Deliverer is Refocused & Reassured

This morning, we are in a sermon series called “Exodus: The Victorious God.” Pastor Mike has titled today’s message “Deliverer is Refocused & Reassured.”

Overview of Exodus 1-3

Deliverance was needed.
Deliverer was born.
Deliverer was prepared.
Deliverer encountered the Holy God and was called for his task.
Deliverer had doubts.

When we are filled with doubt (about ourselves or about God) remember who God is.


The Deliverer is Refocused & Reassured

Exodus 4:1-17
Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.
3 “Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow. 7 “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” he said. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it had again become like the rest of his skin. 8 “If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”
10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”
13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”

Our passage today is about Moses’ lack of trust in the Lord.

Throughout Moses’ lack of trust, God is refocusing and reassuring him.

1. Moses was afraid of others.

(a) “Snake” sign showed God’s authority over evil and gods of Egypt.

(b) “Leprosy” sign showed God’s power over sickness and death.

(c) “Water-to-blood” sign showed God’s power over nature and the elements.

Exodus 3:16-18
“Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt… They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him…

Do you trust the Word of God or your own feelings and thoughts?

Trust God:
A. Do not fear others.
B. Believe the Word of God

2. Moses focused on himself.

Exodus 4:10-12
But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”

Moses was focused on his limitations.

God made you just the way that he wanted to, and he didn’t make a mistake.

Trust God:
A. Do not focus on yourself and your limitations.
B. Focus on the character and power of God.

3. Moses fought God’s calling/will for his life.

If we aren’t willing to obey God, then he isn’t really Lord of our life!

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

God graciously promises to help and provide.

Trust God:
A. By walking in obedience, even when you don’t want to do it.

B. Remember that God is walking with you each step of the way.