Power of a Righteous Man-Moses
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Children’s Question: What is your favorite thing you do with your Mom and Dad?
Scripture Reading
What does a good Father do?
ILLUSTRATION
The story is told of the sharecropper who was charged with stealing his landlord’s mule. The landlord was a rich and domineering man who had few friends among the common people, but the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming. When the jury retired to consider the verdict, they were out only 5 minutes.
"Have you reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman?" asked the judge. "We have, Your Honor," the foreman replied, and handed a paper to the clerk. The clerk read: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty, provided that he returns the mule."
The judge brought the gavel down sharply, saying, "Folks that’s not a proper verdict. The defendant is either guilty or not guilty." He told the jury to retire and come back with a lawful verdict. So they left the room and returned again in another five minutes.
The verdict was handed to the clerk who unfolded the paper, and read the following: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty. He can keep the mule."
APPLICATION: You might say that jury was engaged in some creative decision making. They were not comfortable with the options they had, so they came up a verdict that was new and unique.
Today, we’re going to take a look at how Moses pleaded with God during a difficult time…
It’s a teaching from scripture that seems to go against everything we’ve ever been taught about God. But a teaching might just help us understand prayer in a way that is entirely new.
Let’s look at the setting for Moses’ prayer in
About 4 months previously, Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, and from the moment they were released they just complained!
They complained at the waters of the Red Sea because they were afraid of the Egyptians
Egyptians
They complained in the desert because they didn’t think they had enough to eat ... and then, they didn’t think they had enough to drink!
When they got to Mt. Sinai, their kept them from experiencing God’s presence...
18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” 20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
Exo 20:18-20
Throughout the OT all the Israelites ever did was complain and grumble! Chapter 31 emphasizes this, by reviewing the Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. And when Moses went back up the mountain to talk to God, the people got restless, and they talk Aaron into making a golden calf for them to worship.
The Israelites were nothing but trouble from the time God freed them from their chains—and God finally had enough!
chains... and now – it appears – God has had... enough.
Let’s read VERSES 7-10 ()
7 The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 9 Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”
God tells Moses “I’m going to wipe them off the face of the earth and build a new nation around you.”
God tells Moses “I’m going to wipe them off the face of the earth and build a new nation around you.”
Was God serious? Did He really intend to annihilate the entire nation & rebuild a new nation from Moses’ offspring? The answer is clearly, “Yes!”
Moses certainly took God seriously!
Moses was SO convinced God intended to do what He threatened, that he offered up an immediate and extremely intense plea.
Now understand, when I say “plea” I’m talking about prayer! (Dialogue with God)
11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
Exo 32:11-
WHAT A SHOCKING PASSAGE! DID YOU CATCH IT?
AND as a result of Moses’ conversation, God changes His mind and decides NOT to destroy the Israelites.
It says, as a result of Moses’ conversation, God changes His mind and decides NOT to destroy the Israelites.
[PAUSE] He did WHAT? God changed His mind? He’s not supposed to do that!
In Numbers, God Himself tells us:
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
[EXPLAIN: This can be a difficult passage]
[EXPLAIN: This can be a difficult passage]
[EXPLAIN: This can be a difficult passage]
EXPLAIN: This can be a difficult passage. You may be thinking, “I’ve always heard God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. God is supposed to know all things. But if He knows all things, why make this threat if He knows He’ll not do what He’s threatened?”
You may be thinking, “I’ve always heard God knows all things. But if He knows all things, why make this threat if He knows He’ll not do what He’s threatened?”
[PAUSE] The passage has been a point of controversy for hundreds of years! HOWEVER, there is a clear biblical answer...
The passage has been a point of controversy for hundreds of years!
HOWEVER, there is a clear biblical answer
And the answer is found when we UNDERSTAND prayer!
And the answer is found when we UNDERSTAND prayer!
We’re taught that prayer is a powerful force.
Jesus said:
Jesus said...
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
He tells us: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
In He tells us: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
James tells us:
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
In Jesus declares: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Or as James puts it: “...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16
“...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
IN FACT, Verse 16 is more accurately translated, “The fervent prayer of a righteous person, is the ONLY prayer heard at all!”
All our lives, we’ve been told that we can change things through prayer. But in the back of our minds, there’s this nagging suspicion that prayer doesn’t really do all that much.
We think, God is God and God’s gonna do what God’s gonna do!
I mean, if God’s going to do what He wants to do anyway – why bother?
SO why pray? What difference will it make? If God’s going to do what He wants to do anyway—why bother?
TELLS US WHY WE SHOULD BOTHER!
TELLS US WHY WE SHOULD BOTHER!
And the text also reveals why God changed His mind, and the shocking reason why people find prayer so INEFFECTIVE!
FIRST, ask WHY did God tell Moses to “leave Me alone?”
“Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
Why bother to tell Moses to leave Him alone? Why not simply stretch forth His arm and wipe Israelites off the face of map... and then tell Moses what was going to happen next? He’s God after all? What difference would it make whether or not Moses approved of this plan?
Why not simply stretch forth His arm and wipe Israelites off the face of map... and then tell Moses what was going to happen next? He’s God after all? What difference would it make whether or not Moses approved of this plan?
[PAUSE] It seems it made ALL the difference in the world! In fact, IT LOOKS LIKE GOD IS ASKING FOR MOSES’ PERMISSION to do what He has decided!
