The details
God is so amazing that sometimes when He calls us to do His work He also lets us know why, tells us how to do it, and assures us of the results! For example, when He called Moses to lead the Isrealites out to the promised land- He said, "I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard thier cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of thier suffering. So I have come down to rescue them... (Exodus 3:7-8, NLT)." Then He tells Moses, " Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3: 10, NLT)."
Then Moses is given specific instructions;
1. Go gather the elders and tell them, "the LORD, the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-has appeared to me." (Ex. 3:16, NLT)
2. Tell them the reason for the visit; "I see how the Egyptians have been treating you.. I will rescue you.. and lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey. (Ex. 3:16-17, NLT)
3. Then God gives Moses assurance that the elders will listen, "the elders of Israel will accept your message." (Ex.3:18, NLT)
4. Then God lets Moses know how things will go down! In summary God says; the king isn't going to let you go unless "a mighty hand forces him." So I will strike them and cause many miracles to happen- then finally he will let you go. They will even favor you when you leave and they will send you away with gifts! (Ex. 3:12-22)
So God let Moses know what He was going to do through Him, why He was going to do it, and how it was all going to work out!
Here are some of Moses protests;
"Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?
Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?
What if they won't believe me or listen to me?
*God is patient and addresses each of Moses concerns.
Then he tells God, "oh Lord, I am not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tonque tied, and my words get tangled (Ex. 4:10, NLT)."
Gods Answer; "Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what you say (Ex. 4:12, NLT)."
So Moses asked the wrong questions. You notice that Moses says- who am I? His focus is on himself and his faults and insecurities. The question should have been- Who are you God?
Oh I know what your thinking; this is Old Testiment stuff, surely God doesnt' work like this today. Well let's look at some New Testament examples;
The Temple Tax
When the tax collectors came to collect the tax they asked Peter: “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” (Matthew 17:24, NKJV) Yes, Peter replies. And Jesus makes the point that as the Son of God, He is free of the tax and in actuality, the temple belonged to Him.
27"However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me (Matthew 17:27, NASB)
So, here again we see that Jesus gives the reason, gives instructions, and tells Peter what he will find. Notice how specific the instructions are.
Pauls Conversion
"A voice" came to Paul on the road to Damascus questioning Saul as to why he was persecuting the church. The voice said that He was Jesus and his plan for Saul was that he would become, "a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivenss of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:16-18, NKJV)."
Again we see that Jesus comes to Saul, gives the reason, and the plans that He has for Paul!
So God is personal with each one of His children. He wants us to know what we are to be doing with our life. He wants to use us to further His kingdom. He wants us to be intimate with Him in sharing the details of His plans. He wants to assure us that He is always with us and that we can be confident that He will empower us to do what He tells us. His promises are true! So I encourage you to ask God what His plans are for you, how He plans to accomplish it, and pray that He will give you that assurance because He is good!
"We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9)
Then Moses is given specific instructions;
1. Go gather the elders and tell them, "the LORD, the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-has appeared to me." (Ex. 3:16, NLT)
2. Tell them the reason for the visit; "I see how the Egyptians have been treating you.. I will rescue you.. and lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey. (Ex. 3:16-17, NLT)
3. Then God gives Moses assurance that the elders will listen, "the elders of Israel will accept your message." (Ex.3:18, NLT)
4. Then God lets Moses know how things will go down! In summary God says; the king isn't going to let you go unless "a mighty hand forces him." So I will strike them and cause many miracles to happen- then finally he will let you go. They will even favor you when you leave and they will send you away with gifts! (Ex. 3:12-22)
So God let Moses know what He was going to do through Him, why He was going to do it, and how it was all going to work out!
Here are some of Moses protests;
"Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?
Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?
What if they won't believe me or listen to me?
*God is patient and addresses each of Moses concerns.
Then he tells God, "oh Lord, I am not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tonque tied, and my words get tangled (Ex. 4:10, NLT)."
Gods Answer; "Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what you say (Ex. 4:12, NLT)."
So Moses asked the wrong questions. You notice that Moses says- who am I? His focus is on himself and his faults and insecurities. The question should have been- Who are you God?
Oh I know what your thinking; this is Old Testiment stuff, surely God doesnt' work like this today. Well let's look at some New Testament examples;
The Temple Tax
When the tax collectors came to collect the tax they asked Peter: “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” (Matthew 17:24, NKJV) Yes, Peter replies. And Jesus makes the point that as the Son of God, He is free of the tax and in actuality, the temple belonged to Him.
27"However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me (Matthew 17:27, NASB)
So, here again we see that Jesus gives the reason, gives instructions, and tells Peter what he will find. Notice how specific the instructions are.
Pauls Conversion
"A voice" came to Paul on the road to Damascus questioning Saul as to why he was persecuting the church. The voice said that He was Jesus and his plan for Saul was that he would become, "a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivenss of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:16-18, NKJV)."
Again we see that Jesus comes to Saul, gives the reason, and the plans that He has for Paul!
So God is personal with each one of His children. He wants us to know what we are to be doing with our life. He wants to use us to further His kingdom. He wants us to be intimate with Him in sharing the details of His plans. He wants to assure us that He is always with us and that we can be confident that He will empower us to do what He tells us. His promises are true! So I encourage you to ask God what His plans are for you, how He plans to accomplish it, and pray that He will give you that assurance because He is good!
"We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9)
Comments
Post a Comment