Blog

Redemption and Reliance

7/29/2023

Unfulfilled dreams remind us just how tiny we are. We sense a call and decide it’s time to take action. We put one foot in front of the other as we step toward obedience, but we end up stepping in a hole and rolling an ankle—maybe that’s just me! The sense of independence and strength flies away like a flock of birds at the sound of a shotgun. We stagger to our feet only to wonder, “Is this really what I was meant to do?”. Whether it’s marriage, parenting, ministry, or fill-in-the-blank, most people have faced a moment where life doesn’t seem to make sense at all.

However, God does some of His most powerful work when we realize we are powerless. Jesus made this point when He told His disciples, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Moses and Aaron learned this early in their redemptive ministry, and we need to learn it in our everyday lives as well.

The LORD at Work
After Pharaoh outright rejected Moses and made him a stink to the Israelites, Moses cried out, asking God why He made things worse instead of rescuing the Israelites. Things had gone from bad to worse, but God had a plan: “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand, he will send them out, and with a strong hand, he will drive them out of his land” (Exo. 6:1).

Moses and Aaron were instruments in the hand of the redeemer, but YHWH is the hero of this story, and He made that clear early on. Four times we read “I am the LORD” (Exo. 6:2, 6-8). YHWH is here to take action. The covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remembered His covenant—though He had never forgotten it—and came to give the promised land to Israel. “I will” reverberates throughout God’s speech with unspeakable power and glory (Exo. 6:6-8). I will deliver you from slavery! I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment! I will take you to be my people! I will be your God! I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I will give it to you—I am the LORD!

Slow down and re-read those words. Let the power land on you. The Almighty God, El Shaddai, is now making Himself known as YHWH. He is not only the powerful, discerning, law-giving protector. He is also the self-existent, covenant-keeping, redeeming God. As Boaz came and bought Ruth and Naomi’s freedom when they had no next-of-kin, so YHWH came to be the redeemer (Heb. go’el) who would carry the burdens of poverty-stricken, sin-sick people like us (Ruth 4:9-10, 13). In all of His redemptive work, He had a clear purpose: to make Himself known (Exo. 6:2, 7). Jesus came and redeemed us with the same glorious goal in mind (John 17:3).

Weary People
We might expect that such words be met with a hearty amen and awe-inspiring worship. Yet, how often do the burdens of life keep us from reverent awe and joy? Perhaps even now as you peruse the contents of this devotional, your heart isn’t singing with praise to God. Maybe you’re too burdened, too distracted, or too worn down to fully appreciate the LORD’s words to Israel. The Israelites struggled because their broken spirits and harsh slavery were too heavy (Exo. 6:9). Perhaps like the Israelites, you struggle to believe God’s Word simply because you’re beaten down and worn out.

There’s good news for you. Christ came for weary, heavy-laden people (Matt. 11:28). Even when we meet God with apathy, fear, and unbelief, He doesn’t stop working. Just as God told Moses and Aaron to keep going and not lose sight of their mission, so He sent Christ to rescue His sinful enemies to reconcile us to God (Rom. 5:6-11). Weary saints, come to the cross of Christ! Lay your burdens down at His feet and rejoice with genuine hope that you are freed from bondage to sin and death. In Christ, you can truly say, “Pharaoh No! You cannot hold me back!”

Pastors and church leaders, there’s a specific lesson in the lives of Moses and Aaron. Many days we are overworked. Our labor is often overlooked. Our burdens are forgotten. Our frustrations and failures are broadcast for all to see. Yet, God is relentless in carrying out the plans He has for His Kingdom.

When we are at our wit’s end, we stop relying on our own knowledge and lean on the wisdom of God. When we are ignored, we recognize that our eloquence is unable to change hearts (1 Cor. 2:1). When we feel that our lips are “uncircumcised” and wonder how anyone would listen to us, God has us right where we need to be (Exo. 6:30). In these moments, we can rest in two powerful words, “I will”. When we can’t do what God has called us to do, His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Leaders, we must strive to be people who find power in God’s sufficient grace. He will establish our ministries and give us the validity we need to be effective (Exo. 6:14-30).

