Exodus 1-2 - Faith For The Future
Crossroads Baptist Church
Pastor Thomas S. Myers
FAITH FOR THE FUTURE
EXODUS 1-2
A 19 year old College student got on a bus and he sat down by a middle aged man. He said to the man, "Could you tell me what time it is?" And the man did not respond. The college student said, "Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is?" The man just looked straight ahead and did not respond. The college student said, "Sir, would it be too much to give me the time of day?" The man said, "I am not going to tell you the time of day. Because if I tell you what time it is, the next thing you will want to talk about is the weather. And once you talk about the weather, you will want to talk about politics. And once you talk about politics you will want to talk about sports. And once you get into sports, the you will want to know where I work. Then you will want to know where I live. Then you will want to come over to my house. And I have a 19 year old daughter. And you will get interested in her, and you will want to marry her. And I don't want my daughter marrying any man who can't afford a watch."
Isn't it amazing how we jump to conclusions? I want to tell you, as we look at the life of Moses, do not jump to any conclusions. Because many of us think of Moses as a very successful prophet of God. But for a large portion of his life he considered himself a failure. He questioned his adequacy, his gifts, his calling, and even his purpose for living. If there is anyone in the Bible who you would not think of as being a failure, it is Moses. And yet he is the classic illustration of a man who wrestles with failure. Someone has put it this way, "Moses spent his first 40 years in Pharaoh's house learning to be somebody. He spent the next 40 years of his life learning to be a nobody. And he spent his last 40 years learning what God could do with somebody who had learned the first two things.
D.L. Moody put it this way: "Moses spent his first 40 years thinking he was somebody. He spent his 2nd 40 years learning he was a nobody. He spent his 3rd 40 years discovering what God could do with a nobody."
I believe we are all in one of those 3 areas. Right now we are either in the stage where we think we are somebody, or we are in the stage of learning we are a nobody, or we are learning what God can do with a nobody. What is it that makes somebody great in the sight of God? I believe it is anybody who by faith believes that God can still use a nobody.
I am firmly convinced that it was the faith of Moses' mother that God used to start the faith building process in the life of Moses. Moses was raised by faith, but I do not think that in his early life he lived by faith. But I do believe this: That it was the spiritual nurturing of his mother that God used as the springboard for Moses' spiritual stability.
While listening to Billy Graham's radio program called "The Hour of Decision" I heard an incredible story about Layton Ford. He had shared that he was adopted and how he first met his mother. And it was just a short time before the radio broadcast that he wanted to find out just who his mother was. So he approached the adoption agency asking for his mother's name and address. They gave him her name and he began his search for her. He found her in Ontario, Canada. Not knowing what her reaction would be, he made his way to her address. He knocked on her door. She opened the door and Layton Ford introduced himself by saying, "Hi I am your son." She invited him in. And this is what she shared. "Every day of my life I wondered about you. As I shopped, I often wondered If I had just seen my son. Not knowing what had happened to you, I faithfully prayed for you daily." She had no idea that she had actually heard Layton Ford speak just 3 ago months at a crusade. Isn't it great what faith and prayer can do? Her faithful prayer was the foundation stones to the faith of Layton Ford. I also believe that the foundation stones for Moses' faith rested upon the faith of his mother. Let's look at the life of Moses.
FIRST -- MOSES, BORN IN ADVIRSITY. EXODUS 1:8-22
Moses was born a slave. There is very little joy being a slave. Imagine being a prisoner in Dachau, or Auschwitz of Nazi Germany. You would have no rights or privileges. Perhaps one source of joy would be the birth of a child. But if your baby was found, it would be taken away and killed. I can see a mother's joy over the birth of a child, but also seeing the fear that settles in realizing that if the child is discovered it will be killed.
That's the situation of Moses. Pharaoh has given the command for all males to be killed at birth. Look at EXODUS 1:15-16
Exodus 1:15-16
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." (NIV)
Pharaoh was saying, "Look, if you midwives help give birth, and the baby is a boy, you're to kill it."
