CAN GOD USE ME? Exodus 3:1 7a, 10 4:17

Transcription

1 CANGODUSEME? Exodus2: Nowitcameaboutinthosedays,whenMoseshadgrownup,thathewentoutto see his brothers and he observed their hard labors. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew,oneofMoses brothers. 12 Helookedthiswayandthatway,andwhenhesaw thattherewasnooneelsepresent,hekilledtheegyptianandhidhisbodyinthesand. 13 Andhewentoutthenextday,andhesawtwoHebrewsfightingwitheachother.He said to the offender, Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew? 14 The man replied, Whomadeyouarulerandjudgeoverus?Doyouplantokillmelikeyoukilledthe Egyptian? Then Moses became afraid and thought, Surely, what I have done has becomeknown. 15 WhenPharaohheardaboutthis,hetriedtokillMoses.ButMoses fledfrompharaoh spresenceandwenttoliveinthelandofmidian,wherehesatdown besideawell. 16 NowthepriestofMidianhadsevendaughters,andtheycametodrawwaterand fill the troughs to water their father s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove themaway,butmosesstoodupandhelpedthem,andwateredtheirflock. 18 Whenthey returnedtoreueltheirfather,heaskedthem, Howisitthatyouhavecomebackso soontoday? 19 Theyanswered, AnEgyptianrescuedusfromtheshepherds.Heeven drewwaterforusandwateredtheflock. 20 Reuelsaidtohisdaughters, Whereishe? Why did you leave the man there? Invite him to eat bread with us. 21 Moses was contenttodwellwiththeman;andhegavemoseshisdaughterzipporahinmarriage. 22 Shegavebirthtoason,andMosesnamedhimGershom,saying, Ihavebecomea sojournerinaforeignland. Exodus3:1 7a,10 4:17 3NowMoseswaspasturingtheflockofJethrohisfather in law,thepriestofmidian; andheledtheflocktothefarsideofthewildernessandcametohoreb,themountain ofgod. 2 TheretheangelofJehovahappearedtohiminaflameoffirefromwithina bush. Moses looked and saw that, although the bush was burning with fire, the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, I will go over and take a look at this strange sight whythebushisnotburntup. 4 WhenJehovahsawthathehadcomeoverto look, God called to him from within the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, HereIam. 5 Thenhesaid, Donotcomenear.Removeyoursandalsfromyourfeet,for theplacewhereyouarestandingisholyground. 6 Furthermore,hesaid, IamtheGod ofyourfather,thegodofabraham,thegodofisaac,andthegodofjacob. ThenMoses hidhisface,forhewasafraidtolookatgod. 7 ThenJehovahsaid, Ihavecertainlyseentheafflictionofmypeoplewhoarein Egypt 10 Therefore,comenow,andIwillsendyoutoPharaoh,sothatyoumaybring mypeople,thechildrenofisrael,outofegypt. 11 ButMosessaidtoGod, WhoamI,thatIshouldgotoPharaoh,andthatIshould bringthechildrenofisraeloutofegypt? 12 Thenhesaid, Iwillcertainlybewithyou, andthisshallbethesigntoyouthatitisiwhohavesentyou:whenyouhavebrought thepeopleoutofegypt,youshallworshipgodatthismountain. 13 MosessaidtoGod, WhenIcometothechildrenofIsraelandsaytothem,TheGodofyourfathershas

2 sentmetoyou,andtheyaskme,whatishisname?whatshallisaytothem? 14 God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM. And he said, This is what you shall say to the childrenofisrael:iamhassentmetoyou. 15 Furthermore,GodsaidtoMoses, Thisis whatyoushallsaytothechildrenofisrael:jehovah,thegodofyourfathers,thegodof Abraham,theGodofIsaac,andtheGodofJacob,hassentmetoyou.Thisismyname forever, and this is the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. 16 GoandgathertheeldersofIsraeltogetherandsaytothem,Jehovah,the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me andsaid,ihavecertainlyvisitedyouandhaveseenwhatisdonetoyouinegypt, 17 and Ihavesaid,IwillbringyouupoutoftheafflictionofEgypttothelandoftheCanaanite andthehittiteandtheamoriteandtheperizziteandthehiviteandthejebusite toa land flowing with milk and honey. 