God is more than enough
Exodus chapter 6:1-8
Introduction-
Turn with me to Exodus chapter 6. It is the second book of the Bible.
In Exodus
We get a chance to see Israel in their rebellion of God.
We see God intervene for them repeatedly.
We see God’s people being held captive by a nation that had no intentions of letting them go.
We see a people who without God’s help would never been able to get free.
God, calling a man named Moses to do something that was humanly impossible and that was to move more than 6 million people to a land that God had promised them.
Chapter Three- The burning bush experience where Moses was going about his day and he notices that a bush is burning but never is burned up.
Bushes burning is not unusual, but burning forever and not going out is.
Curiosity has him check it out and when he gets to it, God shows up and makes an ordinary day become extra-ordinary.
God begins by talking to him through the burning bush.
He went from “I will go over and see this strange sight, why the bush does not burn up.”
To the Lord speaking through the bush and calling out his name- “Moses, Moses”
(5) “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”- I don’t know about you but that just became extra-ordinary.
After a whole lot of dialogue, God gave Moses the impossible job.
Taking the Nation of Israel to the land that He has promised them.
6 Million ungrateful people murmuring as if being in Egypt was a good thing!
Again, after a whole lot of dialogue, (being nice because it was a lot of crying and complaining) Moses was asking God to send someone else.
He (God) was angered but gave him his brother Aaron and together they faced the most powerful man of the time, the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Let’s just say that it did not go well for them-
Moses went to Pharaoh and tells him God said “Let my people go” (you can imagine it being wimpy)
Pharaoh said “Who is the Lord that I should obey him, and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”
Stop there for a minute
I don’t know about you but that just describes my life at times with the Lord
I have felt like I was captive to something that was bigger than me and most definitely impossible to get out of by myself.
I have seen God do some unusual things and not knowing what I should do with it because at the time I did not understand it.
I have felt like God has called me to do something and I have felt very inadequate.
I have felt like no one was there to help me and I was doing it all by myself.
I have at times done what I felt was right and faced those giants head on only to feel like the cast of wizard of oz standing before the great and powerful oz and he says “You dare challenge the great Oz”
I have done all that I know to do and watched things get worse.
I am ‘that guy” where traffic is moving until I got there.
Waiting in line till I am in front of the line and they just “ran out”
The “free goldfish” that cost me a lot of money because I had to buy a tank, filter, food, and then the fish died.
Help me out here, I know that I am not alone here- There are times that you feel like you are in a bubble and nothing is working
God gives you something to do and your crying out to God to send someone else or at least send me some help because you feel that you can’t do it.
I don’t know what Moses was thinking other than what is recorded here but I would think that he was frustrated and angered and concerned what was happening to him.
God said to Moses “So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.”
Moses is thinking- “Why have you done this to me? When are you going to keep your promise?
God didn’t tell him that there would not be trouble first.
God didn’t tell him how he was going to rescue them.
God’s answer- “Now you will see what I do and It will happen because of my mighty hand.”
Another example in the Bible of unfairness
Joseph was sold into slavery and put into prison for years for something he never did. He did everything he knew to do and bad things still happened.
Genesis 45:7-
“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
Genesis 50:20-
“you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Listen to me, make note of this-
Before there can be deliverance , there has to be some trouble-
There has to be some shacking up.
There has to be some changes.
God has a purpose, and he needs things to happen in His timing.
Our phrase around here,
“When you have done all that you know to do, stand firm.”
Some of you are getting a real test of faith and some are white knuckled- keep holding on! Keep standing firm!
God promises deliverance
We don’t always know when or how He will do it.
Text- Exodus chapter 6:1-6:8
When your day goes from bad to worse (write this down)
I. Presence of problems does not mean that you are out of God’s will
Those crazy and sometimes embarrassing times;
When you realize that your zipper is down
When you go 4 hrs into your day and realize that something funky is on your face.
When someone just comes up to you and is mean or hurtful, it just might mean that God is on the verge of doing something amazing and you will be delivered. (Amen)
Those times that you feel you cannot go any farther.
Something good could be right around the corner- Make sure you are in a position to receive it.
Stand firm and be faithful during the trouble, so you have the right attitude to receive the blessing.
We want to be delivered, but we don’t want the troubles or the commitment required, being patient enough to wait on God to accomplish the deliverance.
Don’t let the emotions of the moment distract you from responding correctly.
Don’t let what you see or don’t see happen effect your keeping your eyes on the deliverer.
Don’t let drama, or your past, or what other people are saying keep you from being focused on God
Some have been holding on for a long time, and your answer is coming… don’t give up!
II. Presents of problems stay longer when we have to learn lesson the hard way
There are some who would like to blame God for what is going on but the truth is, it is because you have to learn everything the hard way and you know it!
There are people who wear as a badge of honor, their hard headiness. Like it is something good! I am willing to stand for my Lord, but why would you want to go through trials because you don’t want to listen to God?
We cannot be mad at God because we won’t listen to what he has already said to us.
God has a plan- remember, it is a good one!
We don’t have all the pieces yet, but when he gives us puzzle pieces we need to put them where they belong.
I am sure this is just me-
You have wondered why God has done it the hard way.
Why doesn’t He just do it this way?
Where are you God?
Are you kidding me? Really?
III. In the presence of troubles, when you have done all that you know to do- KNOW THIS!
‘God is more than enough.”
The Hebrew word for God is El Shaddai- All powerful, all mighty!
He is the creator- He is self existent
He is the alpha and the Omega- the beginning and the end. All knowing and all powerful.
Jehovah Jireh- my provider
Jehovah Rapha- my healer
Addonai- Lord
There is spiritual hunger in our land. There is bread for the hungry and His name is Jesus.
He is more than enough;
When you are pressured- He is enough
When you are pleading with God- He is enough
When you are in poverty- He is enough
When you are hurting- He is enough
When you are needing to come back to Him- He is more than ready to receive you back.
Closing,
I do not know what you are up against, but I know that He is enough
Ephesians 3:20 (From Bible)
He is more than enough
