Exodus Chapter: 4
Introduction
Now that God revealed Himself, He reveals His plans for Moses and for Israel.
Moses has to repeat the words that the God has spoken to him from the burning bush.
Moses has to request three-day leave for Israelites to worship God in the desert.
Moses has to collect the wages that are owed to the people of God for their hard work in Egypt.
The commands are all based on the promises and the prophecy God has previously given to Abraham in Genesis 15:12-20.
But now the struggle is between Moses and God, whether he would do what God commands.
The next phase tells us that God’s commands are not to be refused.
In response to Moses that the Israelites rejecting God as appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses was given three signs to accredit as the chosen spokesman and leader to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.
Here we go ……
THE MIRACULOUS SIGNS OF GOD
1. ROD -> SERPENT -> BACK TO ROD
Venue: the burning bush in Mt. Sinai
Characters : God and Moses
Situation: After the lengthy conversation of God and Moses
Cause: Deliverance of the Israelites from the cruelty of the Egyptians
Topic: God requesting Moses to be the spokesman and the leader
Objection: Guilty of disbelief
Moses: But behold, my Lord, the Israelites will not believe me nor hearken my voice.
God: It’s an unworthy response, Moses.
Moses: The Israelites would say that the Lord wouldn’t have appeared to me.
God: What’s in your hand, Moses?
Moses: A rod!
God: Cast it on the ground.
Moses: Yes, my Lord. (Moses Cast the rod on the ground.)
God: What is this, Moses?
Moses: It’s a serpent. (runs away in fear.)
God: Stop, stop, Moses. Put forth your hand and pick it up by the tail.
Moses: Yes, my Lord. (Moses picked it up) It’s rod again, my Lord.
God: (patiently) They would believe that I am the Lord of their fathers –
Moses: (hesitantly) Yes, my Lord.
God: ….. the Lord of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob!
Moses: Yes, my, Lord……..
(God could see Moses’ hesitance to carry out God’s Commission)
GOD SHOWS ONE MORE MIRACULOUS SIGN
God still graciously deals with the weakness of Moses by granting him the ability to perform these signs.
For Israelites these are visible signs that God did appear to Moses in the burning bush.
Not only these signs prove God’s existence, but these signs give evidence of his superior power.
2. HAND OF MOSES -> LEPROUS -> BACK TO HAND OF MOSES
God: Your hand, your hand.
Hand: (hand intrudes) Yes my Lord! Yes my Lord!!
Hand telling it’s own story……
God talked about me with Moses. I immediately alerted and took up the role myself I know that God was working on the second miraculous sign to Moses to make believe. He told me to put myself into Moses’ bosom. Why? Why? I was wondering about! But I obeyed because He is our God.Then He asked me to come out of his bosom. What a relief! But to my surprise I was leprous and I was as white as snow. ‘Lord, my God, why did you do this to me?’ I grieved and prayed. I patiently waited for His miraculous sign. I trusted Him. ‘He won’t leave me or forsake me.’ He knew my grievance and told me to put myself again into his bosom. So I went back and when I came out, I was clean with my own flesh without any blemishes! Isn’t it a sign for God’s existence? Isn’t it His superior power? Shouldn’t we believe Him?
THE THIRD MIRACULOUS SIGN OF GOD
After demonstrating the two miraculous signs, God voiced the third one. It wasn’t demonstrated by God, but He had given instruction to Moses to do it in front of people to bring out the superior power of God.
WATER OF THE RIVER -> BLOOD ON THE DRY LAND
God a Chemistry Teacher…….
The chemistry teachers make instructional cards for the students to work in the laboratory to confirm the inference of their working. Likewise God presents the third miraculous sign giving instruction to Moses. Here God worked out the inference too.
INSTRUCTIONAL CARD
God said to Moses,
1. Take the water of the river.
2. Pour it upon the dry land.
Inference: Water of the river becomes blood on the dry land.
THE DIVINE PROMISES OF GOD AND THE OBJECTIONS OF MOSES
1. Moses would be the leader, deliverer and ambassador of God before Pharaoh.
1. His inadequacy for such a serious mission (Ref Exodus 3:11)
2. The Israel would not only be delivered out of bondage and oppression but also rescued to worship.(Acts 7:7)
2. His reasonable inquiry to unreasonable doubt (Ref Exodus 3: 13)
3. “I AM WHO I AM.” The declared the decisive expression of the divine power.
3. An unworthy response rather than reasonable inquiry (Ref Exodus 4:1)
4. God shows His miraculous signs to show His power that none could do and Moses has been given that power to perform in front of Pharaoh.
4. His speech disability (Exodus 4:10)
5. God providing and promising a divine help; Aaron being the spokesman. (Exodus 4: 13-16)
5. An expression of reluctance (Ref Exodus 4:13-16)
BUT MOSES……
was reluctant.
was disobedient.
was stubborn.
was doubtful.
was guilty of unbelief.
was lacking courage to act.
GOD……..
is a God of planning and purposeful.
is loving, compassionate and kind.
is unchangeable and independent.
is promising and prophetic.
is merciful and gracious.
is a living God with superior power.
is long suffering and patient.
is slow to anger and swift to forgive.
Lets pray,
Lord, We pray that we reflect your image by imbibing all Your qualities in our lives. Amen.
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