18 They will listen to you. Then you you and the eldersofisrael shallgotothekingofegyptandsaytohim:jehovah,thegodofthe Hebrews, has met with us. Now we request that you allow us to take a three days journey into the wilderness, so that we may offer a sacrifice to Jehovah our God. 19 I knowthatthekingofegyptwillnotgiveyoupermissiontogo;no,notunlessamighty handcompelshimtodoso. 20 SoIwillstretchoutmyhandandstrikeEgyptwithallmy wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. 21 And I will grantthispeoplefavorinthesightoftheegyptians,sothatwhenyouleave,youwill notgoempty handed. 22 Everywomanistoaskherneighborandanywomanlivingin herhouseforsilverandgoldjewelryandforclothing,whichyoushallputuponyour sonsandyourdaughters.soyouwillplundertheegyptians. 4ThenMosesresponded, Buttheywillnotbelievemeorlistentomyvoice,forthey willsay,jehovahhasnotappearedtoyou. 2 Jehovahsaidtohim, Whatisthatinyour hand? Mosesanswered, Astaff. 3 Thenhesaid, Throwitontheground. SoMoses threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses ran away from it. 4 But JehovahsaidtoMoses, Reachoutyourhandandtakeitbythetail. Sohereachedout his hand and took hold of it, and once again it became a staff in his hand. 5 This, declared Jehovah, is so that they may believe that Jehovah, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you. 6 Furthermore, Jehovah said to him, Now place your hand inside your robe. So he placedhishandinsidehisrobe,andwhenhetookitout,hishandwasleprous,aswhite assnow. 7 Thenhesaid, Placeyourhandinsideyourrobeagain. Soheplacedhishand insidehisrobeagain.andwhenhewithdrewitfromhisrobe,itwasrestored,likethe restofhisflesh. 8 Jehovahsaid, Itshallbethatiftheydonotbelieveyou,nortakeheed tothefirstsign,thattheymaybelievethissecondsign. 9 Butiftheywillnotbelieveeven thesetwosigns,oracceptwhatyousay,thenyoushalltakesomewaterfromtheriver and pour it on the dry ground. The water that you take from the River will become bloodonthedryground. 10 ThenMosessaidtoJehovah, OLord,Iamnoteloquent;Ineverwaseloquent,nor haveibecomeeloquentsinceyouhavespokentoyourservant.myspeechishesitant and my tongue is halting. 11 Jehovah said to him, Who has made man s mouth? Or whocausesamantobemuteordeaf,orwhogiveshimsight,orwhomakeshimblind? IsitnotI,Jehovah? 12 Now,therefore,go,andIwillbewithyourmouthandinstruct youastowhattosay. 13 ThenMosessaid, OLord,sendyourmessagebythehandof whomeveryoudesire. 14 ThentheangerofJehovahwaskindledagainstMoses,andhe

3 said, Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Indeed,heiscomingouttomeetyou,whenheseesyou,hisheartwillbeglad. 15 Youare tospeaktohimandputthewordsintohismouth;iwillbewithyourmouthandwith hismouth,andiwillinstructyouastowhatyouaretodo. 16 Hewillbeyourspokesman tothepeople;hewillbeamouthforyou,andyouwillbetohimlikegod. 17 Youshall takethisstaffinyourhand,withwhichyoushallperformthesigns. Introduction There appeared a T.V. commercial for the U.S. Marines, informing us that they are lookingfor afewgoodmen. Againstadarkandforebodingbackground,thereisa life sizechessboard:thewhiteknightonhischargerdoesbattleagainsttheblack knight.asthisdramaticconflictisplayedoutwearetoldthat tocompete,youmust bestrong;towin,youmustbesmart. Thenthepictureswitchesfromtheknights doing battle on the life size chessboard to an actual Marine wielding his shining sword, and we are told that the Marines are looking for a few good men. The messageisclear:ifyouarestrongenoughandsmartenough,youcanbecomeoneof them,aunitedstatesmarine.ifyouarestrongenoughandsmartenough,theycan useyou! Butthe commercial thatgodpresentstousinexodusiscompletelytheopposite ofthatpresentedbythemarines.thisisthemessageofscripture:beforegodcan