(Exodus 3:11-12) I am a nobody: God's answer to Moses fear.

Introduction:

Are you shackled by fear?

Fear is simply an emotion.

But is an emotion capable of -

stealing our joy

robbing us of our imagination

imprisoning us in depression

and stripping us of hope

Fear is debilitating

It can cause -

insomnia

migraines

dizziness

panic attacks

depression

Yet some things should be feared?

They are not obsessive compulsive disorders.

They are not an irrational phobias.

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They are legitimate things to be feared.

They are things that will cause us great pain and suffering.

Things that seem impossible to overcome.

They are real and true barriers to progress.

How do we live without fear in a world that legitimately should be feared?

(Repeat)

> Some have answered that question - it will just work out.

Have faith that it will just work out.

Kinda like good charma.

ILLUSTRATION:

I watched a news clip this last month about the COVID-19 virus

… and one anchors looked into the TV

and with full confidence and said - We will get through this.

He said it with confidence, and charisma.

That sounds great - doesn’t it.

But then I thought - Tell that face to face to the family who just lost a loved one.

- We will all get through this.

- Really - because the person they just buried isn’t going to get through this.

Every person is going to have to move on without that person.

What that anchor did

- was give a false hope, because the alternative is unbearable.

It is hope because I put blind eye to the reality of life.

That is an answer of someone running from fear.

That is an answer of someone who doesn’t know what else to say.

> But we as Christians have a better answer.

- We have answer that is genuine,

- A faith of real subsistence.

- And a true hope.

What is the Christian answer -

The LORD.

When we are afraid - God is a always the answer.

God has heard the cries of Israel.

And God has chosen Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt.

Consider Exodus 3:7-10 -

Exodus 3:7–10 ESV

7 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, 8 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. 9 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. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

That is what God has called Moses too.

And on one hand we can say this is a great act of mercy for Israel.

But it also was an incredible weight and burden on Moses.

God is calling Moses to suddenly

be a leader of Israel, a nation of over a million people.

Confront a powerful pharoah who has absolute authority

and then lead these people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land.

Anybody here who has lead or known a leader

- knows that is an incredible burden to carry out.

And Moses, being a finite human, begins to face his fears before the Lord.

For the next few weeks we will consider the fears of Moses.

We will begin with Moses fear of ineptness in Exodus 3:11-12.

Exodus 3:11–12 ESV

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 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.”

Based on Exodus 3:11-12,

The presence and promises of God should empower us to follow the will of God in our lives.

Moses was perhaps one of the greatest leaders in human history.

Besides Christ - who can compare to Moses.

Moses is in the hall of fame of faith - Heb 11.

2 Slides

Hebrews 11:23–29 ESV

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Yet Moses was a man, subject to the same fears and struggles as anyone of us.

Some have called the next section the 5 excuses of Moses.

But I would suggest … these are legitimate fears.

- What God was calling Moses to was a heavy burden.

- Moses was not experiencing a phobia, but a real legitimate fear.

Moses may have been a proud, arrogant murder when he was young.

But time as fugitive, husband, and a father has humbled him.

and he realizes what God is calling him too.

And the incredible responsibility of it.

To confront one of the most powerful absolute rulers in human history - the Pharoah of Egypt.

The same pharoah who had the power to -

Enslave Israel

and order the infant genocide of Hebrew baby’s

Let’s consider the first fear Moses had.

Moses 1st Fear: I am a nobody. (Exodus 3:11-12)

Exodus 3:11 ESV

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

We can understand Moses fear here.

Moses is a sheepherder from the land of Midian

His is walking in what today in what would be the North Eastern Tip of Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula.

Essentially he is in the middle of barren wilderness, caring for his sheep, when suddenly a burning bush catches his attention.

And the Lord tells him to take his people out of Egypt.

We can understand why he feels inadequate.

Why he feels like a nobody.

- Some have treated this fear like a phobia of Moses.

- They assume that because he grew up in the court of Egypt,

he shouldn’t have fear about going back to Egypt.

But I would suggest that was a long time ago,

He is now a fugitive, and a commoner.

And this is probably the last thing he ever thought about.

Talk about the unexpected will of God in Moses life.

Moses probably never in million years thought about leaving Median and going back to Egypt.

But that is exactly what God has called him to do.

Also his experience in the Pharaoh's house probably reinforced what happens when you go against the pharoah.

He grew up in Pharaoh’s house when the Hebrews were forced to harder and harder labor.

He grew up in Pharaoh's when Hebrew baby’s are being killed.

And he probably saw what the Pharoah did the Hebrews who broke the Egyptian laws.

And so we can understand his question - who am I to go before Pharaoh?

What makes me powerful enough to convince the Pharaoh to release Israel?

What makes charismatic enough to get Israel actually to follow me?

What makes mean wise enough to lead Israel through the wilderness and into the promised land?

And how does God answer that?

Answer: I will be with you and I give you a promise.

Exodus 3:11–12 ESV

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 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.”

To summarize God’s answer here

- what he saying is that the answer to Moses legitimate and understandable fear - I am a nobody

>>> was the presence and promises of God.

Why should the presence of God calm the fears of Moses and empower him to follow God’s will?

I would suggest in this context,

the presence of God was meant to teach Moses that God would

a) Protect him on this task.

b) Sustain him on this task.

