Exodus 2-5 – Imperfect Leader
Walking Through Exodus
Devotions - Week 3
Key Passages: Exodus 2-5
Moses is without doubt one of the heroes of scripture. A leader who managed to lead 2 million people right to the edge of the Promised Land. A leader who took up leadership at 80 years of age and led for 40 years. A man who suffered abuse, grumbling, open revolt, great victories and tragic disappointments.
It would be easy to view him as a superhuman. A man totally different to you and me. However, as we read through Exodus we discover that in many ways he was just like us. This is never more apparent than in his interaction with God when he is being called to leadership. Moses is presented with an incredible call and commission – lead the people of God out of captivity to the superpower of his day. His response – send someone else.
Moses comes up with 5 reasons why he is the wrong man for the job:
As we say in this week’s sermon, excuses 2-5 are really an unpacking of excuse number 1. Moses had lost sight of his identity in God.
This is where I find my closest connection to this giant of the Old Testament. You and I have received an incredible call from God – to make disciples and equip them to seek the Kingdom of God in every area of their lives (Isaiah 61, Matthew 6, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-8). When faced with this calling I can find myself falling back on all of Moses’ excuses and the foundation of those excuses:
I have lost sight of my identity in God.
When God speaks to Moses, he does not deny Moses’ weaknesses or past failings. But he does remind him of who God is and of Moses’s identity as part of the covenant people of God. We need to do the same. Here are some of the ways we are described in scripture:
Spend some time this week in these verses on your own and in your Life Group (You may well find some others).
Moses’ identity when he meets with God in Exodus 3 has been shaped by past failure and the passing of time – he felt it was too late to serve God.
It would be easy to view him as a superhuman. A man totally different to you and me. However, as we read through Exodus we discover that in many ways he was just like us. This is never more apparent than in his interaction with God when he is being called to leadership. Moses is presented with an incredible call and commission – lead the people of God out of captivity to the superpower of his day. His response – send someone else.
Moses comes up with 5 reasons why he is the wrong man for the job:
- Identity – who am I to take on such a task.
- Lack of knowledge.
- They won’t listen.
- Lack of skill.
- Send someone else.
As we say in this week’s sermon, excuses 2-5 are really an unpacking of excuse number 1. Moses had lost sight of his identity in God.
This is where I find my closest connection to this giant of the Old Testament. You and I have received an incredible call from God – to make disciples and equip them to seek the Kingdom of God in every area of their lives (Isaiah 61, Matthew 6, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-8). When faced with this calling I can find myself falling back on all of Moses’ excuses and the foundation of those excuses:
I have lost sight of my identity in God.
When God speaks to Moses, he does not deny Moses’ weaknesses or past failings. But he does remind him of who God is and of Moses’s identity as part of the covenant people of God. We need to do the same. Here are some of the ways we are described in scripture:
- Image bearers of the divine – Genesis 1
- Sanctified and Holy – 1 Corinthians 1:2
- A friend of Jesus – John 15:15
- Children of GOD – 1 John 3:1
- Sons of God with an inheritance – Galatians 4:6
- A vital part of Christ’s body – 1 Corinthians 12
- The bride of Christ – Revelation 22:17
- The redeemed – 1 Peter 1:18
- Temples of the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Spend some time this week in these verses on your own and in your Life Group (You may well find some others).
- How might these descriptions impact our identity?
- What robs us of our identity in God?
- Which of Moses’ excuses do we use most often when it comes to taking a risk for God and the Kingdom?
Moses’ identity when he meets with God in Exodus 3 has been shaped by past failure and the passing of time – he felt it was too late to serve God.
- How do we help one another not fall into the same trap?
- How might we help one another process past failures in a healthy way?
- What role do grace, and forgiveness have in this process?
This Everyday Devotions was written by Simon Elliott, our Lead Elder.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on Exodus 2-5 – Imperfect Leader why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on Exodus 2-5 – Imperfect Leader why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.