Out of the Bulrushes

Not So Ordinary

“The Improbable Victory of Runner David Wottle” – 2:30[1] I love it when ordinary people do unexpected things. It helps me to believe that no matter how unremarkable I may feel, God can do something extraordinary with me. Dave Wottle was 6 feet tall and weighed 146 pounds. He wore a now-iconic golf hat for his races. He looked so … ordinary. He was just a skinny 22-year-old kid from the very ordinary town of Canton, Ohio. But, he pulled off what is now known as arguably the greatest comeback in athletic history. He unexpectedly came from way behind in the 2-lap race, to overtake all of the runners and win the gold medal.[2]

We Have Enormous Potential in Christ

In the OT we find an amazing story that is much greater than the story of Dave Wottle. It is a story that ought to inspire any one of us. The reality is that we often find ourselves stuck in situations – mainly it has to do with the battlefield of the mind – but we find ourselves unable to believe good things or simply lacking faith. Well, this story in the OT tells about a boy who is born during a time of mass genocide. The Hebrew boy was born into slavery and placed into a floating basket.

Exodus 2:1–6 NIV

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

Born into slavery, orphaned out of desperation, he begins his life. Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses which means ‘drawn out’ because she drew him from the water. God has a way of ‘drawing us out’ for His purposes.

God Empowers His People for Great Things

So, for the next few years the mother of Moses raised him, but he eventually went back to the Princess – Pharaoh’s daughter. He is raised in the palace and educated. Can you imagine? He narrowly escaped death and was pulled from the Nile. What is there that God can’t do? Anything God has ever done; he can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere; he can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone; he can do for you. – A.W. Tozer I believe that is true. We are (Not So) Ordinary People when we are teamed up with God! Unfortunately, we can be our own worst critics. We like to remind ourselves of our past, our insecurities, and our faults. The story of Moses goes on to tell us that he had a fiery temper which instigated Moses murdering an Egyptian soldier. He had to flee to the back of the wilderness. But a remarkable thing happens on the back side of the wilderness. He has an encounter with God! Some of us have had similar experiences in dark and miserable places (drunkenness, battlefields, prisons, rehabilitation centers, divorces, financial ruin, and more). Regardless, God finds us and reveals Himself to us.

Exodus 3:1–6 NIV

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

After that God tells Moses that He wants Moses to go back to Egypt and rescue the Hebrews from slavery. He wants to bring them back to the Promised Land.

Exodus 3:10 NIV

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Can you imagine what was going through Moses’ mind? Don’t we do the same thing when God calls us out and into something greater? Moses lets out a string of excuses…

Excuse #1 – I’m a Nobody.

Exodus 3:11–12 NIV

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

God’s people are bigger than their insecurities. In this series we will look at several people who are Less than Ordinary People but become Extraordinary People through the power of God.

In 2014’s Oscar-winning film Birdman, Michael Keaton plays a washed-out actor trying to start his life again after a series of failed roles. But his efforts are haunted by the voice of the “Birdman,” the superhero role that made him famous in his youth. This voice in his head tells him a story about his life—a story of failure and missed chances. It taunts him with memories of what he was and could have been, but now isn’t. The continuing question running through the film is simple: Will he listen to that voice of failure, or will he dare to believe that he can flourish again? Ken Costa, Know Your Why, Thomas Nelson.

After Moses asked “who am I”, God’s response was, “I will be with you.” That is all that should matter.

God Is Bigger than Our Insecurities

The Apostle Paul learned to step across his insecurities into the grace of God

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Excuse #2 – They Won’t Recognize You

Exodus 3:13–14 NIV

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

God’s answer, “I am who I am” reveals that He will reveal Himself in whatever way is necessary. In verses 15-16 He says that the Israelites will recognize Him as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Egyptians will know Him through His miracles.

