Encounters with God Looking at the life of Moses

Encounters with God Lessons from Moses: Exodus 3 Reaching for more: Exodus Journeys from fear to faith: Exodus 14 Worship encounters: Exodus 15

The story so far… God’s promise - I have heard; I will deliver Moses – an example of a life lived in God’s presence. Ch The process of deliverance begins.

1. Living in tension (it might get worse before it gets better)

Exodus 3: ‘Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, “The Lord, the God of your fathers… appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into… a land flowing with milk and honey.” 18 ‘The elders of Israel will listen to you.

Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, “The L ORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the L ORD our God.” 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.

Exodus 5: Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.”’ 2 Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.’

Exodus 5: That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 ‘You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota… 9 Make the work harder for the people...

Exodus 5: The Israelite overseers realised they were in trouble when they were told, ‘You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.’ 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, ‘May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have

made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.’ 22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.’

Life with God isn’t always a straight line We have to deal with obstacles and difficulty. The best things in life aren’t without challenge.

It goes like this… See something worth fighting for. Get fired up. Believe. Go for it. First thing you encounter - not the dream. Challenge, obstacle, difficulty. Life’s got harder.

A choice. Give up or go to God. Ask God: What is in the way? What do you want to heal? What do you need to do first? Perseverance - Just keep showing up. Resilience - coping when it doesn’t work out. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

Living in tension. This is the Kingdom of God. People of the Bible live in this tension all the time. Victory and suffering. Going for it and waiting. All on God’s terms.

This is Jesus’ life The most decisive event in history ever. It didn’t look like people expected. Suffering, waiting, tension, obstacles. What are you living in tension for today?

2. Real relationship (not I owe you; you owe me) Life with God is always about real, face to face relationship. In the tension God invites us deeper.

Ch 5 & 6 Meet moaning Moses! Surely this is sinful? Holy people do as they’re told – quickly! God doesn't judge Moses. He responds with revelation increased relationship

God answers: 6:1 Now you will see… 6:2 I am the Lord… 6:5 I have remembered my covenant… 6:7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God… Deepening revelation. Not just a better life. God wants them for himself.

What if God’s silence is his invitation to get real. To press in To ask hard questions To haggle To tell him how we feel What if what we’re facing in our life right now is an invitation to draw us deeper into God’s presence.

3. Expect God’s empowering presence Moses: I can't do this; I’m weak; get someone else; the people are angry; Pharaoh is mad. Too weak to do what God’s asked. Too weak to stand up to criticism. Too weak to stay in tension.

Ask and believe for God’s empowering presence. God took Moses through the bumpy times. He gave him authority, power and freedom. We can stay the course when we understand God’s strengthening.

Why the wait? God heard and responded. But it took some time. 1. Because God wants it all. 2. Because God gives it all.

God wants it all Moses to Pharaoh Ch5: let my people go… He wants freedom & justice He wants every person; animal; object Pharaoh to Moses Ch12: take it all. And go… God’s timetable. God’s ways. Result was comprehensive. Complete freedom.

God gives it all We give over everything to God. To a God who gave everything for us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn3:16 God held nothing back. He’s inviting us to hold nothing back.

Next week: Encounters with God Journey from fear to faith Exodus 14