Embracing Humility: Moses's Journey to Leadership
Summary
In Exodus chapter 4, we witness the intertwining of two significant themes: the formation of the people of God and the development of their leader, Moses. This chapter is pivotal as it marks a transformative moment for Moses and the people he is called to lead. The central theme that emerges is humility, which is essential for experiencing God's presence and power. Moses, described in Numbers 12:3 as the most humble man on earth, exemplifies how humility is crucial for being used by God.
Initially, Moses is misaligned with reality, overvaluing himself and undervaluing others. This misalignment leads to failure, as seen in his impulsive actions in Exodus 2. However, through his time in the desert, Moses learns humility, realizing his limitations and the need for God's strength. This journey of humility is not just about thinking less of oneself but about aligning with reality—recognizing one's limitations while acknowledging God's unlimited power.
The turning point for Moses comes with the signs God provides, such as the staff turning into a snake. These signs shift Moses's focus from himself to God, enabling him to embrace true humility. This humility is expressed through obedience, as Moses finally aligns with God's call and takes the staff of God in his hand, symbolizing his reliance on God's power rather than his own.
For us today, the cross of Christ serves as our "staff," reminding us of our need for God's grace and the depth of His love for us. By holding onto the cross, we can achieve true humility, seeing ourselves clearly and allowing God to work through us. This alignment with reality enables us to dwell with God and be used by Him effectively.
Key Takeaways:
- Humility as Alignment with Reality: True humility involves seeing ourselves clearly, recognizing our limitations, and acknowledging God's unlimited power. It is not about thinking less of ourselves but about thinking of ourselves less, allowing us to focus on God's strength and presence in our lives. [05:14]
- The Role of Failure in Teaching Humility: Moses's failure and subsequent time in the desert were instrumental in teaching him humility. God often uses our failures to strip away our pride and lead us to a place where we can be truly used by Him. [12:06]
- Signs as Focal Points for Faith: The signs God provided to Moses, such as the staff turning into a snake, served as focal points to shift his focus from himself to God. These signs helped Moses embrace true humility and align with God's reality. [29:00]
- The Cross as Our Staff: Just as Moses's staff reminded him of God's power and his own limitations, the cross of Christ serves as our reminder of God's love and our need for His grace. Holding onto the cross helps us achieve true humility and alignment with reality. [34:52]
- Obedience as an Expression of Humility: True humility is expressed through obedience to God. When Moses finally obeyed God's call, he demonstrated his reliance on God's power rather than his own, allowing God to work through him effectively. [30:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:53] - Formation of God's People and Leader
- [01:23] - Themes of Belief and Trust
- [01:56] - Humility as the Key
- [03:25] - Humility in Leadership
- [04:42] - Moses's Encounter with God
- [05:14] - Defining Humility
- [06:45] - Misalignment with Reality
- [09:59] - Consequences of Overvaluing Self
- [12:06] - Learning Humility through Failure
- [13:23] - Moses's Transformation
- [16:09] - The Human Plight of Confidence
- [19:40] - True Humility and Alignment
- [24:18] - The Role of Fear
- [29:00] - Signs and Shifts in Perception
- [30:13] - Obedience and True Humility
- [34:52] - The Cross as Our Staff
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 4
2. Numbers 12:3
3. Matthew 27:29-31
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Observation Questions:
1. What pivotal moment in Moses's life and calling as a leader is highlighted in Exodus 4? How does this moment contribute to the formation of the people of God? [01:08]
2. How does the sermon describe Moses's initial misalignment with reality, and what were the consequences of this misalignment? [06:45]
3. What signs did God provide to Moses, and how did these signs serve as focal points for shifting Moses's focus from himself to God? [29:00]
4. How is the cross of Christ compared to Moses's staff in the sermon, and what does this comparison signify for believers today? [34:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon define true humility, and why is it considered essential for experiencing God's presence and power? [05:14]
2. In what ways did Moses's time in the desert contribute to his development as a humble leader? How might this process of learning humility through failure apply to our own lives? [12:06]
3. How does the sermon suggest that signs and miracles can help believers shift their focus from themselves to God? What role do these signs play in developing true humility? [29:00]
4. How does the sermon interpret the significance of the cross as a "staff" for believers, and what implications does this have for understanding our identity and reliance on God? [34:52]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you overvalued your own abilities or undervalued others. How did this misalignment affect your relationship with God and others? What steps can you take to realign with reality? [06:45]
2. Moses learned humility through failure and time in the desert. Can you identify a period in your life where failure led to personal growth? How can you embrace humility in your current circumstances? [12:06]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of signs as focal points for faith. What are some "signs" or reminders in your life that help you focus on God's presence and power? How can you incorporate these into your daily routine? [29:00]
4. The cross is described as a reminder of God's love and our need for His grace. How can you hold onto the cross in your daily life to achieve true humility? What practical steps can you take to keep this perspective? [34:52]
5. Obedience is highlighted as an expression of humility. In what areas of your life is God calling you to obedience, and how can you respond with humility and reliance on His power? [30:13]
6. Consider the role of fear in Moses's journey. How does fear impact your ability to trust and obey God? What can you do to shift your focus from fear to faith in God's promises? [26:13]
7. The sermon suggests that true humility involves thinking of ourselves less. How can you practice this mindset in your interactions with others this week? What specific actions can you take to prioritize others' needs over your own? [25:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Humility as Alignment with Reality
True humility is about aligning oneself with reality, recognizing personal limitations, and acknowledging God's unlimited power. It is not about diminishing one's self-worth but about shifting focus from self to God. This shift allows individuals to experience God's presence and power more fully in their lives. By understanding that humility involves thinking of oneself less, believers can open themselves to God's strength and guidance. This alignment with reality is crucial for spiritual growth and effective service to God. [05:14]
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself overestimating your abilities? How can you invite God to help you see yourself more clearly today?
