July 9: I Will Trust in God’s Purposes and Power

Exodus 3:4-8a, 19-21; 4:10-12, 27-31

Jun 20, 2006
WILEY RICHARDS

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

All too often the Wednesday night prayer meeting consists almost entirely of a role call and prayer for the sick and infirm. Those who have studied Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God have been introduced to a different side of intercessory prayer, namely of trying to discern God’s will for us and the church. Once we know His will, we can pray with the full assurance He will answer. It is in that light we look at the text for this study.

• Following God’s purpose and power always begins with an awareness of His presence (3:4-8a). We look at the encounter between God and Moses as the beginning of the dividing point in Israel’s history. However, Moses was not ignorant of God’s existence prior to this meeting in the desert. It’s just that he did not realize God was so accessible. God warned Moses not to presume on coming too close and commanded him to remove his shoes. He was standing on holy ground.

• Also, trusting in God’s purpose and power entails adopting God’s procedure (vv. 19-21). To his shame, Moses second-guessed God’s judgment, affirming himself an unknown person to Israel whom nobody would follow (v. 11). Further, they would even inquire about the name of the One who sent him. What would Moses say? (V. 13). He said to tell them “I AM THAT I AM” had sent him.

Yet, God explained the response of the king of Egypt would not let the Israelites leave the land, not even “by a mighty hand.” Pharaoh’s refusal would cause God to smite Egypt with mighty wonders before bending his will to God’s demands. Before God was done with Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the children of Israel would gain favor with the population to the extent that the people would gladly shower God’s people with “jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment” (v. 22). When the people left Egypt, they left in style, dressed like the royalty which becomes the people of God. Further, the pagan jewelry furnished the material to adorn the furnishings of the tabernacle as God formed them into a sovereign nation.

• But Moses still had to learn to submit to God’s promise (4:10-12). Moses had not quite run out of excuses. He pled his lack of eloquence, that is, he felt inadequate to go before Pharaoh to make God’s case. Acts 7:22 reveals how lame his reasoning was because “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” His 40 years in the desert surely had not obliterated his previous language gifts. God patiently assured Moses that since he had made Moses’ mouth, he was able to place the proper words in his mouth. Moses was unimpressed with God’s proposal. In His anger, God pointed out Aaron could handle the speech problem (vv. 14-17).

• In short, if we are to trust God’s purposes and power, we have to adopt His plan (vv. 27-31). At the same time God dealt with the reluctant Moses, he appeared also to Aaron, Moses’ brother. Without word of inquiry or complaint, Aaron journeyed to the mount of God in the wilderness. After a warm embrace, Moses shared all the words of God with him. The two, now a formidable team, gathered the elders of Israel in whose presence Aaron “did signs in the sight of the people” The exodus had begun to take shape.

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