Series Introduction

The book of Exodus is a testimony of how God remembered His covenant promises and saved His people from the clutches of Egyptian slavery. This incredible deliverance foreshadows the ultimate redemption that Jesus Christ provides us. In this sermon series on Exodus, we will delve into these miraculous events that unfolded in history to uncover the true character of God, His faithfulness to His promises, and His power to transform us. 

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 4:1-17, ESV:   Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, just as Moses stood before You, overwhelmed by the weight of his past and the enormity of the task ahead, so often we find ourselves at the edge of our own burning bushes. Yet in our inadequacy, You step in with Your sufficient grace. We ask now for Your Spirit to fill us so that we might embrace the tasks You set before us, not with fear, but with the confidence that comes from knowing You are with us. Prepare our hearts to receive your Word. Amen. 

Introduction:

Imagine Moses standing before the burning bush, feeling the weight of his own history—his past mistakes and his self-imposed exile. Moses, the man who fled Egypt in disgrace, is now being called to return as a liberator. But the path ahead is daunting, and Moses is hesitant. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me?” Who among us has not found ourselves standing at the edge of our own burning bushes, the places where God’s call confronts our deepest insecurities? Yet, the story of Moses reveals that God steps into the gaps in our abilities with assurances that are both powerful and profoundly tender. As we explore this passage, we see that the real miracle is not just in the signs themselves but in what they represent: God’s all-sufficiency in the face of our insufficiency. God tells Moses, “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say” (Exodus 4:12). Here is the heart of our message today: God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. This truth invites us to reconsider our own hesitations. Are we, like Moses, arguing with God about our inabilities, or are we willing to trust in His power to work through our weaknesses?

God’s Call and Moses’ Excuses (Exodus 4:1)

As Moses stood before the burning bush, he was faced with a divine mandate that stretched far beyond his comfort zone. 

"Moses answered and said, 'But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’'" Exodus 4:1

Moses' words express deep-seated fear and self-doubt, a common struggle amongst the faithful. Many faithful followers of God have lingering doubts about our ability in the face of God's calling. We may secretly fear that if we open ourselves up to God’s voice, we may be called to a task too great for our ability. Like Moses, we often confront opportunities and challenges with the question, "What if I fail?" or "What if they do not believe me?" 

Moses' fear was not unique to him. The Apostle Paul expressed a similar sentiment when he wrote to the Corinthians, acknowledging his weaknesses: 

"And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling" (1 Corinthians 2:3). 

However, the beauty of scripture and the essence of God's message to us is found in His response to our insecurities. To Moses, God provided not just reassurance but tangible signs of His presence and power. Paul found solace in this truth, as he declared, 

"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In considering Moses' fear, let us ask ourselves: How often do we let our insecurities dictate our response to God's call? How frequently do we allow the fear of human judgment to overshadow our faith in God’s provision? The reality is that each of us, at some point, has doubted our abilities and questioned God's plan, much like Moses did at the burning bush.

Yet, even our doubts and fears can become a platform for God's power to be displayed. When we feel inadequate, unqualified, or disbelieved, we are in the very position God often uses to manifest His strength and purpose. The call to trust is not a call to ignore our fears but to move forward despite them, believing that the One who calls us is faithful to guide and equip us for the task ahead.

God's Response: Signs of Divine Assurance (Exodus 4:2-9)

In Exodus 4:2-5, we witness the first of three signs given to Moses by God to convince the Israelites of His divine message. The Lord said to Moses, "What is that in your hand?" Moses replied, "A staff." Then God instructed, "Throw it on the ground." When Moses did, the staff became a serpent, and Moses fled from it. But the Lord told Moses to seize the serpent by the tail, and when he did, it turned back into a staff. This act would demonstrate to the people of Israel that indeed, "the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."

