Run, Don't Walk
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Address marriage prayer
Pray for Ukraine
J. Bruce Ismay: "Control your Irish passions, Thomas. Your uncle here tells me you proposed 64 lifeboats and he had to pull your arm to get you down to 32. Now, I will remind you just as I reminded him--these are my ships. And, according to our contract, I have final say on the design. I'll not have so many little boats as you call them, cluttering up my decks and putting fear into the passengers."
Mr. Ismay was the director of the White Star Line
The owner of a proud new ship - the Titanic
Sometimes we make decisions, confident of the future
Sadly, sometimes we are mistaken
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean God can’t use it!
YouVersion: Run, Don’t Walk
In Exodus 2:11-22
Recap
Joseph and brothers in Egypt
Population grew - became slaves
Killed infants to slow growth
Moses floated to Pharaoh’s daughter
Grew up in line to be pharaoh
Today Moses makes a mistake, and ends up far away...
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.
In line to become Pharaoh (Josephus)
Yet, aware of his origins
23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
“Looked on their burdens” means to examine emotionally
He was invested in his brethren
Deliberately chose to identify with Israel over Egypt
1. It’s important to know who you are
1. It’s important to know who you are
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.
Reality: Moses understood who he was - opportunity wasn’t enough to make him lie
Moses will face failure, but his identity helps to keep him grounded
Tom Hayes: “Nothing limits you like not knowing your limitations.”
Interesting how right he was...
He’s in jail for illegally manipulating British stock market
Sadly, I guess he didn’t know his limitations!
As he looks, he sees an injustice
An Egyptian beating a Hebrew
What does he do?
Exodus 2:12 (ESV)
12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
While the Egyptian was wrong, so was Moses
Why did he look around before he did it?
He had a troubled conscience...
There’s a bigger issue here as well
24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.
Who was right and wrong here?
Both were wrong...
2. Ends don’t always justify the means
2. Ends don’t always justify the means
I should also say, the means don’t always justify ends either...
This is such an important lesson right here
Makes me think of Peter and Jesus
I will fight to the death for You Lord!
That’s not what I’m asking for Peter...
But they’re not listening! I’m going to kill them!
You don’t gain victory by force...
You gain victory by being obedient to God...
Now we see that in Moses
I’m going to liberate my people!
I’ll kill this Egyptian!
Now all of you join me!
We’ll get the Hittites and the Hebrews and we’ll revolt!
Viva la Revolucion!
Now Moses walks through the camp like he’s the Savior!
13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.”
Uh oh...
I thought everyone would be on my side, but you’re against me?
Now everyone knows...
Now what’s Moses going to do?
He killed an Egypt to begin liberating the Hebrews
The Hebrews didn’t want him to do that
Now Moses is caught red handed without the Hebrews to back him...
3. True leadership takes sacrifice, not just power
3. True leadership takes sacrifice, not just power
Who made you prince and judge?
Moses walks in automatically assuming his opinion mattered
He felt like he had authority to give orders
He felt like he had authority to make judgments
He didn’t - he was a murderer who just lost all power and didn’t even know it
Craig D. Lounsbrough: “The sacrifice 'of' self for the greater good is the greatest calling imaginable, and it is the bedrock of the greatest nations. The sacrifice 'for' self is the most pathetic calling imaginable, and it is the quicksand within which nations perish.”
He wanted to lead Israel, but it’s more than just taking control
Wolf illustration
Seen that meme? Not accurate...
Sorta close - but there is an alpha male and female
Both are sacrificial
Female often leads (not old wolves)
That’s to trudge the snow
Male is caretaker
Right to eat first, but often allows pups to eat first
They are the future...
May be a stronger wolf
Wolf wants to dominate? They DO NOT FIGHT!
They don’t force their way, they respect the leader
Get in line, go off alone, or start their own pack
You may be stronger than the top wolf
But you won’t gain the respect of the pack that way
For humans, we often think “dog eat dog”
Being powerful doesn’t make you a leader
So Moses assumed he would have his people
But he didn’t...
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.
Like a lone wolf, Moses heads off to Midian
Fleeing for his life, he thought he was done
Actually, right where God wanted him
4. God uses the humble for great things
4. God uses the humble for great things
You might say he was too big for God to use
God wants humble people - people that don’t make sense
God might be looking at YOU for something great!
Nah, Me? I’m worthless...
When God called Gideon to attack the Midianites, he was hiding in a winepress
When David was selected as king, his dad and Samuel thought he would be his bigger and tougher
He wasn’t even there to meet Samuel...
When Jesus chose disciples He picked
Fishermen
A tax-collector
A zealot
A thief
Even chose Paul, a Pharisee!
He didn’t just get kings, generals and oil tycoons...
He used people you wouldn’t think He would ever choose!
You think He can’t use you too?
When God wanted to use Moses, He had to knock him down a few pegs first...
Show map
He couldn’t go north (extradition treaty)
Went east to Midian
Found a priest - likely connected to Abraham - worshipped Yahweh
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.”
Seemingly, these girls had to fight to get their water everyday
In Egypt, Moses had servants do everything for him
Now, he must serve others
Before leading an uprising, he had to defend these 7 daughters
When the girls get home on time for once, they tell their dad about Moses
Notice they call him an Egyptian
Moses’ language, clothing and behaviors likely said, “Hey, I’m from Egypt!”
He didn’t really know what it meant to be a humble Hebrew person yet...
Maybe you thought you knew what God wanted for you too
Then it went away
Maybe the problem is it wasn’t right for you
Or maybe you weren’t ready yet...
God was preparing Moses for His plans
Maybe God’s preparing you too
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.”
Moses decides to settle down - probably thinking this is how his story ends
Some names are given at birth, others are earned
Called me “LDB”
We had “Tiny” who wasn’t tiny...
We had “Lucky” who feel into a pulper and and walked out
We had “Doc” who could fix anything
Marries Zipporah - means “warbler” or “twitterer”
Some teenage girls might be named “twitterer” today...
He names his son Gershom, meaning stranger
Even after Moses was there - they still know him as stranger
Subtle reminder that Moses’ purpose isn’t in Midian
His ultimate business takes place in Egypt
And then the wilderness...
Sometimes you just have to remember your purpose...
Remember God’s promises!
He will never you or forsake you
He will complete His good works
His love is perfect and absolute
Don’t get distracted - remember the things God has for you
You’re not meant for this world ultimately
But that doesn’t mean this short time on earth isn’t valuable
For Moses, his time in Midian wasn’t wasted either...
Guillotine story
Hours and hours trying to cut
Tiny sharpened with his grinder
Sliced right through!
Abraham Lincoln: "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
5. Always value God’s preparation
5. Always value God’s preparation
This is not a waiting time for Moses
It was a training time!
God worked on his humility, character, probably his abs...
David Guzik: “In Egypt Moses learned how to be somebody. In Midian he learned how to be nobody.”
John Trapp: “Much he had learned in Egypt, but more in Midian.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Titanic was not unsinkable as originally thought
However, it gave reason for things to change
Now, there are rules about life vests, life boats, emergency communication, standardized evacuation, standardized training, and the formation of SOLAS
International convention, “Safety of Life at Sea” still exists today
Only 16 ships have sunk since 1980
Dying on a cruise ship at all is 1 6.25 million
Sometimes, our failures are turned to victory
For Moses, this training prepared him for next week
He will be called by God to do great things
That’s how God works in us too
Maybe God’s ready to work great things in you
Are you ready?