Reflection Questions

Is your relationship with the LORD growing and thriving? Or is it shriveling and languishing? How is God at work in your struggles?
How has Exodus 6 encouraged you to trust the LORD in your trials?
How can we pray for and support our leaders in the challenges they face in ministry? What are some gospel encouragements you can offer our leaders this week?

Prayer Points

Confess your prayerlessness to the LORD. Ask Him to give you a greater desire to know and trust Him, even when times are stressful and difficult.
Seek God's perspective on your trials. Beyond asking Him to deliver you, ask Him to show you specific ways He is at work in you and your circumstances.
Worship God for His power and promises. Celebrate His power over the world and our leaders. Rejoice and receive His gracious promises. Thank Him for being the faithful, covenant-keeping God of His people today and of our forefathers in the faith.
Ask God to strengthen our leaders for ministry. Specifically, pray for our pastors as they prepare to preach the Word, lead the congregation, and guard us from evil influences. Pray for their devotional lives and their families, knowing that they can't faithfully minister to us if they don't first know the LORD and lead their homes well.

Photo by Guy Seela : https://www.pexels.com/photo/clouds-over-dune-on-desert-17183002/

Faithfulness Is Never Failure (Exodus 5)

7/22/2023

Have you ever tried a diet or exercise plan that promised fast and easy results? It’s not hard to find a 30-day weight loss program touting everyday people with real success as a result of their plan. Unfortunately, about four and a half days after you decide to go all in, a basket of chips at the Mexican restaurant has you wondering if one “healthy” snack bar and 800 calories of “meal replacement” shakes can sustain your ravenous appetite for another 26 days. The promo material for your 30-day quick fix didn’t prepare you for the fatigue, gnawing headache, and “hungry enough to eat the grass in my front yard” feeling.

We are often promised success without struggle. When the suffering comes, we say to ourselves, “If I had known it was this tough, I wouldn’t have done it”. If we don’t quit, we t least wish we had prepared ourselves to suffer before getting into the situation. Thankfully, God prepares us for the pain and the promise. Just as God prepared Moses for his success and suffering, God prepares us beforehand for the tough days ahead. Yet like Moses, we also convince ourselves that suffering means we have failed, and God hasn’t kept His word.

A Rough Start

Whether it’s due to pride or negligence, we often get ourselves in tough situations because fail to follow clear instructions. Alec Motyer points out how Moses chose a different path than God had laid out for him. Notice the contrast:

Pharoah’s response probably would have been the same, but it seems that Moses’ approach added fuel to the fire (Ex. 5:2). Pharaoh’s arrogant, sinful, and bewildered response seems to have made Moses change his tune, but it was too late (v. 3). Even in his correcting his request, Moses adds to God’s words the threat of pestilence and sword. Pharaoh remained unfazed.

The Burden Worsened

Pharaoah, annoyed and angry, convinced himself that the Israelites were “idle” (v. 4-8). To counter this so-called laziness, Pharaoh increased the Hebrews’ labor by forcing them to find straw to make their bricks. This meant that the Hebrew slave force had to do more work in less time. In it all, Pharaoh’s wicked and unmerciful response didn’t catch God off guard (Ex. 4:21).

Pharaoh’s persecution meant that the Hebrews were “scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble and straw” (v. 12). This brings to mind Acts 8:1 where “there arose…a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles”. In Acts, the scattered church spread the gospel. In Exodus, the scattered Israelites were loved by God and perhaps given an avenue to later plunder the Egyptians (Exo. 12:35-36). Man meant evil, but God meant good.

Pharaoh unflinchingly placed the blame on the Israelites and their desire to go and sacrifice to the Lord (v. 17). The Israelites were “in trouble”, and the elders rebuked Moses and Aaron, saying, “The LORD look on you and judge because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us” (v. 19-21).