God Will Be Known

Moses was concerned that the Egyptians wouldn’t recognize the Lord. God tells him “I am who I am” sent him. This is a very important concept in the OT. Up to this point the reality of God was “The Lord” or Yahweh. People were afraid to say the name. God now reveals Himself as “I am who I am” – He is ever present, ever active, and ever intervening for good. Soon the Israelites would learn that He is · Jehovah Jireh: The LORD our provider · Jehovah Rapha: The LORD our Healer · Jehovah Nissi: The LORD our Banner · Jehovah Shalom: The LORD our Peace · Jehovah Raah: The LORD our Shepherd · Jehovah Tsidkenu: The LORD our Righteousness · Jehovah Shammah: The LORD is Here

Excuse #3 – They Won’t Believe Me

Exodus 4:1–5 NIV

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

We can only imagine what Moses was thinking as his conversation with God continued. I’m sure Moses thought, “This is going to be HARD!” How will I convince people this is true. I recently read a social media written for pastors. It was titled, “12 Things Pastors Cannot Do”. Some of the items were: · Read minds · Be everywhere · Change hearts · Know everything · Please everybody · Live sinlessly · Escape mistakes There are things that husbands and wives cannot do…We need to give ourselves a little grace. But, when it does need to be done, God can do the miraculous.

God’s answer – miracles.

God is still in the miracle working business. When we feel trapped and helpless, He is able to make a path through the Red Sea.

Excuse #4 – I’m Not Equipped, Send Someone Else

Exodus 4:10–12 NIV

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

It probably ought to be dawning on us that Moses is not the dominant actor in this. God is. You and I are not the dominant actors in our lives – God is. We are at the 4th excuse now and God has given no room for Moses get wiggle out. Did Moses really have a speech problem or was it a case of selective amnesia?

God’s Answer – I am the Creator, Not You

In the book of Acts Stephen said:

Acts 7:22 NIV

Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

Whether Moses had a speech problem or not, it is not quite clear. It is certain that he had a faith problem. An unknown Christian leader told this story about Billy Graham.

More than 10,000 evangelists and Christian leaders sat in a giant auditorium in Amsterdam in 1986 listening to world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham. I sat among them, listening as he narrated some of his experiences. Then, to my surprise, he said, “Let me tell you: every time I stand before the congregation of God’s people to preach, I tremble and my knees wobble!” [And then Billy Graham added] “When God calls you, do not be afraid of trembling and wobbling knees, for He will be with you!”

We are far too quick to put boundaries on what we are willing to consecrate to God.

Stop Thinking Small!

Moses never has a moment when the mission becomes so easy that he just jumps on board. He has his doubts and fears but accepts what God has said and stands on the promises.

J. Oswald Sanders remarks "His inventory of disqualifications covered lack of capability, lack of message, lack of authority, lack of eloquence, lack of special adaptation, lack of previous success, and lack of previous acceptance. A more complete list of disabilities would be difficult to conjure up. But instead of pleasing God, his seeming humility and reluctance stirred His anger. "The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses". In point of fact, the excuses Moses advanced to show his incapacity were the very reasons for God's selection of him for the task." (Quoted by William MacDonald - Believer's Bible Commentary)

Like Moses, God Can Take Us from the Bulrushes and Shine on Us His Glory

This is a great message for calling people into full-time ministry but the reality is that most of us are not called to full-time ministry in that sense. But in what ways does God call us?

- To do what is right; to seek justice

- To defend others

- To seek first the Kingdom of God and righteousness

- To preach the gospel

- To live as believers in whatever situation you are in

- To love one another

- To love God with all your mind, soul, and spirit

- To live in humility, to love mercy

- To living a holy life

- To live a contented and peaceable life with all men

- To throw off everything that hinders and the sin that entangles

- To worship

Do any of these things sound hard? Yes! Many of them. Just like Moses we have our excuses and many of them seem impossible, but God’s promise to you is the same

- He is bigger than our insecurities

- He will be made known

- He is still a miracle working God

- He is the Creator, not you.

[1] https://deepspirituality.com/god-uses-ordinary-people/