IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Go with What God Has Given

Date: Sep. 6, 2015

Passage

Exodus 4:1- 17 

Moses Given Powerful Signs

4:1 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.’” 2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 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. 4 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—5 “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.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 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.”

10 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.” 11 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? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 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. 15 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. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 4:2

The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

First, being helpless is a good spot to be in (1-9). God can work when we realize we are totally helpless to do his will with our human efforts. Once Moses had been confident in his ability to lead his people out of bondage. Now, after 40 years in the wilderness, he had lost all his self-confidence. Those 40 years were not a waste, but a necessary season of Moses' life. He learned to depend on God in his helplessness. God is faithful to work in any person's heart and transform them until they can bring God glory.

Second, take your staff, utter a prayer and go! (10-17) Moses had no more presumptions about himself. Now was the time to take it to the next level in the Lord. God promised to be with him to help him (11-12). He was going on ahead, to open peoples' ears to accept the message Moses was called to preach. We have the Creator God on our side. Just take "your staff in your hand", whisper a pray, trust the Lord and go.

Prayer: Lord, I am unable, but you are more than able. I am helpless and full of excuses, but you are my Creator who gives me words to speak and the strength to go. I place my hope and trust in you.

One Word: God has already equipped you

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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