Choosing God: The Power of Faithful Decisions

 

Summary

Moses's life is a profound testament to the power of choices. His journey began with a pivotal decision made by his parents, who, guided by God, chose to save his life by sending him down the Nile River. This act set the stage for Moses's future. At 40, Moses made a grave mistake by killing an Egyptian, forcing him to flee. However, he later made a transformative choice to align himself with the people of God, rejecting the secular world of Pharaoh for the sacred world of God. This decision allowed God to work mightily through him, leading to Moses becoming the leader of Israel, confronting Pharaoh, parting the Red Sea, and performing miracles like bringing water from a rock. By choosing God over cultural conformity, Moses not only altered his destiny but also that of the entire nation of Israel.

We, too, face similar choices. We can either follow the culture, risking spiritual demise, or endure the challenges of cultural rejection to gain acceptance from God. This choice, though difficult, is crucial. Moses himself was hesitant when called by God, acknowledging the difficulty of the task. Following Christ can impact our relationships, careers, and finances negatively, but God promises to meet us in those challenges. He can transform what seems like negative consequences into positive opportunities for His purpose. Sin may offer temporary pleasure, but it leads to long-term misery. Conversely, choosing God may bring short-term inconvenience but results in long-term fulfillment and divine guidance. We cannot change past mistakes, but we can control today's choices, which will shape our future.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Parental Choices: Moses's life trajectory was significantly influenced by his parents' decision to save him, highlighting the profound impact of parental choices on a child's future. Our decisions, especially those made in faith, can set the stage for God's work in our lives and the lives of others. [00:34]

2. Choosing God Over Culture: Moses's decision to align with God's people rather than the Egyptian culture demonstrates the importance of prioritizing faith over societal norms. This choice allowed God to use him mightily, showing that divine purpose often requires rejecting cultural conformity. [01:43]

3. Facing the Challenges of Faith: Like Moses, we may feel hesitant and inadequate when called by God. The path of faith can be daunting, affecting personal and professional aspects of life, but God promises to meet us in our struggles and turn challenges into opportunities. [02:36]

4. The Deceptive Nature of Sin: Sin offers temporary pleasure but leads to long-term misery. Moses's story reminds us that short-term gratification can result in prolonged suffering, whereas choosing God may bring immediate challenges but ultimately leads to lasting fulfillment. [03:35]

5. The Impact of Today's Choices: While we cannot change past mistakes, we have control over our current decisions. The choices we make today significantly influence our future, and choosing God can lead to a life guided and empowered by His presence. [04:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:34] - Moses's Early Life and Parental Choice
- [00:47] - Moses's Mistake and Flight
- [01:00] - Choosing to Suffer with God's People
- [01:12] - Rejecting Pharaoh's World
- [01:27] - Moses as Israel's Leader
- [01:43] - God's Power in Moses's Life
- [01:58] - Choices and Their Consequences
- [02:10] - Cultural Rejection vs. Divine Acceptance
- [02:23] - The Difficulty of Following God
- [02:36] - Moses's Hesitation and God's Call
- [02:52] - Impact of Faith on Life
- [03:04] - God's Purpose in Challenges
- [03:20] - The Deceptive Allure of Sin
- [03:35] - Long-term Decisions and Consequences
- [04:01] - God's Guidance in Choices
- [04:33] - Controlling Today's Choices

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Power of Choices in Moses's Life

Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 2:1-10 - The Birth of Moses
2. Hebrews 11:24-27 - Moses's Faith and Choices

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Observation Questions:

1. What significant choice did Moses's parents make, and how did it impact his life? [00:34]
2. At what age did Moses make a grave mistake, and what was the consequence of that action? [00:47]
3. How did Moses's decision to align with God's people rather than the Egyptian culture change his life and the destiny of Israel? [01:43]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the choice of Moses's parents to save him reflect the power of parental decisions in shaping a child's future? [00:34]
2. What does Moses's decision to reject Pharaoh's world and embrace God's people teach about the importance of prioritizing faith over cultural norms? [01:12]
3. In what ways can the challenges of following God, as experienced by Moses, be seen in the lives of believers today? [02:36]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when a decision made by your parents or guardians significantly impacted your life. How did it shape your path, and how can you make faith-driven choices for those you influence? [00:34]
2. Consider the cultural pressures you face today. What steps can you take to prioritize your faith over societal expectations, similar to Moses's choice? [01:12]
3. Moses was hesitant when called by God due to the difficulty of the task. Is there a calling or challenge in your life that you feel hesitant about? How can you seek God's guidance and strength in this situation? [02:36]
4. Sin offers temporary pleasure but leads to long-term misery. Identify a temptation you face that offers short-term gratification. How can you choose God's path for long-term fulfillment instead? [03:35]
5. Reflect on a past mistake that you cannot change. What current decision can you make today to align more closely with God's will and positively influence your future? [04:33]
6. How can you support others in your community who are struggling with the challenges of cultural rejection for their faith? What practical steps can you take to encourage them? [02:23]
7. Identify one area of your life where you need to make a choice between cultural conformity and divine purpose. What action will you take this week to choose God's path? [01:43]

Devotional

Day 1: The Influence of Faithful Parenting
Moses's life was profoundly shaped by the courageous decision of his parents to save him from Pharaoh's decree. By placing him in a basket on the Nile, they set the stage for his future as a leader of Israel. This act of faith demonstrates the significant impact parental choices can have on a child's destiny. Parents today are faced with similar decisions that can influence their children's spiritual journeys. By choosing to act in faith, parents can create opportunities for God to work in their children's lives, just as He did with Moses. [00:34]

Hebrews 11:23 (ESV): "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict."

