Acts 7:17-23
As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased. 18 But then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. 19 This king exploited our people and oppressed them, forcing parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die.
20 “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months. 21 When they had to abandon him, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son. 22 Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action
Acts 7: 20- 20 “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes.
He was wonderfully preserved in his infancy; for God will take special care of those of whom he designs to make special use. – Matthew Henry
I love how God works, that even in the worst situations possible, if we stop to look at what He is doing, we get to see beauty
I wish we could see what God see in our lives. Beauty – This was not a time of beauty. I bet every woman who bore a son, cried for their future – yet God say beauty
Story of Moses is beautiful (quick recap) – read Exodus
Acts 7:22 – Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action
- Moses learnt Geography, geometry, arithmetic , astronomy, natural history, physics and hieroglyphic and many more
- He overpowered an Egyptian soldier killing him, so we know he was strong
Why do I tell you this?
Exodus 3:9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
Exodus 4:10 – 10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
- Do you know who you are?
Jeremiah 1:5 – I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.
We all have a calling. I know that’s hard to believe for some …but all of us God created us for a purpose
And yes, the enemy knows that too and that is why he will do everything to make you forget who you are
The enemies work is to divide and conquer – If only I he can get you in the desert, then soon and very soon …or even later he will start to chip at your identity
Sometimes we may end up in the desert by our own choices
Moses killed and had to run away – I wonder how his life would have been – (He was already chosen) if he never killed the Egyptian?
Its easy to put ourselves in the desert, separate ourselves from others because of the choices we make.
Other time we drift away and find ourselves in the desert
- First week getting back from Kenya – not useful
“ I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, – we know that Moses was “ and he was powerful in both speech and action”
We can look at Moses and point finger but the fact is that most of the times we find ourselves denying who God has Said we are and instead giving off the labels that world/enemy has put on us.
But God I am “fearful” – I don’t have word to invite them to church
But God I am “weak” – I cant quit that addiction
But God “I cant” Your strength is not sufficient in me.
We need to know what God say’s about us.
Unless we truly know who we are in Christ, every other label will destroy us.
Moses spent 40 years being taught and made great yet, the desert eroded that
Fear is dangerous because it has many roots
- Pride, insecurity, lack of trust, selfishness, ..the list is long but what I know is that it does not please God at all
Exodus 4: 11- 14 – Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.
- Do you need some desert time?
The desert is no joke man. I do not want any desert time …
However, as we see with Moses, his refuge came in the desert
It here where his pride was shed, you cannot be cool herding sheep.
He went from the palace, being waited on to sleeping in with the sheep (That what shepherds would do)
Ephesians 4:26 “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,”
Control your anger and for Moses this costed him much and sent him to the desert
I don’t know what your “anger” is , but if you don’t let God put a check on it, you will end up in the desert
*Heading to Kenya and 7pm it was 109 degrees and the during the day it would be Its 125 with sand storm
1 Peter 2:9-10- But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy
We need to know who we are
- The danger of being in the desert
Human being are adaptive creatures – that is our strength and also our weakness
Moses gets married and have kids
You can argue that he did very well for himself
Looks like he got a career in the desert
It all good when you look at it with the natural eyes, yet we know that was not his purpose
Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
He was not called to be a goat person – the goat dude
God had rescued him since birth because He was to do greater things for Him, yet in the desert, we tend to get comfortable and settle for less that what God is calling us to
I wonder how many of us settle for “goat herding”
We are so comfortable that we don’t even mind the smell though deep inside we know that we powerful in both speech and action
We have great families, good jobs, we serve at church yet we know or have forgotten the calling God put in your life years back.
How long are you going to be in the desert?
- The burning bush
Exodus 3: 1-4 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro,[a]the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai,[b] the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
Must be nice, where is my burning bush? I am glad you asked…. this message is your burning bush
Come back to your skills, to what God has called you to do
You may not know where to start but just like Moses all you have to say is
“ Here I am”
And God said to Moses ““Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
