Hope For Salvation

 MOSES HOPE FOR SALVATION

Exodus 3.1-4:17, Hebrews 11.24-29

Have you ever made an excuse for something you knew you needed to do? Maybe it was for a homework assignment or a job. As human beings, we love nmaking excuses we can be quick to come up with a long list of reasons why we can't do the things we don't want to do.

Today, as we continue our Advent journey, we meet a man named Moses. When God asks Moses to complete a challenging and seemingly impossible task, Moses's first instinct is to spout excuses. But by letting go of his doubts, Moses teaches us that we can place our hope in God, who is in control and able to do big things in our lives and the lives ofthose around us.

Meet Moses

Today's passage opens with Moses working as a shepherd in the wilderness. But Moses didn't begin his life as a shepherd. In fact, the first two chapters of Exodus share Moses's interesting backstory. First, we learn that Moses was born to Israelite parents who were enslaved by Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. When Pharaoh commanded that all the Israelite boys be killed, Moses's mother cleverly saved her son from this fate by hiding him in a basket in the river. But then in a surprising twist-Pharaoh's daughter found Moses, rescued him, and raised him comfortably in Pharaoh's palace.

When he grew up, however, Moses saw the brutality with which the Egyptians treated the Israelites, and he responded by killing a particularly harsh Egyptian. But when he realized his murder had been discovered, he fled to a land called Midian, setting the stage for his encounter with God in Exodus 3.

From the beginning of this encounter, we see that God is determined to deliver the Israelites from slavery and that He intends to use Moses as part of His plan to do this. God tells Moses to go back to Pharaoh and bring God's people out of Egypt. Moses doesn't think he can complete this task and begins making excuses.

First, he hides behind a sense of false humility, questioning why God would choose himn (Exodus 3.11), He fears the Israelites' response to him (Exodus 3.13). He is skeptical about them believing him (Exodus 4.1). And he claims he has difficulty speaking (Exodus 4.10). To each of these concerns, God offers a response meant to reassure Moses. But Moses, far from comforted, asks God to send someone else (Exodus 4.13).

The Lord becomes angry with Moses's excuses and commands him to take his brother, Aaron, to speak for him. In spite of his doubts, questions, and excuses, Moses finally obeys, and God uses him as part of His sovereign plan to deliver an entire nation from slavery. Hebrews 11.29 tells us that God's plan is successful, and Moses leads the Israelites to freedom.

Moses and Advent

Just like the people of Israel awaited salvation from their bondage for hundreds of years, all of humanity, ever since the Fall has awaited salvation from their bondage to sin. This salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. Just as God had a sovereign plan to deliver the Israelites, He has always had a sovereign plan to deliver us. God used the imperfect Moses in His plan for Israel's salvation, but Jesus, who is perfect-provides salvation to all who trust in Him as their Saviour.

Moses initially questioned and doubted God's plan, but eventually, he left the comfort of Midian to go to Egypt for the sake of his people. Jesus, however, willingly and without hesitation left the comfort of His heavenly throne to come to earth, taking on human flesh for our sake.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Moses initially doubted God's plan to deliver the Israelites. Then, when he arrived in Egypt and told the Israelites that freedom was near, many of them also doubted that God would rescue them (Exodus 6.9). Like Moses and the Israelites, you may have experienced doubt in the Lord's salvation. Maybe you feel enslaved by your own sin or a difficult situ-ation in your life.

But Moses's story invites us to trust in God's sovereign power. His ability to deliver us from all that enslaves us offers us hope. Salvation has already come through Jesus! By placing our trust in Him as our Saviour, we have assurance of His salvation. Therefore, even as we continue to wrestle with our sin and other difficulties in our lives, we have hope, knowing that God is in control and Jesus will one day return to bring complete deliverance.

In the meantime, God will continue working in our hearts to make us more like Himself, for He has promised to complete the work He has begun in us (Philippians 1.6). More than that, the same promise God made to Moses, "I will certainly be with you" (Exodus 3.12), was made to us all when Jesus came bearing the name Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Matthew 1.23).

There is hope, then. As you wrestle with your sin, know that God is able and faithful, even amid your doubts and fears to work in your life as you follow Him.

Application Questions

Even after Moses's initial doubt and excuses, God still chooses to use him to free the Israelites. What does this tell us about God's character?

When have you made excuses instead of obeying God?

What in your life do you need deliverance from?