Perceiving The Providential Hand Of God

PERCEIVING THE PROVIDENTIAL HAND OF GOD

Ex. 2:1-10

Intro:

1. The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.” The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden ringing of the bells, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.

2. God is always working out His will in our lives; we need to stop being preoccupied with visible people and circumstances, and by faith start believing in God’s invisible Hand.

I. FIRST, GOD’S PROVIDENCE THROUGH A MAN FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI.

A. He is Alive.

And a man – his name is Amram (Ex.6:20). God determined if, and when, and where this man would be born. I have often thought about God’s providential hand in allowing us to exist. My dad, before he was my dad, when he was just a boy was riding a girl on the handle bars of his bike, when a drunk driver hit him. They did not think he would live through the night. At first he was kept in the hallway so as not to waste a room. He was in a comma for a month. He obviously lived. But, if he had died I would not be here this morning preaching God’s Word! We are here simply because God decided to give us life (Ac. 17:25).

B. He is A Little man.

of the house of Levi – first he is a slave and from an insignificant tribe. Keep in mind it is not until later that they are given the priesthood. At this time the prominent tribes were Judah and Joseph. God’s providence doesn’t work like mans – He rarely goes after the rich and famous. Gideon was “the least in his father’s house.” David was the last of 8 sons and was considered so insignificant that he wasn’t even brought in at first. God providentially uses insignificant people (1 Cor. 1:26-31).

C. He is Allowed to marry a godly woman.

went and took as wife a daughter of Levi – her name was Jochebed (6:20).

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22

Reminds me of a man who put an ad in the paper, “Wife wanted.” He received about 100 letters which all read, “You can have mine!” Whether we realize it or not it was God’s providential hand that brought you and your wife together.

D. He was Able to have children.

We have seen over and over again couples that could not have children, and God is presented as the one who decides who can have children (Gem/ 30:1-2).

Trans: This man had much to thank God for! How about us? Has God not made us Alive? Are we not All Little? Has God Allowed you to get married? Has He enabled you to have children? These we unfortunately take as common place. Emerson said that if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to behold them. We have seen the stars so often that we don’t bother to look at them anymore. We have grown accustomed to our blessings.

II. FURTHERMORE, GOD’S PROVIDENCE THROUGH MOSES’ MOTHER. 2-3

A. The Birth of Moses.

So the woman conceived and bore a son – as we have already seen this was a gift from God (Psa. 127:3/Num. 18:6).

B. The Beauty of Moses.

And when she saw that he was a beautiful child – I think she saw him with her eyes of faith and realized that there was something special about this baby (Ac. 7:20/Heb. 11:23). I do not think that this is simply saying that they thought the baby was beautiful! Every parent thinks their baby is beautiful! The key is the word “by faith” which is not talking here about Moses’ faith but that of his parents. Now the principle is always the same, faith has to be based on God’s Word, God’s promise (Rom. 10:17). I believe God spoke to them through His Word [which at that stage they only had through word of mouth] that this was going to be the one who fulfilled the promise of taking them out of Egypt. They knew that God had told Abraham they would be in Egypt, as slaves for 400 years (Gen. 15:12-21) and they knew that time was just about up; They knew the words of Joseph’s prophecy also (Gen. 50:24,25). The Beauty of Moses was seen in the fact that he would be used by God to fulfill His promise of deliverance from Egypt. I believe someday soon God is going to raise up a Beautiful Someone, who is going to by faith proclaim that God is about to remove His church and the Tribulation is about to ascend upon this world. It is God’s providential hand that fulfills all of His promises. We hear about Promise Keepers, there is only One ultimate Promise Keeper – it’s God Himself.