Here am I . . . Send Aaron!
Exodus chapters 1-4
I. Exodus chapter one - Moses’ call was rooted in God’s bigger story.
The Lord recognizes the suffering of His people.
A. The children of Israel had been suffering under Egypt for a long time.
The people of south Sudan have suffered horribly since 1983.
- The Lord has heard the suffering of his people in Egypt.
The Lord has taken notice of the suffering of south Sudan Christians.
- The Enemy desired to kill off an entire generation of infant Israelites.
The Enemy desired to kill off an entire generation Lost Boys.
II. Exodus chapter two – God prepares Moses, an unlikely deliverer, through unique circumstances.
A. He should have been killed at birth.
My very existence was challenged at birth, through abandonment.
B. His initial attempts at leading were less than successful.
I’ve been involved in the leadership of four church plants, none to the expected
level of success.
C. His experience came from the school of life.
My entire experience comes from the wilderness of mainstream vocation.
But God remembered his people.
2:23 Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them. Exodus 2:23-25 NKJV
III. Exodus chapter three - God calls Moses to accomplish His plan.
- Moses’ call came during just another ordinary day, tending sheep.
I was invited to go to Africa by surprise.
- Moses’ call was ignited out of curiosity, from the burning bush.
I have always been curious about Africa, since a young child.
- Moses’ call was very clearly delivered by God.
God used a dream from Alphonse to clearly deliver his call to me.
- Mose’ call was rooted in God’s providence and character.
God’s desire to rescue the abandoned is rooted in his holiness.
- Moses’ call was countered with five excuses:
- Who am I? I’m not qualified.
- Who are you? Can I really trust you?
- What if they don’t listen? Will others believe me?
- What about my weaknesses? Can I be successful?
- What about Aaron? Here am I . . . send Aaron!
IV. Exodus chapter four – God’s call comes with the equipping.
A. God takes what you have (i.e., a simple rod) and transforms it for his purposes.
God needs only our availability, not our abilities.
B. God takes your weaknesses and ministers through them.
God does not remove our weaknesses; he works through them.
“And I will be with your mouth . . . and I will teach you what you shall do.”
Exodus 4:15
