God Who Has Brought Us, Pt. 2

Exodus 4: 1, 2; 10-17; 21, 27-31 (NIV)

Last week we begin this Black History preaching series God who has brought us through time, through trouble and brought us out triumphantly. Today, in part 2 through the Spirit, I want to lift up God who has brought us when we object to the assignment after seeing divine miracles. Despite our definition of personal inadequacies, God will use all of who He made us to be in his perfect timing, by proven test, and persuading trustworthiness as a testament of His name.

The New International Version Chapter 4

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” 2 Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 11 The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” 13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” 14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.” 21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 27 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform. 29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Introduction: Moses had received instructions from God in the burning bush (a theophany) outlining the details of his assignment to go speak to Pharaoh Amenhotep (Rmen-ho-tap) II to let His people go. Moses voiced complaints to God about his assignment because of his sense of personal inadequacy. Moses complains to God that he can’t be a leader because he is ‘slow of speech’. His anxieties about his new role, made him fearful his fellow citizens would refuse to accept his authority as a leader and his lack of eloquence (v. 10). God is patient with us when we complaint and kick and refuse to accept task.

Scriptural Text

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:1–17

God patiently and gently dealt with Moses’ apprehensions. Fear that the Israelites might not believe God had appeared to him is reasonable because God had apparently not appeared to the Israelites for 430 years, the length of the sojourn in Egypt. The Lord’s answer to the doubtful deliverer was to enable Moses to perform three supernatural events, two immediate (vv. 3–5, 6–8) and one in the future (v. 9). The first of the signs to Moses was the turning of his shepherd’s staff into a snake and back into a staff. Grabbing a snake by its tail was normally a dangerous thing to do! To follow the Lord’s directive takes courage and faith. Because snakes symbolized power and life to the Egyptians, God was declaring to Moses that he would be able to overcome the powers of Egypt. This miracle, God said, would cause the Israelites to believe that He, the God of the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had spoken to him. The second sign was his hand becoming leprous and its healing. This disease, though perhaps not the same as what is today called leprosy, was prevalent in Egypt and was considered incurable. Moses had run in fear from the snake (4:3). Now image the horrified of his brown hand turning white when he withdrew his hand from his garment. But then filled with reverential awe when it was suddenly cleansed. This sign, God said, might be more effective with the people than the first one (v. 8). Thus Moses’ fear that no one would believe that he was commissioned by God was intended to make the people hostile. The third sign would be Moses’ miraculous ability to turn water from the Nile into blood (v. 9). The Egyptians regarded the Nile River as the source of life and productivity. So Moses’ showing the people that he had power over the Nile would prove that God had given him the ability to overcome the Egyptians. As God predicted the people believed after the proven signs. Moses told Aaron about their newly appointed task (4:28). Moses’ fourth complaint was his supposed lack of eloquence and oratorical skills. Slow of speech and tongue means lacking in fluent speech. He had legitimate self doubt. God’s initial reaction to Moses’ objection was to remind him, by a series of questions, that the LORD determines man’s abilities or disabilities. Then God repeated His commission (Now go). Though assured of God’s enabling power (I will help … you; cf. 4:15) the magnitude and difficulty of the talk frightened him.

When Moses suggested God get a replacement (TikTok ‘get somebody else to do it’ v. 13) God became angry. Why was God angry? Probably because He perceived that Moses was speaking more out of disobedience than fear. So God told Moses He would let his brother speak for him. And yet Aaron would one day make a golden calf (32:1–5) and become a lying spokesman (32:22–24). God said He would help both of them speak before Pharaoh and the people. Moses was told to take the staff that had become a snake to achieve the wonders that were to follow. Moses would demonstrate God’s power to Amenhotep II. But, God said, it would be of no avail because He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, so he would refuse to let the people of God go. Why go if you know Pharaoh heart was hardened? God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart (4:21; 7:3) was predicted that He would do it in the future. Repentance is a gift from God (

We have the propensity of seeing God. But for us today, the sign is the risen Christ. Faith in the resurrection. The confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. God gave Moses tangible signs. We do not need the staff. The cross and the communion table where Christ is present in the bread and the wine are the signs the church. We must thank God for the relentless pursuit of us to use us for His glory as we overcome fear and doubt. Moses responded with practical doubt instead of perpetual praise when God called him for this audacious assignment--greater than him natural abilities.

