God’s Reassurance During Troubled Times
God reassures us we are in HIS will
God calls us to reassure those around us
DBF Sunday Sermon, 8/25/02
You know it is good to be back. We went upriver for 5 days to get much needed meat for living in Bristol Bay.
It was a glorious time of fellowship with brothers in Christ and this year for the first time in 5 years Gloria was once again with me out in the field.
It was reassuring to have Gloria and Jr. out with me, my mind wasn’t continually wondering about them and I’m sure that their was reassurance on their part for being out with me in that they weren’t worrying about where I was or if I was safe.
And it was even more assuring to know that wherever we are or whatever we are doing we are under the watchful eye of our Creator and God.
As we were returning to Dillingham Wednesday evening, my friends in a smaller boat were swamped and my small boat flipped.
This would have been an extremely scary time if I were not a Christian or if I did not know that my two friends in the boat where born again believers in Jesus Christ. You see even in the most horrendous situations we might find ourselves Jesus promises us peace and reassurance.
I turned around and picked up my friends and our dog “Bear” was nowhere to be seen. He was injured just prior to our departing and I feared that maybe he had drowned because with all the gear, moose and caribou floating in various directions we did not see Bear.
We pulled into the harbor with the guys after help arrived in what seemed like an extremely short time and I praise God for the Dillingham Police Department and the angel with the boat at the landing who came to assist.
Gloria was heartbroken yet confident and prayed that Bear might be spared, we have had him for 8 years and he is part of our family. Gloria was given a peace and reassurance that it would be OK, if anyone could provide this miracle it was our God.
I attempted to comfort my friends who were feeling really bad about the possible loss of Bear, yet neither would leave the water until they had a chance to look under the boat…hoping against hope that bear might somehow have survived the ordeal.
As the angel in the boat pulled up with the capsized boat one of my friends tapped on the bottom and could hear movement inside. With God sized strength my two friends flipped the boat and to the amazement of everyone other than God who continually watches over us Bear was alive and as well as could be expected after this incident.
You see we, as Moses will receive in our study today, received the reassurance of God in our lives and in our walk. What others believe to be hopeless situations we find as endless possibilities for God to show HIMSELF mighty. In the same manner Moses will be led to a reassurance of God’s calling on his life, let this be a lesson to us all.
God reassures us we are in HIS will
Exodus 5
22And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? 23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.
Exodus 6
1Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
We see Moses turn to God and question HIS wisdom and HIS work and even God’s calling upon his life.
22And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?
Why Lord did the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001?
Why did so many people have to die?
Lord, is my going to Mexico, Argentina, or Russia really your plan for my life?
You see it is often very difficult for us to see the glory of God’s work by looking at a single piece of the picture.
If I were to get a gasket and try to figure out what it is for, I probably would have a hard time. But if I took apart my engine or transmission and observed the gaskets that I removed and received a replacement gasket then I would know what it was for and where it went into the total engine.
In much the same way, you and I may get glimpses of the totally awesome wisdom of God in surveying the wondrous works that HE unfolds before us in any and all situations in our lives, but it may require us to see more parts of the plan before we have any insight.
Was God responsible to having the Israelites treated unfairly?
If HE was they should have praised HIM for the work HE was about to do in their midst.
Can you find it within yourself to praise God for what the world would consider a major problem?
I have found that God is the only one I can turn to that is able to turn a problem into a “Praise”.
1Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
You see God stands ready to show HIMSELF mighty through those who are given to do HIS will. Moses could do nothing in himself but could do all things as a servant given unto God.
You see, you and I likewise can claim no greatness for anything that we do that is of “Kingdom value.” It is the product of the “Will of God” and our staying closely tuned to it as we walk with Christ that allows us to know and be part of God’s will.
God tells Moses his new name by which Moses would come to know HIM.
Jehovah The special and significant name (not merely an appellative title such as Lord) by which God revealed himself to the ancient Hebrews (Ex. 6:2, 3). This name, the Tetragrammaton of the Greeks, was held by the later Jews to be so sacred that it was never pronounced except by the high priest on the great Day of Atonement, when he entered into the most holy place.
