Part 5: Here I Am... Send Someone Else!

We're in a series through the book of Exodus and we're studying The Exodus in the Old Testament. Did you know that the Exodus is the defining of Salvation in the Old Testament? It's the defining Act of Salvation in the Old Testament. In fact even today we'll look back Orthodox Jewish people will look back to the Exodus as the model for how God Saves his people and all of it points forward to Jesus and how he saves us so looking forward from Jesus and then we're going to pick it up in chapter 4 this morning. Let me pray father. Thank you for Jesus and thank you Jesus that you do save us that you do redeem us that everything in the Old Testament points forward to the Cross everything in the New Testament reminds us of the Crossing. Fast forward to your return and remind us of the truth of how you save us and end of specifically this morning that in saving us you promise to be with us every step of the way. I pray against the enemy is servants their works and effects instead Holy Spirit. Would you come and work in us and changed us to be more like Jesus? We pray all of this disaster you men. But today we pick it up in Exodus chapter 4 and we enter back into the text in the middle of Moses Encounter With Jesus At The Burning Bush. Nephew are here a couple weeks. So you're going what are you talking about? Jesus At The Burning Bush. I don't I don't remember that. If you look at Exodus chapter 3 where the burning bush shows up in the piers to Moses. It's an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses through a burning bush. I would contend to you and I could be wrong and there's smarter people than me that disagree with me. This is just where I land. I'm not going to argue about it cuz I could be wrong but this is what I believe is true that when you see the angel of the Lord. The angel of Yahweh the messenger of Yahweh in the Old Testament that ultimately that is a pre incarnate Jesus. Jesus is eternal and he didn't just start to exist when he was born in a stable. He's always existed and he shows up multiple times in the Old Testament and I believe this is one of them and when you get divorced for of chapter 3, it says that the Lord spoke to him from the bus so it goes from just being a messenger to actually God speaking in the bush and I believe this is Jesus. So Jesus is appearing to Moses at the burning bush story or mid event of what's happening to just review where we were a couple weeks ago in Exodus chapter 3, and we saw Jesus to Moses and there's a few things that are consistent with God's call on people's lives. The first thing he does is he calls you to follow him? He calls you to become a Christian to put your trust and your face. In Jesus. In fact everyone is called to come to him and to believe in other words to become a Christian Acts chapter 17, and when they're preaching they said the times of ignorance He commands all people everywhere to repent and they go on to say that repentance involves turning in faith to Jesus Christ and it to do that if you do this if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and that he died on the cross for your sins and got from the grave you will like that's the beginning and end of what it means to become a Christian put your faith in Jesus not get yourself all cleaned up and then come to Jesus and he cleans you. That's what it means to be a Christian and everyone is called to repent and turn to Jesus and Faith but not everybody responds. Do they? Should you respond after Jesus called them to himself everyone who responds and believes the next thing he does every single time is he sends them on Mission the one exception potentially I can find in the Bible is the thief on the cross who comes to Jesus and faith on the cross, right? So, how's he going to be sent by Jesus on Mission, but because what they do to the other guy hanging Mission, it doesn't matter who you are or if you get paid to do it. That's your rule your scent on Mission by Jesus. In fact in John 17. He says you sent he's praying for us. He said that as you sent me into the world father. I've also sent them. Even specifically here in John 20. That's okay on the screen. Jesus said to his disciples peace be with you as the father has sent me even so I'm sending you as the father sent me I'm sending you what Jesus was sent and tells us in John tells us in 317 that God didn't send the sun in the world to judge other words to bring kind of Nation on people but that the world might be saved he was sent to love people. Mission, right? That's our mission statement as a church where is sent to love people and invite them to follow Jesus with us both on a Sunday morning. And as we go out during the week that they're loved by us and they're loved by Jesus and so they should follow him. They men. Everyone who responds Jesus ends not so he called you then he sends you but there's another piece to it. He also promises to go with you. He promises to go with he goes with everyone he sends and in Matthew 28, the sum of the matter is he was he gave the Great Commission as I'm with you always even to the end of the age.

Jesus sends you a message and what we saw in Exodus chapter 3 is that Jesus Through The Burning Bush was sending Moses to go back to Egypt to go to Faroe and ask for God's people to be released. That was the mission he was sent on. And we saw in chapter 3 that Jesus promised to be with him. So he called to Moses from The Burning Bush People. And I'm going to be with you every moment of it. everybody just with calls he sends and he goes with and so that's where we pick it up now in chapter for so for you and for me when Jesus sends you we're going to see Moses raises doubts. It's okay to raise your doubts. It's okay to raise your doubts. It's okay when Jesus sends you on mission to be afraid. It's okay. It's okay to have some concerns. Be fearful.

And it certainly okay to raise them Moses had doubts after Jesus called him from the bush after he sent him. Which by the way it's because of Moses doubts that Jesus promised to go with him. I think of you raise your doubts do this. You'll sense even more Jesus promised to go with you in Exodus chapter 3 the Lord that said Shirley to Moses. I've seen the Affliction of my people who are in Egypt and he goes on and verse 10. He says I will send you the Pharaoh and Moses reply in chapter 3 verse 11. He said they got who am I that I should go to pharaoh?

Don't you know what? I did 40 years ago Lord, I murdered a man. And I ran. I ran away and I hid like a coward. I've been wasting my life are the desert. It feels like now for 40 years. Who am I that you're going to send me now? I'm 80 years old. Who am I?

And then God's response was yeah, but Moses I'll be with you. I'll be with you and he raises more doubts and then got again. I'll be with you and we get to chapter 4 and we're in the midst of Moses making these arguments and raising his doubts to God. And initially is Moses death this you're going to find out it seems to be okay with God that Moses raises his very kind.

Look at chapter 4 verse one. That's where you pick it up today. Then Moses answered. You know, God said tell them I am has sent you the most answered but behold. They will not believe me. Listen to my voice. for those say Didn't appear to you. Talking about that's that's craziness. How did you ever feel that way? I do like you know, you're supposed to go speak into a situation, you know, you're supposed to witness about the gospel to someone. A new you reason in your head, but I don't think I'm ever going to do that cuz they'll never believe they'll never believe me. Change me but they're not going to believe that it has anything to do with you. I'm just going to keep my mouth shut that smell was this here, isn't it? He says that. Didn't appear to you. Come on. What a joke. Come on Moses. Really?

It's a totally legitimate doubt in my mind because I feel the same way about you. I think it's a legitimate doubt Moses has going to believe me.

Well, there's other examples of people having doubts in the Bible. How about ananias in Acts chapter 9? And that is next chapter 9 saw who becomes Paul but at this time you still saw Stihl saw and he was on his way to Damascus in order to kill people who are following Jesus and bring others back as prisoners to Jerusalem. And on his way there Jesus appears to have any calls Paul and then he sends them to continue on mission, right and as he gets the Damascus he can't see and then God Appears to ananias a man in Damascus a follower of Jesus and he says he wants you to go to a street called straight to Straight Street. There's a guy there in this house by the name of Saul and you're to go to him lay your hands on him and commissioned him. for the gospel And that's very nice. You would heard of saw saw was a terrorist man. Like he was he was known for killing and torturing and persecuting Christians. Think Isis write some guy for my sister is in town and God Appears to you and says hey, I want you to go pray for him. Go see him. Tell him you're Christian and pray for him. Tell him about Jesus.

That's on ananias does. Don't you know this this man Lord, he's been persecuting your people all over the place. Are you sure you want me to go to him? I got says yes go. I'll show him how much he must suffer. I'll be with you go and he goes and I doubt they raise them and then got a shirt him. I'll be with you another example in the Bible a young guy by the name of Gideon is in his early teens, Maybe Junior High age don't know that for sure but there's many who seem to think that it's an in Judges chapter 6 that the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth of Oprah. Angel of the Lord who is that Jesus Jesus comes to get Ian and needs Lord appeared to Gideon and he said the Lord is with you. Oh mighty man of Valor. He speaks an identity to him and I'm in I'm still in verse 12 is not on the screen. The Lord is with you. Oh mighty man of Valor. He gives them an identity to this junior high boy potential. I'm getting set horde please. If the Lord's with us, why has all this happened to us? He starts recounting a circumstances and how bad they are. They were being persecuted and attacked and and we're all his wonderful Deeds that our fathers were counted to a thing taking us and giving us into the hand of Midian. And then the Lord Jesus turned to him and said go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Do I do not I send you he said to get in. And then Gideon said please Lord how again he raises his doubts, right? How can I save Israel? Build my clan is the weakest in the NASA. I'm I'm the least in my father's house. He raises his doubts. And then what is Jesus a lord said to him? But behold, I will what I'll be with you because he sends and he goes with and we seen ananias raises doubts Gideon raise his doubts, but everytime got Usher's them of his presents. We see Moses raises. What do you suppose will happen next? God bless your mother's presence. We see other people in the Bible the father of the boy with the unclean Spirit he comes to Jesus if you can do anything that compassion on us and help us and Jesus it. if you can't really all things are possible for one who believes and in the father of the boys says in verse 24, and I believe only help my unbelief. I believe help my unbelief, even the apostles and Luke chapter 17. They said to the Lord increase our faith help us trust you more it so I got sent to you. Do you have some? Dual nervous still concerned a little afraid he can take it he knows.

Bring it to him over and over people do in scripture Moses did here in and you can raise your doubts because he is patient and he is willing to answer.

You can raise your doubts to God because he's patient with you. He's willing to answer you.

Look at his continued patience now with Moses. He was patient. We saw it already was ananias with Gideon with the father of the boy with infant spirit with his disciples. I'll be patient with you. He's patient with Moses Ford said to him after Moses and they believe that you even appeared to me the Lord said to Moses.

crazy cycle. Staff going forward at Moses staff will be a symbol of God's presence going with him all the time and it a reminder that God's going to work what he said. He was going to work in and through Moses just like you promised and he said thank your staff and throw it on the ground. So I threw it on the ground.

And it became a serpent.

And Moses said wow know it says Moses ran from it, which is exactly what I would have done. How about you? Moses ran from it pretty logical response seems like to me. After Moses Ryan's apparently afraid the Lord said to Moses put out your hand. Your hand a catch it by its tail. Wonder how long it took Moses picanha? In shop and then jump back, you know, can you see it? But eventually to Moses credit look at days. So he put out his hand and he caught it. And it became a staff in his hand.

It ain't got to goes on to tell him why to do this. He said see you do this so that they might believe that the Lord the god of their fathers the god of Abraham the god of Isaac. The god of Jacob has appeared to you remember Moses complained that probably going to believe that you actually appeared to me and got cycle do this sign. It'll prove to them that I appeared to you.

That they may believe and also so who else could believe not just the people who else needs to believe right now?

Because God knows everything he knows that even in doing that they'll be some people who still won't believe. So the Lord said to him again put your hand now inside your cloak literally in the Hebrew. It just says raise your hand to your chest, but the most common way the translated as like put your hand inside your cloak so he may or may not have actually done that but like what you did, I think that's the sense. And so Moses puts his hand inside his cloak and when he took it out. Behold, it says his hand was leprous like snow. But this is hard for us to imagine or understand because we don't see leprosy on a day and they are basis. If you forget to come to India with me, you'll get to see people with Leprosy but likely the leprosy in the Bible often refers to a variety of different skin diseases that have been like for us. I wonder maybe put your hand in your cloak and pull it out and all the sudden its tail and crusty with eczema. Or it's full of measles or shingles or chickenpox when he puts it in pulls it out and all this disease.

This would have been a big deal back then right because if there was disease medicine was nowhere near as advanced as it is today. So God had commands if somebody is diseased cast them out, and he also that everybody doesn't get sick. It would have been afraid of that. And in fact, there were many other gods of that day who people worship that? They believe will kill them from their sickness and but my guess is that this was so severe it Moses to pull this out and be like what kind of could heal anyone for this? And then what does God say to Moses? He says I'm then God said put your hand back inside your cloak now, so he puts it back inside his cloak and when he took it out for 7 behold. It was restored like the rest of us Flash.

What God could do that except for who? the Lord I don't believe you throwing your staff down and it turning into a snake. Maybe they'll believe in my healing power to heal you. in an instant And then maybe they'll believe but first say it again if the still not believe you got settled listen to the first sign.

First night as soon as they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice. Can you still take some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground in the water that you still take from the Nile will become Blood on the dry ground. How this would have been assigned more so to the Egyptians then to the Israelites and you'll see that when we get there at Echoes or foreshadows, excuse me, the first flag of the Nile being turned to blood and it was really an attack on Israel. God live on all their life and they pay their Worship in the Nile River. God would turn it to blood. Three signs after he raises his doubts and this isn't the first time I was raised out. This is actually the third when he says but they won't believe I saw you. And God gives him three times. He's incredibly patient, isn't he? Is willing to answer when Jesus sends you it's okay to have some doubts and it's okay. It's it's right to raise them to answer you just like you did Moses.

How much Moses continues to raise his doubts? Christian but that's after the signs. But then Moses said to the Lord. Oh Lord. I am not eloquent. Either in the car since you've spoken to your servant, but I'm slow of speech and of tongue.

Some some believe maybe he had some kind of a stutter other believe maybe it's a language barrier of him going back to just whatever it was. There was something that Moses was very very insecure about in his ability to communicate.

Personal level I can relate to this in some ways because for me like I told some of you that I can get up and talk to everybody. I don't have a problem with that. But I can always just talk to anybody and some of you you can talk to anybody. But if you were up here and you had to talk to everybody and be a disaster, right? Whatever reason I like if somebody comes at me with a ton of emotion, I'm like Moses like I am not eloquent. I'm unable to speak. I just I get Frozen and my ability to respond sometimes. Anna's told me that's probably God's grace to me so that I don't knock off and get myself in trouble. But something is probably true cuz then I think about what I wanted to say, you know what 10 minutes later.

But I can resonate with it. Can you resonate with that? Maybe in your own way something, you know about yourself that you go? I'm not fill in the blank. I'm terrible at blank and I just have always been that way and it's never going to change so I can't follow I can't do this Lord.

Maybe it's not speech. Maybe it's something totally different for you.

But then the Lord said to him. how to seem to be angry at it is a spacer with a nice the Lord said to Moses who has made man's mouth. In some ways though. He has gently rebuking him because Moses in saying that I'm not eloquent either in the past or since you spoken to me. Is this kind of him saying God. Why did you make me this way? I've always been this way. And now you're calling me. Why didn't you just like change me here in the last 15 minutes as we've been together. What wouldn't you just fix that? And and Moses's is doubting, but he's complaining and he's he's getting up to the edge, isn't he? I got kind of gently rebukes and he says Moses who made man's mouth who made your mouth. And in fact who makes him mute or deaf or seeing her blind is it not I the Lord. It's interesting here to me that God clearly takes credit not only for Moses abilities. What is disabilities? He makes he says he makes some mute make some who are deaf some who can see but some who are blind and both the abilities he gives and the disabilities he gives or allows whatever that is. As far as Glory, doesn't he?

This was common in the New Testament people thought if there's something wrong with you and even the most if there's something wrong with you, you must have send you must have done something to anger God that he would make you like that. And in fact the disciples they were they passed by and a man who had been blind from birth and some of the disciples asked Jesus after they walked by this man Rabbi who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind.

And Jesus answered he said well, it wasn't that that man send or his parents, but that the work of God might be displayed in him and then he heals him. Sometimes your biggest weakness God has allowed in your life and even given to you so that as you trust him, he'll overcome that and use that for his greatest Glory.

The Quarry that maybe you wouldn't have ever trusted fully in him to work if you didn't have that weakness.

