Moses - Looking To God To Lead

Introduction

Greetings…

I would like to begin by thanking the shepherds of this wonderful congregation and all those involved for having such a fine lectureship as you have been having and how truly honored I am that you have given me this opportunity to present our Creator’s precious message on “Moses-Looking To God To Lead.”

In my opinion outside of the saving message of the gospel there is no greater topic than that of “Having A Godly Home.”

The home is the first place God can be introduced to our youngest and the home of the first place Satan and his messengers seek to destroy to hinder that message.

And one of the many lies concerning the home that Satan has got so many, both outside the church and unfortunately inside the church, to believe is that of the biblical concept of leadership in the home.

Now don’t get me wrong, the concept of leadership in general is completely misguided as I have found “a large majority of Christians” have no idea that “no woman is to have authority over man” according to 1 Corinthians 11:3.

But at least until the 60’s the home was left mostly unscathed, but as you and I know Satan never sits idly by and set forth his lies that women not only need not be submissive in the work force but also at home.

That is the wife and mother anthem became that of the 1997 Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm commercial “anything you can do I can do better.”

Of course we have seen the devastation this false doctrine of the home has created.

Leadership in the home is abysmal even in the church as many of the preachers & elders here can attests to in the countless counseling sessions you have had with struggling husbands and wives.

So, what can God’s leadership demonstrated to Moses teach us about how the home should function.

For this I have made an acrostic with the word LEAD.

And as such the first point I want us to consider on leadership that we see from God with Moses was that of…

Looking Forward

Moses Had Been Prepared.

Now you and I know that Moses was reluctant to lead God’s people when meeting our Lord and Savior there in that burning bush.

But imagine for a moment what Moses must have thought about concerning what led to him being in that moment leading God’s chosen people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea on dry land.

Moses must have certainly had an astonishment reflection on his past which God had used to prepare him

Like my c-pap in the hospital moment.

So what happened?

That he was born to Jochebed a Levit women during a time when Pharoah had ordered all Hebrew male children to be executed on site (Exodus 1:16).

Moses was fully aware that he was kept alive by his family to please God not man (Hebrews 11:23).

That when he was old enough (three months old) to no longer be easily hidden his mother built an ark, put Moses into it, and left him at the river bank with his sister watching to see what would happen to him.

Moses was fully aware that his family put there full trust in God to watch over him which is evident by having his sister stay and watch what would happen.

That he, an illegal three month old Hebrew baby boy, was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, most likely the only person with enough influence to allow Pharaoh to allow him to live and yet still raised by his godly mother who taught him sin is has only fleeting pleasure (Hebrews

Moses was now more than ever aware of God’s providence and assurance of God’s involvement in Moses’ life (Hebrews 11:27).

That he, was raised by his Godly mom though considered Pharaoh’s grandson.

Moses was now aware more than ever that God’s way was far superior to man’s (Hebrews 11:24).

Moses was able to see how the LORD had acted at every step in his life in anticipation of what he needed from Moses to lead his people out of Egypt.

A good leader understands he must be able to anticipate certain realities in his family’s life and prepare for that eventual outcome.

So then…

Husband’s Must Anticipate.

As leaders of the home a husband must anticipate the outcome of his wife’s spiritual shortcomings and do everything in his power to help her overcome those.

Ephesians 5:28 ASV

28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:

Ephesians 5:33 KJV 1900

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

I can’t tell you how many times I have witnessed husbands ignore completely their wives spiritual deficiencies.

Because of this husbands don’t correct what needs correction in their wives, they don’t fix their sin & the marriage suffers.

As leaders of the home a husband must anticipate the outcome of his wife’s spiritual strength’s and do everything in his power to build them up all the more.

Proverbs 31:28–29 KJV 1900

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all.

As men it is much easier to see what needs “fixing” in our wives than to appreciate and build up what she is so spiritually gifted in.

We must make the time and put the effort into knowing our wives so well that we understand not just her weaknesses but her strengths and then build those strengths up.

As leaders of the home a father must anticipate the challenges their children are going to face and prepare them for such challenges.

There is not a man alive that does not understand what hormonal boys are prone to think about girls.

And yet I see “so many fathers” letting their daughters dress in such a way that they would themselves be tempted if it were someone other than their daughter.

I’m sick and tired of weak leadership by weak fathers that demonstrate through their actions they have no love or respect for their daughters.

Any father that cannot anticipate and prepare their daughters and sons for the temptations they will face in the future that will spiritually devastate them if they are unprepared is not a leader and has no idea what Proverbs 22:6 actually means.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I know this is the case, as do many of you here today, because we have witnessed our brethren’s children being carried off by the ways of the world and then only to say “I did all I could to raise them right.”

This is a lie because you fathers never actually anticipated that moment and never actually prepared them for those temptations.

Summary

Moses most certainly reflected on God’s leadership in his anticipation and thus preparation of what Moses would need to be a leader to his people.

Husbands and fathers must do the same and prepare their family to be faithful against the temptations of the world and the fiery arrows of Satan.

1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV 1900

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

1 Timothy 6:9–12 KJV 1900

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Secondly, we see Moses looking to God to lead through…

Exhortation

The Burning Bush.

Moses found himself talking with God from a bush that is a flame yet not burning and God tells Moses that he want’s him to lead his people from Egypt, but Moses does not feel he is qualified to stand before Pharaoh and bring forth the children of God.

Exodus 3:11 KJV 1900

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

God could have got angry with Moses but instead he exhorts him.

