(Exodus 2:11-3:6) Am I Converted?

Nathan Sehi

Exodus • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Sometimes we idealize Moses, but Moses was a idolatrous sinner like you and me. This text shows us he was a murder and a pagan worshiper. But the burning bush converted him from Idolatry to a true believer. He from this point on becomes one of the greatest examples of leadership in the Bible. He becomes a worshiper of God who fears and reverences God as the one true God. Each one of us need to consider the burning bush and what it says about our need for God.

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION:

Our lives have been massively disrupted the last few weeks.

ILLUSTRATION:

Our lives have been massively disruptive the last few weeks.

One challenge has been just trying to get the basic necessities of life.

Our stores are empty of

toilet paper,

and flour,

and just basic necessities.

A stroll through Walmart or Ridleys reminds me of those pictures from the 80s,

where communism left Russia with empty shelves.

And Most people that I have met have one of two reactions - to varying degrees.

They are really scared

Or really mad.

But what does this teach us about our society?

And what

I believe our country is experiencing the symptoms of Idolatry - Worship of a false God.

The excesses of our fears - hoarding and paranoia.

The excesses of our anger - bitterness, frustration, and irritation.

Are symptoms are not of worshiping the one true God,

>>>> Because worshiping the true God leaves us with unspeakable peace and joy.

But they are symptoms of worshiping our idols.

CAVEAT:

Beginning here, I want to clarify -

There is a reasonable amount fear and frustration.

And fear and frustration is not automatically sin.

But I also think we all could look at our community and nation - and say>>> what is wrong with us.

Why are we hoarding toilet paper in a health crisis?

Why are we so mad that our country is practicing social distancing?

Why do some find it something to mock and ignore?

And I would suggest what you were watching ... Is a world who just had their Gods stepped on.

Our text this morning - is a passage about

a conversion from Idolatry.

> Slide

Considered this question -

What do we have in common with people from the Old Testament?

> Slide

At least two things -

Idolatry

and the need for conversion from idolatry.

The Old Testament world was littered with false Idols.

Abraham's home town - Ur of the Chaldees was built upon Idolatry.

The results of archaeological investigations demonstrate that Abraham came from a great city, cultured, sophisticated, and powerful. The landscape was dominated by the ziggurat, or temple tower, and the life of the city was controlled by a religion with a multiplicity of gods. The chief deity was Nanna(r), or Sin, the moon god, who was also worshiped at Haran. Near his ziggurat was a temple dedicated to his consort, the moon goddess, Ningal. (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible)

The landscape was dominated by the ziggurat, or temple tower, and the life of the city was controlled by a religion with a multiplicity of gods. The chief deity was Nanna(r), or Sin, the moon god, who was also worshiped at Haran. Near his ziggurat was a temple dedicated to his consort, the moon goddess, Ningal.(Baker Encylopedia of the Bible)

Egypt also was built upon Idolatry.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Religion

All of Egyptian life was bound up with religious considerations. As the “gift of the Nile,” Egypt worshiped the great river as Hapi. The sun, which gave life to all things, was deified under such names as Amon-Re and Aton. The king was the offspring of the gods and was in some sense god incarnate.

And Israel constantly struggled with Idolatry (, )

Exodus 32:1 ESV

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

Exodus 32:4 ESV

4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Exodus 32:6 ESV

6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

Exodus 32:7 ESV

7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.

But the Old

However,

Idolatry is not confined to the Old Testament.

Nor is idolatry confined to graven images.

The New Testament talkes about the need for conversion.

ILLUSTRATION:

People many times

In a modern, secular, atheist culture - We don’t think we are idolaters.

I have meet many people who are offended that I dare suggest that they are an idolater,

because after all - they have never bowed down to a graven image.

> Slide

Yet, I would suggest that

A person who has never bowed down to a graven image, an idol, can be just as Idolatrous as someone who is brazenly bowing down in front of a graven image.

Now that may come as a surprise for those who are thinking of Idolatry as simply bowing to false Gods.

But consider the many passages that actually describe us as worshiping something that’s not a graven image

or even a god.

For example, - Describing the Babylonians.

Habakkuk 1:11 ESV

11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Habakkuk

For example, - Paul call’s our sin Idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

So Idolatry is not simply bowing down to graven images,

but really anything we worship that we put greater then God.

> Biblical counseling has been making this part of their teachings for a long time.

> Slide

> Greg Beale titled his landmark book,

We Become What We Worship.