The presence of God is a wonderful blessing because it means the Lord is on your side.

We can’t forget that Moses is in conversation with God

who is speaking from a burning bush.

What is the significance of the Lord telling him he will be with him - out of a burning bush?

> First of all, it demonstrates the power of the Lord.

>Secondly, it demonstrates the carefulness of the Lord.

God is able to cause a self-sustaining fire in a Bush (power), without harming the bush (care).

If God can perform that kind of miracle - balancing power of fire and the care of a bush.

Then the presence of God in Moses life - means God will have the power and care to protect him.

This begs the question, when Moses goes before the Pharaoh can the Pharaoh actually harm him?

And the answer is no.

The Lord’s presence means the Lord is protecting him.

But also this teaches Moses that God will sustain him.

the task of leading the Exodus

the task of feeding a nation

the task of moving a nation

the task of conquering a promised land

>>>> Is no small task.

Moses is probably wondering - do I have what it takes to lead these people out of Egypt?

- There are probably a million logistical questions that are going through Moses mind at this point.

- And he is wondering if he’s got the wisdom to meet all those demands.

But the burning bush answers that question.

Will Moses have the wisdom to meet all those demands? - yes because the Lord is with him.

God is promising his presence from a burning bush was meant to teach Moses - that God would sustain him.

God would help meet every need.

If God, can create a self-sustaining burning bush -

then God’s presence was capable of sustaining Moses through this time.

What was God’s answer to Moses is fear of ineptness?

My presence will be with you!

But got not only told him that he would be with him.

He also gave him a promise.

Exodus 3:11–12 ESV

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 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.”

Technically our text says God gave him a sign.

But this idea of signing is not the idea of miracle.

Instead this idea of of a promise of what will happen.

From a burning bush,

God promises to be with Moses,

and after he leaves Israel out of Egypt – God will meet him on this very mountain.

Essentially –

God is promising that if Moses obeys God’s call,

God will bring him back to the place where he is right now.

Again Moses is probably a little scared about facing Pharaoh - the absolute ruler.

And again Moses is a little scared whether he has the wisdom to lead the people out of Egypt - an incredibly heavy responsibility.

But again

- God speaking out of a Bush is teaching Moses that God will protect and sustain him.

Just like the presence of God was supposed to demonstrate protection and sustainment,

this promise is essentially communicating protection and sustainment.

In other words - God is giving Moses concrete reasons to not be afraid and to follow God.

CONCLUSION:

The presence and promises of God should empower us to follow the will of God in our lives.

- Has God put a task before you?

- Has he burdened you with a Biblical responsibility.

Perhaps it is a way you could serve here at church,

But I also don’t simply mean a title like Pastor, deacon, Sunday School teacher.

Because many of us have other tasks that are just as important.

Perhaps God has tasked you with the responsibility of being a parent, (There is a task to be scared of)

or for some of you blessed people - a grandparent.

Perhaps God has tasked you with the leading that neighbor or coworker to Christ?

Perhaps God has called you to reconcile that relationship.

And you think -

I Am no body.

I am not gifted that way.

I am not very good at that.

I will likely fail.

What is my encouragement to you?

Your primary qualification is that God is with you.

The presence of God changes everything.

The presence of God means the creator, sovereign, self-sufficient one is with you.

And that changes everything.

CAVEAT:

I’m not suggesting we should never seek biblical training,

that we should not look for Christian maturity.

I’m just saying our primary qualification is not training and discipleship,

I am saying Our number one qualification is that God is with us.

And this idea of presence is heightened for the believer in Christ.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Romans 8:11 ESV

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

And this idea of promises is heightened for the believer in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Many times the reason people shy from God’s leading,

or don’t serve in a particular way is because they don’t think they’re qualified.

They ignore that still small voice in their heart,

because they are afraid.

But is my qualifications the most important criteria for serving God?

Is there is there an area in your life that you know what God calls you to do, but you’re afraid to do it.

You are afraid you won’t have enough wisdom.

You are afraid it is too big of a task.

You think you’re not important enough of a person.

Then let me challenge you - none of these reasons are reasons to not follow God.

ILLUSTRATION

Practical Illustrations: 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon 10-172: Overcoming Fear (Fear)

Needy miners and settlers in British Columbia, engaged in stripping an abandoned fort … of lumber, electrical appliances, and plumbing, made an amazing discovery. While dismantling the jail they found that … mighty locks were attached to the heavy doors, and two-inch steel bars covered the windows, but the walls of the prison were only … wallboard of clay and paper, painted to resemble iron. A good old heave against the walls by a man not as strong as a football tackle would have burst the wall out. Nobody ever tried it because nobody thought it possible.

Many Christians are prisoners of fears that are nothing when pushed against. Satan cannot do anything against a child of God, but he loves to put barriers of papier-mâché in the path of the believer to make him think that there is no progress in the direction of the will of the Lord. When by faith we push against it we will be free.

Because God’s presence is with us.

Because God promises us every blessing available.

I know as your pastor I sometimes push you to be more than you think you can be.

I know as your pastor I sometimes ask a lot out of you.

But may I communicate -

it’s not because I think you’re lazy,

or I don’t care or understand how hard it is,

or that you don’t love God enough.

It’s because I believe we have a God who empowers Christians to do amazing things in the name of Jesus Christ.

I challenge you - prayerfully consider what God is calling you too.