Whenever this name occurred in the sacred books they pronounced it, as they still do, “Adonai” (i.e., Lord), thus using another word in its stead. The meaning of the word appears from Ex. 3:14 to be “the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God,” the “I am that I am,” a covenant-keeping God. (Compare Mal. 3:6; Hos. 12:5; Rev. 1:4, 8.)
The Hebrew name “Jehovah” is generally translated in the Authorized Version (and the Revised Version has not departed from this rule) by the word LORD printed in small capitals, to distinguish it from the rendering of the Hebrew Adonai and the Greek Kurios, which are also rendered Lord, but printed in the usual type. The Hebrew word is translated “Jehovah” only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4.
Do you today acknowledge the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God?
Many say “Yes” yet teach evolution science in school…
Or take bits and pieces of God’s Bible as they see fit…
You see if you truly say “Yes”, then you are called to take God at HIS word and HIS word is the Bible.
Jesus says in John 15
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
You see the Covenant of Grace that we fall under demands certain things as any agreement would. We are directed to follow the commandments that have been set before us.
How can we follow these commandments if we do not know them?
The way that we can know them and take them into our hearts is to meditate on God’s word continually. Not once a week, not once a month or once a year but continually.
This will bring us reassurance and it is how the Holy Spirit is able to reassure us in our times of crisis and need.
God calls us to reassure those around us
Exodus 6:9-27 (KJV)
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. [10] And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [11] Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. [12] And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? [13] And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
[14] These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben. [15] And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.
[16] And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years. [17] The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families. [18] And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years. [19] And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations. [20] And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
[21] And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. [22] And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri. [23] And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. [24] And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites. [25] And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. [26] These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. [27] These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. God called Moses to reassure his brothers on sisters of the nation Israel that God would bring them out of this land unto the “Promised land” and they didn’t run after this blessing that was being offered.
It isn’t very different today where God calls us to speak to the children of the world who are oppressed, in spiritual anguish and in bondage to sin. You and I are called to bring the word of God into a world full of this cruelty. And it amazes me that people that are so trapped in this bondage are often the same ones that feel that they are so free in their decisions but continue to run in the same sin filled circles.
It amazes me I guess because I too was once trapped there until someone came to proclaim the gospel to me and by accepting Christ, HE set me free and things have never been the same from that day…Praise God.
When people do not hearken unto you for proclaiming God’s truth, you should not take it as a personal affront. Really it is greater that you, they are not rejecting you but are rejecting the Master who sent you. You see they are rejecting Jesus Christ’s plea to them and God’s free grace offered to them. It does not relieve us of the burden to continue to strive to bring the word to all people even unto the ends of the earth…for some will believe.
You see the fact that the nation didn’t believe or particularly like the manner in which God was bringing about this miracle in their presence…it did not nor could not stop the will of God from being accomplished.
What should we learn from this?
If God wills something to be join him. The only other alternative is to waste your time babbling about things that will not come about. Seek instead to be a part of God’s will and work.
Of course we cannot come freely into God’s presence without taking a few steps of obedience through faith.
First, we must admit to God that we are sinners, unclean and unworthy of any consideration from our Lord and God.
Second, we must believe that Jesus Christ is God’s “Chosen”, “Messiah”, “Emmanuel”, and God’s only son.
Next, commit your life to the Lord above and ask HIM to fill you with HIS “Agape” love. This is not a natural love in the world for it is not centered in self but in loving others above you.
After taking these simple steps and praying a “sinners prayer”, you are able to come into fellowship with God and HIS people will help you as you start to walk in newness of life.
You see this was scary for the nation of Israel to walk in a manner that they had never walked in before. You see 400 years earlier they had been carried into Egypt for the safety and growth of the nation. The nation had become accustom to their usual place in life…only it was not God’s intent that HIS people and HIS nation be in bondage to anyone or any nation. This is still the desire of God’s heart, so much so that HE sent HIS only begotten son to die for you while you were yet a sinner. Come to Christ, Come to God today for Reassurance, safety, and rest.
If you have any prayer needs are concerns we ask that you let us know, we would love to pray for you.
Closing prayer.