This transformation of Moses' ordinary shepherd's staff into a serpent and back again is rich with symbolism. The staff, a common tool of a shepherd, represents Moses' identity and his past life. But when thrown to the ground, it becomes a serpent, which in Egyptian culture symbolized royal and divine authority, often worn on the pharaoh's crown. Here, God demonstrates His power over the symbols of the Egyptian gods, including Pharaoh himself, foreshadowing His impending judgments upon the land.

Moreover, in Hebrew culture, the serpent also represents cunning and danger, perhaps even evil, as remembered from the Garden of Eden. By commanding Moses to pick up the most dangerous serpent by the tail—a risky move that defies common wisdom—God showed Moses that He could control even the most perilous forces. This act was a lesson in trust; Moses had to depend completely on God's promise for his safety.

The staff demonstrates that nothing is too trivial for God to use in mighty ways if we are willing to throw it down at His command. We often hold tightly to our resources, skills, and time, thinking they are too insignificant to be of use in God's kingdom. But just as Moses' staff was transformed to serve God's purpose, so too can our ordinary resources become tools of divine power. When we surrender what we have to God, He can turn our simple offerings into miraculous signs of His sovereignty and grace. This scripture invites us to consider what we are holding onto that God is asking us to throw down. What fears are we running from that God wants us to confront? 

In the second sign, God instructs Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” When Moses pulls his hand out, it is leprous, white as snow. Then God commands, “Put it back into your cloak.” He does so, and when he takes it out again, it is restored like the rest of his flesh. Leprosy, a feared disease, symbolized impurity and was a condition that excluded sufferers from society. By instantaneously inflicting and then curing a disease, God demonstrated His dominion over the most feared ailments and His power to cleanse and restore.

This sign is not just a display of God’s power but also a symbol of God’s ability to transform. It echoes the promise of purification and redemption. Just as Moses' hand was restored, so too can our spiritual impurities be cleansed. The instantaneous nature of the healing underscores that God’s power to cleanse and restore is not only effective but also immediate.

Consider this: how often do we view our weaknesses, our failures, and our spiritual ailments as permanent stains on our souls? Yet, the lesson from Moses’ leprous hand is clear: God has the power to cleanse and renew us completely. It is written in Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

The restored hand invites us to trust in God’s cleansing power in our lives. Just as Moses' hand was made leprous and then restored within moments by the power of God, we too can be transformed. This transformation is not just about physical healing but about a spiritual renewal that God offers to each of us through faith.

There are gospel connections to be drawn from this sign. Each and every one of us has experienced spiritual ‘leprosy’—times when we felt unclean, unworthy, or isolated from God. Yet, the message of Exodus 4:6-7 rings clear: there is no stain too deep, no flaw too great, no sin too grave, that God cannot cleanse and redeem. Let us approach God with the confidence of David, who prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Just as surely as Moses' hand was restored, so can our hearts be purified by the transformative grace of God.

Finally, in Exodus 4:9, God gives Moses a powerful and symbolic third sign to use if the Israelites still doubted his divine commission: "But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." 

It’s important to remember that the Nile River was not merely a river in Egypt; it was the source of life. It irrigated the land, provided a means for transport and trade, and fed the entire population. In many ways, the Nile was Egypt itself, a god worshipped as the giver of life and sustenance. By turning the Nile's water into blood, God was showing His dominion not only over nature but over the very life sources of Egypt itself. This sign was a direct challenge to the Egyptian gods and a clear demonstration that the God of Israel held power even over the elements considered divine by the Egyptian people. 

The transformation of water into blood was not just a sign of God’s judgment but also a demonstration of His provision and protection for His people. It reassured Moses and the Israelites of God's active presence and power in their lives—a reminder that He would be with them and would act on their behalf. For Egypt, the Nile was life, provision, and salvation, but for the Hebrews, God would provide all they needed, and salvation would come through the sacrificial blood of lambs placed on their doorpost so that the Angel of The Lord would pass over them. It is no coincidence that just as the Hebrews were protected under the blood of their lambs, so too are we eternally secure under the blood of Christ - the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29). 

