What to do after hearing from God?

<Ex 4> 18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”

Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”

• Cannot remain in a state of inaction, but should have follow-up obedience.

19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

• When God wants us to do something, He will open ways for us.

Do God’s will yet face problems?

<Ex 4> 21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 

• Though outcome is “bad”, must still obey God to perform ALL wonders.
• The Lord foretold Moses the response of Pharaoh, not to scare Moses, but to encourage him to press on.
• Jesus also told us the world will hate us, but we must brace ourselves for spiritual battle.
• Labour in Christ will not be in vain: Keep labouring, keep believing.

God hardens people, and then judge them?

• v21: “I will harden his heart” – God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.
• God does not generate evil in a good man’s heart.
• God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart did not contradict Pharaoh’s own wish <cf. Ex 8:32>.
• God merely withholds His grace to soften that person, and gives the person over to his own sinful heart and mind <cf. Ro 1:28>.
• God hardens the sinner as His judgement to the sinner, and also to glorify God Himself.
• God owes no sinner any mercy, by withholding mercy, He is not unjust.
• I AM WHO I AM: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” <Ro 9:15>.

“Let my son go, so he may worship me.”

<Ex 4> 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”

1) “My son”.

• God is not ashamed of His people, even though they were despised by the world, and were sinful.
• Because of His love and faithfulness to His covenant.

2) Freed to worship (serve) God.

• The opposite of bondage and slavery is not independent freedom.
• God sets us free from an evil master, so that we can serve the good Lord.
• We are not free to live as we please after being saved.
  • <Ro 6:18> You have been set free from sinand have become slaves to righteousness.

Being called does not mean God will tolerate our unresolved sin.

<Ex 4> 24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses (“him”) and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ (“his”) feet with it “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

• Why did God want to kill Moses, when He had wanted him to carry out His mission?
• Disobeying the command of circumcision (a sign of membership in God’s covenant).
• Moses was to teach Israelites the law of God in future, so how could he and his family not obey God’s law?
• We don’t need physical circumcision, but have we gone through circumcision of our hearts?
• Do we have unresolved sins that are hindering us from serving God effectively?

God led Moses forward to his mission, and gave him co-workers.

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

• They worshipped God before seeing good outcomes.
• It is beautiful to worship even as we wait.
• God fulfilled what He told Moses: Aaron’s help and elders’ belief.

Reflection

1. How do you feel when you see “bad outcomes” when you obey God’s will? How do you persevere in following God, when the outcomes you see are not encouraging?
2. Are there any unresolved sins that are hindering you from serving God effectively? How can you settle them with God?