The Call In Question

The consequences of Moses’ actions reached the people of Israel, and they were deeply grieved because their lives were endangered. Moses, too, fell flat on his face—or so it seemed. Hadn’t he told God this wouldn’t work? Didn’t he tell God that the Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to him? Why on earth would God set him up to fail like this?!

Moses and Israel were on the brink of a major breakthrough.

In this moment, Moses accused God of “doing evil” (Heb. ra) to the people who were “in trouble” (Heb. ra) (v. 19). God sent them to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh immediately began “doing evil” (Heb. ra) to them (v. 22-23). Moses used the same Hebrew word, ra, to accuse both God and Pharaoh of harming the Israelites. In Moses’ mind, he had shown up and done what he was told, but Israelites were further from freedom than before he left Midian. In the face of tribulation, Moses acted like Adam, his forefather: “The command You gave backfired, and now everything is worse!” (see Gen. 3:12).

We ought to see a reflection of ourselves in Moses. We feel the pressing need to be a better parent, spouse, or employee. We sense that God calls us to engage our loved ones, friends, and neighbors with the gospel. We eventually step out in faith to do what God commands, and we end up flat on our backs like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy’s football. We reason with ourselves that we should’ve stayed in our comfort zone. We vow that if God wants us to risk our comfort, security, and sanity again, He’ll have to send an angel in a dream. We blow our tops and blame Him for messing everything up.

All of this happens because we have the wrong definition of success.

Faithfulness Is Never Failure

Instead of punishing Moses in His just wrath or answering him in a fierce storm (see Job 38:1-7), God answered more gently and mercifully than Moses deserved. We don’t hear God’s tone, and we don’t get a full sense of His outward expression in the conversation, but God’s tenderness shows up profoundly in HIs gracious response.

Instead of thundering at Moses in a frightening display of glory, “God said to Moses…”. God spoke. He said, “You shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land” (Exo. 6:1). God reserved His strong hand and punishment for the idolatrous Egypt and their leader, not Moses. Pharaoh wouldn’t only let the people go, he would drive them away after seeing what God’s acts of judgment. God already told Moses that success wouldn’t happen on day one. Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened and He would do signs and wonders, even the killing of his firstborn of Moses’ household (Exo. 4:23).

When we define success on our own terms, nearly all suffering and resistance will derail us. We need God’s definition of success, and that’s found by looking to His promises. We need to constantly behold the cross where hardship and holiness met to bring ultimate success to the Son of God as He came to free His people from sin and death once and for all.

Reflection Questions

How do you respond when situations don't work out as smoothly as expected? Do you get anxious, angry with God, or have another response? Why?
What is your definition of success? How does this definition confirm or conflict with God's definition? What are some biblical passages that can help you better understand God's definition of success?
How can Christ's finished work on the cross shape our view of success in the face of suffering? How does our future hope of eternal life empower us to press on in the faith even when we feel like failures and want to quit?

Prayer Points

Worship God in your suffering. What areas of your life seem out of control or make you feel like a failure? Before you lament or ask God to change your circumstances, worship Him in it. Proclaim His goodness, faithfulness, and holiness.
Ask God to teach you His definition of success. Whatever your general or specific callings are, ask God to redefine your definition of success. Pray for the Spirit to prompt you with Scripture passages to help you do this.
Glory in the cross. Reflect on the work Jesus did for you on the cross. Praise God for His mercy and patience toward you in your sins, fears, and shortcomings. Worship Christ for His faithfulness to die on the cross for your sins. Glorify the Holy Spirit for giving you spiritual eyes and ears to see and believe the gospel.

Obey God Fully (Exo. 4:18-31)

7/15/2023

Children remind us of our human weaknesses. From a child's perspective, a chore that should only take five minutes seems to take fifty minutes. Instead of just starting, they agonize in paralysis. This always makes things worse. I've seen the same struggle in my heart when God is calling me to simple yet costly obedience. After some whining, debating, and griping, God patiently stirs me to obedience. Rarely do I find instant success, but I always find freedom in obedience. Even after moving forward, I find that I often still need to be prodded in the right direction. A Divine nudge is often just what I need to stay on track. Moses found himself in a similar place near the end of Exodus 4.

Fits and Starts (v. 18-23)

Moses spent a lot of time excusing himself from doing God's will before he took the first step of following God. Moses spoke to his father-in-law Jethro about taking his family back to his brothers to “see if they [were] still alive” (v. 18). Jethro sent Moses forward in peace, perhaps not knowing the full extent of what Moses would be doing there. Whether this was due to cowardice or not, Moses took the first step in obeying God.

Upon leaving, Moses 'took the staff of God in his hand' (v. 20). The LORD reminded him of the “miracles” in His power (v. 21). This miraculous power would not change Pharaoh's heart or make the mission easier, but it was a tangible reminder of God's power for the mission. Moses would request that Pharaoh let Israel, God's firstborn son, go to serve and worship Him. However, God planned to harden Pharaoh's heart and eventually pour out His just wrath on Pharaoh's firstborn son.

Sometimes God doesn't make a difficult calling easier for us. We grumble, whine, and retort, and He graciously says, “No, child. You're going to do what I sent you to do. My presence and power will be with you.” We see difficulty and think there's no way out. Yet, as Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) wisely reminds us, we should “think not much of a storm upon the sea when Christ is on the ship.” Despite our feeble faith, when we go forward with the presence of God, we have no reason to fear. The mustard seed of faith is enough, and God moves the mountain for us. Oh, how sweet it is to follow God's call in full faith!

Partial Obedience Is Disobedience (v. 24-26)

In Exodus 4:24-26, we encounter one of the most perplexing passages in all of Scripture. It's as if we had a bumpy takeoff, the flight gradually smoothed out, and now a storm threatens to send us pummeling into a cornfield somewhere in the Midwest. A jarring phrase grips us and demands our attention: “At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to put him to death” (v. 24). After all we've just worked through, why on earth would this be happening? It seems that Moses refused to circumcise his son.

As we've often seen in Exodus, God used a woman's actions to bring forth His glory and move His mission forward. Moses, the “bridegroom of blood”, isn't the hero in this situation (v. 25-26). This is the mercy of God. When Moses didn't step up to the task, Moses' Midianite wife circumcised his son and spared his life instead. This, too, is the mercy of God. Despite an intense encounter with the Holy God, God spared Moses's life—or perhaps the life of his son. God dealt graciously with Moses, and He often does the same for us. God shows us mercy because Jesus is a “merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God” who accomplished forgiveness on our behalf (Heb. 2:17).

Moses' half-hearted obedience to God met the wholehearted grace of God. Lamentations 3:33 reminds us of this truth: “[God] doesn't afflict from His heart or grieve the children of men.” He doesn't delight in casting off or causing grief, and He loves to show compassion to those whom He grieves through discipline. God's pruning is painful, but He binds up our wounds with care. When He restores us, He “rejoices” in doing us good and brings restoration with all His heart and soul (Jer. 32:41). Remember that you're a dearly loved child of God when you are under His disciplining rod.

Fear is a False Prophet (v. 27-31)

God had prepared Moses to obey Him even in the small details, and now He was pleased to move the mission forward. He called Aaron to meet Moses at the mountain of God, and Aaron gladly met Moses with a brotherly kiss. In contrast to Moses' back-and-forth, Aaron readily listened to all that God commanded Moses to speak to him. Next, they gathered Israel's elders, and Aaron spoke the words the LORD gave him through Moses. The elders then witnessed the signs of God—the serpent staff, the leprous hand, and the bloody Nile water. Upon seeing these miracles, 'the people believed' (v. 31). Upon hearing that the LORD came to rescue them and indeed saw their affliction, they 'bowed their heads and worshiped' Him (v. 31).