Exodus 3:12 KJV 1900

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

God tell’s Moses “I am with you, I have your back.”

Throughout the bible we find this truth from God bore out over and over towards his faithful.

To Jeremiah he said…

Jeremiah 1:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

To Ezekiel he said…

Ezekiel 3:7–9 KJV 1900

7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

As leaders of the home husbands and fathers must demonstrate…

Side By Side Support.

Leadership is knowing that we all stumble in various ways and fall short of the glory of God.

James 3:2 ASV

2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

1 John 1:10 KJV 1900

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Leadership in the home then is found in exhortation.

The reality is, like us, our wives and children will “stumble” and “stumble often.”

It is then that they need exhortation because the word exhort holds the idea of “calling to one’s side so as to encourage a response.”

In other words, our wives and children need us to reach our hand out to lift them up and encourage them to change rather than simply just condemning.

Yes, we must reprove and rebuke but if we do not exhort after wards it will all be for nothing as we will lead them to wrath rather than faith.

Ephesians 6:4 KJV 1900

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Summary

Moses remembered when leading the people of Israel what he learned from the LORD that exhortation is vital to faithfulness.

That leaders offer their support and lift people up to faithfulness.

Thirdly, we find that Moses looked to God to lead in the area of…

Achievement

Goals Were Set.

One thing God has always demonstrated in his leadership, and with Moses it was no different, was the understanding that people need to have and achieve goals to stay faithful.

Moses saw this first hand in action when it came to God offering the goal of trusting him fully.

Think about it, time after time, God allowed adversity to strike the people so that they would be reminded of the need to put their full faith or trust in him.

When the Egyptian army closed in the people were given the goal of trusting in God but they didn’t.

Exodus 14:10–11 KJV 1900

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Yet God put a cloud or fog between the army and the Israelites.

When the Israelites had walked three days without water, then found water, but it was bitter and they could not drink they were offered the goal to trust God but they didn’t, yet God demonstrated he was worthy of trust to his children.

Exodus 15:24 KJV 1900

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

God made the water sweet and able to drink.

When the Israelites grew hungry they were given the opportunity to achieve the goal of trusting in God again but they failed, yet God continued to demonstrate why he was worthy of trust to his children.

Exodus 16:3 KJV 1900

3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Over and over Moses witnessed God, the Creator of the universe, offer goals to the Israelites, give them a reason to achieve those goals, and have patience with them when they failed those goals.

Goals Are Necessary.

The reality we need spiritual goals, our wife needs spiritual goals, and our children need spiritual goals.

The reason God has established the goal of continually maturing in faithfulness until we receive the crown of life is because we need goals.

Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

A good leader in the home establishes goals for his family.

Maybe it is become better at prayer.

Praying with our wives and children and then discussing that prayer.

Maybe it is becoming better at encouraging.

Taking our wives and/or children when we visit others.

Maybe it is become more comfortable teaching in front of others.

Help your kids develop devo’s, bible class studies, sermons and then have them present them to you.

If you have young girls have them present them to mom, and boys to everyone.

Summary

The point is as husbands and fathers we have a responsibility to work with our family to set and achieve spiritual goals and life goals.

Our children will need to know not only how to navigate this old sinful world but how to teach others the gospel, and defend God’s holy truth effectively.

Lastly, Moses looked to God to lead in the area of…

Desired Example

Don’t Just Talk The Talk.

Moses witnessed is own nephews killed for offering profane or unauthorized fire before the LORD (Leviticus 10:1-2) and then Moses was told to tell his brother, who just lost his sons…

Leviticus 10:3 KJV 1900

3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 10:6–7 KJV 1900

6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. 7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

Moses witnessed is own tongue holding when he was told to speak to the rock to bring forth water but instead he hit it twice.

Numbers 20:8 KJV 1900

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:11–12 KJV 1900

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Moses learned that leadership is about more than just talking the talk leaders…

Must Walk The Walk.

When Aaron, the High Priest’s sons, offered unauthorized fire they were a representation of Aaron’s leadership or lack there of.

When Moses smote the rock twice instead of speaking to it as God had said to do he did not lead by example or walk the walk of faithfulness he was so angry at the people for doing.

Husbands and fathers, our wives and children will certainly know if we talk the talk but refuse to walk the walk.

How many preachers have had their wives leave them because they preach day and night on taking care of their families and treating their wives with respect only to do neither in real life.

Often these men blame the congregation for demanding too much of their time but in reality they chose not to priorities time with their family.

Moses, after being told he would not enter the Promised Land due to his sin, preached the sermon of Deuteronomy.

Think of the impact these words of faithfulness now sounded from Moses to the ears of Israelites that were poised to take the promised land.

Deuteronomy 4:14 KJV 1900

14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

Deuteronomy 6:5–6 KJV 1900

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

James 1:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Summary

Leaders of families don’t just talk the talk they walk the walk.

Husbands and fathers, when you sin, walk the walk of repentance, bear fruit of repentance, and demonstrate to your family your love for God and be that example of what it means to truly love the Lord your god with all your heart, mind, soul, and mind.

Conclusion

We are at a crossroads in the church were the family is concerned.

We need our husbands and fathers to stand up and be the men God demands from them in order that their family may have the best chance at an eternity.

Maybe you were not raised by a faithful leader in your home.

Don’t continue that cycle of sin but correct it, honor and glorify your Father above by leading your now or future family in righteousness so that you will all be together one day in the abode of God.

Isaiah 59:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: