ExodUS series: Lessons from Israel's Journey for Our Lives
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INTRO: GOOD MORNING CHURCH! IT IS SO GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU WORSHIPING AS A FAMILY! I HOPE YOU ARE THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS BODY!
We have gotten off to a great start to this new century! We have finally made it through January! (Amen teachers! It took like three months but we did it!)
INTRO:
I’m genuinely excited about all that is doing in here and all that I believe he is going to do. A lot of you have expressed excitement and interested because of the “Glad you asked” class series that we are currently going through. We have really enjoyed teaching it as well.
This morning we are starting a new Sermon series on Exodus (as you can see) and how you get excited about it too.
EXODUS IS SUCH AS INCREDIBLE BOOK! It is such an awesome display of God’s power providence, genius and love!
If we go to it with the intent to marvel at God’s work and character we can be amazed, even though we have read through it before and know the stories.
As we study it read with fresh eyes not just trying to get the facts but putting yourself in the shoes of its characters.
Because one of God’s purposes for what is written before is not just for us to see how He changed the lives of others long ago but what lesson we can learn for our lives.
WE ARE GOING TO START THIS SERIES WITH THE CALL OF MOSES! (In chapters 3 & 4)
While His call from God to be used to help free the Israelites was thousands of years from our call and what God seeks to accomplish through us and you there are many important parallels.
As we look at Moses, think about what it must have been like to be in his shoes and the similarities in how you react to God’s call and commission on your life.
One of those similarities being excuses and reluctance! Not just the excuses but why we give them and what we can do to come to a place where can say to God; “No more excuses Lord.” (and realize how absurd it really is that we use excuses.)
UP TO THIS POINT: MOSES LIFE WAS LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT
In the previous two chapter we have the story of Israel’s oppression in Egypt as they had become slaves under cruel forced labor. The previous two chapters are also about one special Israelite God was going to use to lead His people to be free.
God worked providentially so that Moses would not only be saved from the massacre of the Israelite children but grow up in the palace while being raised by His own mother who would teach Him about God.
Moses out of passion for the oppression of His people killed a Egyptian and fled from Egypt out of fear of being found out.
Moses lived as a shepherd for many years and when God called Him it took him by complete surprise.
GOD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING because from His perspective Moses whole life was leading up to this point. (It is what God intended all along; to use Moses in incredible ways.) WE KNOW NOW THAT MOSES WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST LEADERS IN SCRIPTURE AND IN HISTORY. BUT HE SURE DIDN’T THINK HE WAS THE ONE.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER; WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE TRUSTED GOD TO USE OUR LIVES FOR HIS PURPOSES AND LET GO OF OUR EXCUSES!
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
This would have been an incredible sight. Try to put yourself in Moses’ shoes (or sandals rather) this would have been the most incredible experience of His life!
But as awesome as it would have been to see this bush that was not burning up and hearing a voice call your name out of it, it was about to get even more incredible; Almighty God was going to ask him to lead in being a part of His plan that affect the lives of millions; giving them freedom.
If only Moses would have seen it that way! HA! What if you were in Moses shoes? Having God call you specifically to be His instrument in an incredible plan! (Actually, we are not as far from Moses call as we often realize.)
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Exodus 3:
And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Ex 3:
Exodus 3:
Now Moses knows that it is God (Yahweh) who is calling Him to go to Pharaoh! Notice that GOD out of love and compassion is focused on the suffering of the Israelites. (THIS should have been a great thing that Moses wanted to do but instead He is focused on Himself and his inadequacies. (Sound familiar?)
God then gives Moses the greatest encouragement He could have received. “I will be with you.” At this point everything else shouldn’t matter.
Is it not amazing how Moses continues to go back and forth with God, as if God had not thought this thing all the way through. While in reality God knew exactly how it was all going to go.
App: But isn’t it amazing how often we do the same thing. Moses response here is still one of the most popular responses (whether given verbally or in lack of action) “Who me?” or “Someone else should do it, I’m not the one.”
When those who God has chosen to do His work in the kingdom do not claim His call on their lives then who is left to do it?
When everyone or even most everyone uses this response to God’s call then so much goes undone!
ex 3:
GOD TELLS MOSES WHAT TO TELL THEM AND HOW THE DELIVERANCE IS GOING TO GO!
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
ex 3:13-
In verse 13, Moses continues with logical problems with God’s plan. Who am I supposed to say you are! Moses is likely thinking of the logical thing the people might think “who is this guy” and the God who he says has sent Him!
What God is going to tell Him in response is powerful!
Summarize what God says... Q; What is it that usually keeps us from doing a difficult task? (1) Fear and (2) not knowing what to do. (3) Thinking of what can go wrong.
Q; What is it that usually keeps us from doing a difficult task? (1) Fear and (2) not knowing what to do. (3) Thinking of what can go wrong.
God is going to tell Moses what to do and exactly what would happen. Would it be nice to know exactly what would happen every time we face a challenge…what if we knew the problems that were going to arise…wouldn’t that be nice.
- (ill: Marriage, children, work…career…that would take away a lot of fun though.)
2. Here is what God tells Moses is going to happen. Verses 16-22 are really a foretelling of what will happen leading up the Exodus!
i. Moses is to present to the elders and tell them God will deliver them vv16-17
ii. Moses will appear before Pharaoh V18
ii. Moses will appear before Pharaoh V18
iii. Pharaoh will refuse V19
iv. God will strike the Egyptians with miracles (ten plagues) V20a
v. Israel will go out with the riches of Egypt Vv21-22
Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
ex 3:
SOMETIMES WE TREAT GOD AS IF HE DOES NOT ALREADY KNOW HOW EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Its like we say “God I know that your plan was for this to happen and for me to do your will but here are the problems.” (What of God’s commands are you doing that with right now? What excuses are you giving for not doing what He has said?)
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MOSES CONTINUES TO DO IN CHAPTER 4!
Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ”
Moses lack of faith and ours. Can you imagine seeing a stick turn into a snake? This would have been the most incredible thing that Moses would have ever seen in his lifetime, along with the bush that did not burn up and His hand becoming leprous and then being healed. We might think, how could Moses still not have faith that God would be with Him as he said He would?
- But what about us? What about our faith. We have not visually seen these things but we believe they happened, but not only these but the whole of all miracles in scripture. We have something that Moses didn’t; a detailed account of the many miracles that God chose to record. Should we not have faith also?
2. What is that in your hand? V2 What is interesting is that this piece of wood that was just a shepherd’s staff is pointed out later.
The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—
ex 4:
Q: Was there anything special about the staff? NO, it was just a piece of wood used for tending the sheep but God used it to do great things.
- The point is that what we have “in our hands’ to offer in God’s service may not seem like anything useful but when our talents and resources are used for God’s purposes he can do great things. Throughout scripture God uses ordinary people with ordinary resources through faith to do extraordinary things. What do you have to offer God?
- Q: What are some things that are “in our hands” that we might not think about? Whether one talent or five we have something; knowledge, experience, education, possessions, relationships, ect.
3. How do you know who is from God. After this not only Moses was known to be from God because He did sign but one of the proofs of Jesus was that He did miraculous signs. (In the man blind from birth told the Pharisee’s “how can a man in sin do such things.”
SEcond miracle leprosy…
Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
ex 4:
ex 4:
B. Vv10-12 Moses second excuse and God’s reply
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
Ex 4:10
1. I am not nor ever have I been an eloquent man. I am not good at speaking.
Q: why was Moses excuse here irrelevant? (1) Because His message was from God, it did not have to be delivered with eloquence. (Much like our message today, it is the power of the word not the tongue.) (2) The miracles would convince the Israelites and Pharaoh wouldn’t listen anyway. (3)
Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
i. Vv 11-12 this is a powerful thought. God is the one who made the mouth and speech. He would give Moses the words. This shows that our boundaries are nothing to God. God is not held back by lack of knowledge, powerlessness for the future or inability to work in situations.
What is amazing is what the NT says about Moses…read “powerful in speech
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
Sometimes our perceived inadequacies are just that only perceived. Moses sure did a good job of speaking to Israel during the wilderness wanderings.
Ex 4:
But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
Vv13-17 Moses third response and God’s providing
1. V13 Moses, finally out of excuses just says please Lord Send someone else.
2. Vv14-17 God despite His anger overlooks Moses unwillingness and removes His last problem by giving his Aaron to speak.
Application:
1. God is patient and provides for our inadequacies.
Q: what does the interaction here tell us about God and His character? He is a patient God. It wasn’t until this point that God becomes angry but He still helps Moses fear by providing Aaron.
We do not need to say, “Lord, send someone else…” there are some things that God has called all of us to do and that is to share our faith with others. We are all given the great commission and we are all commanded to confess Christ before men
CONSIDER THE PARALLELS TO US!
GOD planned before time began to save the world from sin through Christ and to have His message spread through His people.
GOD HAS CALLED US: not through a burning bush in the wilderness but something greater; the gospel of Christ that shows His ultimate love and gives us an opportunity to be free from sin and have a hope of a promise land greater than Canaan!
God has ALSO called us TO: TELL THOSE WHO ARE HELD CAPTIVE AND ENSLAVED TO SIN THAT GOD HAS MADE A WAY FOR THEM TO BE FREED (THROUGH CHRIST) AND HAS PROMISED HEAVEN OR ETERNAL LIFE.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Just as Moses was God’s ambassador we are as well as God makes His appeal through us! That is what God has called us to. We are commanded to make disciples.
HE HAS DONE THE WORK AND GIVEN US WHAT TO SAY THROUGH HIS WORD AND HAS PROMISED TO HELP US IN WHAT WE SAY THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN US!
HE HAS TOLD US WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
WE WILL BE REJECTED BY SOME AND PERSECUTED (JUST AS JESUS WAS).
THE SEED WILL FALL ON DIFFERENT GROUND AND SOME WILL NOT STAY FAITHFUL
But if we call others out of slavery we will shine like the stars forever.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
MOSES WAS OUT OF EXCUSES AND WE HAVE NONE EITHER! LET’S GET UP GO DO GOD’S WORK! HE IS WITH US!
MAYBE WE NEED TO NOT ONLY FOCUS ON THE TRUTH THAT GOD’S PRESENCE IS WITH US AND HIS POWER IS IN US AND HE CAN WORK THROUGH US…MAYBE WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS