Into Whose Basket will you Place your All
A. Moses redeemed from Murder
B. Moses tries to redeem by Murder
C. Israel calls for a redeemer from God
DBF Sunday Sermon, 7/21/02
We are so very blessed to live in Bristol Bay Alaska and to have God’s bounty so readily available to us. Even in the lean years God gives us sufficient food and resources to continue to strive for HIS perfect will here in Dillingham.
I think about the amount of salmon, moose, caribou, berries and so much more that God has blessed us with to take home in our basket and then share with the fellowship that God calls here.
We have been blessed by God and have been able to bless others through HIS abundance.
When I tell people that we will be eating “Dillingham Beef” they often reply with “What is Dillingham Beef”?
Then I tell them it is either moose or caribou—and I would also put salmon into that mix because we make Taco and spaghetti with it also.
I am continually amazed as someone who has been raised in the subsistence manner in the swamps of Louisiana. We ate the things we hunted, fished, and gathered from the swamps. Then I move to a community several thousand miles north of that which I was born and raised in and the lifestyle is so very similar.
God is so good, HIS mercies are all around us, and HE brings about all that is good and perfect in our lives.
If I will place my trust into anything or anyone—“As for me and my family, we will follow the Lord.”
I pray that you have already truly stated and believe this—if not I pray that the study today will bring you to this truth.
A. Moses redeemed from Murder
Exodus 2
1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. 4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. 7Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. 9And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. This man was Amram and his wife Jochebed which we see from Exodus 6:20. We see again that God’s perfect call to a perfect union was one man and one women who become one in and under God.
Jochebed—it is interesting that Moses mothers name meant “the glory of Jehovah (Yahweh),” one clear instance of the use of God’s sacred name before the Exodus.
We remember from last weeks study that Pharaoh instructed the killing of all the infant males. That would not be the kind of basket we young males would like to find ourselves in is it?
Think of the irony, we know that Hebrew women all sought after having male children so that the promised seed might be from their womb—and here they are in a place that would jeopardize the very possibilities with the decree of Pharaoh.
Now if all my eggs were in the basket of man—I would have to give up?
The government decreed it—it will come to pass—“Woe am I”.
Unless, I trust in the God of creation that is able to bring about HIS good and perfect will in any and all situations—which is shown time and again from Genesis to Revelation…
Oh, what a might God we serve.
So…she hid him three months—Who did she hide him from? Are you trying to hide something today?
We know that things of this current age can only be hidden from people around you—and even then very poorly. God’s word clearly tells us that the things that we assume to be hidden will be made known in the light.
Matthew 10:24-28
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
It still amazes me that people in this world who go out and sin on a continuing basis think that they are getting away with something—we need to let them know verses such as Matthew 10: 24-28 or else how will they ever know that they are called to live a life that is different.
3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. 4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
The ark was made of the papyrus, commonly used by the Egyptians for light and swift boats. The species is no longer found in the Nile below Nubia. It was a strong rush, like the bamboo, this she coated with--Slime and pitch—The “slime” is probably the mud, of which bricks were usually made in Egypt, this was used to bind the stalks of the papyrus into a compact mass, and perhaps also to make the surface smooth for the infant. The pitch or bitumen, made the small vessel watertight.
You see that Jochebed was going to place something very special into this basket—she was going to place one of the “Hopes of Israel” into it.
Do you strive to place your children into this seem basket of hope, the true hope that can only be found in the triune nature of God?
We also learn that we must take care of the things we put into our baskets as Miriam was sent to watch over it. You see we do have a stewardship requirement in any matter that God places before us—Are you fully being a steward in all manners of things that God is placing before you today?
We must do no less than we see in this glorious example of Jochebed and Miriam. Do ye likewise.
God’s providence is always about those who seek HIS will--the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
Again the world would tell you that it was a glorious coincidence that Pharaoh’s daughter came out and happened to spy the basket, then sent her made to retrieve it.
We as Christians need to understand that all things are under God’s hand and HE will bring about HIS good and perfect will in our lives.
God knew that Moses would only be safe from death and persecution only in Pharaoh’s own house under the protection of his daughter. “What a mighty God we serve—Amen”.
And God rewards Miriam and Jochebed for their faithfulness in that once the child is discovered--7Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. 9And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it—Oh glorious day—protection and presence. Moses received protection, Jochebed and Miriam were allowed to be in his presence, and God rewarded them for their faithfulness in that they also received wages for doing what they would have done for free. “God is so Good”—Amen.
Jochebed allowed God to redeem Moses through taking what steps she could then relying on God for the rest. Do you do this today? If you place your eggs in any basket—I pray it is in the basket that God lays before you.
B. Moses tries to redeem by Murder
11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
11And it came to pass…when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand—Isn’t it amazing when we try to do things in our own strength that things go so bad for us. Here Moses felt compassion for his suffering people and tried to deliver them in his “imperfect” strength.
God does call us to have compassion though on our brethren when we look upon their burdens.
There burdens of sin in …adultery, homosexuality, pornography, drunkenness, idolatry…and to bring things around them that will allow the word of God to sink into their hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work within them the same miracle that HE worked within all who have called upon the name of the Lord for salvation.
15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses—What do you do when things do not go as you planned?
Do you go into the Woe am I…or maybe you say…Obviously it isn’t God’s will to bring these people to salvation…or do you seek additionally wisdom and clarification from the only true source of clarification and wisdom “GOD”.
Would God who preserved Moses from the initial death threat now allow Moses to be taken from HIM now? Absolutely not, you see God had placed him for about 40 years in a place that he could learn to be an educated ruler—now the second part of God’s perfect plan would unfold as Moses learned to be a wise ruler in the desert of Midian.
You see in the ways of man—this would be foolishness. You and I are called to the ways of God which is foolishness to man.
God placed Moses in a place that would allow him to lead with confidence as the nation of Israel would make its way from Egypt towards the “Promised Land” and then the little 40 year trek in the desert. God’s wisdom is always right—seek it and live.
And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land—Do you today see yourself as a stranger in this land? I pray that you have come to the sure understanding that we are only staying here for a short time. If we are indeed the people of God and our true place is with God in eternity—celebrate this fact with Moses—who knew of the promised land—but was never able to enter it this side. You and I must know that we will never enter it this side either—we can only see dimly the glory of the things that God has ordained to come about.
C. Israel calls for a redeemer from God
23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
Isn’t it amazing, so many of us go our own way and never even think of God or the harm and hurt we cause HIM or others around us—but when something bad happens we scream—Where was God when this happened?
You see, we have to really have God’s will in our hearts to start to be able to state that question—and if we truly do have God’s will in our hearts—then we wouldn’t really ask that question because we know that God will bring about HIS good and perfect will even when things are done by the “Deceiver”. God’s word tell us that God is light—in HIM is no darkness at all. If it is something of darkness—it was not God’s design. God will still bring about HIS good and perfect will—in spite of the things done by the “Prince of this World”.
Are you to the point that you groan to be in God’s perfect will?
We must start by admitting to God that we are a sinner.
9What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Once we admit to God that we are a sinner we should believe that Jesus is God’s only son and ask HIM into our hearts.
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In so doing God calls us to turn from our evil ways and commit our lives to HIM to change us daily into someone who shares HIS character and appearance—this can only be done by us giving our sinful tendencies and ourselves fully to HIM to change us.
If you seek to come to God today, accept Christ or recommit your life to be fully under him, we ask you to come forward at this time.
We would also ask you to give us any prayer requests that you have at this time, so that we may be blessed to pray for you and to seek God’s good and perfect will in your life as you continue to strive for the light in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
Closing Prayer.
