Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT: Exodus 4: 1-5

TOPIC: ANY OLD STICK WILL DO!

Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Icard, NC

October 14, 2001 BIBLE SURVIVOR SERIES – Message 6

(A sermon by Dr. James Merritt)

INTRODUCTION

1. Charles Killian, professor at Asbury Theological Seminary spent years and years wrestling to understand God's unconditional love.

2. Many nights, when he was young, he cried himself to bed, apologizing for failing to measure up to God's standards.

He was raised in a godly, but strict home, attended church twice on Sunday, and once during the week, and often went forward when the altar call was given.

3.

One day, however, he heard an evangelist preach a powerful message that we were the ones who nailed Christ to the cross.

That image stuck in his mind, and that evening, he cried himself to sleep, apologizing to God for killing His Son.

4. As a result, for the next thirty years, he labored under perfectionism, practiced spiritual disciplines rigorously, and served God faithfully as a seminary professor.

5.

One time during a difficult period in his life, he struggled with the fact of why God wanted to use him.

Not only did he feel undeserving of the love of God, but unworthy of service to God.

6.

Finally, he came home one day and found that his wife had tried to help him see the meaning of grace.

She had tied some yellow ribbons that were usually tied around the tree, to the family coat rack.

7. When Dr. Killian walked through the front door he saw the coat rack standing in the middle of the hallway with a note attached to the tree, which moved him, "So what if it's not a real oak tree.

Any old tree will do.

I love you!" (1)

8. Someone has well said, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.

You don't have to have a college degree to serve, you don't have to make your subject and verb to agree, you don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve."

9. "You don't have to know Einstein's 'Theory of Relativity' to serve, you don't have to know the Second Theory of Thermodynamics and Physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace, and a soul generated by love!" (2)

10.

As we come to Exodus 4, we find Moses wrestling with this same issue.

In fact, he is trying his best to get out of what God wants him to do.

11.

Some have referred to Exodus 4 as 'Moses 5 Points of Complaintism!'

He excuses himself to God by saying, 'Who Am I,' 'Who Are You,' What if they don't believe me?' 'I am not eloquent,' and finally, 'Please send somebody else.'

It is obvious that he just didn't want to do it.

12.

However, what I want us to consider today is that which is in Moses' hand when he meets God in chapter 4. It may just appear to be an ordinary stick, but God uses it to show us that "Any Old Stick Will Do!" Briefly, let's consider 3 truths about this stick.

Notice:

1. THE INSTRUMENT THAT RENDERED GOD'S PURPOSE

1.

As we are introduced to Exodus 4 we are immediately introduced to this rod.

However, the rod is the instrument that rendered God's purpose.

In fact, notice:

A. WHAT THE ROD SYMBOLIZED

1.

Notice verse 2. "And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand?

And he said, A rod."

2. In order to understand the importance of this instrument, we must see what the rod symbolized.

3. The word 'rod' is a word that is rendered by the use of several Hebrew words, and one Greek word.

4. It was something that was used to symbolize several different things in Scripture.

5.

For example, in Psalm 2: 9, it is known as the Rod of Power.

"Thou shalt break them with a rod iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

6.

In Psalm 23: 4, it is known as the Rod of Protection.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

7.

In Proverbs 10: 13 it is known as the Rod of Purpose.

"In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding."

8.

In Proverbs 13: 24 it is known as the Rod of Punishment.

"He that spareth the rod hateth his son."

9.

In Proverbs 29: 15 it is known as the Rod of Productivity.

"The rod and reproof give wisdom."

10.

And, in Ezekiel 20: 37 it is known as the Rod of Peace.

"And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant."

11.

The idea here is of a custom among shepherds who let the sheep pass under their shepherd's rod for the purpose of counting them and seeing whether they were in good condition or not.

12.

It was a picture of power, protection, purpose, punishment, productivity, and peace.

That is What the Rod Symbolized!

B. WHAT THE ROD SUGGESTED

1. Again, notice verse 2. "And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand?

And he said, A rod."

2.

You see while this rod symbolized many things, it only suggested one thing.

It suggested what man could do by his own, for his own, and on his own.

3.

In the case of Moses' rod, it was a shepherd's staff.

It was used as an instrument in his occupation.

It suggested what Moses could do in, and of himself.

4.

You remember that later God commanded Moses to take twelve rods from the tribal princes of Israel and to write upon each the name of the tribe.

5.

The rods were then to be taken and laid in the Tabernacle before the Ark of the Covenant; and there the rod of the man whom Jehovah chose would put forth shoots.

6.

However, this rod in the hand of Moses suggested what he was able to do in his own ability.

It suggested how he had used it to provide a living for his home.

7. It suggested his means, manner, and method.

It was a physical object that served in a physical occupation.

8.

It suggested anything in his life that he deemed of value.

It suggested anything that he deemed of virtue.

9.

It suggested anything that he deemed important.

It suggested anything that he deemed influential.

It suggested anything in his life that might offer a reluctance to turn loose of.

10.

However, since none of us are shepherds, this rod suggests some things for us as well.

11.

It may suggest a job, a career, a relationship, a reputation, a stock market portfolio, a vacation, or a dream of future prosperity.

12. Whatever the case may be, it suggests something that we deemed important, influential, of value, and of virtue.

It is anything of which we might have a reluctance to turn loose of.

13.

What the Rod Symbolized, and What the Rod Suggested depicts The Instrument that Rendered God's Purpose!

1. THE INSTRUMENT THAT RENDERED GOD'S PURPOSE

2. THE INVOLVEMENT THAT REQUIRED GOD'S PROPHET

1.

As we come to verse 3, we not only see the instrument that regarded God's purpose, but the involvement that required God's prophet.

There is something that Moses must do with this rod.

In fact notice that:

A. HE IS ORDERED TO THROW IT DOWN

1.

Notice verse 3. "And he said, Cast it on the ground."

2. Once Moses acknowledges the fact as to what this rod symbolized, and suggested he is required to do something with it.

He is ordered to throw it down.

3. I think of former Oregon U. S. Senator Mark Hatfield.

He had served many, many years in the Senate, yet had struggled with the true purpose of life.

4. One night in 1954, while sitting in his parent's home he concluded that his life was no longer his own.

All of his accomplishments, achievements, and awards no longer did he have a right to claim.

5.

He said that he came to the conclusion that "Either Christ was God and Savior and Lord or he wasn't.

If he was, then he has the right to have all of my time, all of my devotion, and all of my life."

6.

He went to say, "I could not continue to drift along going to church because I had always gone.

I saw that for 31 years I had lived for self, and I decided to throw it all down, and live the rest of my life for the One who had the rightful claim to me!" (3)

7. Again, here is a rod that suggested anything of importance and influence.

Here is a rod that suggested anything of value and virtue.

It suggested what Moses could do in, and of himself.

8.

However, God commands him to throw it down.