Reflection: Consider a decision you need to make for your family. How can you ensure that this decision is guided by faith and trust in God's plan?


Day 2: Prioritizing Faith Over Cultural Norms
Moses's decision to reject the Egyptian culture and align himself with God's people was a pivotal moment in his life. This choice required him to prioritize his faith over societal expectations, allowing God to use him in extraordinary ways. In today's world, believers are often faced with the challenge of choosing between cultural conformity and spiritual integrity. By following Moses's example, individuals can experience the fulfillment that comes from living a life aligned with God's purpose. [01:43]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where cultural pressures are strong. How can you choose to prioritize your faith in this situation today?


Day 3: Embracing the Challenges of Faith
Moses initially hesitated when called by God, feeling inadequate for the task ahead. Despite his fears, he chose to trust in God's promise to be with him. This story reminds us that the path of faith can be daunting, impacting various aspects of life. However, God assures us that He will meet us in our struggles and transform challenges into opportunities for growth. By embracing these challenges, believers can experience God's power and purpose in their lives. [02:36]

Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: Think of a challenge you are currently facing. How can you invite God into this situation and trust Him to guide you through it?


Day 4: The Long-term Consequences of Sin
Sin often presents itself as a source of temporary pleasure, but it ultimately leads to long-term misery. Moses's story illustrates the deceptive nature of sin and the importance of choosing God over fleeting gratification. By rejecting sin and embracing God's path, believers can experience lasting fulfillment and divine guidance. This choice may bring immediate challenges, but it ultimately leads to a life of purpose and joy. [03:35]

James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Reflection: Reflect on a temptation you face regularly. What steps can you take today to resist this temptation and choose God's path instead?


Day 5: The Power of Present Choices
While we cannot change our past mistakes, we have control over the choices we make today. Moses's life demonstrates the transformative power of choosing God, which not only altered his destiny but also that of the entire nation of Israel. By making intentional decisions aligned with God's will, believers can shape their future and experience His presence in their lives. [04:33]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Reflection: Consider a decision you need to make today. How can you ensure that this choice aligns with God's will and leads to a future filled with His presence?

Quotes


and it would ever and forever change moses's trajectory at 40 years old he made a bad choice he slew an egyptian and it made him run for his life but then he made another choice he chose to suffer with the people of god and not deny his history his background and most importantly his faith [00:00:39]

and when he made that choice and he decided that he no longer wanted to live in the secular world of pharaoh but in the sacred world of god it would allow god to do some powerful things in his life he would wind up being the leader of israel he would wind up confronting pharaoh [00:01:08]

because when he chose god rather than the culture god could then infuse his purpose presence and power in moses's life and it would not only forever change his destiny it would change the destiny of the whole nation of israel likewise you and i have choices to make [00:01:43]

we can choose the culture and go down with the culture because everyone who followed pharaoh they lost their lives when they pursued the israelites or we can choose to suffer the inconvenience and rejection of the culture in order to be accepted by almighty god [00:02:09]

when we make that choice and i must admit that choice can be hard i mean when god called moses to lead the people he was reticent he was hesitant he said i don't know that i can do this what you're asking me is hard and there are hard decisions to make as a follower of christ [00:02:28]

it's hard sometimes to know that family friends occupation income can be negatively impacted because you choose to follow the lord and not follow the world but the good news of that decision is god can meet you there and god can take what looks like the negative consequences of choosing him [00:02:48]

and turn them into the positive opportunities of being used by him god has a purpose for your life but that purpose can be through warted from the human side of things by choosing sin and the circumstances that come from it even the pleasures it's called of sin because sin does offer fun [00:03:14]

good times and temporary excitement but he made a long-term decision that's one of the things about choices you can get short-term pleasure for long-term misery many of us know what it's like to have chosen for the moment but have lost for months and even years and decades [00:03:36]

or you can make a long-term choice that produces short-term inconvenience but because you're looking at the long-term and not the immediate you find the hand of god governing guiding directing inspiring empowering and using you at a whole nother level so you have choices to make [00:04:01]

and the encouragement of this kingdom hero is to choose god you may not be able to change the bad choices of yesterday but you certainly control the choices you make today because the choices you make today will greatly affect your tomorrow [00:04:24]

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Transcript
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