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February 25, 2007
"Sounds Like An Excuse I've Used"
The World's Most Important Book—Part 5
Exodus 3:1-4:17
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
—Hebrews 11:24-29
1. I'm a nobody.
"...the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
—Exodus 3:9-11
God's response: God said, "I will be with you."
—Exodus 3:12
2. I don't know enough.
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
—Exodus 3:13
God's response: "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
—Exodus 3:14
3. They won't listen to me.
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you?'"
—Exodus 4:1
God's response: Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
—Exodus 4:2
4. I'm not talented like other people.
Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
—Exodus 4:10
God's response: The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Is it not I, the LORD?"
—Exodus 4:11
5. Please use someone else.
"Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
—Exodus 4:12-13
God's response: Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses.
—Exodus 4:14
Application
God knows us better than we know ourselves, so we must trust Him and do what He says. He doesn't use us because of our adequacies, but most often because of our inadequacies. When we tell God our weakness, we aren't telling Him anything He doesn't already know.
Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate...
—2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NASB)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
—2 Corinthians 12:9
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
—Hebrews 11:6
"The will of God will never lead you where the power of God can't enable you."
—Dr. Warren Weirsbe
Lifework
- To what is God calling you?
- What excuse have you been using?
- Will you give in to God and follow Him by faith?
- Is His grace sufficient for your weakness?
"The Ten Commandments"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Where were you when you first experienced the reality of God? What happened there? What feelings do you have for this place?
- Who laid down the law in your home? How did you try and bend the rules? What were the consequences?
Digging Deeper: Read and Reflect
- The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:1-20:21) What place should the ten commandments have in our society today? Which of the ten commandments is most challenging to you? Why?
- The Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-34:35) What motivated the Israelites to worship the golden calf instead of God? What things pull you away from God? What makes you feel closer to God?
- Joshua Succeeds Moses (Joshua 1:1-18) From what you know about Moses, why was he a good mentor for Joshua? Who do you view as a spiritual mentor? How does their example help you?
- Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1-4:24) Some people see the Israelites crossing the Jordan as an image of death. What do you think? What is the promised land for you? Do you ever think you will reach it? Why?
- The Fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27) How do you think the Israelites felt as they marched around Jericho? What step of faith have you taken that seemed odd to others? What did you learn in the process?
Applying It To My Life
- Would you want to meet face to face with God as Moses did? How would an experience like that change your life? What barriers has Jesus set aside so that we can draw near to God with confidence?
- Restate each of the Ten Commandments positively. What insight does that give you into God's desire for your life?
- What does Peter call his readers in 1 Peter 2:9? What is significant about living stones? How difficult is it for you to think of yourself in these terms? How will this new relationship influence the way you live?