Moses
– Freeing
Yourself to Know God
·
Most
if not all of us have been faced with people or events that left us feeling
inferior or inadequate. How did you deal with that?
·
Moses
seemed to have miscalculated God's timing, and took things into his own hands.
Now, with nowhere to go, Moses ran into the desert. (2:15)
·
His
actions there are another indication of Moses' personality. Help those who are
oppressed!
·
It
helps to regroup in an environment that is free from the factors that caused
our grief. What do you think Moses was learning during this 40 years in the
desert?
·
In
order to change, we first need to experience God's presence. Many of the people
we've studied had that experience. (e.g. Jacob at Bethel) Now, Moses hears
God's voice (3:5,6)
·
The
key to understanding this passage is looking at Moses' reaction. Moses gives 4
excuses why he was not the right person for God's task What was at the root of
Moses' hesitant response?
Ř
1st
Excuse: 'Who Am I?' (3:11) Moses felt inferior. What a change from the Moses of
40 years ago! Where is the person who was 'powerful in speech and action'? This
is why an empathetic God brought Moses to the burning bush. God's answer is in
3:12
Ř
2nd
Excuse: 'What shall I say?' (3:13) Moses knew his own authority was
insufficient. He learned that 40 years ago. God's answer? I AM! (3:14) (See
also 3:6-8, and John 8:58,59) Notice the other name used for God in this
chapter (e.g. 3:15)
Ř
3rd
Excuse: 'What if they don't listen?' (4:1) Moses had already experienced this…
God's answer? Miracles will be a sign that God is behind this (4:2-9)
Ř
4th
Excuse: 'I am not eloquent.' (4:10) This probably doesn't mean some kind of
speech impediment, especially considering Acts 7:22. Moses probably felt that
he was unable to speak to someone like Pharaoh; he could not match wits with
someone that great. Moses had forgotten his earlier life. God's answer? I will
teach you what to say! (4:11-12)
·
After
all this, Moses is still reluctant to go (4:14)
·
And,
after all this, God's patience was growing thin (4:15)
·
God
said Aaron would assist Moses (4:15,16). But, asking for Aaron's assistance
proved to be a burden as well as a blessing (remember the golden calf?)
#1) God wants to use all of us
in spite of our weaknesses
#2) God wants all of us to
balance self-confidence with God-confidence
#3) God wants us to be able to
overcome rejection and become people He can use in this world
#4) God wants to use our
failures to prepare us to face greater challenges
For
next week read Exodus 4:27 - 14:31
