Summary: Failure never needs to be final

DEALING WITH FAILURE

9/14/08 Exodus 2:15-25

1. REQUIRES A TIME OF EXTRICATION – Moses Fled

A. Cut your Losses!

1. Moses could have stayed – would have died

2. Could have tried to start a rebellion of slaves

B. Or as Kris Kristoferson says ‘know when to fold em”

1. Can’t do much except damage control

2. REQUIRES A TIME OF EXAMINATION dwelt in the land

A. Principle

1. why did he intervene when Egyptian beating Israelite

2. Heb. gives a little light Heb. 11:24-27

3. People in slavery- needed deliverer – he was it

B. Plan

1. By the strength of His arm and position

2. Never God’s way - Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

C. Purpose

1. Why did he try what he did?

2. Anger? – Sympathy?

3. REQUIRES A TIME OF DETERMINATION Vs. 15a - 17

A. Divine Appointment - and he sat down by a well

1. crisis in Moses life – disappear into obscurity

2. God will not make us respond to his call

B. Decision of Involvement but Moses stood up & helped

1. Only one Moses but at least 2 shepherds

2. Out numbered – away from home – who would know?

3. Never right to stand idly by while someone’s wronged

a. Man beat a sleeping man with hammer – no one

b. afraid he would beat them –probably would have

4. REQUIRES A TIME OF CONTINUATION Vs. 18-22

A. Life goes on! – Don’t miss it!!

1. Married – Ziporah (little bird)

2. Son – Gershom (expulsion/banishment)

B. During this time – 40 yrs Moses just trying to sort things

1. Second Son not mentioned until 18:4

And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

5. REQUIRES A TIME OF EXPECTATION Vs.23-25

A. Circumstances always change, but God never does

1. Hebraism that means “when the time was ripe”

a. Larry & Glenda – County Fair - $50 Helicopter ride

know Larry’s frugal – she begged – words of wisdom – Now Glenda, $50 is $50 dollars

came to Fair Every Night (Free Pass of course)

same argument – pilot overheard – tired

Carry both up for nothing – 1 condition –

neither one will say a word – do $50 each

Larry finally agreed – After all $50 is $50

took off – pilot did every trick to make them talk

not a peep – landed and said over shoulder

Mrs. Parrish I can’t believe ---

looked back an to his horror Larry was gone

Where? Glenda – fell out on first turn started to

But as Larry always said $50 is $50!!

B. God Is Always Working Even when We can’t See Him

1. God Heard

2. God remembered

3. God Acted v. 25

REQUIRES A TIME OF EXTRICATION

REQUIRES A TIME OF EXAMINATION

REQUIRES A TIME OF DETERMINATION

REQUIRES A TIME OF CONTINUATION

REQUIRES A TIME OF EXPECTATION