MOSES: FROM DOUBT TO DELIVERANCE
A TERRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Pt.2
Sunday October 27, 2002
Scripture Reference: Exodus 5 & 6 various verses
Intro.
A. Last week we began learning about Moses’ terrible, no good, very bad day. I want to take just a few minutes to review what we learned last week as we prepare to share the second part of this message.
1. Last week we saw how this bad day had begun. If you were here you will remember that Moses and the leaders of the Hebrew children who were in Egypt had just come back from a great bible conference. Look with me again at 4:29-31 (read). I do not think it would be hard to imagine the excitement that these people must have felt as they came away from this event. I am sure they felt like they would march right up to Pharaoh and tell him what God had said and he would give his consent, but that is not what happened. In fact Pharaoh said that he did not know this God they were talking about and he certainly was not going to obey some God he didn’t even know.
2. But not only were Moses and Aaron rejected by Pharaoh but then things began to get worse for the Hebrew children rather than better. Now let me point out something here that I failed to mention last week. Remember we are talking about Moses’ terrible, no good, very bad day. In 5:6 it says, “That same day…” All this is happening in just one day! Moses is rejected by Pharaoh and then Pharaoh decides that he needs to make life even harder for the Hebrew children.
a) Listen people, this is NOT good news. These people were being horribly oppressed by Pharaoh already. God even said to Moses twice in chapter three that he had seen the “misery” of the Hebrew people. The circumstances of their lives were already pretty bad, but now they are about to get much worse. Pharaoh is going to force them to continue have them making bricks but he isn’t going to supply the materials they need to do so, and on top of that he is not going to reduce the daily requirement.
Trans. Now wouldn’t you say that this was in fact a terrible, no good, very bad day? I think so but guess what? It about to get even worse. Let’s take up the story where we left off. In case you didn’t know it Pharaoh was a pretty clever guy. Do you think that Pharaoh really felt that these people would be able to do what he was now requiring? No Way! He knew he was asking for something that was impossible, but I am convinced he had grander scheme. You see, it appears that at this time the Hebrew children do not know what has happened as a result of Moses and Aaron’s visit to Pharaohs palace. It seems that they probably still believed that their release was immanent. But now all of a sudden life just got harder and they can’t figure out why. So the bible tells us that the foremen who were Hebrews themselves go to Pharaoh to complain about these unfair labor practices that he has instituted. It is at this point that Moses’ day begins to get worse. Look with me at 5:17-18 (read).
The lights just came on, they asked Pharaoh why he was treating them this way and his response was, “It’s because you guys want to go off into the desert to worship this God who I have never even heard of.” It’s then that these people realize, IT’S MOSES’ FAULT! ** Let me interject a thought here that I think is vital. Pharaoh acted just like Satan acts with us today, divide and conquer. Satan’s greatest tool to destroy the church and defeat the cause of Christ is to get Christians arguing and fighting with each other. Let me remind you of Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:12. Paul said in that verse that our struggle was not against flesh and blood but against the rulers and principalities and powers in the heavenly realms. Our fight is not with each other but with Satan and his army of demons. One of the ways Satan causes division is through misunderstanding, and that is precisely what happens to Moses.
II. BEING MISUNDERSTOOD.
A. Being Misunderstood hurts Deeply.
1. Do you think I can get you to agree with that statement? Look with me at 5:19-21 (read). Once again, let’s remember what has led up to this point. They had this great bible conference; they felt like their deliverance was just about to occur. God had called them; He had proven His call with miraculous signs. Moses entered into this task knowing that he was doing precisely what God had told him to do but what happened? His own people turned on him and said, this whole thing is all your fault! We are going to die now and it is all because of you!
2. We have an expression that goes like this, “It’s lonely at the top.” Do you know why it is lonely at the top? Because there are not a lot of people who are willing to take the heat that comes along with leadership. We love the rewards and praises that also come with leadership but they are not enough to get us to overlook the trouble that also comes with leadership. Trouble and misunderstanding. You know, sometimes you can do the right thing and still get in trouble for it.
a) I know that I could probably get more people to come to this church if I would just preach a “Feel Good Theology”. If I just preached messages that made everybody feel good and go away from church unchallenged and unconvicted. It would probably make some people happy of I never mentioned things like sin, and especially if I never preached about giving. But that will not happen as long as I stand behind this pulpit! When I accepted my call from God to be a pastor I also committed to preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I will not try to get into trouble but I know that as long as I stay true to God’s word, some of us will get razor burn every now and again.
3. One thing I have learned over my 17 years of pastoring is that many of the times I have been attacked by people it has been because those people were dealing with other difficult issues in their lives. That is what was also happening with Moses. Look at 6:9 (read). It very specifically tells us that they did not listen to what Moses told them because they were discouraged and they were in bondage. [] Since I know that all of you are flawless I will just confess that this is an area where I have often struggled. When I get discouraged it is almost like I don’t want to hear any good news. I can allow myself to just get immersed in my discouragement almost to the point of enjoying it. WHY? Because if I allow myself to get lost in discouragement then I don’t have to move forward. It’s almost like the discouragement becomes a safe zone. You see if I am not doing anything then no one can get upset with me or misunderstand my intentions.
