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How God Reassures a Dejected Servant

Exodus 6

October 13, 2019 • David Mathis

After several decades of living in the desert, God calls Moses back to Egypt, at age 80, to be the deliverer of God's people. Moses tells Pharaoh to let God's people go. Of course, Pharaoh refuses. Moses seems to have accomplished nothing and his confidence is greatly shaken.

However, in Exodus 6, we see that Moses’ discouragement and his lack of confidence doesn’t keep God from using him. Moses is dejected, but he will still be the one who delivers the Hebrews from slavery.

God calls Moses to his most important, most intimidating work—speaking face to face with Pharaoh—when Moses manifestly doesn’t feel ready for it or worthy of it. But God reassures Moses, then commands Moses to continue the task. And God handles us similarly in our dejection and discouragement. There’s a time to answer questions and address objections. But eventually it is time to "do the next thing." Eventually it’s time to obey God’s instructions and trust that God will do what he has promised to do.

More from Exodus

The Story of Exodus

December 22, 2019 • Joe Rigney

"Yahweh is the Author. He is the Creator. He is the author of the story, and we are his characters. He is everywhere and everywhen. He hears and knows everything. He sees, he hears, he remembers his covenant, and he acts in faithfulness."

The God Who Will Have A People

December 15, 2019 • Jonathan Parnell

What God intended first for a person (Adam), and then a people (Israel), has now been realized in a Person (Jesus) and a people (the church). The church is the people of Jesus. We are men and women brought into fellowship with God by God through faith. We are created new in Jesus. We are forgiven by the cross of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of Jesus, to walk in the way of Jesus.

Jethro's Surprising Visit

December 8, 2019 • Kevin Kleiman

The story of the Exodus is a paradigm by which Christians can understand our own salvation. Through the first seventeen chapters of Exodus, Yahweh consistently and convincingly delivers his people with miraculous, supernatural power. But as we come to Exodus 18, we something much more ordinary. In chapter 18, we see how normal, everyday relationships are transformed by the good news of what God has done. As we review Exodus 18, we see Moses and Jethro’s interactions, and we learn from two very different people, and we see practically, how our lives should look differently after experiencing the saving grace of God. We are reminded to tell the whole story of God’s rescue, take a risk and offer good advice, and to happily receive feedback in humility.