Moses' Persistent Reluctance and God's Patience (Exodus 4:10-12)

In Exodus 4:10-12, we find that, despite witnessing God’s power through miraculous signs, Moses hesitates, burdened by his perceived inadequacies. He confesses to God, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Moses' words reveal a deep-seated fear—a fear not just of public speaking but of being deemed insufficient for the task God has appointed him to.

In response, God asks Moses, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it, not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11). Here, God reminds Moses—and us—that He is the creator of all abilities and inabilities, and His plans are not hindered by human limitations.

Like Moses, we often view our limitations as barriers to fulfilling God's call. However, God’s assurance to Moses serves as a reminder that He is actively involved in our journey. Our inadequacies are opportunities for God’s power to manifest, turning our weaknesses into showcases of His strength. He is sovereign over all creation, including our individual capabilities. Our part is not to be perfect or capable but rather to be available and obedient to God’s leading. It is not our eloquence or ability that accomplishes the work, but God’s power through us. As believers, we are reminded that our mission is not to trust in our strength but to rely fully on God, who provides all we need for the task.

Aaron the Speaker (Exodus 4:13-17)

In Exodus 4:13-17, despite God’s previous assurances and the miraculous signs given as proof of divine backing, Moses continues to resist His call, finally dropping all pretense and pleading, "Please, Lord, send someone else" (v. 13). God’s response to Moses' reluctance is both patient and strategic. He says, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well" (v. 14). This divine arrangement illustrates a fundamental principle in God’s kingdom: He often pairs individuals together, utilizing their combined strengths to achieve His purposes. In fact, one of the reasons God assembles believers into local churches like ours is so that we can pair up and complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses as we walk in obedience to God. 

Aaron’s eloquence and Moses' strong sense of justice combined to form a powerful duo equipped to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This partnership teaches us that God’s work is not about individual glory but about collective obedience and collaboration. As Paul later echoes in 1 Corinthians 12:21, "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don’t need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don’t need you!'" In God’s mission, every role is crucial, and every servant brings valuable contributions. Aaron highlights God’s understanding of our insecurities and His readiness to provide means and companionship to accomplish His will. When we feel inadequate to the tasks God sets before us, He will provide the resources and relationships necessary for success.

Let us recognize that in God’s work, no one is an island. We are designed to function in the community, to support and be supported, to complement each other’s strengths, and to compensate for each other’s weaknesses. This is how God’s work is done—not in isolation, but in collaborative, interdependent relationships. In this, we find not only the model for effective ministry but also the assurance that God’s provision for our mission includes the companionship and skills of those He has placed alongside us.

Conclusion:

As we bring our sermon to a conclusion, let's consider our own lives. What is God calling you to do, and what hesitations or excuses might you be using to resist His will? Are you doubting your abilities or perhaps fearing how others might respond? Let us find encouragement in the example of Moses to trust in the sufficiency of God's provision. Just as God transformed ordinary elements into powerful signs for Moses, He can work through our ordinary circumstances to manifest His power and glory. When doubts arise, remember the signs He has already placed in your life—the answered prayers, the unexpected help, and the moments of unexplainable peace. Then, take a moment to consider if there might be an 'Aaron' that God has provided whose strengths could complement your weaknesses. Remember that if God calls you to a task, He will equip you to do it. Remember also that you do not have to go it alone. God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ, your church family, to support you along the way. We are a team, and though our callings may be different, our mission is the same. 

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before You, acknowledging our weaknesses and the vastness of Your strength. Thank you for reminding us through the story of Moses that You do not call the equipped, but You equip those You call. Lord, help us to embrace Your call, trusting that where You guide, You will provide. Strengthen us to overcome our personal limitations and to work together with those You have placed in our lives. May we move forward with courage and faith, trusting in Your signs and provisions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.