useaman,godmustridhimofhisself resourcefulnessandcausehimtolooktogod alone for his resources. Can God use you? Yes, if you recognize your own insufficiencyandrelyupongod sall sufficientgrace. I.GodCanUseYou;IfYouareNotSelf Willed WhenwefirstmeetMoses,heshowshimselftobeaspirituallysensitiveman.He recognizeshisrelationshiptothepeopleofgod:whenhewasalmostfortyyears old,itcameintohishearttovisithisbrothers,thechildrenofisrael(acts7:23.) He is sympathetic to their plight: he saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian,sohecametohisdefense (Acts7:24.)Heevenhadasenseofhisdivine calling:heassumedthathispeople,israel,understoodthatgodwasusinghimto rescuethem(acts7:25.) ButMosesalsoprovestobeaveryimpulsive,self willed,self reliantman.when he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses murders the Egyptian (Ex. 2:12.) WhenheseestwofellowHebrewsstrivingagainstoneanother,Mosesassumes the role of arbitrator and judge (Ex. 2:13.) Then, when his efforts are not appreciatedbythehebrews,andnotconcealedfromtheegyptians,mosesleaves EgyptforthelandofMidian.MosesdesiredtobeusedbyGod,hesensedadivine calling, he had a real zeal, but at this point his efforts failed. He did not triumphantly lead Israel out of Egypt; on the contrary, in disgrace and humiliation,hefledfromegyptalone.

4 His efforts failed because at this point in his life Moses was an impulsive, selfwilled,self reliantman.hewasgoingtoaccomplishthewillofgodandfulfillthe workofgodbyrelyinguponhisownwisdomandhisownstrengthandonhis own timetable. Moses had to learn that this was not the way. By way of contemporary example, two young missionaries had to learn the same lesson amidsttheoverflowingwatersoftheamazonriver.lookingbackontheirordeal, one of them writes, This divinely imposed time of fasting, deprivation, and dangerhaditsspiritualside:duringthenextthreedays,longhourswerespentin singing, reciting Scripture, confessing sins, and repenting. Both men came to realizethattheyhadslippedintothetrapofdoingthelord sworkinamanner unworthy of Him, in human pride instead of in His strength. And both men recognized that lesser things had been gradually infringing on the Lord s sanctuary in their lives. Later, when the Lord had graciously brought them throughtheirordealandbacktothesafetyoftheircompound,oneofthemtold his fellow missionaries, I started out on this trip thinking I was the Lord s Indiana Jones and I came home realizing I was a lot closer to being Balaam s donkey. ButIlearnedthattheLordstilllovedmeandcoulduseme. (POWER, 7/5/92,pp.2 ff.) Godcanuseyou,ifyouarenotself willed.godcanuseyouwhenyouhaveatrue (evenanoverwhelming)senseofwhatisinvolvedinchristianserviceandgrasp your own inadequacy for the work: we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the stench of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2Cor.2:15 16.)Godcanuseyouwhenyouhaveatrueappreciationfor the spiritual nature of the task: our struggle is not against flesh and blood but againstthepowers,againsttheauthorities,againsttheworld rulersofthispresent darkness,againstthespiritualhostsofevilintheheavenlyrealms. 13 Forthisreason, takeupthecompletearmorofgod,sothatyoumaybeabletostandintheevilday, andtoremainstanding,havingovercomeeverything (Eph.6:12 13.)Godcanuse youwhenyouhaveatrueunderstandingofthepurposeofchristianservice,that its objective is to promote the kingdom and glory of God, not the promoting of one sself: He[theLordJesus]mustincrease,butImustdecrease. (Jn.3:30),such was the testimony of John the Baptist. God can use you when you have a true recognitionofyourneedfordivineresourcesandgod swillingnesstosupplyyou withhisresources: Notthatwearecompetenttoclaimanythingforourselves,but ourcompetencecomesfromgod. 6 Hehasmadeuscompetentasministersofanew covenant (2Cor.3:5 6a.)Godcanuseyouwhenyouhaveatrueunderstanding that the task must actually be accomplished by Christ Himself working in and throughyou: Iworkedharderthanallofthem notimyself,butthegraceofgod thatwaswithme (1Cor.15:10b),suchisthetestimonyoftheApostlePaul. II.GodCanUseYou,WhenYouareBroken WhenMoseshadbeenreducedfrombeingaprinceinPharaoh scourttobeinga shepherdinthewildernessofmidian,itwasthenthatthelordgodappearedto

