God's plan for Moses

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 2020 am

EXODUS 2 VERSES 16 - 25

We have so much in common with this man Moses - we seen last week how his focus changed from that of an Egyptian prince with his eye on the throne to that of a poor Israelite slave.  Then we see how his future changed to it now being in the hands of God.  Then we moved on to see his failure, trying to do God's work in his own way.  Then Moses had to flee from Egypt.  He had killed the Egyptian and news came back that he had been seen doing that.  Pharaoh declared he should be put to death for this action.

What about our focus today?  Has our focus changed from the day we accepted Christ as Saviour?  You would have had your eye on what this life had to offer you, everything was going the way you planned it but when you were saved did it bring a change in your life?  "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5 verse 17)  Is there still a desire for the old pleasures?  Somehow you cannot break from the past.  Our focus should be on the things of God - prayer, bible study, fellowship, spreading the word of God, seeing men and women saved.  If that is your focus then it certainly has been changed.  Then we see our failures - we do have failures, each of us fail from time to time.  Paul tells us "wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10 verse 12)  It is possible to get to the stage where we say we are almost perfect - are we were Moses was at?  In the wilderness, a barren, dry land and he was so alone.  No-one understands.  No-one cares.  No-one wants to be in your shoes today.

Let's look at God's plan for Moses - firstly his escape.  He is taken out into the wilderness, to the land of Midian.  It was a barren place, little by way of company there.  He was there because of his failure and fear of what man would do to him.  He had the death sentence on him by Pharaoh.  He reflects as he walks from God's plan and purpose.  God's plan was to deliver the people out of hard bondage in Egypt, to take them into the place God planned for them.  Now fear has set in to his heart.  Perhaps he felt he had let God down.  The only thing on his mind is to get away from the vengeance of Pharaoh.  Is it possible that we have been put off because of what someone has said to us, that has hurt us, set us back.  We never thought they would say that.  Maybe it was said behind your back and you have heard it.  Now you are fleeing, walking away from what God would have you to do.  A barren place, a wilderness, no fellowship.  Think of Elijah the prophet of God.  One minute he is standing before Ahab pronouncing the word of God, then he is on Mount Carmel winning the victory over the prophets of Baal.  Suddenly Jezebel decrees that she would put him to death.  What was Elijah's response?  He fled to the desert.

His encounter.  Moses comes to the land of Midian and he sits down by a well.  He is weary from his journey.  The daughters of the priest of Midian came by.  God makes no mistakes.  He always brings those around us who will help us.  Remember when Moses as a baby was put into the basket and set on the river - at the exact place where Pharaoh's daughter would come down to wash?  This well is a place of refreshment.  God brings Moses to this exact place.  Then we see the people he encounters.  The Midianites were relatives of Abraham.  People to help him.  Remember Paul in the city of Corinth.  A sinful, immoral city but there Paul met Priscilla and Aquilla, people to help him in the work of God.  God wouldn't leave Moses alone.  God will never leave us alone today.  He has not given up on you.  God will bring people around you.  These young women, the daughters of Jethro, 7 in all, brought their flocks to the well.  Normally what would happen is that if a male shepherd came at the same time they would drive the women's flocks back but on this occasion Moses stood up for the women, driving out the Arab shepherds.  We all have to start somewhere.  Think of Elisha the prophet.  In 2 Kings 3 we read the story of Jehoshaphat and Jehoram.  Jehoram asked Jehoshaphat to go with him into battle against Moab.  It was a critical situation and needed divine help.  Jehoshaphat asked "is there not here a prophet of the Lord that we may inquire of the Lord by him?"  He was not going to do battle until he first got word from the Lord.  Have we spent time with God today, asking him for a word from himself?  Jehoshaphat wanted guidance and we too need guidance today.  We are facing situations today that we have never faced before - physically, mentally and emotionally.  One of the king's servants answered and said "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah."  Such was the respect for Elisha.  This servant knew he would have words from God.  But notice where he had started from - pouring water on the hands of Elijah.  A menial task.  Think of Samuel before he was established as a prophet of the Lord.  He lay on his bed one night as a child.  God told him what would happen in the future but the next morning he got up and opened the doors to the temple.  A menial task that God had given him.  Are you running from the task God has given you today?

His enterprise - verses 18 - 20 "and Moses was content to dwell with the man."  He was content to become a shepherd.  Moses was brought up to think shepherds were an abomination.  "I have learned in whasoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4 verse 11)  From the prince of Egypt to a shepherd in Midian.  Moses was going to knuckle down and do it with all his heart.  Are we prepared to take on a role God would give us even thought we think it might be beneath us?  Jonah was told to the Ninevites and preach the gospel but he wouldn't do it.  He felt they didn't deserve the message.  Mark turned his back on Barnabas and Paul.  It wasn't what he wanted to do.  Are you working hard at what God has given you to do today?  Paul could say "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1 verse 16)  Remember the parable of the man who went into the far country.  Before he left he gave his servants talents - to one he gave 5, to another 2 and to a third 1 talent.  When he returned he brought his servants together one day and asked them what they had done with the talents given to them.  The first servant who had 5 talents told him he had doubled it to 10 and likewise the servant with 2 had doubled his to 4.  The servant who had been given 1 talent had hid his talent in the ground.  He dug it up and brought it back to his master.  He was condemned for his actions.  What a picture of Christ - he is the master who will one day come back and ask us what we did with what he has given each of us.  Are you serving the Lord today?

His endurance.  Moses in the wilderness as a shepherd felt the heat of the midday sun when there was no shade for him.  He was lonely, his heart was breaking, he was working with stubborn sheep.  A daily routine.  Moses was being prepared for a time when he would lead the children of Israel in the wilderness.  This was a test of endurance.  For 40 years he endured the task given to him.  Maybe we think we would rather be doing something else.  We started well with the task given to us but are now fed up.  Perhaps have even given up on it.  Sometimes we need to stick at it.  We need endurance.  Moses learned that lesson.  He would have to work hard at it.  Paul preaching at Philippi was cast into a prison cell.  Corrie Ten Boom during the second world war said to God "place me in whatever way you wish even if it means hardship or solitude."  Shortly after that her dad died and she was separated from her sister.  She was thrown into a dark damp cell.  Corrie is crying, the tears are running down her cheeks.  She whispers to God "I didn't mean I wanted to be alone."  That is the lesson we learn in the wilderness.  Where are you with God today?  Walking away from God?  Or are you still serving him?  Are you just going through the motions today?  Come again to Christ, let him bring you back to what he has for you.