Glossa Water: Exodus 3

Showing posts with label Exodus 3. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2014

This Ability.

As we continue our reflection on Exodus 3 and 4, let’s consider a statement made by Moses:

Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)

Though we often hear commentary on Moses’s slowness of speech and tongue, I’d like us to reflect on what Moses said just prior to his self-assessment of his speaking ability. He said, in essence, God, even though You’ve spoken to me, I still lack eloquence. This encounter with You has not affected my speech impediment.

If God created the worlds out of nothing, and if God could cause a bush to burn without being consumed, and if God could cause a staff to transform into a snake, then surely He would have no problem with imparting eloquence to a man… yes? Or no?

Moses’s statement might be our statement as well. We may have seen profound miracles happen around us, but no miracle has yet happened in us. We continue to walk in weakness. And perhaps we, like Moses, are wondering how we could have encountered God and still carry a trait that exposes our weakness to the world.

God says some amazing words to Moses in reply:

The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)

What an awesome gift Moses received from God! Although Moses’s speech and tongue were still slow, Moses had God’s assurance of Divine help. Moses, I made your mouth; I know what you bring to the table. Don’t be concerned! When it’s time for you to speak My word to others, I will do more than just give you the words to say. I will do a miracle in you that allows your very speech pattern to be aided by My Spirit in you. I will not remove your slowness of speech: I will override it.

I can think of specific moments where God did not remove the limitations in me, but He instead overrode them so that His message could be shared. Maybe you’ve had moments like that too. Maybe you’re having a moment like that right now. Remain encouraged! Our God, who made us as we are, is the same God who can use us, as we are, for the sake of His glory.

Lord God, we stand in gratitude of the choices You have made concerning our frame and our nature. We are available to You! We are ready to go anywhere for You! Override our frailties. Override our speech and tongue. Be ever glorified in us. Amen.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Throwdown!

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” (Exodus 4:1-3)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Reverend Dr. Carla Sunberg spoke from Exodus chapters 3 and 4. Though her message was one of encouragement to us, she also imparted this challenge: Throw down whatever it is that you’re holding in your hand.

Reverend Carla reminded us that Moses was given this directive by God. The shepherd’s staff in Moses’ hand was a symbol of his role, his expertise, and his comfort zone. When Moses obeyed the directive and threw the staff on the ground, God caused it to transform into a snake. Moses saw, firsthand, that God held the power to do what was impossible for man.

Later in the narrative, we find that a group of Egyptian magicians was able to perform the same miracle through the power of sorcery. But God, who had instructed Moses and Aaron to throw down Aaron’s staff in the presence of Pharaoh, caused a second miracle to occur: the staff thrown down by Aaron swallowed up every other staff that had been thrown down by the magicians (see Exodus 7:8-12). The false was swallowed up by the true.

This word of God to us, “Throw it down,” is a word that we are called to obey wholeheartedly. When we let go of the skills and accomplishments we have carried by our own power, and when we walk away from our comfort zone, we make room for God to transform our work into something that can only be attributed to His miracle-working power. And, His miraculous power will overcome every false god and false sign manufactured by those who have devoted themselves to counterfeit works.

What’s that in your hand? Throw it down, and watch God do the miraculous.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Can You Please Remind Me?

As we close out our reflections on the series An Invitation to Hope in the Face of a Time of Despair, here are a few thoughts from the sermons we’ve heard.

[If you would like to hear these sermons in their entirety, please view “BronxBethany Church of the Nazarene” on livestream.com, where these archived services can be viewed for a limited time.]

August 3, 2014 (Part One):

v Our God is incomparable. Though we live in a pluralistic society, there is no one and nothing that can be compared with God.

v As Christians, we operate on the premise that God is in complete control.

v We serve God, who has no match or rival in His ability to redeem.

August 10, 2014 (Part Two):

v When covenant people ignore the covenant, there are consequences.

v The God of judgement is also the God of salvation.

v The word of the LORD gives us a hope and a future in the face of despair.

August 17, 2014 (Part Three):

v God is distinguished by His creative power (ex-nihilo- He made everything out of nothing).

v God is omnicompetent: nothing is impossible for Him.

v God’s strategy is that we look not at our circumstances, but at Him.

August 24, 2014 (Part Four):

v The name of God, “I Am” (Exodus 3:14-15, Revelation 1:8), reveals His permanent existence.

v There is no problem that is too great for God to bear or address.

v We, like Paul (Second Corinthians 12:8-9), can be strengthened by God even when our situation does not change.

Lord, our God, how great You are! Though our circumstances seek to derail us, we choose to look to You. We worship You in spirit and in truth. Inhabit our praise; speak to our hearts; reveal Your sovereignty and love to us. Thank You for keeping us anchored in You. In the face of despair, You have given us grace and power to live in hope! Thank You Lord.