SECOND -- MOSES, RAISED FOR SUCCESS. ACTS 7:22-25
Most of you know his life story. Let's look at what the Bible has to say about his life.
ACTS 7:22
22 MOSES WAS EDUCATED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS AND WAS POWERFUL IN SPEECH
AND ACTION.
The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that Pharaoh's daughter had actually trained and reared young Moses to be the Pharaoh of Egypt. Since Pharaoh had no son,
Moses was next in line to be the Pharaoh elect. Moses entered a total cultural and mental transformation. His new mother was molding him into an Egyptian. Look again at closely at verse 22.
"MOSES WAS EDUCATED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS"
He was trained in all the Egyptian sciences, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, philosophy, law, music, sculpture, painting, and the broadest knowledge of Egyptian literature. He was being groomed to be the next pharaoh. The results were incredible. Look at the results
ACTS 2:22
"MOSES WAS...POWERFUL IN SPEECH AND ACTION"
The Greek word for "powerful" means mighty in influence. Moses was very articulate. He was an incredible debater and soldier. Outside of Biblical literature it says that Moses was a military officer who became a hero in an Ethiopian war. He was the brightest star on the Egyptian horizon. Now I want you to remember that. Before he reached the age of 40 he was highly qualified, and well trained. Moses was bright, and sharp. He had all that it takes for leadership. Now look at VERSE 23.
THIRD -- MOSES, PURSUES THE __________ TO SUCCESS. ACTS 7:23 & 24-25
23 "WHEN MOSES WAS FORTY YEARS OLD, HE DECIDED TO VISIT HIS FELLOW ISRAELITES.
(NIV)
I believe that somehow Moses knew that God was going to use him to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt. After all, Moses thinks, "I am well qualified. I've proven myself on the battlefield." I get that idea from VERSE 24 & 25 that says:
24HE SAW ONE OF THEM BEING MISTREATED BY AN EGYPTIAN, SO HE WENT TO HIS DEFENSE AND AVENGED HIM BY KILLING THE EGYPTIAN. 25MOSES THOUGHT THAT HIS OWN PEOPLEWOULD REALIZE THAT GOD WAS USING HIM TO RESCUE THEM, BUT THEY DID NOT. (NIV)
Verse 25 explains why Moses killed the Egyptian. Moses thought for sure they would understand that they would be delivered out of Egypt by his mighty hand. He thought the Hebrews would cheer him on. Maybe even pin a medal on him. After all, everyone else has. But they did not understand. Now turn look at
EXODUS 2:11-12
11 ONE DAY, AFTER MOSES HAD GROWN UP, HE WENT OUT TO WHERE HIS OWN PEOPLE WERE AND WATCHED THEM AT THEIR HARD LABOR. HE SAW AN EGYPTIAN BEATING A HEBREW, ONE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE. 12 GLANCING THIS WAY AND THAT AND SEEING NO ONE, HE KILLED THE EGYPTIAN AND HID HIM IN THE SAND. (NIV)
He looks to the left, then he looks to the right, he looks behind him, and he looks in front of him. And he sees no one, so he kills the Egyptian. But there is one direction that he failed to look. Do you know what it is? He did not
look to God. There is no mention of God. There is not a mention of prayer. Why didn't he pray about it? I believe he did not pray to God about delivering the children of Israel out of Egypt, because he is bright. He has already scored high in the classroom and he didn't pray about that. He has proven his ability on the battle field and he didn't pray about that. So when it comes to delivering the Israelites out of Egypt, he can handle that too.
That is a very real problem with most Christians today. We will do anything but pray. Why is it that fail to pray? I think it is because we have gotten by so far without prayer.
