My People, My Past, My Purpose

Introduction

No matter who you are you have witnessed or been the victim of a traumatizing event. I want us to think about the nature of trauma that Moses and his family experienced from his birth until his leading of his people out of Egypt. Think about the trauma it was for his mother to place him in a basket in hopes that those using the river that day would show compassion on a baby boy. Asking his sister to look after him as long as she good. Moses growing up in a home and culture that was not naturally his. Never forgetting where he comes from his anger comes to a head one day and he commits murder and flees to Midian. The family that took him in sought to kill him so he flees to Midian. But that call to be a protector is exercises again once the women were being harassed by the local shepherds. The interesting thing about purpose is identity. Typically when it’s a call that we do not want to answer we do everything for an identity that is opposite of what we are being called to do. Protecting the Hebrew in Egypt he is identified as a Hebrew, nonetheless I imagine people knew the quote on quote King’s adopted son. So to the people of Midian “And they said, An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of shepherds”

My People

Moses is a protector of the people. He has the moral compass to defend those who cannot defend themselves.

Exodus 2:11 -14 “Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!””

Our passion has to be guided, being upset and angry is one thing but we must remember that wrong is wrong. Murder in this instance was wrong, nonetheless if you know the story you know that a wrong does not disqualify you from being used by God.

Now the Midianites were not Moses’ people but they were people. The bible is quite explicit on how we should treat our neighbor.

Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Matthew 22:36-40 ““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””

As Christians we should fight for people who cannot fight for themselves. This is why Christianity is so important it’s not so much having the courage to engage in the fight for justice, but there is a certain way that we have to combat the evils of society.

Evil for evil is never the answer to the question of injustice. Romans 12:17-21 “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

As Christians it’s imperative that we stand in the gap for the voiceless, As Christians we are obligated to stand up for those who cannot stand up on their own!

There is no way you can call yourself a Christian and refuse to help people based on race, gender, income level or ability!

My Past

It’s evident that some of us have an ugly past!

The past might not get any uglier than Moses’, growing up without his biological parents. Growing up in a culture responsible for the oppression of his people and having to watch it first hand. Trying to defend his people and becoming a murderer and having to escape the very home that took him in.

Exodus 2:15 “When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.”

You may ask the question why God would use a murderer to help his people escape?

Understand what Moses had done God is asking him to lead others to do. They couldn’t just leave Egypt, even after they left the Egyptian soldiers were on their trail until they got to the Red Sea.

My past might be ugly but my future can be bright at the expense of the grace and mercy of God.

My past doesn’t hold me bondage when I’ve accepted the call of God. People may talk about me, people may not think I’m worthy but it’s about what God thinks! If God thinks I’m good enough, than I’m good enough. Even in my shortcomings, my downfalls and pitfalls if God thinks I’m enough than I’m enough.

My Purpose

This is the power of God that he can use mistakes, a stranger, and a foreign land to be the blessing you need to settle within yourself to have enough patience to listen to God.

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

Moses was living a simple live when God called him. He was working the family business and herding sheep for his father in law, he had this life, his wife and his family and then God shows up.

It was Moses’ father in law that gave him pertinent advice on how to pastor and manage the people in the wilderness.

Exodus 18:21-22 “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.”

It was his Midianite relative Hobab that was a guide from Horeb. Sometimes God will connect you with people that know how to navigate the unknown journey you are chartering.

Numbers 10:31-32 “So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same we will do to you.””

Do not get so high minded in your position to think that your purpose does not need assistance no one can navigate the wilderness alone!

This is what Hope looks Like

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””

I may have grown up in a place away from my family, I may have made some mistakes that I have to live with, I may not be the best speaker but praise God that He is always by my side.

God was with Moses in the basket as he floated down the Nile river, God was with Moses as he escaped to Midian, God was with Moses when he approaches Pharoah.

Understand that God is with us. He is with us through the loss of loved ones, he is with us throughout prison sentences, he is with us through marriage and divorce, he is with us through tears and long nights! God will never leave us!

I do not have hope because I know the outcome, I have hope because I know who controls the outcome and as long as I humble myself under the mighty hand of God, my hope is in the right place.

Where is your hope this morning?