Moses #3

For the past couple weeks, we’ve been looking at the life of Moses and how, despite his failures and weaknesses, God called him to do something incredible—to rescue the Israelites, God’s people, from slavery in Egypt.

Last week, we talked about how we can listen to God better by looking at the conversations God and Moses had. We saw that God gives us favor, that He uses people like us, that we don’t have to do it alone, and that the lack of immediate results doesn’t mean that God isn’t there and working.

Now the story of Moses is pretty long, so to fit it all into five weeks, we’re going to press fast-forward a little bit. Moses continued to work on Pharaoh to get him to let the Israelite people go, and Pharaoh kept pushing back and refusing—just like God told Moses would happen.

But just how we looked at how God speaks to us last week, today is all about trusting and knowing that God sees everything, and that we can rely on Him no matter what.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I think of the word “trust,” I think of a trust fall.

[Author Note: Demonstrate a trust fall with a student or leader falling from a chair or stage and a group ready to catch them. A trust fall is when you simply have someone stand on a chair, face the opposite direction, and fall backward. Behind them needs to be a group of about six students who are strong enough to catch the person that you don’t have a lawsuit on your hands. Have fun with it, and maybe come up with ways to cause the person on stage to have to trust you more.]

Just as they had to totally trust that I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them, we have to trust God no matter what when it comes to our lives. Even if God tells us to do something that we didn’t plan on …

1. GOD’S WAY MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR WAY.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

Exodus 13:17–19 CSB

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.” 18 So he led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.”

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”

Instead of taking the way that was the quickest or maybe the simplest, God was leading them a different way. Why? Why not take the trade routes through the desert that would make an easier and shorter trek? Because God knew that way would actually cause more problems and would most likely cause the Israelites to turn around and go back to Egypt.

We try to take the easy path, too.

2.GOD IS THERE TO LEAD YOU DAILY, WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING OR NOT.

After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Exodus 13:20–22 CSB

20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

How crazy would it be if, as you were walking all day, you looked up to the sky and there was a cloud that was literally pointing the way for you to go? Then, as it got dark, a giant pillar of fire appeared and constantly stayed in front of you. That’s so cool! These two things served not only as a guide for them to follow, but more importantly, they were daily reminders of God’s presence.

Think about it … the Israelites couldn’t deny that God was with them because they were seeing these ridiculous miracles every day. It’s not normal for a giant tower of fire to be leading the way for a group of people. And yet, they saw it every day, and it reminded them that God was with them.

For us, we don’t have a literal cloud by day or fire by night to remind us that God is with us or to guide our path. But we have our own clouds and fires that, if we’re looking for them, remind us that God is with us.

Whether it’s a miracle that God has done in the past that reminds you of God’s faithfulness, or a group of friends who love you and care about you and encourage you in your walk with Christ, I believe they could be a daily reminder of God’s presence. And even if nothing else happens, the fact that your sins are forgiven and you’ve been given this incredible gift of salvation … that should always be a reminder of God’s presence and love for you.

3. WHEN YOU FOLLOW GOD AND LEAD OTHERS, THOSE AROUND YOU MAY PUSH BACK

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Exodus 14:10–12 CSB

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. 11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

While the Israelites were freaking out when Pharaoh and his army was coming to get them, Moses continued to point to God. Imagine how hard that would have been if you were Moses. You’re trying to save these people from a life of slavery, but at the first sign of trouble, they turn against you, mock you, and completely lose faith in your leadership. In my opinion, this is one of the hardest parts of Moses’s calling from God.

Things will get rough when you’re a follower of Christ. While you may not have a nation of people turn their backs on you like Moses did, you will have plenty of issues that arise with people. And if you want a life that is free from conflict, then this isn’t the life for you. But I guarantee the reward is worth the risk.

When talking to His followers, Jesus even addressed the fact that things won’t be sunshine, gumdrops, and puppy dogs all the time.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 CSB

33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Whether it’s from your family, or your friends, or even complete strangers, Jesus tells us that if we choose to be His followers—if we choose to live our lives for God instead of for ourselves—then we will face opposition. People who don’t understand will push against you and your faith. It’ll bring plenty of heartbreak and maybe cause you to lose some relationships in life … but a life with God is worth it!

The Israelites pushed back against Moses because he was following God to what seemed like a dead end. But through it all, Moses stayed strong and trusted that God had called him for this time and this place.

And through all your troubles, remember this…

4.THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.

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Exodus 14:13–14 CSB

13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

So in response to the complaining Israelites, Moses reminded them that because they had God on their side, they shouldn’t be afraid. When opposition comes for us, just like Moses told them, we need to stand firm and trust that God is with us.

And then, as the Israelites started trusting God, God did an amazing miracle.

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Exodus 14:21–22 CSB

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.

Exodus 14:29–31 CSB

29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” …

The Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

5. WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TRUST IN GOD.

Imagine what would have happened if the Israelites didn’t trust God whenever they were up against the sea. Even though they saw the water split, even though they knew that the Lord was fighting for them … they still had to take a step of faith and walk through with water on either side of them.

Being a follower of Christ means we have to learn how to trust God—not just during the good times, but also through the rough situations. When we’re faced with opposition, trusting in God is the most important thing.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5–6 CSB

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

[Author Note: Invite students to make a step toward trusting in God, however that looks for your group.]