Trans. Let’s take a look at what I want to call:
III. THE TYPICAL RESPONSE TO A BAD DAY.
I think there are two very typical responses we have when we are experiencing a bad day like Moses was. When we are in trouble for doing the right things. The first response is:
A. Why?
1. Isn’t it true? Here we are doing what God has asked us to do. We are sure of His calling, we know what we are doing is right but everything is turning out all wrong. The first thing most of us ask is “Why?” Why me God? That’s what Moses asked, and this was not the only time in his career that he asked the question. “Why is this happening?” “Why are you doing this God?”
2. Would you like to know why we are so prone to ask this question? It is because we are not very good at interrupting events in our lives. We are not good at seeing the bigger picture. We are not very good at seeing the fact that God has something really great that He wants to do through what we can only see as disastrous.
Trans. But we usually have another response. It is also a single word question.
B. How?
1. How could this happen? Maybe Moses even felt like he had misunderstood God. After all God had said that he was going to deliver the Hebrew children, but now they were in greater bandage than before. Look at what Moses said at the end of 5:23 (read). You haven’t rescued them AT ALL. What is up with this God? How could this have possibly happened? Where did I go wrong?
Trans. Well let me share with you now what I want to call:
IV. THE BEST PART OF A BAD DAY.
And I am not talking about the end. The best part of a bad day is not just that it is over but that we have come away from the experience stronger and better equipped to serve the Lord. Let me share some things that will turn yours and mine’s bad day around.
A. Moses Returned To The Lord.
1. Look at 5:22 (read). My friends we MUST do this, and yet my experience tells me that we are not very good at this. I am so thankful that when Moses encountered these problems that he didn’t head for the hills. He didn’t run FROM God, he ran TO God. Oh this is what we need to do as well. The answers we seek to the troubles and struggles will not be found by running away from God but by running to Him. Yes, when Moses returned to the Lord he had some questions, even some complaints. But listen to me people; God has got some awfully big shoulders. He can handle any question you and I have. Because Moses ran to God, Moses got answers.
Trans. Now notice if you will that Moses found himself in:
B. God’s Ideal Working Conditions.
1. [] What is your image of “ideal working conditions”? I wish we had time to talk about that. It would be interesting to say the least what we might come up with, but let’s consider what God’s ideal working conditions are. Look with me again at 5:22-23 (read).
2. Here is what I think Moses was saying. Lord, my back is against the wall.” “I am at the end of my rope, I do not know where to turn.” I think what I just described were what we would call the worst working conditions but these are God’s ideal working conditions. God does His best work with us when we are at the place where we say, “Lord I at the end of my rope.” “I don’t know where to turn I don’t know what to do.” “This whole situation looks utterly impossible to me." When we are at the end of our rope, when our absolute reliance is on God, it is then that great things will begin to happen.
a) I think there are couple of things God said to Moses here that he also
says to us when we find ourselves at this place. The first is “Be Careful”. Sometimes when our backs are against the wall, rather than surrendering to God’s will we decided to launch out on our own. We take the bull by the horns. We will figure this all out. Look at what God said to Moses in 6:1 “Now you will see what I will do…,” God didn’t say to Moses, “OK now Moses, let’s see what you can do.” No he said, “Moses, let me show you what I can do.”
b) There is something else God says to Moses here. He tells him to be careful not to take matters into his own hands but then he also tells him to “Stand Still”. Oh how difficult that is, isn’t it? We just feel this great compulsion to do something, even if it’s wrong. At least we are taking action. But God told Moses to stand still and watch Him work. Look at the rest of V.1 and 2 (read).
3. There is something very encouraging that God says to Moses that I want you to see before we look at today’s life lessons. It is found in 6:4-5 (read). God said to Moses, “I made a covenant and I will keep it.” My friends, God is faithful! What he promised He will fulfil!
Trans. Let me give you three more life lessons to take with you today.
LIFE LESSONS:
A. Difficulties Force Us Into Dependence.
1. Let’s face it, we are very independent bunch of people and normally the only thing that will cause us to become dependent are hard times. I don’t think God wants us to learn all of our lessons the hard way but if that is what it takes for us to experience His blessing in our lives then I guess that is what he will use. He loves us too much to allow us to destroy ourselves.
B. Difficulties Force Us Into Patience.
1. Why wait on God when I don’t have to wait on MacDonald’s? After all if I can get my Big Mac in 30 seconds or less then why can’t God do whatever He needs to do just as quickly? We probably would never say that out loud but I wonder how many of us feels that way? I guess we need to subscribe to Mark Lowry’s favorite bible verse, “and it came to pass.”
C. Difficulties Mature Us.
1. Let me close with these words from James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
