How Exodus Teaches Us To Trust God | Guest Speaker: Jack Buskey

We trace the Exodus as a map for our lives, from being delivered out of bondage to learning how to walk into God’s promises with real trust. We talk about why comfort can still be a wilderness, why obedience often comes before understanding, and why purpose matters more than ease. 
• appreciating faithful Bible teaching and the privilege of hearing Scripture explained clearly 
• Exodus as a present-day lesson in endurance, encouragement and hope 
• Red Sea deliverance as a picture of God’s power, light over darkness and freedom from bondage 
• fear at the edge of promise and the “grasshopper” mindset that keeps people stuck 
• the wilderness as miraculous provision without purpose and the danger of walking in circles 
• Jordan River faith as stepping in first, even at flood stage 
• promised land living as responsibility, dignity and mission rather than constant rescue 
• the bronze serpent as obedience that feels irrational and its link to John 3 and the cross 
• the rod and the rock as a warning about trusting gifts and methods instead of God 
• a direct challenge to trust God with relationships, finances, work and the next step 
You can download it, there’s no expense to it

Transcript

Opening Comments And Guests

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I want to make a couple of comments before I read the text. Each time I speak, I'd like to remind you of the opportunity and the privilege we have to hear Chris morning after morning. I had the opportunity during the 20th century of sitting under hearing and working with some of the giants of the pulpit and the Bible teachers. And I would compare Chris with any one of them. It's amazing that in a church this size we have the opportunity to have someone that exposes the scriptures week after week with such excellence. And I trust that you appreciate that. Then I'd like to give a commercial. I don't do that very often. But because we declared our faith with the Apostles' Creed, I have a website that you can go to Dr. Jack Muskie. And there's a book of 16 chapters explaining each of the statements of the Apostles' Creed. You can download it, there's no expense to it, but I just wanted to mention that. The other thing is, I'm privileged to have some special guests with us this morning, the DeMarcus family, Will, Liga, and their two little girls. Allie is on staff at the cove where I live, and I've adopted their two little children. And one of the reasons they're here is because Mila, who's going in to kindergarten, heard that on this Sunday morning a dinosaur was going to preach. And she wanted to come to see that.

Why Exodus Still Teaches Us

SPEAKER_01 2:15

In Romans 15, 4, Paul wrote, For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. So that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. And so I want to share this morning some thoughts that we learned for our life today from the Exodus.

Red Sea Deliverance And Light

SPEAKER_01 2:58

If you remember in the Exodus, the children had been in Egyptian bondage for 40 years. They'd been slaves. They've been slaves for several hundred years. And then God sent Moses to deliver them. And during that deliverance, they dealt with all the Egyptian gods. And then finally the hour came when they were set free from Egyptian bondage. And they were set free to leave from that bondage to go to what was called the promised land. One of the things that I want us to see when they were delivered from Egyptian bondage, which is a symbol of our being delivered from sin, from our being delivered from bondage. When they were delivered from that bondage, and they came to the Red Sea. Moses was instructed to rise his hand before the waters, and they stood on the shore on dry ground, and the waters parted. Not only did the waters part, but the Egyptian army was behind them, and God saw that they were in darkness. They were in such darkness they couldn't move. And God's people were in the light. They didn't have to hurry. They didn't have to be afraid. They were in the light. The Egyptians were in the darkness. That's a symbol of the fact that everyone that is still in their sin is in darkness. God's children are in the light. But the sea parted before they went across. They just stood on dry ground and watched the miracle. And then they walked through the Red Sea. We'll see the importance of that, I hope, within the next 45 minutes. When