5 himandgavehimacalltodivineservice.whenmoseshadbeenreducedfrom being a man of self confidence and human strength to being a man who was broken and very conscious of his own inability, it was then that in the sight of Godhewasreadyfordivineservice. Moses now raises the question, Who am I? (Ex. 3:11 12.) In effect, Moses is saying, I am too insignificant and powerless to stand before the great king of Egypt and lead the whole nation of Israel out of Egypt! I am no match for the power,thewisdom,theeviloftheworld! WhatisGod sreplytosuchanattitude? Iwillcertainlybewithyou (vs.12a.) WemayalsonotetheassurancetheLordJesusgivestoHisapostlesandtoHis churchthroughouttheages: ThenJesuscametothemandsaid, Allauthorityin heaven and on earth has been given to m e 20 And surely I will be with you always,totheveryendoftheage (Matt.28:18,20.) The LORD then goes on to equip Moses with a divine sign to serve as the assuranceofhisdivinecalling: thisshallbethesigntoyouthatitisiwhohave sentyou:whenyouhavebroughtthepeopleoutofegypt,youshallworshipgodat thismountain (vs.12b.)whatgodistellingmosesisthattheconfirmationofthe LORD s calling comes as the result of faith and obedience. By trusting God and doingwhathesays,moseswilldiscoverthatgodwillusehimtoaccomplishhis plan for His people Israel. The accomplishment of the task becomes the assurancethatthecallingwasofgod. Mosesraisestheobjection, Buttheywillnotbelievemeorlistentomyvoice (Ex. 4:1.)HeraisestheconcernthatIsraelwillsay, Jehovahhasnotappearedtoyou. WhatisGod sreply? First,Hecausestheshepherd sstaffinmoses handtobecomeaninstrumentof Hisdivinepowerandgrace(Ex.4:2 5.)Theshepherd sstaffrepresentedmoses life,(itwashislivelihood,hisidentity,hissecurity.)atthecommandofgoditis laid down before God and when it is retrieved it becomes the instrument of God s power and grace to be employed by Moses in performing the mighty worksofgod(cp.ex.4:17.)note:whenthestaffwasturnedintoaserpentonthe ground,whatwasbeingindicatedwasboththeexposuretodemonicdangeras wellastheultimatevictoryoverthedevilthatgod sservantwouldexperience and witness. In this God given sign, we may discern the power of a life surrendered to Christ, offered in service to Him: for me, to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21),and Icandoallthingsthroughhimwhostrengthensme (Phil.4:13.) Second, He causes Moses hand to become leprous and then heals it again (Ex.4:6 8.)WhenMoses handisplacedintohisrobeandexposedtohisbosom as a sinful man, and member of Israel in its identify as a sinful nation, it is revealed to be leprous. But when that leprous hand is exposed to his bosom

6 again,thistimeinhiscapacityasthedivinelyappointedredeemer,(amodelof whatchristhimselfis,)hishandcomesforthcleansedandwhole.heremaywe discernthepowerofalifethatisbeingtransformedbythesavior sgrace: we beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from(onedegreeof)gloryto(agreaterdegreeof)glory. (2Cor.3:18.) WithregardtothefirsttwosignsandtheirsignificanceforthenationofIsrael, (asindicatedbythelord sdeclarationinex.4:8, Itshallbethatiftheydonot believeyou,nortakeheedtothefirstsign,thattheymaybelievethissecondsign ), Keil&Delitzchcomment, The