In that book,

he has no less then 4 chapters on Idolatry in the New Testament.

> Slide

His thesis is simple:

“What people revere, they resemble, either for ruin or for restoration.” Greg Beale

Greg Beal

> Slide

If we worship our sin, our wants, our selves … then we can become just as Idolatrous as someone who bows down to Idols.

Our text this morning - is a passage about

a conversion from Idolatry.

I believe it teaches us -

Certainly,

Everyone of us must have a time and place of conversion.

A Time and place where we turned from Idolatry

And placed our Faith in the True God.

This morning,

- Let's trace the story of Moses turning from paganism to the one true God.

Let's trace the story of Moses turning from paganism to the one true God.

- Let's trace the conversion of Moses.

Let's trace the conversion of Moses.

As we enter our text, we observe

(1) Moses Comes of Age. ()

Exodus 2:11 ESV

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.

The first verse of our passage tells us - Moses has come to age.

The baby that is named Moses in is now all grown up.

Which means –

(a) He arrives at adulthood.

(b) Completed his Royal Education.

Ryken:

There he “was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (). This was the finest training the world then had to offer—a first-class secular education. .... Moses was trained in linguistics, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, music, medicine, law, and the fine art of diplomacy.

- Moses has come to adulthood.

- He has an exceptional education.

And for the first time he gets to go and venture out into the world.

There - like many youth who grow up,

Moses begins to experience the real world.

Not the hypothetical one in the classroom,

and of innocence behind the palace walls,

But what is actually going on in Egypt.

And this verse teaches us –

(c) He Learns of the injustice and suffering of his Hebrew people.

(d) Learns of the injustice and suffering of his Hebrew people.

He looked upon the burdens of his people.

But this time becomes a troubled time for Moses.

On one hand,

he is a prince of Egypt, trained with the finest education of Egypt.

On the other hand,

he is a Hebrew, watching his own people being oppressed.

And the knowledge of this leads him to anger and murder.

Next we read in our text -

(2) The Fall and Sinfulness of Moses. ()

When we recall the stories of Moses...

We recall him turning the Nile into blood.

The crossing of the Red Sea.

His talk with God on Mount Sinai.

Many have considered Moses to be the greatest leader in all the Old Testament.

BUT

We have to remember,

Moses was also a sinner.

In particular,

Moses was a murder.

He was just as guilty as those facing life sentences in our prisons today.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Observe how Moses becomes a murder.

Exodus 2:12–15 ESV

12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

(a) Moses becomes a murder. (v. 12)

(b) Moses murder becomes public. (v. 13-15)

In other words … the Great Moses is just as guilty as any other person.

He was just as guilty as those facing life sentences in our prisons today.

You could walk through our state penitentiary and he would equally deserve to be there.

Because he was a murderer.

Some have tried to argue his innocence,

but ultimately - he wouldn’t have ran if there was a just defense for his actions.

And so,

(c) Moses becomes a fugitive in Midian. (v. 16-22)

He is on the run.

Exodus 2:16-

He was just as guilty as those facing life sentences in our prisons today.

Exodus 2:16–22 ESV

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

So as we follow this text,

Moses flees to the land of Midian.

He meets some girls from the local priest.

And after several years he builds a nice life for himself.

- He is got a wife and kid.

- He's making his way as a shepherd.

He might be a fugitive

- but he has found a place where he can lie low and live prosperously.

He certainly in no way is going to come back on his own to Egypt,

even though his name foreshadows the deliverance of Israel.

What does the section demonstrates is that –

- Moses is a sinner like you and me.

- But he finds a way to cope with his sin ... And builds a life for himself.

But ultimately he needs the mercy of God too.

But he also is very like a Pagan idolater as well.

Ultimately he is a lost man - a sinner before God.

And very like a Pagan idolater as well.

And very like a Pagan idolatry as well.

Let’s briefly recount -

(3) The Idolatry of Moses.

Now this section I don't just have one verse to point us too,

because it is the cultural background of this text.

This text demonstrates that Moses is not only a sinner, a murder.

but he is probably a pagan worshiper.

This shouldn’t shock us -

Because it is not the first time God has chosen to use the lost pagan to do his work.

>>>>>> Abraham came from the city of Ur, a notoriously pagan city.

Abraham came from the city of Ur, a notoriously pagan city.

What makes me think that Moses is a pagan idolater?

(a) Likely held Egyptian pagan beliefs.

As a Prince of Egypt,

the adopted son of the daughter the Pharaoh,

he would've received a full Royal education.

and fully participated in the activities of the court.