Harriett Tubman has epliepsy but God used her to be the leader of the Underground Railroad. Jesse Jackson had a thick tongue but God use him. Malcom X received an eight-to-ten year prison sentence but God used him as an African American revolutionary. Barack Obama struggled with smoking cigarettes but God used him to be the first African American president.

Marvin Sapp said it this way...He saw the best in me. When everyone else around me. Could only see the worst in me. Does anybody have their testimony? When folks wrote you off. Said you would never make it. What did God see? He told Moses Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” He saw the best in me. When everyone else around could only see the worst in me, your shortcomings are mighty long comings when God calls you for an assignment. Man always looks at the outward appearance, But God is looking at the heart and a willing spirit. See, he's mine, and I am his. It doesn't matter what I did. He only sees me for who I am. Does anyone know that today? He see the best in you. Respond to God with perpetual praise instead of practical doubt. When in doubt pray and praise. Ask God to help your unbelief.

Perfect Timing: Aaron was on the way sent to meet Moses to be his spokesperson. Pharaoh heart was hardened. He refused to listen and let the people go. God had already warned Moses I have cause/ made his heart hard in order that he knew me and repent. When God gives you an assignment we will see the manifestation of grace at God’s Perfect timing. Too often, and naturally so we expect immediate results when God says go and do. But, no. It’s all in God’s perfect timing. The assurance that we have is that He is with you and the Holy Spirit working in partnership with you. Just go, when you move, he moves just like that.

Phil. 1: 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Persuasive trust for the people who had been oppressed for 400 years. The longer you are in oppression, depression, or any difficult situation you will begin to doubt and wonder even if things will get better. Through your witness account of the miracles God had performed in your life you become good at persuading someone to do or believe something through your testimonies--making them want to believe in liberation and salvation. To authenticate his commission Moses performed miracles before the people and explained God’s concern for their misery and His plan to deliver them from Egypt. In response the people believed that Moses was sent by God and they worshiped God for His merciful care.

Moses and Aaron were biblical trailblazers leading God’s people from Egypt to the promise land. Persuasive trust convinces that we can to speak the truth to power.

Proven test by what was in his hand. The staff Moses carried with him as he went to Pharaoh, went through the wilderness, went to the top of the mountain. He had it with him when God spoke to him in the burning bush. God will use what you have. It is a proven test to be used so that God will get himself glory. The Lord is our shepherd. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The trailbrazer for the twelve disciples. Use what you have in your hand so other will believe you as a messenger of God and listen to you. God will use what’s in your hand as signs. Use your worship. Use your praise, use your gift, use your life, use your testimony, use the word of God. It’s worth fighting for. Let me remix Brian Courtney Wilson

Conclusion: "Worth Fighting For": You met me deep in my despair to show me You. Would never leave me there. You claimed. Because I was made for so much more when I doubted my own abilities. I am Your child and I'm worth fighting for. They may not let you go right now, may not give you living wages or healthcare, bondage of debt, crippled with sickness Jesus gave his life that we might have life more abundantly. Though heavy with the weight of my mistakes. God carried me and refused to let me sink under the pressure. You meant for me to soar. I am Your child you died for my sins. And I'm worth fighting for. You are worth fight for. Our black and brown brother and sister they are worth fighting for. Eyes haven't seen. Ears haven't heard all You have planned. For me and nothing can separate me from. Your love when there's so much. More still worth fighting for. Now I'm moving by faith and not by. Sight towards victory by the power of Your might. You're straightening out my path and opening. Every door. I am Your child and I'm worth fighting for. Eyes haven't seen. Ears haven't heard. All You have planned for me and nothing. Can separate me from Your love when. There's so much more still worth fighting for. Let my people go. That's why I'm pressing towards the mark. It's worth it. Salvation is worth it. Cause the calling on my life is worth fighting for, the assigment to win souls is worth fighting for. And I'll keep my mind stayed on you Jesus. It's worth it. Because the peace it brings is worth fighting for. And I'll be faithful. It’s worth it. But Your kingdom. Here is worth fighting for. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Life with You is worth fighting for. If you believe that you' re worth Fighting for, shout to the Lord There is so much more still worth fighting for. Amen!.