Trusting God's Call: Lessons from Moses' Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Trust in God's Sovereignty and Care

Description: From the moment Moses was placed in a basket on the Nile River, God's protection and guidance were evident in his life. Despite the perilous circumstances, God ensured Moses' safety by orchestrating his rescue by Pharaoh's daughter. This divine intervention set the stage for Moses' future role as the leader of the Israelites. Throughout his journey, from confronting Pharaoh to leading the Israelites through the Red Sea, God's hand was always present, guiding and protecting him. This teaches us to trust in God's sovereignty and care, knowing that He is always with us, even in the most dangerous and uncertain times. We can find comfort in the fact that God watches over us and directs our paths, just as He did for Moses. [04:53]

Exodus 2:3-6 (ESV): "When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt uncertain or afraid. How did you see God's hand guiding and protecting you during that period? How can you trust Him more in your current circumstances?

Day 2: Embracing God's Call Despite Challenges

Description: When God called Moses from the burning bush, he was initially reluctant and full of excuses. Moses doubted his ability to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and questioned why God would choose him for such a daunting task. However, God reassured Moses by providing his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf and by performing miraculous signs. This demonstrates that God's call often comes with challenges, but He equips us with the necessary tools and support to fulfill His mission. We must be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide what we need to accomplish His purposes. [07:32]

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: What is a task or calling that you feel God is leading you to, but you feel inadequate to fulfill? How can you step out in faith, trusting that God will equip you with what you need?

Day 3: The Power of Intercession

Description: Throughout his journey, Moses often interceded for the Israelites, even when they rebelled against God. Despite their disobedience and complaints, Moses stood in the gap for them, praying and advocating on their behalf. This highlights the importance of interceding for others through prayer and advocacy. As servants of God, we are called to love and pray for those we lead, even when they falter. By doing so, we demonstrate God's grace and mercy, showing others the depth of His love and compassion. [12:35]

Exodus 32:11-14 (ESV): "But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, 'O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, "With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth"? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, "I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever."' And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people."

Reflection: Who in your life needs your prayers and advocacy right now? How can you stand in the gap for them, demonstrating God's grace and mercy through your intercession?

Day 4: The Value of Delegation and Community Support

Description: Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, observed the immense burden Moses carried in leading the Israelites and advised him to delegate responsibilities to others. By appointing capable leaders to handle smaller matters, Moses was able to focus on more significant issues and better manage the people's needs. This teaches us the value of community and shared leadership. We are not meant to carry the weight of ministry alone; involving others not only lightens our load but also empowers them to serve and grow in their faith. Delegation and community support are essential for effective and sustainable ministry. [11:39]

Exodus 18:17-23 (ESV): "Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.'"

Reflection: Are there areas in your life or ministry where you are carrying too much on your own? How can you involve others and delegate responsibilities to create a more sustainable and effective ministry?

Day 5: Loving God and Others

Description: Jesus summarized the commandments as loving God with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This encapsulates the essence of our service to God and others. True service stems from a deep love for God, which overflows into love for those we serve. This love compels us to put others' needs above our own and to seek their well-being wholeheartedly. Moses demonstrated this love by continually interceding for the Israelites and leading them with compassion, even when they rebelled. We are called to follow this example, loving God and others deeply in our daily lives. [17:00]

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV): "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

Reflection: How can you show love to God and others in a tangible way today? What specific actions can you take to put others' needs above your own and demonstrate God's love to them?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Hello, boys and girls. My name is Moses, and I was called a servant of God. My journey began as a Hebrew slave in Egypt, where my family was held captive. When Pharaoh ordered the killing of all Hebrew boys, my parents hid me for three months before placing me in a basket on the Nile River. God watched over me, and I was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter and raised as an Egyptian prince. However, after killing an Egyptian who was harming a Hebrew, I fled to Midian, where I lived for 40 years, got married, and had children.

