Get Movin'

O.T. #138  "Get Movin' "
Oct. 2, 2013
Exodus 4-Part 4
And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren, which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.  Exodus 4:18

LET IT GLOW

When my husband and I felt the call into the ministry, we kept wasting time. He quit one job and got another one. We looked into various schools to attend. Yes, we hem-hawed around, not fully selling out to God. We wanted to compromise and attend a local college so we could live in our house, drive our nice car, live by our family, while serving the Lord. In other words, we wanted to live by sight and not by faith, but God wanted otherwise. September came and went and we didn't register for the fall semester at OBU. Finally, I had had enough. I started packing up our household things. We were moving to where God wanted us. My husband decided to join me. So we left it all, the good life an American dreams of, and stepped out in faith, following our God. Oh, it was the hardest 4 years of our life, but the most blessed and exciting 4 years. God took care of all our needs-campus housing, a used car without payments, clothes for the 4 of us, food for the 4 of us. He provided a new church family for us, too. It was the most exciting time we had experienced to that point. I am so glad we took that first step of faith and followed Him. I'm sure Moses felt the same way after He crossed the Red Sea, after all the struggles.

However, I wonder what happened between verses 17 and 18. With all the excuses Moses had for not going back to Egypt and being the instrument through which God would use to deliver His people from their slave-bondage, there is no final surrender, commitment, dedication on Moses part mentioned. It must have been settled in his heart, because his feet got going.

How did Moses get ready to move back to Egypt?

• He returned Jethro, his father in law's sheep, the herd to him first.
• He resigned his current job as shepherd.
• He discussed the move with Jethro, although not disclosing all of the details. He only wanted to go back and check on his family, after 40 years (no cards, letters, emails, fax, or visits).
• He informed his family of the move.
• Let me go...wanting Jethro's approval.
• Jethro told Moses to go in peace, approved of the move, even though his grandsons and daughter may never be seen again by him.
• Moses' two sons, Gershom is mentioned in Ex. 2:21-22 and Eliezer had been born during those 40 years in Midian (Ex.18:4).

When God says "Go forward!" don't even think about standing still. When we stand still and see God part our Red Sea, he opens the way for us to go forward in our "Move it Moment."  (Beth Moore)

Moses didn't tell Jethro about the mission he had received from God. He didn't talk straight to his boss, his father in law. Although, he did receive Jethro's blessing.

We appreciate the fact that Moses took care of his earthly tasks in a faithful manner before leaving, but he was not much of a testimony to Jethro. Was he ready to walk by faith?

How about us? Are we ready to step out and walk by faith when God sends us to do a task for Him?
Will we believe God can and will provide all we need in order to accomplish it?


LET IT GROW

God gave Moses assurances:

• His Word (verses 19-23) Go, return to Egypt; the men who sought to kill you is dead; warning that Pharaoh won't free the Hebrews; given instructions to Pharaoh to let them go or He would kill his firstborn;
• His discipline (verses 24-26) Circumcision was an important part of the Jewish faith, yet Moses had neglected to bring his own son into the covenant (Gen.17). God had to discipline Moses (perhaps by sickness) to remind him of his obligation. How could he lead Israel if he was failing to lead his own household in things spiritual?
• His leading (verses 27-28) God promised Aaron was coming and did meet Moses on Mt. Sinai mentioned in verse 27.
• The acceptance of the people (verses 29-31) Just as God had told Moses earlier in 3:18, the people did accept what Moses told them about God's will to use Moses to deliver them.

{Resource: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

Like Moses, we have a choice-we can resist God's will or we can submit ourselves to it. The choice is ours. Once we submit and begin heeding His call, we will have:

• Certainty that it is God's voice calling us. He speaks through His Word, Holy Spirit, the church, and others.
• Confidence in God's power. Once we conclude that the call is God's, we must rest in His power, not our own. We are never sufficient to handle His tasks, but He always is.
• Comfort with His plan. Don't resist His call or try to altar His plan, else we too have an "Aaron" by our side. It is far better when we refuse to compromise and we agree to receive what God gives, lack what He withholds, relinquish what He takes, suffer what He inflicts, and become what He requires.  

[Resource: Moses, God's Man For a Crisis, by Charles Swindoll]

Here is the leadership team that God put together-Aaron told all that God wanted said, while Moses performed all the signs give to him by God's power.

Is God calling you to be a part of your church's leadership team? Is He calling you to do mission work? Or is God calling you to a closer walk of faith and obedience? Whatever the call is, my friend, I pray you will answer yes. Then watch God move and work.

LET IT GO

Whatever God requires, relinquish it to Him.

Let go of it. Open my heart, my hands and let it go.

Open my heart to all He wants me to be today.

Get ready to move with God. Either get packed up or unload it, making the load lighter, but get movin' with Jesus.

You lead, Jesus, I will follow.