Exodus Chapter 4 Verse 1

• Essentially, what Moses just said is, “Suppose You’re wrong, God?” It’s crazy.  God had already said in verse 18 of the previous chapter that the elders of Israel will heed his voice…  So Moses is like, “Ok, got it…but what if You’re wrong?”  Here is a fear we never have to give any of our heart to…because this fear does most certainly come…but what is true, in the victories of life and in the defeats, in the dawning mornings and in the storms, God is good and His ways are sure. 
• Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand.’” And so we can apply Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God…” 
• Everything can be changed by chance, things happen, plans change, circumstance become OBE and routines are interrupted all the time by all kinds of unforeseen events…everything can be and is subject to change…everything except God’s Word. God’s Word is settled in heaven.  Psalm 119:89-90, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations…”  Moses is dealing with fear and wrestling with unbelief…but God helps even in that…

Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 2 – 5

• I like that. Notice this, obedience to the directive of God turned a fear that caused fleeing…into a daring strength!  Do you see it?  Ever see someone that can catch a snake by its tail?  Amazing!  I can’t/won’t do that!  I have enough trouble catching a cricket!  Wiggling all in your hand while you make a dash for the door to throw it outside…yuck!!

Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 6 – 9

• God is equipping Moses with super powers…that’s cool! And the signs that God gives to Moses are   The first two have to do with transformation, but the third is judgment.  The first sign, the rod is transformed into a serpent, but when Moses takes it up again, it turns back…it is restored to just a rod.  Same with the second sign.  His hand is transformed then restored…but the third judgement, the water never returns to being water…
• It’s a real picture of how the human spirit interacts with its Creator. God calls you now, tonight, to heed His voice, turn it over to Him so that He may transform it and you unto ultimate restoration…but if you and I disagree and disallow and close our ears and hearts…judgment is next…not by God’s will, but by your own.  Obviously not by God’s will…how many times He has reached out to you, how many transformative times He has ordained…and yet sin and rebellion and laziness and wickedness have been the chosen options…
• He now equips Moses, perhaps just for Moses, because ultimately none of these signs work to free the people of Israel, God will do a whole new work when that time comes…but, “Hey, Moses, what do you have there in your hand…I’ll use what you have.”

Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 10 – 12

• We could explode on Moses here, right!? Moses, you’re talking to a burning bush…yet its not consumed!  God has revealed to you His name and His plan,   He has given you super powers and signs and wonders and demo’d them real time for you in the last five minutes!  And you’re STILL a mess?  We could go that route…or we could see that Moses is just having an honest conversation with an honest God.  Moses wants to address all of his weaknesses, limitations and fears with the Lord…and in a very real way, that is a very good thing!
• And God’s grace, mercy and provision activate, “I will be with you, I will teach you…” There is a real hesitation inherent in our fallen nature that if we don’t know how it will be accomplished or we don’t know what do to…then we most often do not.  My how much of accomplishment we miss out on in this life when we don’t step forward in faith.  God says, “In the moment, I will teach you.”
• I remember when I was a teenager I met a man that taught me how to work on cars. He didn’t explain to me how the push/pull of clutch worked mechanically, he didn’t describe to me the power of the pressure in a hydraulic system.  He simply taught me to look at it, and try…  I’ve ruined many things working on them and that in the moment was a bummer, but you get through the ruin…you press on past the discouragement…and you become able…  God will meet you where He has called you.  Trust in Him.  Look at it…the promised Word of God…and try!

Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 13 – 14a

• This whole conversation, all of the issues of fear and anxiety and worry and questioning that Moses had brought to the Lord and yet none of it hand angered the Lord until now. Why?  Because it is now that Moses is simply unwilling.  He’s not unable, oh he’s plenty able, God has richly equipped him...his issue is that he is unwilling and that is terribly unacceptable to the Lord.  And really that’s the majority of our issue today!
• We can love our neighbor. We can serve others.  We can forgive.  We can serve our spouses.  We can answer the calling God has placed on our lives…we can find time every day to open the Word of God…we can give 10% of our income to the work of the ministry…we can do all things through Christ who give us strength…our problem is unwillingness!  And THAT is unacceptable to God. 

Exodus Chapter 14 Verses 14 – 17

• There are two ways to discuss this circumstance with Aaron. First, God is so very merciful.  Moses is having such an issue, such difficulty, and so God being a wonderful Counselor, mighty God and Prince of peace…provides Moses with a helper.  Another way to see this is somewhat less encouraging.  Moses could have heeded the call of God and moved out but instead he goes as far as to say, “Send someone else…” And so God does just that…
• What is special about Moses? You could make a list, (check it twice – HA – sorry, 13 Fridays until Christmas!) or you could just be honest…nothing really.  God is simply choosing  God simply is placing a call on his life.  Aaron can do it…Jethro can do it…if God wanted, one of the sheep that Moses is tending can do it!  It’s a high honor and privilege to be called by the Lord and to be enabled by Him in your calling…I would advise you to diligently answer that call…or God can and will simply find someone else…

Exodus Chapter 14 Verses 18 – 19

• I love what Courson says about this bit of scripture. If someone is seeking your life…critical of you, divisive and destructive…the best thing that you or I could do, for someone seeking your life…is to live it!  It will drive them crazy!  We/I have had plenty of critics over the years in ministry and folks that either weren’t too fond of me or had specific changes they’d like to see that simply weren’t from the Lord…and what drove them crazy, probably still today…is that I just continue on!  Staying the course and LOVING the course! 
• And he continues, don’t worry…they’ll die! HA!  I mean, not “Ha” as in I want them dead (pause - HA) but it’s more metaphorical!  Days will go by, weeks will turn into months and the sting of their disapproval will fade and it will die.  Stay the course and let the Lord take care of your enemies…

Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 20 – 21

• There’s no controversy here. People believe there is because they would say, “Why would God do that…?”  Understandable question if you don’t understand the whole story.  We will read in the coming passages the account of what happened…which God knows of course the beginning from the end…Pharaoh will harden his own heart seven times explicitly…we will read that seven times…but I’d offer that Pharaoh hardened his own heart no less than 10 times as with each sign that God sent on the nation of Egypt, he did not bow the knee to God…and so God did no primary act here, all He did was confirm Pharaoh’s free will.  You know what God’s will was for Pharaoh?  Same as it is for you…life and life abundant!  Eternal life and everlasting FREEDOM!  But Pharaoh wasn’t willing….