Fear At The Border Of Promise

SPEAKER_01 5:11

they got to go into what we call the Promised Land, do you understand that it was an 11-day journey from Egypt to the Promised Land? 11 days. And they got to the they got to the Promised Land, and if you remember, they sent out two spies, 12 spies. They sent out 12 spies, and the spies came back with a tremendous report. Oh, the everything in the promised land is great. They had these heavy grapes and all the fruit and all the wonders, but they said the problem is there are big people there. Let me read it. The men who had gone up with him said, we can't attack those people. They are stronger than we are. They are spread among the Israelites. A bad report about the land they had explored. They said, the land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there, the descendants of Anak. We seem like grasshoppers in our own eyes. And we look the same to them. And so ten of the twelve spies came back. Now it's only eleven days. Eleven days earlier than that, they saw God deal with every God of the Egyptian army. They saw the waters part of the Red Sea. They saw the difference between darkness and light. They saw all that God had done. And now they stand to the Jordan and they said, we can't go there. They looked at those people and they said, we look like grasshoppers and we feel like grasshoppers. There are many Christians that have that experience. The Lord delivers them from their sin. They are born again. They are transformed. They praise God. And then they come against some kind of an obstacle and they say, We cannot handle that. I look like a grasshopper. That's a big mountain. And so you know the punishment. The punishment was that they were then put in a wilderness and they wandered around the wilderness for 40 years, right?

The Wilderness That Still Feeds

SPEAKER_01 8:05

I want to talk about the wilderness. I mean, we we think of the wilderness as being a bad place, right? I mean, oh, I've been out in the wilderness. That means everything's been dry and I can't seem to pray and nothing is going right. Not this wilderness. We need to understand the wilderness. The wilderness was amazing. First thing that happened is manna came down. They had food provided for them. They had the bread of life. By miracle, by miracle that came down. They were fed by miracle. Wow. Not only were they fed by miracle, but it said that when they ran out of water, Moses was instructed. He took the rod and he struck the rock, and water came out by miracle. Paul wrote later that that rock was Christ. Not only were they fed, not only did they have all the water they needed in the desert, but their shoes never wore out. They never got blisters on their feet. Their clothes didn't wear out. Boy, that must have been rough on Moses, you know why. Because we we read that Moses' family was with him. His wife was named Zipphara. I think he called her Zip for short. And can you imagine that now? They they've been out there 10 years. Shoes never wore out. Can you imagine a woman having the same pair of shoes for 10 years? I mean, Zip said that Moses, you know, I'm tired of looking at these shoes. Will you get me a new pair of shoes? Yeah, I'll get you a new pair when these wear out. Man, I'm tired of looking at this dress. I've worn this same dress for ten years. Well, when that dress wears out, I'll get you a new one. I mean, that must have been hard on the poor guy. But think about it. They were in a situation where they were provided for, every need was provided for them. Just like we provide for babies. When you have a baby, you provide for it, you feed it, you change it, diapers, you it cannot feed itself. There was a period of time when I was the overseer of a number of churches, and I remember going to some of the churches and they were complaining about their pastor. And the people would say, Well, the problem is we're not being fed. I said, Oh, you have to be fed? Babies have to be fed. You mean you you can't feed yourself? I wasn't the most popular overseer they ever had. But you know why it was called the wilderness? It was called the wilderness because they were walking in circles. They had no purpose outside of being fed, of having water provided, their clothes provided, no disease. It was kind of a perfect life, but the problem with the perfect life was that it had no fundamental purpose. They were just going in circles for years. Does that describe your life? You get up in the morning, you go to work, you go to bed at night. And life seems like a vicious circle. Oh, you're saved. Praise God. He provides for your spiritual needs. Praise God. But your life is going in circles. Think of it.

Jordan Faith Requires First Steps

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Now, after forty years, they come to the Jordan again. And one of the things I want you to notice about the Jordan again is that this time when they're ready to cross, they're crossing the Jordan River. And would you believe that the Lord had them cross the Jordan River at flood time? I mean, why didn't he wait until it was a little trickle of a stream? No, right in the middle of flood time. And not only that, but before they crossed the Jordan, they had to walk into the water first. See, when they were being delivered from, they didn't have faith. When they were delivered from, they were still babies. When they were delivered from, God provided for them by parting the Red Sea while they stood on dry land. But now when it came to enter into the promised land, they had to walk into the water first. In my imagination, I can see it. They walk into the water, and the water comes up to here, and then the water gets up to here, and then the water gets up to their neck, and the Lord says, take the next step. No, you serious? Take the next step, take the next step. And then the waters part. There's a difference between delivered, being delivered from, and entering into God's promises.

