WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:02.640 Welcome to the City Covenant podcast. 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:11.439 We are a warm, welcoming church located in downtown Spokane, dedicated to practicing the way of Jesus in the heart of the city. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.439 Please join us as we dive into the Word of God together. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:41.920 My name's Ron. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:46.719 My wife Peggy and I are delighted to call this our church home. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:54.719 There's something very special about preaching anytime, but when you get to preach at home, that's the best. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:57.679 So today's a big day. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:00:59.200 Just all the way around. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:00.960 Big, big day. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.799 For one thing, my friends the prophets are here. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:06.799 Acknowledge, yeah. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.719 My friends the prophets are here, and John Prophet's birthday is today. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:13.359 So, hey, John, we yeah. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:23.120 Okay, so it's it's a big day, like I said, it's John Prophet's birthday, and then um there was something else about today. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.120 Uh oh, yeah, some people in Spokane take a walk. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:29.680 Uh I think it's called Bloomsday. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:35.200 And you know how the press has been celebrating these people called perennials? 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:40.719 Perennials are people who have done Bloomsday every one of the 50 now days. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:44.799 You might not know I'm a perennial. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:50.640 This is the 50th consecutive year that I haven't done Bloomsday. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:02:07.040 So between John's birthday and Bloomsday and God's grace on us, and now the chance to hear God's word, it is a big day. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:11.919 Today we're going to continue our exploration of the book of Exodus. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:18.719 Today's passage is about God calling Moses into service. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:26.400 But the funny thing is, the passage is way more about God than it is about Moses. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:36.000 So, for those of you who like to take notes, and I encourage you to do so, even though there won't be a test. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:40.719 For those of you taking notes, I'm going to make this as simple as it could possibly be. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:44.800 I'm going to give you in one sentence what this sermon is about. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:47.680 Here's what the sermon is. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:54.719 The ways that God responds to Moses. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:05.439 The ways that God responds to Moses reveals how God shapes us. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:10.639 Reveals how God shapes us. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:19.439 The ways that God responds to Moses reveals how God shapes us. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:21.280 Now there you go. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:26.800 The rest of the sermon, the next 30 minutes or so, just a commentary on that sentence. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.840 This is not an invitation for you to take a nap. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.520 I encourage you to use your pew Bibles. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:35.759 We will be looking at those very carefully. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:43.680 And to pay attention because this story has a whole set of twists and turns, and by God's grace, insight. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.960 But here's the one thing I know for sure. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:59.439 If anything of significance is going to happen in the next little bit of time, it's because God fills this place, His Word, and our hearts and minds. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.919 This is the only way it happens. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.280 So, toward that end, will you please pray with me? 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.919 Lord God, we need you. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.599 We need you to illumine our hearts and our minds. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:17.199 Give us ears to hear, hearts that are pliable in your hand. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:26.399 Lord Jesus, may you be exalted, and we be encouraged now in Jesus' name. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:27.680 Amen. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:36.639 So the context for our biblical passage this morning, you're going to be, um we're going to be looking at Exodus 3 and 4. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:42.639 So in your Pew Bibles, or a Bible if you brought from home, in the Pew Bible, it's page 49. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:47.439 We're going to start in chapter 3 and then transition to chapter 4. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:05:01.040 But in the Pew Bibles, page 49, Exodus chapter 3, the context for this passage is that God has called Moses, and Moses has resisted. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:04.399 He's resisted because he's insecure. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:12.879 So grab those Bibles and we're going to look at Exodus 3, verse 11. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.160 Exodus 3.11. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:25.680 Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.319 That's about as clear a statement of insecurity as you can have. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.199 God, who am I? 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:45.600 And God responds with an assurance that is as profound and central to Christian life as you can possibly get. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:49.920 Follow me with the text, verse 12. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:53.839 And God said, I will be with you. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:00.319 That theme, I will be with you, rings throughout Scripture. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:05.279 From the very beginning, from the very beginning of creation. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:08.160 God has been with us. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:15.040 It culminates, of course, in the person of Jesus, who comes as Emmanuel. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:19.040 Even around his birth, we give him that name. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:20.800 God with us. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:33.360 God's with us when we feel insecure, and when we feel like we've got it together. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:38.319 God's with us when we're afraid and when we're secure. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.480 God's with us always. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:49.759 From his birth to his teaching, Jesus showed us what it meant to be God with us. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:07:01.439 Well, now that he's armed with that assurance of God's presence, God asked Moses to do something special. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:03.120 Back to chapter 3. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:06.000 Now we're looking at verse 16. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:12.959 This next part of the scripture was so beautifully read by my dear wife. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:15.600 Verse 16. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:23.439 Now, God has said, I get that you're insecure, but I'm going to be with you. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:42.079 And then God says, Go assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me and said, I've watched over you and I've seen what's been done to you in Egypt. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:48.720 I've promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt to the land flowing with milk and honey. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:56.800 What a perfect setup for success. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:07:59.439 It couldn't be better. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:00.639 Listen to this. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.560 God is with you. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:11.439 God has a promise and a plan for your salvation, and God has surrounded you with people who believe and support you. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.279 That's about as good as it gets. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.680 Ask any pastor I've ever met. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:17.680 That's ideal. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.720 What could possibly go wrong? 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.560 What could possibly go wrong? 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.439 Well, in a word, life. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:39.679 In a word, human beings who, although we are made in God's image, are quite familiar with a whole variety of sins. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:43.519 What could possibly go wrong? 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:56.080 In today's sermon, we're going to see what happens when things seem to go wrong. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:07.840 Now, again, for those of you who are keeping notes, we're going to examine three ways that Moses objects to God's calling. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:16.879 And in each case, look at how God responds, because how God responds reveals how God shapes us. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.519 So, objection number one. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.759 Now we're at in chapter four. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:23.519 Chapter four, verse one. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:42.799 Moses answered God and said, What if they, now they is the elders of Israel, the people that God sent him to, or sent with him, what if they do not believe me or listen to me? 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:47.679 And what if they say, The Lord did not appear to you? 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.440 Now I don't know if you catch the irony in this, but this part is beautiful. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:01.279 Moses says, hey, what if they don't believe me or listen to me? 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:06.960 Even though God just said, the elders are going to be, the elders will believe you. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.120 Remember verse 18, 3.18? 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.720 The elders will believe you. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.440 And now you've got Moses going, yeah, I don't think so. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.399 You catch the irony here? 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.919 This is exactly how God feels. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.919 Moses is going, hey, what if the elders don't believe or listen to me? 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:27.679 And God's going, hey, what if Moses doesn't believe or listen to me? 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.399 What do you do then? 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.759 What if they don't believe now? 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.639 Here's the thing. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:43.039 In Hebrew, this question that Moses asked, what if they don't believe or listen to me? 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.440 Sounds like a question, but it isn't really. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.799 It's an assertion. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.879 A better translation of this verse would go something like this. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.200 Come on, God, you know they're not going to believe me or listen to me. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:00.080 It's way more an assertion than it is a question. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.080 So how will God respond to that? 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.759 Look at verse 2. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:11.360 Then the Lord said to him, What is that in your hands? 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:20.320 Now, most of the time in Scripture, when God asks a question, it's not because he doesn't know the answer. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:26.960 Most of the time, when God asks a question, he's preparing to reveal something. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.600 And that is exactly the case with what happens next. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.320 God says, What is that in your hand? 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.799 And Moses said, It's just my staff. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:42.879 I use that staff over 40 years of shepherding, and it's become an important tool to me. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.720 It's kind of a comfort. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.679 It's part of who I am. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.320 It's just my staff. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.360 And God says, throw it on the ground. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.120 Notice this. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.759 God doesn't tell him why. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.559 And Moses doesn't ask. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.679 This is very important. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:10.639 Moses, for all his failing, is a perfect, perfect representation of us. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:16.000 Sometimes faithful, sometimes less so, always under God's presence. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:26.159 Moses doesn't know why, but he throws the staff on the ground. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.240 And watch what happens. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:30.320 So Moses threw it. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.399 I'm down here at verse 3 now. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:37.840 Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:42.960 Then the Lord said to him, Reach out with your hand and take the snake by the tail. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:50.320 So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake, and it returned back into a staff in his hand. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:13:00.639 This, the Lord said, is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to you. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.279 Okay, this is a beautiful, beautiful scene. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.879 Moses throws his staff down, he doesn't know why. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.919 And God hasn't revealed why. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:16.639 By the way, this is a pretty good definition of faith. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:21.600 Faith is obeying before you know why. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:29.279 Moses threw the snake down, or threw the stick down, and it became a snake. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:32.720 And then he ran from it. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.879 No duh. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:40.080 Now here's the thing: the scripture doesn't tell us what kind of a snake or how big it was. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:45.360 But did you remember me telling you that Moses was a shepherd? 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:51.279 He was used to being out in the wild where there are snakes and lots of other animals. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:55.840 It wasn't unusual for shepherds to kill lions with their hands. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:02.799 So we don't know what the snake looked like or how big it was, but it was big enough to make Moses run. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.159 Moses is 80. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:16.240 The scripture doesn't tell us how far he ran or how fast he ran. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:20.960 But what we do know is he ran, no stretching. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:28.000 The Bible didn't say anything about cramped legs or body aches. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:42.480 The next thing that Moses, that God tells Moses to do, is to pick up the snake by the tail. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.840 Now let's just stop here for a second. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:59.759 When I was in high school, I had friends, I swear to you, this is the truth, friends whose primary occupation was catching rattlesnakes at night. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:07.759 I never took part in this dubious pastime. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:17.600 But what I do know from talking with them over time is that the worst thing you can possibly do is pick up a snake by the tail. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.639 And you probably know why. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:24.000 Because the part that can bite you is still loose. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.120 You don't think that was unknown to God. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:39.039 You don't think God forgot how snakes behave. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.240 Why do you suppose he did that? 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:49.279 Why do you suppose he asked Moses to do something that posed a risk to Moses? 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:54.399 Because the question to Moses is the question to us. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:02.320 Will you trust me when you don't know why? 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.960 And you don't know how. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:23.759 Moses didn't know at the time that the snake was going to turn back into a staff. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.679 He believed. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:59.840 But when Moses surrendered what he had to God in faith, God did extraordinary things with it. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.320 What's that in your hand, Moses? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.599 It's just my staff. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:10.559 That staff will be set apart for a new purpose. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.359 That staff is going to part the Red Sea. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:18.079 That staff is going to bring water out of a rock and participate in the plagues. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.119 What's that in your hand, David? 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.000 It's just my sling. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.759 I couldn't move so well in the armor of Saul. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:33.200 And I've just got, it doesn't seem like much, just my sling and some stones. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:36.079 And with it he took down a giant. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.960 What's that in your hand, Paul? 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.000 It's just my pen, a little bit of ink. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:47.039 With it he writes Christian theology. 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.640 What is that in your hand, Mary Magdalene? 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.759 It's an empty gravecloth. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:18:00.559 I came here to ex to explore the body, and here's what's left. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:09.440 It doesn't seem like much, it's linen, but the absent body tells you everything you need to know and what I will declare to the world. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.880 What is that in your hand, little boy? 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:18.240 Ah, it's not much, it's five loaves and a couple of fish. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:24.400 And you know those loaves and those fish fed five thousand. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:39.039 Bring to God what you already have. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:50.240 Friends, we need to stop fixating on what we don't have and trust God with what we do have. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.559 I'm gonna tell you the truth. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:19:00.880 Everything that you need to be obedient to God today in faith is what you already have. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:08.799 So Christian, what is it that you have in your hand? 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.119 What is it that you have in your hand? 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.799 Not much. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:35.039 A couple of hours a week, just a few dollars, a couple of relationships, some morning prayer, a meal that is shared, a word of encouragement, some clothing. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.079 What's that in your hand? 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.880 Eric, just a guitar? 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.519 But with it, you praise God. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.720 What's that in your hand? 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.799 Ilsa microphone? 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.359 With it, you honor God. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.200 Here's the thing. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:07.839 Sometimes what you have to offer is painful. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.559 It doesn't all come out of joy. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:22.960 Sometimes what you have to offer is how God brought you out of your discouragement or met you in it. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:32.160 Sometimes all that you have to offer is those times when you felt like you were alone, even though God was with you. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:42.799 There's a book that an author named Henry Nowen wrote called The Wounded Healer. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.640 The Wounded Healer has exactly that premise. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:21:01.839 If you want to be part of God's healing in the lives of others, you do that better by wisely exposing some of the ways that you're broken, wounded, than you do by pretending you don't have that brokenness. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:11.039 So in verses three through nine, God uses three signs. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.880 We only looked at one. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.319 I encourage you to go back and read the rest of them. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.160 It's beautiful. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.759 But all of this was in response to Moses' first objection. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.839 What if they don't believe me? 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:37.200 Now, at the outset of the sermon, what I promised you was we would look at three objections, and for each objection, we're going to look at how God responded and what that says about how God shapes us. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.559 So here you go. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.359 Objection number one was What if they don't believe me or listen to me? 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:50.480 Here's principle number one for how God shapes our lives. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:57.200 God uses available and ordinary things to do the extraordinary. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.680 God uses the available. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:02.640 What do you give him access to? 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:07.200 And the ordinary to do the extraordinary. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:10.160 So are we all up to speed so far? 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.000 One objection, one response. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.079 Here comes objection number two. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.799 I am not eloquent. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:28.400 Commentators are not in complete agreement about what that means exactly. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:33.279 Many people suspect that Moses may have had a stutter. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:42.319 Or maybe he lost his capacity to use the Egyptian language because he's been exiled for a while. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:44.400 We don't know for sure. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:53.519 But what we do know is that Moses feels like I can't do this job. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.960 I'm not eloquent enough. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.319 So back to your Bibles. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:06.000 Verse 10. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:09.279 Moses, I'm in chapter 4, verse 10. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:17.759 Moses said to the Lord, Lord, I've never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since I've spoken to your servant, you've spoken to your servant. 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:20.559 I am slow of speech and tongue. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.680 Now you want to brace yourself for what comes next. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.480 Because here's a basic rule of biblical interpretation. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:35.759 As soon as God starts using rhetorical questions, look out. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:42.240 You know rhetorical questions are the ones that sound like a question, but you already know the answer. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:47.359 Like it was a rhetorical question when your mother said, Who in the world do you think you are? 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.920 Answering that question factually is a really bad idea. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:55.279 Because it wasn't a question, it was a statement. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.599 And now listen to what God says. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:05.920 Moses says, Sorry, God, can't do what you asked me to do because I'm not very eloquent. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:11.680 And God said, verse 11, who gave man his mouth? 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.880 Who makes him deaf or mute? 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.200 Who gives him sight or makes him blind? 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.119 Is it not I, the Lord? 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.400 Now go. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.599 Listen to this invitation. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.200 I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:33.839 Did you catch what just happened? 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:41.440 The God of the universe has just offered to be the personal tutor of Moses. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.640 You feel like you're not eloquent enough? 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:53.039 God says, okay, well, first of all, your lack of eloquence is not news to me. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.759 I'm the one who made you. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:59.200 And I made you imperfect. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.720 Or what seems like imperfect. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:10.000 You say you can't do it? 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.519 No problem. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.799 I know who you are. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:15.200 I know what your skills are and aren't. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.559 I'll take care of that. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:18.720 I'll teach you myself. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:22.799 God promises to be the individual tutor for Moses. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:28.559 And Moses still declines. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:44.000 God's response to Moses in his second objection reveals the second principle for how God shapes our lives. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.559 Here it is. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:52.640 Principle number two It's not about you. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.759 God doesn't call perfect people. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:03.200 God supplies what you need to do what you're called to do. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.119 Do you believe that God speaks? 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:11.279 When God promised Moses to give him words, you believe that God speaks? 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:15.359 The clearest sign that you believe God speaks is that you listen. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:31.200 This raises a question that's been central in my professional and personal life for 40 years. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:39.359 If it's God who supplies the words, why do I need communication training? 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.839 I have a PhD in rhetoric. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:27:00.319 Now before you start chuckling or whatever, rhetoric for 2,500 years in the West has been the study of how people influence other people, how to communicate effectively. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.160 Did I waste my time? 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:08.400 I also have a graduate degree in theology. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:16.319 What does God have to do with rhetoric? 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:22.559 If God provides all the words, why do you need training? 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:30.720 So I did a weekend conference for pastors about communication principles for effective preaching. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:35.920 At the end of the weekend, a pastor came to me and said, Hey, thanks for coming. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:40.079 Can't help think, though, that all this was really quite unnecessary. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:50.079 Which I don't know how you feel, but after five sessions and you know a whole weekend devoted to this, that's a beautiful compliment. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:55.039 Can't believe, you know, I can't help thinking all this is quite unnecessary. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:58.960 So I'm a curious sort, and I said, Well, what do you mean? 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:03.680 And he said, Well, it's God who changes people's hearts, right? 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:06.079 And I said, Absolutely. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:12.880 And he went, Okay, well, if God wanted to, then I could stand up and read a phone book and people would be brought to Christ. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.599 Was he right? 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.240 Yes. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.319 Yes. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.279 God can do whatever God wants to do. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:28.640 God will not be handcuffed by the presence or absence of my rhetorical expertise. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:32.000 God can do whatever God wants to do. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:37.359 Now, you know how you never think of the right thing to say in the exact moment? 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:39.440 Usually you don't think of it till you get home. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:41.279 That's how it happened to me, too. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:46.079 So on the spot, I just sort of stood there dumbstruck. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:51.920 But when I got home, I realized what I should have done is to say, is it God who heals? 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:55.519 To which I suspect he would have said yes. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.960 And I would say, I believe it too. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.480 And you know what? 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:07.519 I bet if you're going in for open heart surgery, you want a trained surgeon standing over you with a knife. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:13.920 God could use the landscaper, God could use the cook. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.759 Now, here's the secret. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:23.599 This um transformed my personal and professional life. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:37.920 I pay attention to the skills that are needed for the task in front of me, not because God needs it, but because I want to be a good steward of what I'm asked to do. 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:45.759 The issue is not what God needs, it's what I need to do to be a good steward. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.720 So thank you. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.160 That's very therapeutic. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.960 Now, now back to Moses. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:55.200 Objection number three. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:01.440 We're now at chapter 4, verse 13. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:04.880 Here's objection number three. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:09.839 Moses said, Lord, please send someone else to do it. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:16.960 Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses, and he said, What about your brother Aaron the Levite? 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:18.720 I know he can speak well. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:23.119 He's already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:28.960 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:34.960 I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:44.880 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth, and as if you were his God, you were God to him. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:52.480 Oh God, please send someone else. 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:55.920 This is kind of an extension of the second objection, huh? 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.440 Except here's the difference. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:01.440 With the first two objections, there was some cause for debate. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:06.000 Most of actually had a point that he could work through with God. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.440 Here, forget that. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:09.039 He's out of excuses. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.319 He just gets right down to it. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.680 I don't want to do it. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:17.839 Even though God promised to be his tutor, he goes, No, sorry, I'm out. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:19.440 Don't want to do it. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.799 And so now God's angry. 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:30.000 I think God's angry, because after all that God has done, Moses still makes it about himself. 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:35.119 Moses placed his own will above God's will. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:39.119 But God isn't completely done with Moses. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:41.519 God adapts. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:45.039 God adapts. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:32:00.880 Even in the unwillingness of Moses, God adapts by involving Aaron, who will speak to people as if he were Moses' mouth. 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:05.440 God promises to help both Moses and Aaron. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:18.720 It looks like including Aaron right now is the best decision that God can do. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:23.839 Notice this, however. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:28.079 So God says, okay, Aaron, all right, come aboard. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.359 I'm gonna help you both. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:34.319 But as the narrative unfolds, you rarely see Aaron do any of the speaking. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.039 It's Moses. 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.559 God adapts. 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:47.279 So Moses's third objection, please send somebody else, reveals the third principle that by which God shapes our lives. 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.319 Here it is. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:54.160 God plans and yet chooses to work through humans. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:02.319 God plans and yet chooses to work through humans. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:07.039 We're made in God's image with free will. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:11.440 That is so critical because without freedom, there's no love. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:22.960 And God loves us so much, He will adapt to even our shortcomings and our failings and meet us there and provide everything we need. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.200 So here it is, friends. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.599 Three objections and three responses. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.480 God bless you. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:42.240 As you make yourself in all your ordinariness, make yourself available to the God who uses imperfect people. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.839 Please pray with me. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.920 Lord, thank you for your word. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:50.880 It is a light to our path. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:54.400 Thank you for being patient with us as you are with Moses. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:34:05.839 And thank you for including us in whatever ordinary ways that is, that we might glorify you, which is our purpose. 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.680 In Jesus' name. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.639 Amen. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.960 Thank you for listening. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:20.480 Please join us in person for community worship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:28.320 We are located at 512 South Bernard Street, Spokane, Washington, 99204.