When The Storms Of Life Are Raging

WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE RAGGING

Exodus 2:15-22

Intro:

1. Philip Yancy decided to spend a few days in a monastery. He wanted to get away from all of the hustle and bustle. The monk said, “I hope your stay is a blessed one, and if you need anything, let us know, and we’ll teach you how to live without it.”

2. There is only one thing that we cannot live without – and that is God Himself. But usually it’s not until all we have is God, that we discover God is all we need. Then our song will be Give Me Jesus! Moses is going to be reduced to God in the University of Obscurity. He is going to learn to put into practice the greatest truth in the Bible:

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5 (AMP)

As I studied this I kept thinking of the song Stand by Me:

When the storms of life are raging,

stand by me (stand by me);

when the storms of life are raging,

stand by me (stand by me).

When the world is tossing me

like a ship upon the sea,

thou who rulest wind and water,

Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of tribulation,

stand by me (stand by me);

in the midst of tribulation,

stand by me (stand by me).

When the hosts of hell assail,

and my strength begins to fail,

thou who never lost a battle,

stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of faults and failures,

stand by me (stand by me);

in the midst of faults and failures,

stand by me (stand by me).

When I do the best I can,

and my friends misunderstand,

thou who knowest all about me,

stand by me (stand by me).

When I’m growing old and feeble,

stand by me (stand by me);

when I’m growing old and feeble,

stand by me (stand by me).

When my life becomes a burden,

and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,

O thou “Lily of the Valley,”

stand by me (stand by me).

I. FIRST, MOSES’ SEVERITY.

A. First, he had Sinned. 2:12

So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand – the verb “killed” [Na-kaw] means “to strike down.” It is in a hiphal stem which is an active voice, in the causative. This was forbidden by God (Gen. 9:6), and later, under the Law, would be a capital offense (Ex. 21:12). He could have been put to death for killing this Egyptian. When we sin we lack peace, joy, power and the feeling of well-being. Sin always disturbs us within.

B. He had been Separated from his family and friends. 2:15

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh - he no longer has any contact with family and friends. He was alone and no doubt lonely.

C. He was Stressed out.

• He was a Wanted man. Pharaoh sought to kill Moses – was placed on Egypt’s FBI most wanted list.

• He was Weary. and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well - The founder of these people was Midian, a son of Keturah, wife of Abraham, who sent them “to the land of the east” (Gen. 25:1-6). The Midianites lived in southeastern Sinai and northwestern Arabia on both sides of the Gulf of Aqaba. This desert land differed greatly from Goshen in Egypt.

• He had traveled a long Way from Egypt and was no doubt exhausted.

D. He was in a Strange land. We all like familiar surroundings.

E. He had no place to Stay. He is just sitting there, soon it will be dark and where will he spend the night?

F. He has no Substance. Surely any food he brought was gone and he was likely getting beyond being hungry.

G. He had no means of Support. He is out of a job and there are not may openings for an ex-pharaoh hopeful.

Trans: I would say Moses is in a fix, in a storm. We all know how it feels after we have sinned and just made a mess of everything. Imagine being Separated from all your family and friends; being Stressed out from seeing your name on a wanted poster and being physically exhausted; of being in a Strange land, with no place to Stay, no Substance and no means of Support. I have been there, I left home when I was still in High School with absolutely no place to go; got out of the military and went to Pine Bluff AR., where I did not know anybody. Hurricane Sandy has left many people destitute. The effects of Hurricane Sandy just in New York was amazing, flooding the New York City Subway system,[1] many suburban communities,[2] all road tunnels entering Manhattan except the Lincoln Tunnel, and the closure of the New York Stock Exchange for two consecutive days. Numerous homes and businesses were destroyed by fire, including over 100 homes in Breezy Point, Queens. Large parts of the city and surrounding areas lost electricity for several days, some even more. Additionally, a large construction crane atop Excel’s One57 (157 W. 57th St.) partially collapsed, which required many blocks around the area to be evacuated for six days. At least 48 people died in New York as a result of the storm. Economic losses across New York were estimated to be at least $18 billion. Tempers were flaring, people waited for hours to get some gas, people needed food, shelter, and other basic necessities. And people learned the Government was not much help! After the photo-op, it’s business as usual! FEMA is a bad joke. When life turns severe who will you turn to? I know the Government promises everything. Rush Limbaugh said we lost the election because you can’t compete with Santa Claus!” Truth is Santa Claus’ bag is about empty! Don’t turn to the Government – turn to God!