Jan.19 - Exodus 5 - 7

At the age of 80, Moses was content to shepherd sheep in the Sinai Peninsula. He wasn't looking for anything else to do. But, out of the clear blue sky, God speaks to him through a burning bush and commissions him to engage into one of the most leadership-intensive positions any person has ever had to go through! In Exodus 3 and 4 you'll find Moses arguing with God as he desperately trys prove his case that he is NOT the person God is looking for. For every excuse Moses comes up with, God has an answer!

As we read these 3 chapters, we see some very interesting issues that deal with all of us today:

1) We often "feel" unqualified for what God calls us to do! Moses gave 5 reasons why he shouldn't take this job. The very first one was (3:11), "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses was convinced he had NO QUALIFICATIONS or POSITION to stand in front of one of the most powerful emperors in the world and make ridiculous demands. I'm sure he was thinking, "Forty years ago I ran for my life from this place! I hope they've forgotten about me!" Guess what was one of the very first questions Pharaoh threw into the face of Moses? Pharaoh shouted (5:4), "Who do you think you are?" I'm sure Moses was embarrassed and thinking quietly, "I knew this was going to happen! See, I told you Lord! I shouldn't be here! You've got the wrong guy!"

Even though God's call to Moses was very clear, Satan was there to attack and create doubt! God allowed Satan to stiffen the pride of Pharaoh. That resulted in a shock to Moses. He thought everything was going to go smoothly for him. Hey...If God has given you a clear calling to do something, you can be sure that it will NOT go as smoothly as you expect it! Just like Eve in the Garden, Satan will creep up and ask you the same doubt-stimulating question, "Did God really say...?"

Man's reasoning get's in the way of God's power! You don't need an education, or intelligence, or money, or position, or the right connections, or anything else to do God's will. What you do need is a resolve to let Him be God, and to trust in His calling and power regardless of the circumstances.

2) Serving the Lord does NOT circumvent tough situations! After Moses' first visit with Pharaoh, nothing went according to plan - his plans! God knew what he was doing, but Moses didn't have a clue. All that Moses knew was that he had made things HORRIBLY worse for the people he was sent to help. In 5:20-21, Moses and Aaron are condemned by the ones they're seeking to save. The Israelite foremen shouted, "May the Lord judge you for getting us into this terrible situation...you have given them an excuse to kill us!" Moses was so disturbed by this that he charged back to the Lord and began an argument with Him! In 5:22, he says, "Why have YOU mistreated YOUR own people like this...Why did you send me?...You have not even begun to rescue them!" Obviously, Moses is angry, confused, and afraid! It takes half of Chapter 6 for God to revisit His plan for Moses. Don't you love it? God is so patient with us! He calmly goes over the past and present of what His plans are for Israel and his servant Moses...AGAIN!

3) Our excuses are no match for God's demands! Three times Moses vehemently argued with God that he is no orator and the wrong person for the job - (4:10 ; 6:12 ; 6:30). If you'll notice in 6:13, it says, "But the Lord ordered Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh." If God is asking you to do something, He has obviously agreed to open the doors of Heaven to make things work out. It may not go smoothly, but He will eventually accomplish the task He's sent you to do. It didn't go smoothly for Moses at all! It was a gut-wrenching endeavor from the very beginning. Yet, God's Will never takes you where His Grace can't keep you!

4) God never usually unfolds the entire plan He has for you...just the next step! When God called Moses on top of Mount Sinai, He didn't give him any instructions other than to go back to Egypt. Once Moses got there, God tells Him to simply demand that Pharaoh let the Israelites go! Once that failed, God tells Moses in Chapter 7 what the next step was - the staff will become a snake when Pharaoh demands a miraculous sign from God. Once that failed to impress Pharaoh, God gave him the next step - go down to the Nile and put the staff in the water and it will turn the Nile to blood. After that happened, we see every encounter Moses has with God that God simply gives him the next step...never more than that! If you and I are waiting for the full unfolding of God's map for our lives, it will never come! Why? Because you and I probably won't be able to handle it! Just doing the next step is tough enough!

Tomorrow, we'll look at God's contest against the gods of Egypt! God bless, and have a wonderful, Spirit-filled day!