What An Exciting Picture Of Dynamic Spiritual Leadership As We See Two Old Men And A Lump Of Wood!
What vital lessons can we learn from these words written around 3,300 years ago? There are many sound solid practical relevant lessons if we are willing to make the time to understand.
I have been reading and studying and teaching from the early Chapters of the exciting book
Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go. Subject closed!
Pharaoh thought he was the great I AM! And the command is issued - verse 7 -
no longer supply the people with straw for bricks!
This was Moses’ first rebuff. Moses had better learn fast. There were going to be many more.
Moses heard - three “I”s - that of Pharaoh - the Israelis - and Almighty God!
When you serve God and when you work for God, you can be up against things. If the situation had been bad, now it was even worse.
Have you noticed that too? As soon as the man of God intervenes, and speaks the Word of God, the situation can worsen within a very short period! As soon as the Word of God is proclaimed - as happens here - burdens increase - suddenly.
As soon the risen Lord Jesus Christ moves and speaks and ministers in the Power of the Holy Spirit - problems multiply - with a few weeks or months - in some cases, within a few hours.
Straw made bricks dry quicker, and straw made bricks lighter to carry. The clay now remained wet and heavy.
It was hard to keep up with the required quota - the same number had to be supplied at the same rate - and these workmen were accused of being ‘lazy’ - and of being liars.
This was result - the consequence - of the appearing and the coming of two men of God.
When the quota was not kept up, the Israeli foremen were beaten. They appealed to Pharaoh, but he would have none of it, just repeating his allegations.
Then the Israeli foremen came to Moses and Aaron, and cursed the men of God.
Moses was being cursed by his brethren, and all he was doing was obeying the Lord God. He had been cursed by his wife, and now he was being cursed by his kinsmen.
The call of God is upon his life, but he has to endure real sore suffering - mental agony and anguish. It is as if the day goes from bad to worse! There is a very real leadership crisis! The people blamed Moses, and Moses blames God!
Moses does what is best at such a moment. He turns to God in prayer. “Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Lord, all it has been is trouble - and You have not rescued Your people at all.”
Only a man who is really secure in God can speak like this so boldly and courageously in prayer! Moses is under tremendous pressure. There is the voice of Pharaoh, and there are the voices of his brethren. Moses is caught between the uncompromising Word of God, and reaction from some of the people of God who did not know what God was doing. That is a difficult position to be in.
Moses says nothing to Pharaoh or to his suffering brethren who were misunderstanding all that was going on. But Moses does go and talk with God and uses that very strong language.
“Lord, I have done what You told me to do, but You have not done what You said You were going to do.”
He does not dress up his words, nor does he suppress his feelings.
God speaks. This is the Voice Moses listen to and pays attention to - not the voice of Pharaoh - and not to the complaints of those who should have known better.
Moses listened to the Voice of God. These are powerful reassuring words!
I will - I am - I appeared - I made a promise - I have heard the groaning of the Israelites - I will bring you out - I will free you - I will redeem you - with mighty acts of judgment - verse 6. On He goes - I will take you - I will be your God - I will bring you - I will give it to you as a possession!
What a dilemma to be in! Which “I” is governing your life - which voice?
There is the “I” of Pharaoh - or the “I” of Almighty God. Moses is going to listen to the “I AM”.
We have here the Gospel according to Moses. God is acting. God is in action and responds to the ‘whys’ of Moses.
In Exodus Chapter 7 at verse 1, the anointing upon Moses and the authority which Moses receives becomes even greater, and he needs it because he is facing evil..
From verse 8 there is a demonstration of the power of God. If Pharaoh will not pay attention to the mighty power of God through Moses, then it will be not just a demonstration, but there will be destruction.
In they go to meet with Pharaoh - two old men and a lump of wood!
What a tussle ensues. The evil one can perform miracles too, and very similar miracles. But the miracles of the living God were greater than the miracles of the evil one.
God demonstrated His Power to swallow up and kill and remove - and make disappear - but Pharaoh would not listen. Ten dreadful plagues followed.
The man or woman with a hardened heart is seldom moved or impressed and convinced by signs and miracles. It has to be the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
Tags: Moses, leadership