That Is Not Enough Series

Introduction:

Our series that we have been dealing with is called: Life is a Journey. And indeed, life is a journey from here to there. Some of the journeys that we take are God initiated journeys and some were self-initiated journeys. And I told you we can tell the difference between a God initiated journey and a self- initiated journey because in a God initiated journey, we hear from God and the Holy Spirit confirms in our heart that we are to go.

But let me tell you, that is not enough. If God where to tell you to go and not lead you all the way there, that would not be enough. We cannot make the journey without both God telling us to go and then God guiding us.

Moses knew that; and so, we come to an interesting discussion between Moses and God in Exodus 33. And I believe that this discussion is written for our instruction because it says in 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NIV) These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…

The discussion goes something like this: Moses, you and the Israelites, I told you to go and I have led you this far, but the rest of the way to the Promised Land, I am not going. But here is the deal, although I am not going, I will not leave you empty handed as I will send an angel to defeat the enemies along the way. And Moses’ response is: no, that is not enough. If you don’t go God, then we don’t go any further. And what I want to do is to see what we can learn from this discussion between God and Moses especially since God said that He has written this account in His Word for our instruction.

Bible Scripture

Exodus 33:1-3 (NIV)

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.'

2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

Exodus 33:15-17 (NIV)

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Point #1

DO YOU REALIZE HOW BLESS WE ARE TO BE LIVING ON THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A MOSES TYPE DISCUSSION WITH JESUS EVER?

In Exodus 33:15, we find Moses having a discussion with Jesus pleading for Jesus not to leave him on this journey through the desert to the Promised Land. You see Moses knows that anything less than Jesus leading them would never be enough. Now, Jesus obviously was going to send one of His best fighting angels because God says in verse 2, He is sending an angel to fight the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Just one angel to fight the enemies of Israel; so, this angel must be a pretty good fighting machine. Right? But, let me make this crystal clear, there is no comparison between Jesus and this fighting machine angel; Jesus wins every time hands down.

Moses was not the only one who had this discussion with God in the Old Testament. In Psalm 51:11 (NIV) David says: Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. In this Psalm, we find David begging God not to remove His Spirit from him. David knew the importance of God leading him and guiding him.

Now fast forward to you and me. Did we wake up this morning thanking God that He is always with us? That is an awesome thing to think about- if you are a child of God that He will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) God says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." The unlimited God of the universe chose to limit Himself by promising to you and me that He will always remain with us. And in doing us, He assures us that we will never have this discussion with God that Moses and David had.