About a year after we were married we moved to Newburg, Oregon. I was to complete my final year at Multnomah Bible College. Velva had secured a job of teaching in Dayton, Oregon, and now I needed a part time job. I wanted to work for United Parcel Service. But that was not the job that God gave me. Instead He gave me a job working for Sears & Roebuck.. After working for Sears, UPS called saying they had a part time position for me. I told them I would take the position. The pay was better. So I quickly called Velva at work and told her the good news. She asked me just one question, "Did you pray about it?" I felt like a dog with its tail between its leg and said, "No." I lived to regret taking that position. As it turned out, it was not a part time position. It was full time. I got home at 1:30 in the morning, and had to get up at 7:00 in the morning for school. It just did not work out. So I called UPS and told them I was quitting. So now here I was out of a job. And as I was driving over the I-5 bridge that crosses over the Willamette River my accelerator stuck. I managed to turn the engine off and coast to a stop. The state patrol called a wrecker and hailed the car into the skid row section of Portland. As the mechanic worked on the car, I went to the bank. As I was walking to the bank, about 5 prostitutes confronted me. The one that was in charge said she was offering her services to me for free. And she began to pull on my arm dragging me into the a building. I pulled myself back, but she would pull me back in. And I would pull my self back out. So here we were, she pulled me in, and I was pulling me out. Finally I said, "I am a believer in Jesus Christ," and she immediately let me go. Folks, this all started by not praying.
Here is the point, you can be highly qualified, but completely useless because you do not seek the face of God. To make matter even worse, not only did he not seek God, Moses also did something else. look at VERSE 12:
EXODUS 2:12
12 GLANCING THIS WAY AND THAT AND SEEING NO ONE, HE KILLED THE
EGYPTIAN AND HID HIM IN THE SAND. (NIV)
When you are wrong, say you are wrong. Don't let days pass and weeks pass. Because in that passing of time you will hide the tr
I heard this story recently, about someone who sent the IRS a letter. It says, "I haven't been able to sleep because last year when I filled out my income tax return I deliberated misrepresented my income. I am enclosing a check for $150.00, and if I still can't sleep I will send you the rest."
We will do anything in the world to keep from admitting we're wrong. Do you think Moses is sincere? Sure he is, but he is not in touch with God. So he hides the evidence. That is the very first thing that Adam did when he sinned. He tried to cover up his sin. And he didn't cover up his wife first, he covered up himself first. When we are wrong we can become very selfish. Then comes the next day for Moses.
EXODUS 2:13-15
13 THE NEXT DAY HE WENT OUT AND SAW TWO HEBREWS FIGHTING. HE ASKED THE ONE IN THE WRONG, "WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOUR FELLOW HEBREW?" 14 THE MAN SAID, "WHO MADE YOU RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? ARE YOU THINKING OF KILLING ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN?" THEN MOSES WAS AFRAID AND THOUGHT, "WHAT I DID MUST HAVE BECOME KNOWN." 15 WHEN PHARAOH HEARD OF THIS, HE TRIED TO KILL MOSES, BUT MOSES FLED FROM PHARAOH AND WENT TO LIVE IN MIDIAN, WHERE HE SAT DOWN BY A WELL. (NIV)
The hero of Egypt now runs for his life. Only one day has passed since the public was putting
medals on him, and applauding him. Now he runs for his life.
Notice very closely at the end of VERSE 15:
"HE SAT DOWN BY WELL."
If the truth was known, that is where many are sitting today. You are well intentioned, but now you are sitting by the well of discouragement.
What do you think Moses is thinking as he sits by the well? I think he is thinking he is a failure. Here is the pharaoh elect, the man who as it says in Acts 7 is "powerful in speech and action," sitting by a well, feeling like a complete failure. All his dreams of being the champion, the deliverer, the Pharaoh is gone.
When Moses fled Egypt, I wonder what he took with him? Maybe he took all medals of honor. As he sits by the well, he looks at his past trophies, and thinks, how useless they are when you have failed. So here he sits by the well, all alone, feeling completely useless. I want to say something about being by the well.
1st - When you are by the well, it is essential you trust that God knows what he is doing in your life. Press on in spite of your present heartaches. Some of you have been by the well, and you can sit there and you can grumble, you can complain, or you can trust that God knows what he is doing in your life. It will not be easy. But it is right.
2nd - When you are by the well, don't surrender to self pity, do not quit, and do not complain. Recognize that when you are by the well, that God is still at work in your life.
3rd - Acknowledge to God that you accept His sovereign plan for your life.