Purpose Makes It Promised Land

SPEAKER_01 14:34

And now let's talk about the promised land. Are you serious? I mean the promised land. They get into the promised land, first thing that happens, no manna. And it's a promised land. In the wilderness, God provided their manna. Promised land, no manna. Promised land, no water. Promised land, no food. In the promised land, they're able to provide for themselves. In the promised land, they can grow their own gardens. In the promised land, they have their own wills. In the promised land, they can take care of themselves. Why is it called the Promised Land? The wilderness ought to be the promised land. It's called the Promised Land. Because in the Promised Land, their life now had purpose. They had the dignity of being able to function for themselves, and God had given them a purpose. I'm afraid there are a number of Christians that their life is still going around in circles. They have all the benefits of the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

But it's sure a boring light.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

But when someone makes the commitment, surrendering everything to the Lord, trusting him for everything. All of a sudden now, life has a purpose. Life has meaning. That's why it's a promised land.

The Bronze Snake And Belief

SPEAKER_01 17:01

One of them is the story of they were complaining about the food. I have a lot of fun with this story at the cove because a lot of people complain about the food. They complained about the food and ended up amidst a bunch of snakes. So when I teach the Bible class there and I say, you've been complaining about the food. You better check your room when you get back to see if there's any snakes in it. And you know what God told Moses to do? He said, Moses, I want you to take a take a pole and make a cast a bronze snake and stick that bronze snake on a pole, and anyone who comes and looks at it will be healed.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

Oh, that's crazy. I mean, that makes absolutely no sense.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

What was the issue? You see, they were complaining about the food because they were losing their confidence in God's love. And what God was trying to teach them, I know it makes no sense to you. But if you look at the snake, that is, if you will be obedient to me and do what makes no sense to you, except you will do what I tell you to do, then you will be healed. You know where we see the snake again? John 3.15. You all know John 3.16, right? But God so loved the world. But before that, you know what he said. As Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. You know, it makes absolutely no sense. The cross makes no sense to the world. But because we look at the cross by faith, trust him by faith. Do what makes no sense to the world by faith.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

Then we have the verse for God so loved the world.

When The Gift Replaces God

SPEAKER_01 19:43

I want to look at another lesson. The first time they didn't have water, God spoke, uh, they were complaining to Moses, and God told Moses, I'll tell you what I want, Moses, you take the rod. You know the rod. I mean, he had that rod. It was amazing. It's the burning bush. Remember, uh the God uh Moses said, I I I can't I can't do that. I I just was you serious? And God said, What do you have in your hand? He said, A staff. He said, Throw it on the ground. He threw it on the ground and it became a snake. I couldn't have done what Moses did because if I saw it, I'd have been so far away from it. By that time, when he said, pick it up again. Yes, that's not going to happen. So he said, pick it up. He picks it up and it becomes a rod again. All through Moses' ministry, he used that rod. Whenever he confronted an Egyptian god, he used that rod. I mean, that rod was really something special. God demonstrated his power through the through Moses using the rod. And so they're in the wilderness and they're complaining about now they don't have water. And God told them, you take their rod and you strike the rock. And when you strike the rock, water's going to come out. And it did. Now they come to another place and they need water. Now I don't understand this. I really do. The second time God said to Moses, take your rod, take it with you. And go to the rock and speak to it. I don't know why he didn't tell them to leave the thing at home. He said, Take the rod with you and then speak to the rock. And Moses took the rod and he struck the rock like he did the first time. I would have done that. God is used. The rod for 40 years in the wilderness. God used the rod in Egypt. God used the rod over and over and over and over. Power of God and the rod. He struck the rock and water came out. And God was angry with him. I've heard all kinds of weird stuff about why God was angry with him. You know why God was angry with him? Because Moses began to trust in the rod. There's certain things that God gives us and he uses it and he blesses it. He gives us a certain gift and he uses it and he blesses it. And then the first thing you know, we begin to trust the gift. Do you hear me? God has been teaching us through these stories over and over again. Now if I don't turn this page, this message will never come to an end.

Surrender Stories And Final Challenge

SPEAKER_01 23:21

The issue is if we entered the promised land, what I mean is, if we just completely surrender our life to the will of God. It's related to our salvation. We're saved first, but this is something that happens second. Do we really trust him for our whole life? Young people. Now let me let me say this. I I've discovered if it's really in your heart, it's really in your heart, I really want to trust God. God will take you at your word in spite of yourself. When I was at Asbury College, I fell in love with a young lady, and we we were in love with each other. And uh we got engaged, but even before the engagement, the Lord began to speak to me and say, No, she's not the one for you. Doesn't make sense that God would have someone for you that you weren't in love with. That doesn't make sense, and it was so strong, I said, All right, Lord. But then we would come together and I'd make a commitment. I'm going to, I am really going to tell her that this isn't God's will. And I would see her and put my arms around her, and we'd hug and kiss each other, and I'd tell her her loved. That went on. That went on for a couple, three months. And I said, Lord, I'm you know I want your will, but I'm pretty helpless in this thing. And one day we came together and she gave me the ring back and said, I can't do this. And do you know for the next three months I did everything I could to put that relationship back together? I had no idea that he was gonna put me together with the person that became my wife and Ronnie's mother. What a blessing she has been to my whole life and to our children. I had no idea. Let me tell you one more story so you'll find out what a saint I am. We we made up our mind we would never borrow money for a car. So what we did, I bought an old junk, I bought an old Chevrolet. I mean, it was rusted so bad I had to buy some tin to put on the floorboard because you could see the ground. And it was a mess. But uh, if you know anything about the old Chevrolets, they had that uh overhead valve 600 rent, you couldn't kill that engine. And we drove that for two years, and every month my wife put uh a car payment in a savings account. The reason I have what I have is because my wife handled the finances. I'd I'd spend the store. Yeah, I'm not the only one. So uh we did that for two cars, bought two junkers, and we made car payments. I went in, I was gonna buy a brand new car. And and uh I picked out the car I wanted, and I was in the showroom, and we were there, and all I had to do was sign the papers. And a car pulled up in front of the windows that was a used car. You know, you gotta go back a few years. It was a beautiful hornet. And the Lord said, really spoke to me clearly, that's the car I want you to have. I bought the new car. It rode like a truck, it swallowed, it didn't have a, it didn't have a carburetor, it had a toilet. Every time you stepped on it, it just flushed. The worst car I ever owned in my life. And then uh it was a Rambert and they went out of business. And and the car was absolutely worthless. God wouldn't let me get rid of the car. I had I actually drove that car until it got so bad, I took it to a junkyard and they gave me $25. Buskie, when are you going to learn to trust the Lord? But I found out this if your heart is really to trust the Lord, he'll take you at your word. And he'll bring you through anyway. Well, my challenge is, do you really trust the Lord? Young people, do you trust the Lord that he has someone that you will be obedient to him? Do you trust the Lord, folks? Do you trust the Lord with your finances? It's not a matter of tithing. It's a matter of you have it all, it's yours. Do you trust the Lord with your job? He wants you to move and job makes no sense at all. I can witness now, after all these years, you do what makes no sense. I can tell you story after story of stuff that made no sense. Stepped out with no visible support and how God provided. You can trust the Lord. He wants you to enter into the promised land. Because in the promised land, you will be fulfilled. In the promised land, you will know the purpose of your life. In the promised land, you will have that blessing that nothing else can fill in your life.