One day, while tending my sheep, I encountered a burning bush that wasn't consumed by the fire. God spoke to me from the bush, instructing me to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. Despite my initial reluctance and excuses, God reassured me and provided my brother Aaron to speak on my behalf. Armed with God's power, I confronted Pharaoh, who repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go, leading to a series of plagues. Eventually, after the death of every firstborn in Egypt, Pharaoh relented, and I led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Our journey was fraught with challenges, including crossing the Red Sea, which God miraculously parted for us. Despite God's continuous provision of water and food, the Israelites often complained. God allowed me to love and serve them, even when they rebelled. My father-in-law, Jethro, advised me to delegate responsibilities, which helped me manage the people's needs better.

God also gave me the law on Mount Sinai, but the people made a golden calf in my absence, leading to God's anger. Despite their disobedience, I continued to intercede for them. We wandered in the desert for 40 years due to their rebellion, but I remained with them out of love. Although I was not allowed to enter the Promised Land due to my own disobedience, I learned valuable lessons about serving God and others.

God taught me that serving Him can be scary and challenging, but we must trust Him. He often calls us to tasks beyond our abilities, but He equips us to fulfill His purposes. We must spend time with God daily, putting others' needs above our own, and loving those we serve. Jesus later summarized God's commandments: love God and love your neighbor. As God's servant, I learned to love Him and others deeply.

###

Key Takeaways

1. in-law, Jethro, advised me to delegate responsibilities to others, which greatly eased my burden. This teaches us the value of community and shared leadership. We are not meant to carry the weight of ministry alone; involving others not only lightens our load but also empowers them to serve and grow in their faith. [11:39]
5. Loving God and Others: Jesus summarized the commandments as loving God with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This encapsulates the essence of our service to God and others. True service stems from a deep love for God, which overflows into love for those we serve. This love compels us to put others' needs above our own and to seek their well-being wholeheartedly.

### [11:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:53] - Rescued by Pharaoh's Daughter
[05:48] - Life in Midian
[06:41] - The Burning Bush Encounter
[07:32] - Reluctance and Reassurance
[08:16] - Confronting Pharaoh
[09:03] - The Plagues and Exodus
[09:45] - Crossing the Red Sea
[10:19] - Provision in the Wilderness
[10:54] - Delegation and Jethro's Advice
[11:39] - Receiving the Law
[12:35] - Interceding for the People
[13:54] - Disobedience and Consequences
[14:59] - Lessons in Serving God
[15:53] - Daily Communion with God
[17:00] - Loving God and Others
[18:01] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What circumstances led to Moses being placed in a basket on the Nile River? ([04:53])
How did Moses react when he first encountered the burning bush, and what did God instruct him to do? ([06:41])
What were some of the plagues that God sent to Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go? ([09:03])
What advice did Jethro give to Moses, and how did it help Moses manage the people's needs? ([11:39])

