Dependent

Introduction

Session 1 Recap: Last week we began this four-week sermon series titled Difference Maker, and we focused on the time when David was called by God to be king.

even though he was small, young, and seemingly insignificant, God called him to be the next king of Israel. He was called to lead, and we are called to do the same. We are called to be difference makers.

Tonight, we are going to talk about our dependence upon God.

As we talk about the dependence of God, there are plenty of biblical leaders who displayed a dependence upon Him. However, one particular individual that stands out is Moses.

Due to his circumstances, Moses had to have a constant dependence upon God as he led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

They faced a multitude of situations, from hunger to thirst to disobedience against God Himself, yet Moses was able to lead them through it all as he depended on the Lord. However, there were times where Moses doubted God.

Bible Context: As we get into Exodus 4, there are some key things you need to know.

At this point in the book of Exodus, God has just recently appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to be the one who leads the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

As we saw last time with David, God calls us to be difference makers.

However, unlike what we saw with David, Moses doubted God and does not believe that he is capable of doing what God has called him to do. That’s where we pick up in Exodus 4:1.

God Reminds Doubting Moses (v.1-9)

Read Exodus 4:1-9

Exodus 4:1–9 ESV

1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

In verse 1, we immediately see Moses doubting God, so God will remind Moses by giving him three distinct signs that display His power.

Keep in mind that at this point, Moses has already experienced the burning bush where God directly called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, so he has already experienced a miraculous display of God’s power, but he is about to experience much more.

The First Sign: The Staff Turns into a Snake (v.2-5)

In verses 2-5, God gives Moses the first sign by turning his staff into a snake.

This is not a normal occurrence, & what does Moses do? Takes off running like most of us would.

But in verse 4, God calls Moses to reach out and pick up the snake by the tail.

Remember that we are called to obedience as difference makers.

Therefore, in an act of obedience and faith, Moses reaches out his hand, grabs the snake, and it becomes the staff.

Then, in verse 5, we see the purpose of this great display of God’s power.

God states that the signs will be given so that the Israelites will believe that He has truly appeared to and appointed Moses to lead.

It is also intended to reassure Moses amid his doubts that his power, or ability to lead, is not dependent upon his own abilities. Rather, he is dependent upon God, and God is, therefore, reminding Moses of just how powerful and capable He is.

The Second Sign: The Leprous Hand (v.6-8)

In verses 6-8, God provides Moses with a second sign to remind him in the midst of his doubts, and this time God instructs Moses to tuck his hand away inside of his cloak. When he pulls his hand back out, it's leprous.

That doesn’t mean that his hand was covered in spots like a leopard.

Leprosy is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body.

When Moses pulls his hand out of his cloak, it is covered in these severe sores.

God goes on to instruct Moses to place his hand back inside his cloak.

Again, Moses obeys God, and verse 7 tells us his hand is completely restored.

Then God once again declares the reason for this great display of His power.

In verse 8, God says that if they doubt the first sign or doubt that I have appeared to you, they can believe the second sign.

The same goes for Moses, as this is an additional reminder to him that God is in control.

God goes on to give Moses a third sign that he can do later on when the Israelites begin to doubt.

The Third Sign: Water to Blood (v.9)

In verse 9, God supplies Moses with one final sign that he can do later on to remind the Israelites when they begin to doubt, and this is a vital one as God tells Moses that He can take water from the Nile river, pour it on the ground, and it will become blood

God gives each of these signs as a display of His power as He reminds Moses that God is completely sovereign, completely in control, and that Moses is totally dependent upon Him.

How many of us can honestly relate to Moses in this moment of doubt?

When God calls you to share the Gospel with someone who does not know Jesus or allows you to pray over a broken friend, is your opportunity absolute confidence in God's ability to use you at that moment, or do you begin to doubt yourself as Moses does?

We tend to use excuses, some of which we talked about last time like I’m too young, I'm just a student, I’m just in this grade, I may say something wrong, they may judge me, or I simply don’t know enough to do this.

We often forget that we are called to be difference makers and we fall into doubting ourselves as Moses is here instead of remembering that the sovereign God of the universe empowers us.

But God does something incredible for Moses, and He does this for us as well as He clearly defines our dependence.

God Defines Our Dependence (v.10-12)

Read Exodus 4:10-12

Exodus 4:10–12 ESV

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

We once again see Moses doubting here, but this time he is providing excuses for why he is not fit to lead.

