Blessings In the Wilderness

EXODUS 005: BLESSINGS IN THE WILDERNESS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2021 PASTOR JOSH MINGS; M.DIV.

TEXT

EXODUS 2:15-25; ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV) 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. [1]

SERMON BRIEF

CENTRAL IDEA OF THE TEXT Moses finds himself as a sojourner in a foreign land – living as a shepherded in his father in laws house. These 40 years of being in the wilderness was not beyond God’s grace, this was the place that Moses would see the goodness of God.

CENTRAL IDEA OF THE SERMON The lowest moments of our lives can be full of God’s provision, guidance, and blessings. The wilderness is the place to meet God.

STICKY STATEMENT The wilderness (the valley) is the place to meet God.

SERMON OUTLINE

001 / MOSES THE DELIVERER

17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.

· Recap Chapter Two

· A Foot in both worlds

· Power and Control

002 / THE WILDERNESS 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

The book of Acts explains that Moses spent 40 years in Midian. Someone said, “Moses was 40 years in Egypt learning something; 40 years in the desert learning to be nothing; and 40 years in the wilderness experiencing God to be everything” (in James Boyce, Ordinary Men, 59).

Think about that. He spent two years of preparation for every one year of ministry. By living in the wilderness, he learned to rely on God. By having a family, he learned to lead, guide, and discipline those he loved. By working with the Midianites, most likely as a shepherd, he developed skills to help him lead the Israelites out of their enslavement.[2]

The wilderness is a place for a man to meet his God. Cut off from the rest of civilization and reduced to the daily necessities of food and water, he is forced to throw himself on the mercy of God’s providence. It was in the wilderness that Jacob saw a stairway to Heaven (Gen. 28) and Elijah heard the still, small voice (1 Kings 19). The wilderness is where John the Baptist preached repentance (Matt. 3) and where Jesus won his first triumph over the devil (Matt. 4). It was also in the wilderness that Paul searched the Scriptures for the Christ of the Old Testament (Gal. 1:17). But long before that, Moses went into the wilderness to meet the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.[3]

003 / BLESSINGS IN THE WILDERNESS 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom Underline, focus on these two ideas:

· Moses was content.

· The Name of His son (“I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” )

THERE ARE BLESSING IN THE WILDERNESS 1 Peter 1:6-9

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [4]

· Moses was given a home.

· Moses was given a father.

· Moses was given a wife.

· Moses was given a son.

· God was preparing Moses

· God was undoing Moses

· God was remaking Moses

THE BIBLE’S COMMENTARY OF EXODUS 2

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.[5]

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR WILDERNESS

· Draw Near to God (James 4:8)

· Open Communication with God

· Lean in Deeper to the things of Christ

· Do not rush the wilderness – There is something to be gained!

· Praise & Worship is your weapon

Lamentations 3:19-33

19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,

the wormwood and the gall!

20 My soul continually remembers it

and is bowed down within me.

21 But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

26 It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he bear

the yoke in his youth.

28 Let him sit alone in silence

when it is laid on him;

29 let him put his mouth in the dust—

there may yet be hope;

30 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,

and let him be filled with insults.

31 For the Lord will not

cast off forever,

32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

33 for he does not afflict from his heart

or grieve the children of men. [6]

004 / GOD SEES & KNOWS 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ex 2:15–25). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [2] Merida, T. (2014). Exalting jesus in exodus (Ex 2:15–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Reference. [3] Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 71). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Pe 1:6–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 11:23–28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (La 3:19–33). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.