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Why Is It You Have Sent Me?

Text: Exodus 5
22 July 2018

THE SENDING OF MOSES

1. God called Moses to be sent to Egypt

2. The response of Moses

a. Before sending … Negativity level 1
b. After sending… Negativity level 2

A SETBACK AT THE FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH PHARAOH

1. Moses went to Pharaoh and asked for the release of the people of Israel
(Exodus 5:1)

2. Pharaoh’s reaction was not only to reject God but to also create more hardship.
(Exodus 5:4-14)

3. Adverse reaction of the people to Moses (Exodus 5:21, 22)

4. For Moses, the mission proved to be far more difficult than realised.

5. It was a serious setback for Moses

a. Wrong assumption.
b. Wrong expectation.
c. Wrong understanding

6. Setbacks today

FURTHER STRUGGLES WITH THE PROBLEM OF NEGATIVITY AGAIN

1. Unbelief continued to plague Moses’ life

a. Moses was questioning God for making things worse for the people
“Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people?”   Exodus 5:22
b. Moses was questioning God for sending him there
“Why is it You have sent me?”   Exodus 5:22

2. Forms of negativity

a. Discouragement
b. Doubts
c. Despair

SEEING THE DIVINE HAND OF THE LORD

1. The focus should be on God and His divine hand

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”   Exodus 6:1
a. There was the involvement of God’s divine hand
b. God had sovereign power over Pharaoh

2. “I am the LORD”

a. His new name is “LORD”
b. Previously, He was known as God almighty to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
(Exodus 6:3)
c. A new name to focus on

3. “I have” statements   (Exodus 6:4-5)

a. The Lord used the phrase “I have” a number of times
b. They reminded Moses of what the Lord had done before
i. To establish the Abrahamic covenant
ii. To hear the groanings of the people
iii. To remember His covenant with Abraham

4. “I will” statements

a. What the Lord will do   (Exodus 6:6-9)
i. I will bring you out
ii. I will rescue you
iii. I will redeem you
iv. I will take you as My people
v. I will be Your God
vi. I will bring you into the land
vii. I will give it as a heritage
b. Begins and ends with “I am the LORD”   (Exodus 6:6,9)

STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH IN GOD

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

1. Refocus on God

2. Renew our faith

3. Restore confidence

4. Resume the task at hand