What a powerful scene! After all the wrestling, debating, and questioning, Moses was wrong after all! God said, “They will listen to your voice” (3:18), but Moses’ fear said, “They will not believe me or listen to my voice” (4:1). So often, fear proves to be a false prophet! We envision a future reality based on a present fear, and God repeatedly proves us wrong. We need to listen and trust our faithful, covenant-keeping God far more. We need to heed the words of David Clarkson (1622-1686) who said, “If [God] is willing to promise, he is willing to perform.”

There is far more ink spilled laying out Moses’ fears and inadequacies than on the receptive meeting with Israel’s elders. What an overwhelming picture of success and God’s faithfulness! We should always be quick to remember this as we go forward both in our general and specific callings. Jesus said, “I will be with you always until the end of the age” (Mat. 28:20), and He won’t back down on that promise. God cannot lie, and He never fails.

Reflection Questions

When faced with tasks that seem overwhelming, how do the gospel and the faithfulness of God help you move forward in faith?
In what ways have you experienced God stirring and guiding you towards obedience, even when you initially question His call?
Where do you see fear showing up in your life? How can you confront and overcome the false prophecies your fear lays in front of you?

Prayer Points

Thank God for stirring you to obedience. Thank God for the numerous times He has stirred you to obedience. Ask Him to give you a heart that is sensitive to His Word.
Confess your half-hearted obedience. Confess and ask for the grace to repent of half-hearted, faithless obedience. Pray for the faith to obey God fully.
Seek God’s peace in your fear and anxiety. Cast your anxieties on the Lord and ask Him give you the peace which surpasses understanding. Acknowledge to God that this doesn’t mean your situation will be easy, but that you’re willing to rest in His presence and power.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cold-dark-eerie-fear-207985/

God's Mercy in Our Weakness (Exodus 4:1-17)

7/7/2023

As a father of four girls, chore time comes with its fair share of groaning and complaining. Far too often, chore time turns into, “It’s too much! We can’t do it!”. My logical side kicks in, and I tell them to do one thing at a time, and eventually the whole room will be clean. That’s met with more excuses. I then say, if you start cleaning, I’ll help you. Even that’s met with more excuses. Eventually, the chores get done, and the excuses vanish into thin air 5-10 minutes after they put for the effort.

Excuses, Excuses…

After receiving his calling from the LORD, Moses had many valid excuses—from a human perspective at least. Let’s look at his first excuse: “[The Israelite slaves] will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say 'The LORD did not appear to you'" (v. 1). Forty years prior, some Hebrews rejected him after his heroic attempts to take justice into his own hands. What would change forty years later? If you’re a close reader, you probably noticed back in chapter 3 that God said, "... and they will listen to your voice" (3:18). Like Eve in the face of the serpent, Moses had heard and believed the exact opposite of what God clearly spoke.

His next excuse hits a lot closer to home for many of us: "I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue" (v. 10). He's basically saying, "God, I'm not a great public speaker... and I have a heavy tongue." Whether Moses had a speech impediment or simply didn’t feel up to the task, he expressed that God had chosen the wrong man. Some scholars even think Moses criticized God when he said, "I've never had a good mouth, not before or even after we've spoken" (v. 10; paraphrase). If God knew Moses wasn't a good speaker, why would He choose such a guy for this massive task?!

His final excuse isn't quite an excuse but rather a plea to get out of the situation altogether. Depleted and weary, Moses finally gives up debating and dialoguing with God and kindly asks the Lord to send someone else" (v. 13, emphasis added). Despite God's signs and sovereign power, Moses just can't seem to accept this weighty task God has given him.

If we look closely enough, we might be peering into a mirror as we read this passage. What is your greatest fear as a Christian? Are you afraid to evangelize because you'll be ridiculed in front of a friend or family member? Do you fear taking a bold stance because you'll be canceled and shut down by the influential people in our society? Are you fearful of persecution? Is failure in ministry what keeps you up at night? Like Moses, we all have fears, and they make us feel inadequate for the work of God. We, too, wrestle with God and tell Him what we can or can't do. Oh, that we would trust Him more!