Interpretation Questions

How does Moses' early life demonstrate God's protection and guidance? Reflect on the significance of his rescue by Pharaoh's daughter. ([04:53])
Why do you think Moses was initially reluctant to accept God's call at the burning bush? What does this tell us about human nature and divine calling? ([07:32])
In what ways did Moses intercede for the Israelites, and what does this reveal about his character and relationship with God? ([12:35])
How did the act of delegation, as advised by Jethro, impact Moses' leadership and the community? What does this teach us about shared leadership and community support? ([11:39])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt God's protection and guidance in your life. How did that experience shape your trust in Him? ([04:53])
Have you ever felt reluctant to follow a calling or task that seemed beyond your abilities? How did you overcome that reluctance, or what support did you seek? ([07:32])
Think of someone in your life who needs intercession. How can you stand in the gap for them through prayer and support this week? ([12:35])
Are there areas in your life or ministry where you are carrying too much alone? How can you delegate responsibilities to others to foster shared leadership and community growth? ([11:39])
Jesus summarized the commandments as loving God and loving your neighbor. Identify one specific way you can show love to a neighbor or community member this week. ([17:00])
Moses learned to put others' needs above his own. Is there a situation in your life where you need to prioritize someone else's needs? How can you practically do that this week? ([15:53])
Serving God can be challenging and sometimes scary. What is one step of faith you can take this week to serve God or others, even if it feels daunting? ([14:59])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "When I was born, Pharaoh decided that he wanted all of the Hebrew boys to be killed. And my mother and father trusted God, and they hid me for three months. And then finally, when they couldn't keep me hidden anymore, they put me in a basket and put me in a river called the Nile River. Now, the Nile River, it can be a fast-moving river. It's a river, and it has crocodiles in it. But God was watching over me. And God led me to be rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter." [04:53] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "One thing God taught me was that sometimes when God calls us to serve them, it can be really scary. God might tell us to do something we've never done. Or He might tell us to help someone we really don't like. When He does that, we have to trust God." [14:59] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When God calls us to do something we can't do by ourselves, we have to remember that it's God who calls us and tells us to serve others. He's going to do His work for us. when we're God's servant, we have to focus on God. And we have to spend time with Him every single day." [15:53] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You can pray and ask God how you can serve Him and others that day. He'll show you if you remember to watch. And when we're God's servant, we have to put the needs of other people above our own needs. You know what? Boys and girls, it's easy to do what is best for us. In fact, that's what we really want to do. But it's not always easy to do what's best for others. And we have to trust God to help us to put others before us." [17:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In fact, about 2,000 years after me, there was a man who came along and his name was Jesus. You've probably heard a lot about Jesus this week. And one thing that Jesus said, He gave us, somebody came to Jesus one day and said, What are the two major commandments that you have? What are the two best commandments? And this, Jesus said, here they are. Love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your body and your soul. And love your neighbor as yourself. Love God. And love your neighbor." [18:01] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "And I was raised as an Egyptian. I was a prince in Egypt. I was there for almost 40 years. But then one day, I saw an Egyptian trying to hurt one of my people, the Hebrews. Hebrews. You know what I did? I killed him. And then I had to run away. I was trying to do what I thought God wanted me to do. I was trying to serve God, and I didn't. I ran away for 40 years. I went and lived in a land called Midian. I had to travel hundreds of miles to get to Midian. And when I got there, you know what I did? I got married, and I had kids, and I settled down." [05:48] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Well, the next day, Pharaoh said, get out. And so he sent us away. And God told me, He told me to lead these people. There was over a million of them. And God sent me and said, lead these people. So I took off. I said, okay, God, I'll try. And he led me to the Red Sea. And the Red Sea was deep. And I couldn't get across. And the army was coming behind us. Pharaoh changed his mind. But God said, hold out. God said, what are you doing waiting? Hold out your staff. And I did. And God sent a wind. And he opened up the Red Sea. And he led my people through it. And then he closed it up. And he killed Pharaoh's army." [09:45] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Well, one time God was ready to kill the people. And I said, God, either forgive their sins or kill me. God had let me love those people so much as a servant, I loved the people I was serving. Well, the people still kept doing some things that were not so good. In fact, they went so far as to going against what God wanted them to do. And He led them. He made us stay in the desert for 40 years. And we wandered around for 40 years. People around us thought, what are they doing 40 years? But you know what? I stayed with them because I loved the people God had called me to serve." [12:35] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And finally, one last thing that God taught me. God taught me that when I'm serving somebody, I have to love them. I have to love them so much that they love me. I have to love them so much that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see them get where God wants them to go. And sometimes that's not very easy. But if we ask God, He'll help us to love Him." [17:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And I was doing just fine. And then one day, 40 years later, I was out in the desert taking care of my sheep. And all of a sudden, I looked, and I saw a bush, and it was burning. It was on fire. But it wasn't burning up. It was still there. And so I watched it across the desert, and my curiosity got the best of me. So I walked all the way to this bush that was burning, but it wasn't burning up. There was no ashes. And when I got there, a voice said, Moses, this is God speaking. Take off your shoes. This is holy ground." [06:41] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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