WHY WOULD GOD DO THAT?
Because, GOD GAVE MOSES AUTHORITY over the people of Israel. Notice how God describes the Israelites in verse 7:
7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because YOUR people, whom YOU brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.
The people of Israel were given to Moses to lead!
I’ve noticed in Scripture, when God gives authority, He also gives freedom to exercise the authority—God never micromanages His workers! He understands a person cannot hold anyone accountable when they’re micromanaged!
The phrasing of the passage suggests God is asking Moses’ permission to destroy them; because, God had given Moses leadership authority.
We see NT examples of this from Jesus:
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
Likewise, we have authority in prayer because God has given it to us. That’s why Jesus said:
* “I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
* “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
* “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
When we say, “Prayer changes things!” SUCH AS, Moses appealing to God and God changing His mind, WE ARE IN FACT SEEING TWO BASIS PRAYER PRINCIPLES in action!
When we say, “Prayer changes things!” SUCH AS, Moses appealing to God and God changing His mind, WE ARE IN FACT SEEING TWO BASIS PRAYER PRINCIPLES in action!
Look again at what Jesus said!
“ask…and my Father will do it for you!”
“pray for anything…and it will be granted!”
“ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”
HOWEVER, DON’T FORGET GOD HAS RULES! Two principles ALWAY APPLY!
(1) “Anything we ask” is understood to be IN LINE WITH GOD’S CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY—He will never answer a request for anything that is evil, sinful, contrary to His revealed will, or anything that would contradict what He has already revealed!
(2) It’s NEVER about us—it’s ALWAYS about others!
When Moses pleaded to God, He deferred to God’s character and integrity. And Moses did not ask for himself, he asked for THEM!
Moses did not presume to change God’s mind. Even though he had a position of responsibility and authority with Israel he still argued with an eye on what would be in God’s will.
REREAD VERSES 11-13
11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”
Moses did not presume to change God’s mind. Even though he had a position of responsibility and authority with Israel he still argued with an eye on what would be in God’s will.
Notice that Moses appeals to the reasons why God would want to spare the nation:
(1) Egypt would get the impression that God had brought the people out into the desert for the sole purpose of destroying them.
(2) Then there was the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Then Moses takes on the AUTHORITY as leader and stands in the gap for the people
30 On the next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.”
In :
“The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ So Moses went back to the LORD and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin— but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’
The LORD replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.’”
WE LEARN SOME VALUABLE LESSONS:
WE LEARN SOME VALUABLE LESSONS:
Too often when we think of prayer we envision a mystical relationship with God instead of what it really is—a dialogue with our Father!
When Moses approaches God, he respectfully tells God what he thinks—and God DOES NOT shut him down! God weighed what Moses asked for, then granted his request, even when He could have rightfully exercised His sovereign control over His creation!
WE LEARN prayer is not a FORMAL ONE-WAY dialogue with us in conversation mode and God in listening mode to get what we want! It is a RESPECTFUL TWO-WAY dialogue with our Daddy!
18 Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Prayer isn’t a formal one-way plea to get what we want—it is a respectful dialogue with our Daddy!
“let us argue, reason, settle it!”
Depicts two-way dialogue. I.e. God with Elijah; Job with God; Jesus with His disciples!
BUT WHY DID GOD EVEN LISTEN TO MOSES? Why was Moses able to have a real dialogue with God and REASON/ARGUE with Him? Why did God give Moses such authority?
Why was Moses able to have a real dialogue with God and REASON/ARGUE with Him? Why did God give Moses such authority?
Moses was righteous—he learned and matured in his relationship.
Moses learned power was NOT the key to happiness. He had power from the time he was a child and learned the pursuit of power corrupts man! It corrupted him, and he thought he could control it, until it took his life and led him to believe his will and his desire allowed even murder.
ILLUSTRATION
Moses knew SIMPLICITY in his relationship with God—when he fell from power, he became a simple man! His lifestyle as a Shepherd provided lots of time for self-reflection and time cultivate genuine relationships with others. When God called Moses to lead, he pleaded with God as a simple, old, stuttering man. In his weakness, he finally became a man God could use.
Moses “FEARED” God; but he was NOT AFRAID of God! Moses understood fear as the RESPECT a son gives to a loving Father. He could approach God fearfully/respectfully, without being afraid, because his life was consistently in line with Father’s will.
Moses understood fear as the RESPECT a son gives to a loving Father. He could approach God fearfully, without being afraid, because his life was consistently in line with God’s will.
The people did not “Fear” God; they were AFRAID of God; their fear paralyzed their relationship with God—because their lives were out of sync with God!
Why do some you have only a one-way dialogue with God—because you’re AFRAID of Him! You know you are living outside your Father’s will!
ARE YOU THAT MAN! THAT WOMAN!
Are YOU THAT MAN! THAT WOMAN!
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
I will share with you something I’ve not talked about a lot.
I was saved when I was 17. Three years later, when I nearly drowned with my son, God called me into ministry. IT WAS A DIALOGUE. I thought everyone heard God the same as me. When He spoke, it was a voice, but yet it’s not. I just know it’s Him.
I learn to fear God as a son to a loving Father.
I love my earthly “fathers” —but I cannot/could not always have a two-way dialogue with them, because they sometimes condemn what I say. My Heavenly Father has NEVER condemned me; He listens not just to what I say, but to what I mean.
God is calling you to a life of two-way dialogue.