Extravagant Mercy

God had every right to take the call away from Moses and give it to someone else, but in light of all his excuses, God poured out His infinite mercy on Moses. When Moses questioned whether the people would listen, God gave Moses three powerful signs. These signs foreshadowed the power He would display in the presence of Pharaoh. Moses' staff turned into a snake, his hand became leprous, and the Nile's water turned to blood. The LORD was powerful over the dangers we fear in this life—especially things that could harm us, like deadly animals, disease, or lack of clean water.

When Moses's weak speech made him feel inadequate, God responded yet again with mercy! As he did with Job, God questioned Moses: "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (v. 11). In other words, God said, "I know your mouth because I made your mouth!" Then, in Great Commission fashion, the LORD told Moses, "Therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak" (v. 12; compare this with Mat. 28:19-20; Joh. 16:12-15). Instead of punishment, God promised Moses His presence!

After this, Moses ought to have surely trusted God, right? He didn’t. Instead, he asked God to please send someone else. At this, "the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses" (v. 14). God was perfectly and righteously angry with Moses. At this moment, He could have poured out His full fiery wrath on Moses' unbelief and arguing. Instead, God brought Aaron, Moses' well-spoken brother, with a glad heart to assist Moses in fulfilling this mighty call. God would still teach and speak to Moses, but now Moses would be "as God to [Aaron]" (v. 16). Aaron wasn't Moses' replacement, for Moses still kept the staff (v. 17). But Aaron would prove to be both a mouthpiece and a menace in Moses' life and ministry (Exo. 32:1ff).

As it was with Moses, so it was with David, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul. God calls weak men to His work, and He shows them the mercy and grace they need to press forward on His mission. The man God uses isn't the one with the most grit, bravery, discipline, or zeal. The woman God uses isn't the woman with the most industrious, witty, nurturing spirit. Rather, God uses weak people to shame the strong in order for His glory to shine through (1 Cor. 1:27). We see this vividly in the story of Moses and Israel as God frees them from Pharaoh's grip.

Mercy for Us

Thanks be to God that He showed mercy to Moses. And we owe Him more thanks for showing mercy to us, too! As we've already seen, we stutter and stammer. We argue and debate with God. We hide behind our fig leaves as we fear failure. We wait for the big shots to come and speak for us. Yet in it all, God has new mercies for us every morning (Lam. 3:22-23). His steadfast love endures forever. His grace powers our lives as we live out His mission.

The greatest mercy we have ever seen is found in these few short words: "I am with you." The LORD said it to Moses (v. 12). Our Lord said it to the Church (Mat. 28:20). The Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts (Tit. 3:4-8; Rom. 8:9-11). God is with us because of His mercy, and He displayed His love and desire to walk with us and our neighbors by sending His Son to die on the cross. What a glorious picture of our merciful God!

Reflection Questions:

What excuses do we often make when faced with God's specific calling or general calls to obedience?
How does the gospel help us overcome our doubts and trust in God's promises and power?
In what areas of our lives do we need to rely more on God's mercy rather focusing on our inabilities?
How can we support and encourage other believers who struggle with fears and reluctance to live out God’s mission in their lives?
What steps can we take to build a deeper relationship with God and rely on His presence in our lives and mission?

Prayer Points

Confess your fears to God. As you reflect on things you’re afraid of, confess them to God and ask Him to replace your fears with faith in Him.
Rejoice in God’s mercy. Spend a few moments celebrating and rejoicing in God's mercy toward you. Rejoice not only in the mercy shown through the gospel but also new daily mercies God is giving you.
Seek and follow God’s call in your life. As you read the Bible, pray, and reflect on Moses’s calling, ask God to show you clear, specific ways He wants you to live out the great commission. Even if you don’t sense a response or a profound sense of calling, pray for specific ways to obey God’s Word today.

Photo by Julia Volk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/dry-plants-on-shore-of-calm-reservoir-5273095/

Categories

Archives

Redemption and Reliance

Faithfulness Is Never Failure (Exodus 5)

Obey God Fully (Exo. 4:18-31)

God's Mercy in Our Weakness (Exodus 4:1-17)