Grasping God’s Purpose: “Heeding the Call” – Exodus 4:14-31

 

Running from your call is not safe! Did you get a call on your cell phone this week, see the name of the person calling, and decide not to take the call? Don’t roll your eyes, it happens on every street in our city.

• Sometimes the problem is TIMING: You WANT to take the call but the caller has caught you in the check out line at the grocery store, or in the middle of a very loud restaurant – and you know you won’t be able to hear. Maybe they will even call you while you are in church this week! Calls often come at the most inconvenient times!

• Sometimes it isn’t the TIMING so much as the DEMAND: You know what the caller wants! Because you have not fulfilled some obligation, or attended a meeting, or prepared your part of some project, or met some expectation – you know what is coming – and you’d like to avoid it for now.

• Sometimes it isn’t the DEMAND, it is the PERSONALITY: You just aren’t ready to deal that that particular PERSON in the mood you are in. Do you have people that drain out your enthusiasm as quickly as pulling a plug in the bath tub?

Just because we GET a call, doesn’t mean we are going to be willing to TAKE the call. We have learned how to avoid hearing and responding to what we don’t choose to allow in our lives. We have so honed that ability, that it has become a lethal option – because we think we can even put the Creator on HOLD… but we must not.

Key Principle: God’s people must be prepared to hear God’s call, and move at His direction. To do so, we must know HOW TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND.

In our study in Exodus we have wrestled with great questions: We saw the people of Israel struggle as asked: “Why does God allow punishing times of trouble in our lives?” We sat behind the rock at Mt. Horeb and watched Moses in His conversation with God as asked “Who can God really use?” We probed the question: “What is God’s call?” “How do I know what God wants me to do with the life He has given me?”

Today we are still hiding behind that rock on the Holy Mountain. We are listening to God talk with Moses, but God’s voice is agitated. In fact, He is down right ticked off. Following Moses’ attempt to ignore the call of God, we can see how God used him in spite of himself. That presses on us yet another question: “What do I DO when I get a call from God?”

First, let’s look at this short story from the Word:

Exodus 4:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. 16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. 17 “You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” 18 Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.  21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”  24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision. 27 Now the LORD said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; 30 and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. 31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.

Before we get deeply into the story, note that Moses has been in trouble twice here. First, God was really ticked at him. Later, God’s displeasure became even worse – now his wife was mad at him. Every man studying this passage can sympathize. Poor Mo, things aren’t going well for awhile! The problem wasn’t God’s CALL – it was Moses’ reaction to God’s call on his life… and perhaps someone here can feel this inside in a unique way.

Remember this if you forget everything else I say today – Running from God’s call in your life is not safe.

When God calls, I must respond. Fortunately He gave me eight guidelines to follow so I can have confidence in my response – IF I do respond as He said:

First, I should listen to His call carefully (4:14-17). Quit fussing about my abilities and limitations and listen to Him, believing HE can accomplish His will through me!

Exodus 4:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. 16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. 17 “You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”

Look closely from behind our rock and see Moses hand. What is in it? It looks like a STICK. A dead piece of old tree. A “HAS BEEN” of botany. It could not, of itself, bring life. It was just something dead to lean on, to balance himself – or to rescue sheep from a crevasse. Moses had NO IDEA what important plans God had for the stick in his hand! This rod was JUST LIKE HIM – nothing special of itself apart from the power of GOD! God took and empowered what Moses had.

God never asks what we don’t have to give. Most of us have insufficient resources – emotional, physical, financial, etc. Most of us don’t have sufficient knowledge or education to accomplish the call to reach, well – anyone. I begin to hear the words of Paul: “Not many wise, not many mighty…” (You get the idea). Let’s just say that in the world’s ranking, Donald Trump is more than likely not to give up his restaurant seat when we come to the door.. we just aren’t that important. Yet, to God’s call we are essential. We are the one God is calling and God never directs our attention to what we don’t have, but to what we do have even though it seems small. God gave us everything we needed to do the job! Even though what we have seems, small, weak, insignificant,

God doesn’t often choose the powerful on purpose –  because God designed His work through us in away that what we must be connected to him to work His plan… In every call, the difference is the power of God. It is not our ability, your knowledge, your talent, or the size of our gifts or the beauty of your gift that matters. All that matters is: How much of what you have do you yield for God to empower – or, how much “God is in your stick”. Your stick represents surrender to God. Alone it is dead. When God gets in it, it’s enough! When God gets in it,  it will surprise you – don’t forget that Moses fled from before his rod when it turned into a serpent).

The empowering is the supernatural power of God operating through the natural to produce results that are humanly impossible. We need to ask God to get in our staff. That is to say the great need of the hour is God in our song, God in our preaching, God in our marriage, God in our parenting, God in our business. God in our gift, God in our talent. When God gets in a thing it is not the same. When God gets in a thing it can scare some people. Just like Moses who had never seen his rod do anything like that before.

• God got in a rock and caused a river to flow out of it that quenched the thirst of the nation of Israelites.
• Got got in a donkey and caused it to speak and rebuke a rebellious prophet.
• God got in an axe head of Iron and caused it to swim up to the top of the water so the prophet could reach out his hand and take hold of it.
• God got in a little pot of oil and caused it to multiply till it met every need and provided an abundant overflow. (author unknown).

Moses’ rod symbolizes something that is weak, it has no life or energy of it’s own, It could only do what the natural man’s power enabled it to do – until the power of God got in it.

That isn’t the only lesson. There is another truth from the stick: When God wants to give us something new, something greater, we have to be willing to let go of the control of what we have. We have to trust God with our stick. Before God fulfilled his promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in his seed, He asked for his seed back – the son of Abraham became the son of God. In this story, the rod of Moses became the rod of God. In that way, the rod became the symbol of God’s authority and God’s power – an instrument by which God’s Word and will were demonstrated. When Moses stretched out the rod it was a type of speaking the Word out of a believing heart.

