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Youth Worship 24th June 2023 : “And Moses took the rod of God in his hand”

Text: Exodus 4:13-23

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 24 June 2023

Message: “And Moses took the rod of God in his hand” Exodus 4:20

Text: Exodus 4:13-23

INTRODUCTION

1. Many questions were raised by Moses

2. God answered all of them

3. But Moses was still unsure and reluctant

4. God had to reveal to Moses His anger if he persisted in his reluctance

THE ANGER OF THE LORD

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

11 So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Exodus 4:10-14

1. Moses insisted that he was not an eloquent man

2. Worse, he was actually “slow of speech and slow of tongue”

3. The anger of the LORD was aroused!

a) Moses was being stubborn
b) God reminds him of what He can do
c) The LORD would be with Moses and teach him

GOD’S FURTHER PROVISION

15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.

16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.

17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

Exodus 4:15-17

1. God would be there for Moses personally

2. He will also give Aaron to be his “spokesman”

3. Aaron’s role

a) Moses will instruct Aaron
b) He will tell Aaron what he is to say
c) Aaron will be his spokesman to the people
d) He will be Aaron’s mouth

4. Moses’ role

a) He will be to Aaron as “God”
i) For instruction
ii) For guidance
b) He will take the shepherd’s rod with him
i) With this rod he will perform “signs”
ii) It would be the symbol of his role as the shepherd

BIDDING FAREWELL TO JETHRO

So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”

And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

Exodus 4:18

1. Moses obeys the LORD

2. He seeks permission from his father-in-law to return to Egypt

3. Moses did not elaborate concerning God’s work entrusted to him

4. Jethro gives his blessing on the plan to return to Egypt

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER

19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”

20 Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.”

Exodus 4:19-23

1. Confirmation from the LORD

a) Moses is to go to Egypt
b) The Pharaoh who wanted to execute Moses was now dead
c) Moses would no longer be regarded as a criminal in Egypt

2. The signs and wonders

a) Moses must perform these before Pharaoh
b) But he would not respond because his heart was hardened
c) God will harden his heart!
d) He will not let the children of Israel leave Egypt

3. God’s word to the Pharaoh

a) Israel was His son
b) Pharaoh must release Israel
c) God would destroy the Pharaoh’s son if he remains unrepentant

CONCLUSION

1. Find courage to do the bidding of the LORD

2. Be thankful for all that God will provide

3. Be challenged by the example of Moses in seeking to obey the LORD