Hold nothing back in our obedience to God
Understand that God must do all He can to keep us from sin and the results of sin; this is what He chastens those who belong to Him:
Hebrews 12:5-11 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
IV. (v.27-31) 4th divine fruit from Biblical obedience, God fulfills His promise
Exodus 4:27-31 “And the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.”
(Context)-As God was working on Moses—He was also preparing Aaron (Moses’ brother), working in his heart so he would be able to serve alongside Moses—just as God promised Moses
God’s call on Aaron’s life
God called Aaron to go into the wilderness and meet Moses—which he did—on the Mount of God itself (Mt. Sinai)
Think of what all they caught up on—
All that happened to Aaron the last 40 years of Moses’ absence.
All that happened to Moses the last 40 years of Moses’ absence.
They then journeyed to Egypt together
When they reached Egypt they obeyed God and gathered the elders
Aaron shared what God had told to Moses (Aaron was now the spokesman remember)
Moses performed the miracles (Moses was commissioned by God to do these)
Scripture says the people believed and they bowed down worshipping God
God’s promise was fulfilled to Moses
God’s message that He cared for them, was aware of their affliction, and was concerned and came to do something was realized and stirred a great hope within the people
Moses and Aaron were side by side (one a former prince turned shepherd and one a leader who Israel respected and had known)
The great message of deliverance from the great, “I AM”—Yahweh and Jehovah was delivered
The extraordinary miracles performed by Moses were down before their eyes
Think of what was stirred--
Hope this stirred
Emotions and feelings were coming alive
Knowledge and understanding that
There was a God who had heard their cries,
Who had not abandoned them,
Who had sent them both a messenger and deliverer—
There was a way out of their bondage and slavery
God Himself was about to bestow on them His mercy
(You and me)
Obedience MUST COME FIRST—then fulfillment; but know this:
Obedience ALWAYS bears fruit; the fruit of
God’s presence
Love
Blessing
(WORSHIP TEAM)
(To the unbeliever here today) Maybe you’re here today and you been in bondage your entire life—thinking and wondering if there’s a way out—if there’s some message of deliverance and redemption, some message of hope and assurance.
My encouragement to you this morning is this: The answer is there is a message and there is a messenger—there is a promise of deliverance and there is a Deliverer.
Remember for a moment
Pharaoh Is picture of the enemy—of Satan
Remember for a moment the message God sent Moses with: “
Pharaoh, let My people go!” to let him
Listen to the final words of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary:
John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
As God told Moses to declare to Pharaoh to let His people (Israel), so to does Jesus Christ declare to Satan the same message in His final words on the cross, “it is finished.
The purpose for which He came (deliverance) had been fulfilled
(Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””
The goal of the cross has been accomplished:
Romans 3:25 “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,”
1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
Why? Because is sending Christ to the cross, God was proclaiming:
“I sought you—you were lost, I sought you b/c you are worth the cost!”
(To the believer here this morning) Think about your own salvation for a moment: It took someone (or some people—pastor, friend, spouse, etc.) and in some way—being obedient to God to go, to go and share the good news of deliverance and of redemption: and whether you were
At a conference
In discipleship
At church
At small group, or
Alone in your room, weeping over your Bible telling God your were done with you had had enough
Someone at sometime in your life—shared the message which drove you to surrender—and the message you heard and surrendered to, is the message so many others need to hear
Our first “act of obedience” if you will is to respond to the message of the gospel (1 John 3:23a “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ...”
Believing has a beginning, but it has no end. It begins at the surrender of salvation—yet it will continue through all eternity
As we believe and as we obey we are driven to fulfill the second part of this verse, 1 John 3:23b “... and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
The fruit of loving others is to see them respond to the message of hope and deliverance that you surrendered to. And along the way, the fruit God blesses your obedience with is is divine fruit:
Assurance
Peace
Love
Hope
Joy
These divine characteristics are God-owned and God-given and they serve as the foundation characteristics for how and what a believer is to live and serve Jesus.
We cannot see all that God is doing or will do in our obedience—sometimes, like Abraham, we may not see the fruit of our obedience in our lifetime. In the end, inasmuch as we’d love to see the fruit, what matters in the end is that we are and were faithful to obey God.
Because even though we may not see what’s happening, even if we will never see what happens—what we experience in our Biblical obedience is God granting us more of Himself—and this a fruit that specifically and intentionally personal—that gives us strength, assurance, hope, courage, motivation, and endurance.
So as we close, be mindful of what David says at the end of Psalm 139.
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Are you surrendering all of who you are to all of who He is?
Is your obedience to God both steadfast and diligent?
Is there anything you are holding back and refusing to give up and surrender to Jesus?
Are you, first and foremost, walking in obedience to God and His Word?