On The Back Side Of The Dessert

Title: When You Find Yourself on the Backside of the Dessert

Theme: You are not defined by your past mistakes

Exo 3:1-6 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (2) And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. (3) Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." (4) So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." (6) Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

Introduction

This is not how it was suppose to be. Although Moses life started out in tough circumstances it seemed that God had His hand upon Him. He made the right moves. Miriam (the sister of Moses) follows her brother down the river and by God’s providence he winds up in the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter finds him. She adopts him into the royal family. There is no hint of his past he is not as the grandson of Pharaoh.

Some scholars even believe that Moses was the successor to the Pharaoh. He was the next in command. Do you know what it was like to live in the kings palace. To have people at you beckon call. He had anything he wanted.

One incident changes everything. One “mistake”. Yes we know the end of the story. But that does not change a thing. When you are in it. When you are the one who messed up.

That is why Moses found himself on the “backside of the dessert”.

When we meet Moses here he has spent 40 years here. Wow! He left at 40 years of age. 40 years as an Egyptian prince. Now 40 years in the desert leading sheep.

There had to be some long nights over the 40 years wondering what could have been. If he just kept his cool. If he had only not been there on that day. What if?

People’s regrets.

What if I didn’t go there.

What if I didn’t let them show up.

What if I invested a little more time.

The Burning Bush

God gives Moses a divine encounter. He brings him to a point to where he begins to see a bigger picture.

God Will Meet You Where You Are

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God doesn’t justify you sin but it does not have to define you.

Sometimes God will even change your name.

Jacob – thief, deceiver. God said I am going to change your name to Israel.

Simon – wishy washy and rash, Peter – the Rock

Saul – persecutor of the church, Paul – defender of the faith

We Don’t have to be defined by out past mistakes

Moses messed up but this did not have to define him. He di not have to stay there. Too many people stay in the past.

God can even use them.

Your Weakness Don't bother God

Paul –

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (8) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. (9) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

in my weakness He is made strong.

Message

2Co 12:7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! (8) At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, (9) and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. (10) Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.