A Moses Moment

A Moses’ Moment

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12-13; Proverbs 29:11; Mark 11:12-17; Numbers 20:2-13

Ephesians 6:12-13 says the following; “(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. (13) Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Proverbs 29:11 says “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.”

Have you ever had someone intentionally and constantly getting on your nerves? Not just any of your nerves, but on your very last nerve? What about having a group of people constantly pushing your buttons? When it happened did you keep it together or did you finally reach your breaking point and blew a gasket? If you have had this experience or have come close to it, then pay close attention to my message this morning. The title of my message this morning is “A Moses’ Moment.” As you all know, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he was so frustrated with the people that he disobeyed God. His disobedience came with a price. I want you to keep Ephesians 6:12-13 and Proverbs 29:11 in the forefront of your mind as I go through this message because what we are going to see in Moses’ moment when his frustration came to a head is a warning to us when we deliberately disobey God.

Before we get to the story of Moses’ moment, I want to share with you a story where Jesus’ had a moment and later I will contrast His moment with that of Moses. Do you recall the story of Jesus leaving Bethany being hungry and He and the disciples came upon a fig tree? Mark 11:12-14 records the following: “(12) And on the next day, when they had come from Bethany, He was hungry. (13) And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if perhaps He might find anything thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. (14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, ‘No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever.’ And His disciples heard it.” (Mark 11:12-14) Let’s talk about this story for a moment. You know I always remind you that Jesus walked this earth as a man so that He could be the example we need for how we are to walk as children of God. Well this story and what happens next proves it. Let me explain.

Have you ever been so hungry that you became irritable? Well, Jesus was a man and on this day He was hungry. He looks up and sees a fig tree that has leaves on it. Thinking the tree also had figs, He approached the tree thinking He was about to satisfy His hunger. Fig trees were of two varieties: the early fig (Isaiah 28:4) and the late fig (Jeremiah 8:13). Figs appear before or with the leaves, so the leaves indicated that the tree should have had figs, even though the time of figs to be fully ripe was not yet come. So Jesus was correct in thinking that there would be figs on the tree since the tree had leaves. Now they may have been a little bitter or tart, but they should have been there. However, upon approaching the tree, Jesus sees that it had no figs. Now stay with me here. Jesus was hungry. Jesus wanted something to eat. Jesus saw the fig tree that had leaves on it. Leaves mean figs. Jesus starts salivating as He thinks about satisfying His hunger. When He realizes that there are no figs, He really becomes angry and speaks to the tree commanding that no one would ever eat of it again. But the story does not end there.

While still hungry, Jesus and His disciples enter Jerusalem. Listen to what happens when He walks into the temple. “(15) So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (16) And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. (17) Then He taught, saying to them, ‘Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:15-17) Ok, stay with me now, Jesus enters the temple hungry and possibly irritated because He was hungry. Remember, He was a man who experienced the same feelings that we have but He always handled them appropriately and within the will of His Father. However, in this situation, He was already hungry and probably irritated but when He saw what was going on in the temple, it came to a head. He lit into them with a mighty force as He turned over tables and drove them out of the temple. I am telling you this story because in this moment, Jesus had a Moses’ moment where the actions of people really got under His skin and He reacted. The thing I want you to remember is that His reaction, as forceful as it was, remained within His character and His service to God. Now let’s look at Moses.