He says that he is not an eloquent enough speaker to be able to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This might seem strange at first, but it was actually a genuine concern that Moses had.

It was common for the Pharaoh, which is who Moses is going to have to eventually go to and confront, to have advisers who were known for being able to speak considerably well.

Therefore, in verse 10, when Moses points out that he is slow of speech and tongue, he is raising serious concern.

God responds to Moses in verses 11 and 12.

God points out that He is the creator of all things, including the mouth of Moses, and as we saw through the signs earlier, God is capable of working through all of His creation.

God essentially asks Moses, “Do you not yet understand or realize that I am more than capable of using you if you will just depend upon me?”

C.S. Lewis writes, “You may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.”

Like Moses, we can so quickly forget that we are completely dependent on God.

He is the one who provides our every need, yet when it comes to leading, we completely forget just how powerful He is.

We hesitate when we have a chance to bring up Christ in a conversation, get anxious when we’re asked to pray, or we shy away from an opportunity to invite a friend to church.

When we do this, we, like Moses, forget about God’s ability to work through us.

We are called to obedience, not comfort.

God doesn’t call us to be totally ready or to know everything or to be a certain age in order to be used by Him.

He simply calls us to be obedient and to trust in His ability to use us.

In the same way that David trusted in God to deliver him from Goliath's hand in our last lesson, we have to trust that God is going to use us in mighty ways.

Notice our part in this scenario is simply to trust and obey.

What is God calling you to that you are struggling to trust Him with?

When we rely upon God and place our full trust in Him, you'll be surprised at how greatly He will use you so far beyond your own abilities.

How can we know that? Because, as we've seen, God has already given multiple signs that He will, and he reminds Moses here that he, and we, are entirely dependent upon Him.

When we trust in Him, He leads.

God Assures Us That He Will Lead (v.13-17)

Read Exodus 4:13-17

Exodus 4:13–17 ESV

13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

In verses 13 and 14, we again see Moses complaining, and God gets frustrated with his doubting yet provides grace through his brother Aaron.

God points out that Moses' brother Aaron is great with his words and can be the one who speaks.

Even after Moses's doubt and complaints, God is still gracious enough to provide Aaron as a resource for Moses in doing and completing what God has called him to do.

The Lord has not removed Moses from the assignment due to his complaints, but He has responded and shown Moses that even with his weaknesses in mind, God will lead.

The same stands true for us. Even when we doubt ourselves or doubt our abilities, God will prove to be faithful.

He is sovereign in every single way and will make way for His will to be done.

In verses 15-17, notice how God clearly defines what Moses is to do and how he is to lead.

When we place ourselves in a position where we're dependent on God, He delivers in ways beyond us and will often give us a clear picture of how we want us to lead.

Philippians 4:19 reads:

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Moses has now been given assurance that he is to lead, reminders of God's power, and his brother's abilities, but he has also been given direct instructions on how to lead.

You see, God provides Moses with everything he needs!

He gives Moses the miraculous signs that display His power.

He reminds Moses that He is capable of doing far more than Moses is capable of

He provides Aaron since Moses doubts his abilities.

He provides instructions on how to go about the task.

He gives Moses the staff “with which you will do the signs” (v.17)

God provides everything that Moses needs to lead, and He does the same thing for through Jesus' words as we are called to go and make disciples.

Matthew 28:18-20 says,

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice what we’re provided with here.

We are reminded of His power as all authority is in Jesus. Verse 18 reads, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

We are given instructions for how we are to go about serving Him as He says in verses 19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

We are given assurance and can, therefore, be confident that He is working with us and through us, as He says in verse 20, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Conclusion

As we have seen with Moses tonight, God will call us to do things that are far beyond our comfort zones.

For some of you, it may be far out of your comfort zone to admit that you need God’s grace or to confess that you are struggling with sin.

For others, it may be the fear of actually inviting your friend to church instead of just thinking about it or it may be offering to pray for someone who is struggling.

As we close tonight, I want to challenge you to think about ways that you doubt God, fail to trust God, or maybe areas of your life that you are just outright afraid to surrender to Him.

Take some time to pray about those things and surrender your entire life for His use because He will remind of us His power when we doubt, He will make our dependence upon Him clear, and He will lead in mighty ways, but only if we’re willing to put our full trust in Him.