Moses of Jackson got til I made you this way Moses now. They're 4 verse 12 go. What you promised again when she was promise, I will let you call as he sends and he goes with he's going to be home and I will be with your mouth. I'll teach you what you shall speak. Didn't even need to be an eloquent speaker. You just needed to be a reporter. Transcripts of everything you had to say. Jesus told us about what they say will be given to you in that hour. He tells the disciples and I think he tells us not to be anxious but to trust in for it's not you who speak but the spirit of your father speaking through you. Bring your doubts and fears and concerns to Jesus. He patient willing to answer. He he welcomes them. Again, we see examples of this in the Bible to write. How about how about Thomas? We can set an example that Thomas gets a nickname. Jesus returns because of his doubts doubting Thomas Wright I mean maybe you have some doubts at least you're not made fun of it for the rest of this age until Jesus comes back. You know what every church around the world. That is one of the 12 you called. The twin was not with them when Jesus came after his resurrection. So they said told him we seen the Lord but he said, you know what I've doubts unless I see his hands and the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails and placed my hand into his side. I'll never believe. 8 Days Later his disciples were inside again. Thomas was with them and although the doors were locked. Jesus came and stood among them. He said peace be with you and then he said to Thomas a Thomas. Sometimes I wonder in in some of the texts of the Bible in a Whatsit. It's definitely a very condensed version of everything that happened. John tells us if everything was written that Jesus did there won't be books to contain that all you know, that what other dialog potentially took place here. You know, if Jesus was like it. Thomas I heard I heard you might have a few.

I heard you might be anxious don't you come put your finger here? Come see my hands put out your hand place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe he welcomed is that Sydney? You patiently answered them completely. Peter tells us to cast all your anxieties on Jesus because he cares for you. You can bring your doubts. Hotels us not to be anxious about anything but steak everything to the Lord in prayer. Jesus says don't be anxious about your life.

It's at Ruston. Jesus calls he sends a goes with he did that with Moses and when he calls you when he sends you, it's okay to raise your doubts that he's patient is willing to answer but

it's so much better. But the sooner you obey and go the better. The sooner you accept his response. Is promise that he's going to be with you and you obey and you go the sooner you do that the better. Moses is going to have to learn the hard way. Say Moses doesn't exactly obey quickly.

When we get the verse 13, we find out all of Moses a job Jackson's ultimately underlie this complete unwillingness on his part to go. earlier in chapter 3 when Jesus called him from The Burning Bush Moses

and now in chapter 40 says here I am. Send someone else.

No, I said here. I am send me Moses is like here. I am send someone else anybody else done that I've done that I've done that. Anybody said oh my Lord, please just send someone else.

This is a good day. If you want to know how to get angry. Here's how.

After all of his patients and explaining and promising to be with you continue to reject him. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. And not like a sinful anger but a righteous anger, right? Is there not Aaron your brother the levite? I know he can speak well. Behold, he's coming out to meet you. I was at the one he sees you he'll be glad in his heart. You still speak to him and put the words in his mouth and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and I'll teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people. He shall be your mouth and you shall be as God to him. She gets angry, but he doesn't let Moses off the hook busy. Even even when Moses pushes it to the point of just willfully disobeying God got still has a call on his life is like, okay. Look you're not off the hook Crystal going to go. I'll make some concessions, but you still have to go.

Called you now I'm sending you and I will be with you. You know, what's Curious so I wonder I said a few weeks ago Moses really points forward to Jesus and Jesus is a greater Moses. And one of the similarities between the two of them is that Moses here is going to have to go somewhere. He doesn't want to go. What Jesus in the garden has to go somewhere? He doesn't want to go. Moses when he was called to go somewhere. He doesn't want to go to voices and raises his concerns and his objections doesn't he? Did you know, Jesus did the same.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray.

I'm taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He began to be sorrowful in trouble. Then he said to them. My soul is very sorrowful even to death remain here watch with me and going a little farther he fell on his face and he prayed saying my father if it be possible let this cup pass from me.

And why is it Moses got rebuked for saying hey send someone else but Jesus doesn't get review for saying if it's possible just takes us away.

What's the latitude of the heart isn't it? And Jesus is a greater Moses because Moses ultimately underlined that was this unwillingness to follow here. I am send someone else Jesus though. He had and humanly speaking. He was fearful rightfully. So he voiced and raised his concerns to the father, but then he said nevertheless. not as I will but if you will

And they still followed somewhere. He didn't want to go.

Friends when Jesus sends you it's okay to raise your doubts, but he's patient is going to answer you but the sooner you will pay and go the better. He's called you his sent you. The only question left tears, will you go in a few go who will be with you? You can trust him and then Let me pray. We're going to sing and call the morning.