Day 2: The Role of Failure in Teaching Humility
Moses's journey in the desert was a time of learning and transformation, where his failures became instrumental in teaching him humility. God often uses our failures to strip away pride and bring us to a place where we can be truly used by Him. This process involves recognizing our limitations and the need for God's strength. By embracing failure as a tool for growth, believers can develop a deeper sense of humility and reliance on God. [12:06]
"Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." (Proverbs 18:12, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent failure. How can you see God's hand in using that experience to teach you humility and reliance on Him?
Day 3: Signs as Focal Points for Faith
The signs God provided to Moses, such as the staff turning into a snake, served as focal points to shift his focus from himself to God. These signs helped Moses embrace true humility and align with God's reality. By focusing on God's power rather than personal abilities, believers can develop a deeper faith and trust in God's plan. This shift in perception is essential for spiritual growth and effective service to God. [29:00]
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues." (Mark 16:17, ESV)
Reflection: What signs or moments in your life have shifted your focus from yourself to God? How can you use these experiences to strengthen your faith today?
Day 4: The Cross as Our Staff
Just as Moses's staff reminded him of God's power and his own limitations, the cross of Christ serves as a reminder of God's love and our need for His grace. Holding onto the cross helps believers achieve true humility and alignment with reality. By focusing on the cross, individuals can see themselves clearly and allow God to work through them effectively. This alignment with reality is crucial for spiritual growth and effective service to God. [34:52]
"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: How does the cross serve as a reminder of God's love and your need for His grace? How can you hold onto this truth in your daily life?
Day 5: Obedience as an Expression of Humility
True humility is expressed through obedience to God. When Moses finally obeyed God's call, he demonstrated his reliance on God's power rather than his own, allowing God to work through him effectively. This obedience is a crucial aspect of humility, as it involves surrendering personal desires and aligning with God's will. By embracing obedience, believers can experience God's presence and power more fully in their lives. [30:13]
"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." (Isaiah 1:19, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life is God calling you to obedience? How can you demonstrate humility by aligning your actions with His will today?
Quotes
Moses, described in Numbers 12:3 as the most humble man on earth, exemplifies how humility is crucial for being used by God. Initially, Moses is misaligned with reality, overvaluing himself and undervaluing others. This misalignment leads to failure, as seen in his impulsive actions in Exodus 2. [00:01:51]
Humility is simply alignment with reality. It's seeing clearly, it's embracing truth. When you are misaligned with reality, when you don't see clearly, you will tend to overvalue yourself and you also tend to undervalue others. We see this in Moses. [00:05:10]
Moses here is misaligned with reality. He is not seeing clearly. He's overvaluing himself. See, when you overvalue yourself, you tend to overvalue your own abilities. You tend to insert yourself, you tend to do it by yourself. You're overreliant on yourself. [00:06:42]
God needs him to become a servant before he can truly become the leader that he's meant to be. God needs to address his pride and lead him towards humility before he's able to really be used by God. [00:12:57]
True humility is always expressed in obedience to God. We see that that is what Moses is finally doing. He's no longer resisting God, he's no longer fighting, he's obeying. He finally gets it. [00:30:13]
The staff would remind him of his failure and it would remind him that it was God's power at work, that he couldn't do this on his own. But at the same time, it would remind him that God is with him, that God was for him, that God had called him and equipped him and sent him. [00:32:48]
The cross reminds us of who we really are, that left by ourselves, we are nothing, we are failures, we are actually rebelling against God, we are in need of his mercy and grace. We are nothing. At the same time, it reminds us though of how much we are loved. [00:35:18]
The essence of gospel humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. [00:24:57]
The signs are what cause Moses to believe. The signs are what Moses does for the elders and that causes them to believe and worship at the end of the chapter. And ultimately, the signs are what causes Egypt to believe. [00:29:00]
The reality is whether you are overvaluing yourself or undervaluing yourself, neither of these things is actually humility. [00:19:36]
The staff was key, but we don't carry a staff today. So where does that leave us? How do we actually get humility? The answer is found in the New Testament with another mention of a staff. [00:33:44]
The cross eventually becomes in our hands the staff of God. What you have to recognize is that staff is ours to hold on to, and it is what allows us to be humble. [00:34:52]
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