One of the greatest problems we have as believers is we have a tendency to underestimate what we have. Another is the tendency to think the stick is still ours. Look what God did with a surrendered stick… So I must ask….What is In your hands? (adapted from sermon central illustrations, original author unknown).

Second, I should show respect to those in authority over my life (4:18). Don’t just go running off and blame God for not meeting my obligations!

Exodus 4:18 Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

When we get into the “God called me” mode, we dare not forget the people God made me responsible in front of. We don’t shed all our prior agreements and responsibilities to run off – that isn’t God’s way. Moses’ example is just one of many. God works through responsible people who meet their word. If permission is delayed, then God is at work. Did not God say this very thing in regard to Pharaoh NOT LETTING the people leave? It was in His plan for His purpose – to get the wealth of the Egyptians into the hands of the Israelite slaves before they go home!

Delays are less significant than disrespect. God can work through the delays, but chafes against using the disrespectful to execute His commands. A self willed soldier is unpredictable – and often useless in the time of battle. God most often works through those who are respectful, obedient and patient to accomplish God’s call.

Third, I should trust that God has prepared the way! If God is calling, He will provide the way (4:19).

Exodus 4:19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

Prudence is a God thing – but trust is also. Moses had perfectly acceptable check in his heart about going back – it was called a “wanted poster”. God removed the check by telling him that although the issues were still fresh in HIS LIFE, the nation had moved on – and he was no longer in danger. Those behind the bounty on his head were gone, and the post office was now filled with new faces to line the walls on wanted posters. At 80, they assumed his killing spree was limited to one rash act.

We have said it often: “Where God guides, God provides.” Sometimes it is found in God filling the need for provision. Just as often it is God removing the obstacles.

Fourth, I should step out and accept the help that God has given me for the journey! (4:20).

Exodus 4: 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

Flash floods were sweeping the area around the rivers in our country’s interior. Volunteers risked their lives to rescue victims stranded in the deluge. One old man was in his front yard, up to his knees in the rising waters when a rowboat came. “Hop in, we’ll save you!” “No thanks, the Lord will provide.” A short while later, a motor boat was sent to save him. By this time the swirling waters were over his waist, but again he declined: “No thanks, the Lord will provide.” Soon the water was up to his chin, so a helicopter was dispatched at the last minute. “Climb aboard, this is your last chance!” “Thanks anyway, but I don’t need you, the Lord will provide.” Before the hour ended, the old man perished and found himself banging on the Pearly Gates. He bitterly complained to St. Peter, “I prayed & I prayed for you to help me, so why did you let me drown?” St. Peter looked at him, shook his head, and explained: “Good grief, we sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more do you want?” (Preaching illustrations).

Just like looking at the stick, we have to look at those assigned to us on the journey and know that God put the team together. He is aware of the need to inhabit them – just like He did to the stick! He is able, and we need to trust that.

Fifth, I should rehearse often the revelation of God in my life (4:21-23). My encouragement is drawn from recognizing surrendered obedience to His call – not through the apparent “success of the mission”.

Exodus 4:21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

If I don’t continually remind myself of God’s call, I will become discouraged with the experience of following God. It doesn’t matter the size of the project, the problem will be the same. I will look at the people and problems around me and forget that NONE OF THEM are an obstacle to me completing what God truly wants – the transformation of my mind and the surrender of my heart. God doesn’t need me to do anything – He wants me to enjoy the cooperative experience of completing His empowered task.

Sixth, I should fully obey what God has told me. My new call doesn’t cancel my obedience to prior commands. Partial obedience is disobedience, and disobedience is terribly dangerous to us and all those around us! (4:24-26).

Exodus 4:24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.

I like the Pastor that preached: “Thank God for a strong wife! At a family gathering, a woman and her cousin were being teased by their husbands about how they always get their way. “Honey,” the cousin said to her husband, “when I get my way, that’s a compromise. “What is it when I get my way?” he was quick to ask. She replied, “That’s a miracle!“

While there he has 2 sons by his wife Zipporah: Gershom (which means “sojourner”) and Eliezer (meaning “God is my help“). Gershom appears to have been the eldest and was likely born while Moses was feeling alienated from his people and his home in Egypt.

This obscure story from Moses’ life can be confusing unless we consider some of the facts involved: In Genesis 17:9-14 we are reminded that God required Abraham to circumcise his family as a sign of the covenant: “This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner– those who are not your offspring.” (Gen 17:10-12).

Seventh, I should accept from God the team of those I will serve with (4:27-30a). We can always find reasons why they aren’t good enough – but that isn’t our call!

Exodus 4:27 Now the LORD said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; 30 and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. …”

What would have been the record of the story if Moses or Aaron spent their first year together deciding if the other truly was called of God to do the work? What would have been accomplished while they were litmus testing each other? Pretty much nothing. I am not saying that we don’t need to understand the rest of the team – but it must be done through eyes of appreciation for what God has given us to work with!

Finally, I should use the empowering of God, and not just my limited abilities! (4:30b-31).

Exodus 4:30b: “He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. 31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.

This was written some years ago, and is dated – but it expressed well the sentiment:

IT DEPENDS WHOSE HANDS IT’S IN

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19, A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million – It depends whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6, A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million – It depends whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands, A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship – It depends whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal, A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea – It depends whose hands it’s in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy, A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon – It depends whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands will feed thousands -  It depends whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse, Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world – It depends whose hands it’s in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in.

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because – It depends whose hands it’s in. (Author Unknown).

God’s people must be prepared to hear God’s call, and move at His direction. To do so, we must know HOW TO RESPOND.