object of the first miracle was to exhibit Moses as the man whom JehovahhadcalledtobetheleaderofHispeople;thatofthesecond,toshow that, as the messenger of Jehovah, he was furnished with the necessary powerfortheexecutionofthiscalling(keil&delitzch,thepentateuch,vol.1; pp ) Third, He will cause the waters of the Nile to be turned to blood(ex. 4:9.) The Nile was viewed by Egypt as the source of their prosperity and life; they even identifieditwithoneoftheirmajorgods.thefactthatitisturnedintobloodby thehandofthelord sservantshowsthatthelordisall powerfuloverthegods andthenationsoftheworld.hereisademonstrationofthepoweroftheliving GodandofHisSon,ourLordJesusChrist: ThenJesuscametothemandsaid, All authorityinheavenandonearthhasbeengiventome (Matt.28:18.) Moses raises a further objection, I am not eloquent (Ex. 4:10 12.) Moses says thatheisnotanaturallygiftedspeaker,norhasthelordmadehimintosucha speakerwhenheissuedhiscalltodivineservice. WhatisGod sreply? Iwillbewithyourmouth (Ex.4:12a.)ConsidertheapostlePaul stestimony in1corinthians2:1 5, WhenIcametoyou,brothers,Ididnotcomewitheloquenceorhumanwisdom asiproclaimedtoyouthetestimonyofgod. 2 Iwasdeterminedtoknownothing whileiwaswithyou,exceptjesuschristandhimcrucified. 3 Icametoyouin weakness and fear and with much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not characterized by persuasive wisdom, but by a demonstrationofthespiritandpower; 5 inorderthatyourfaithshouldnotbe inthewisdomofmen,butinthepowerofgod.(1cor.2:1 5) TheLORDgoesontodeclare, [Iwill]instructyouastowhattosay (Ex.4:12b.) Note, the promise the Lord Jesus makes to His disciples and His church in Matthew10:19 20,

7 Butwhentheyarrestyou,donotworryaboutwhattosayorhowtosayit.At thattimeyouwillbegivenwhattosay, 20 foritwillnotbeyouspeaking,butthe SpiritofyourFatherspeakingthroughyou.(Matt.10:19 20) Mosesfinallypleads, OLORD,send[yourmessage]bythehandofwhomeveryou desire (Ex. 4:13 17.) What Moses is saying is, LORD, send the man of Your choosing,butsurely,thatmanisnotme!thereareothersmorequalified,more experienced,moreprepared,moresuitable. Moseshascalledhimselfaservant ofthelord(vs.10,)andheappearstodisplayagreatdealofhumility(vs.13.) ButthefactishehasgivenuphisambitiontoservetheLORD.Dowepray, Your will be done, but are we too complacent or too pre occupied with our own intereststoactuallydothewillofgod? At this point the LORD became angry: Then the anger of Jehovah was aroused against Moses (vs. 14.) Addressing the faithful servant, the LORD says, Well done,goodandfaithfulservant.youhavebeenfaithfuloverafewthings,iwillgive youchargeovermanythings.enterintothejoyofyourmaster (Matt25:21.)But inaddressingthefearfulandnegligentservant,thelordsays, Youwicked,lazy servant!youknewthatiharvestwhereihavenotsownandgatherwhereihave not scattered seed 30 throw that worthless servant out, into the darkness, wheretherewillbeweepingandgnashingofteeth (Matt.25:26,30.) ItwaswhenMoseswasbroken,whenhesawhimselfasunable,itwasthenthat Godsawhimasready;andGodrefusedtoexcusehimfromdivineservice.God can use you; when you are broken. When you acutely sense your personal inability, then you are then ready for divine service. But do not anger God by appealingtoyourinabilityasanexcusefromdivineservice. Conclusion In their commercial, the Marines tell you that if you are strong enough and smart enough,youcanbecomeoneofthem:aunitedstatesmarine.butthe commercial GodpresentstousinExodus2 4(thecallofMoses)isthecompleteoppositeofthat presentedbythemarines.beforegodcanuseaman,godmustridhimofhisselfresourcefulnessandcausehimtolooktogodaloneforhisresources.cangoduse you?yes,ifyourecognizeyourowninsufficiency,andifyouarewillingtorelyupon God sall sufficiency.