Impact Week Ten

Review

Last week we looked at Paul’s tough physical trials. He received a lot of punishment for his faith and his extremely important role as an apostle of the early church. Lashings, stonings, imprisonment. Paul experienced persecution in a way few have since. There are many modern day martyrs for Chirst, But Paul survived a great many things by the grace of God for the sake of the call. If you should ever find yourself in the missionary field, your leaders will tell you a) be ready to die for your faith and b) stay alive!

Whatever you are called to do, you will face hardships on your way to and through that calling. We examined the three main causes of what we go through: the enemy, this fallen world, and God Himself. It’s not too hard to understand; God is in the business of bringing as many into the fold before that Day. Our comfort isn’t guaranteed. It’s all about knowing Him and making Him known. You can’t grow without stretching beyond what you’re used to. No one has concepts dropped into their head, they have to learn by studying books, taking tests to solidify that knowledge and so on. Same idea here: you wont grow in your faith unless it is stretched or tested in real life situations.

Background

Let's jump back to the Old Testament this week and look at the call of Moses, “Mr. Excuses”. Just prior to Moses’ birth, the king of Egypt issued a decree that all male Hebrew babies were to be killed. Moses was a Hebrew, but because his life was threatened, his mother hid him to spare his life. He was found by the king’s daughter and raised by another Hebrew woman, and was later given back the king’s daughter.

The Hebrew people were in slavery in Egypt. Moses one day saw an Egyptian beating his fellow Hebrew. This made Moses angry and he killed the Egyptian as a result. When word got out that he had killed the man, Moses feared for his life. So he ran to the land of Midian, where he married a woman and took care of his father-in-law’s flock of sheep.

As we get into the reading, Moses is out on the mountain, tending his sheep.

Reading: Exodus 3:1-5, 10-16, & 4:1-13

End

Before we go about bashing Moses for being a wimp, let me remind you of one very key thing: he’s talking to a burning bush. Since when does a bush light on fire spontaneously, first of all, and second, doesn’t burn or destruct in the process? I’d wager this has never happened on this planet since that day and probably never will unless there’s some obscure prophecy tucked away in the Bible that I don’t recall. Moses was standing in the very presence of God. The same God that knows our heart and the thoughts that pass through our mind. The same God that is holy. He had good reason to fear the very words he was hearing.

Let’s say for a moment that Moses is comfortable where he is. Okay fine. Do you realize the seriousness of what Moses was called to attempt? Who marches up to their king and declares their people’s independence? The U.S. did so from thousands of miles away on paper and fought with England for the better part of seven years, with help. Before freeing Israel, Moses also had to gain his people’s support. I imagine God expected very much that Moses would try to excuse himself from the call.

Take a moment to review his excuses if you will.

Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" In other words, “Why would Pharaoh be impressed or intimidated by me? And why would Israel put their trust in me to lead them?”

Exodus 3:13 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?"

Exodus 4:1 Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"

Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, "O 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."

And finally: Exodus 4:13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."

God was patient with Moses all the way up until he asked to be excused altogether. These are all good excuses if Moses was going out of his motivation. But Moses was being sent by God. There is absolutely no reason for us to argue with God when he calls us to do something. Many people have dreams and plans for the future. But if they take those goals seriously, they need to weigh the factors. Take, for example, when someone decides to run for the office of president of the United States, there are a million things to consider. If God calls you to be the president, that’s entirely different. That doesn’t mean you don’t consider the things you need to do to prepare for such an undertaking, it just means you don’t need to question your abilities or how it will come about, because God is behind it.

God answered all of Moses’ excuses. You have no reputation? I am with you. They will not know who I am? I AM who I AM. In other words, I trump these stupid “gods” of the hills and the golden idols you worship. I AM the one and only, there is no other. They need proof? I’ll give you three signs to show my power. You aren’t persuasive with your words? You idiot, I’m speaking through you!

Apparently that wasn’t enough for Moses, because after all of that, he still asked God to choose another. This is where God got angry. But instead of choosing someone else, he sent Aaron, Moses’ brother (Remember “Moe’s Bro” from a few weeks ago?) to lead the people together with Moses.

So what’s your excuse? What has God called you to do that’s so difficult that even He can’t accomplish it through you? You guys are young so you may think God hasn’t given you a purpose yet. Ridiculous. There is no insignificant call. Everything has an impact. Maybe it’s showing love to your brother even when he doesn’t. Maybe it’s doing your absolute best in school when things look bleak. I know that it is getting to know Jesus Christ. But as you grow both in age and your walk with God, you’ll come to understand your purpose in life and it’s up to you to drop the excuses, however well balanced they may seem, and answer the call.

Memory Verse: Joshua 1:7

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”