The best they had to offer.

And Remember I said the very fabric of the Egyptian culture was built on pagan worship.

The Royal lineage was considered God in the flesh.

And latter we will see the Pharoah looking to the courts magicians to show the power of the Egyptian God’s.

Exodus 7:22 ESV

22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Moses grew up with this education and likely worshiped the gods of Egypt.

Without our text telling us otherwise,

We have to at this point assume he is worshiping the gods of Egypt.

Moses grew up with this education and likely worshiped the gods of Egypt.

Another reason - He was

(b) Likely was influenced by the Priest of Midian, his father-in-law.

Exodus 2:15 ESV

15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

Exodus 3:1 ESV

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

Moses has married the daughter of a pagan priest.

Moses is living in the household of a pagan priest.

And unless the text says otherwise,

we have to again assume he is a part of this pagan worship.

There is no indication is doing anything different than what everyone else is doing.

Further, there is

(c) No record of him using the name LORD (Yahweh).

I noted a few weeks ago -

has a surprising absence of the name LORD.

There is a general reference to God, but there's no reference to the LORD.

The Lord's name was a sacred name in the book of Genesis,

but it is strangely absent in the first two chapters of Exodus.

In other words -

the author is going to great lengths not to tell us that Moses is worshiping the Lord.

And finally - the best evidence is that Moses

(d) He Asks - “What is his name?” at the burning bush.

Exodus 3:13 ESV

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

Exodus 3:14 ESV

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 3:14–15 ESV

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Moses didn’t know the name of God - the LORD.

Consider the background of this story in Exodus chapter 2.

Moses is demonstrated to be a sinner just like you and me.

Moses is demonstrated to be a pagan worshiper just like you and me.

And just like you and me

One of his greatest needs is to convert

from idol worship,

to the worship of the one true God of Israel.

He is a lost man,

without purpose,

without morality

without the only true living God.

What did Moses need at this point in his life?

Based on what God does... His greatest need was to come to faith in the one true living God.

He needed a time and place where he bowed down to the one true God and only the one true God.

He needed to fear the Lord at the Burning Bush.

Consider,

(4) The Time and Place of Moses Conversion. (, and beyond)

Exodus 3:1–6 ESV

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:2–6 ESV

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

We will look at this section more next week

- but consider a brief outline of these verses.

(a) The miracle of the burning bush draws him to God. (v. 3:1-3)

(b) God calls Moses to him. (v. 4)

(c) God declares his holiness to Moses. (v. 5)

(d) The reminder of his Spiritual heritage - I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (v. 6a)

(e) Moses Fear and Awe of God. (v. 6b, and beyond)

What is happening here?

A sinful idolater - Moses - is standing before the holy, and awesome God - Yahweh

He has probably stood before countless dead graven images.

He has probably bowed down to countless dead graven images.

And even in his time in the courts of Egypt

- he never saw one of those false gods show themselves like this.

Never did one of those false gods demonstrated single miracle like this.

And he is left with a bit of fear and awe.

“And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”

Moses encounters the the real thing, the one real God.

Latter he will write the book of Genesis and teach us -

The one who actually created the heavens and the earth.

The one who actually has the power to break up the waters of the deep and cause the great flood.

The one who actually has the power to call down fire from heaven on whole cities.

The one who actually has the power to cause a famine, and give his for father Joseph the wisdom to save Egypt.

He encounters for the first time the one true living God.

The presence of God leads Moses to be both-

Terrified at the power of God.

And in awe at the one true God.

The burning bush caused Moses to forever reject his false idolatry,

and bow down and worship the one true God.

According to this book,

according to God's working in the life of Moses,

The greatest need Moses had was to experience the God of the burning Bush.

To learn his name, and his power.

It was an experience that forever changed his life.

CONCLUSION:

Moses needed to convert from idolatry to a faith and trust in the one true God.

CONCLUSION:

I would suggest what is true of Moses, is true for us.

There are two things we have in common with Old Testament people

We all are idolaters

but all people of all generations have really two need

And we all need to convert from Idolatry.

We are idolaters.

Our sin demonstrates we worship our flesh and our desires.

We can trust in horses, and chariots, and our own might.

But those God’s leave us in fear and frustration and destruction.

The fear and anger of our nation demonstrates how false Gods leaves us empty, and broken hearted.

Why did God include this story in the book of Exodus?

Because I think each one of us need to encounter the God of the burning bush.

We need to realize there are false things we can worship out there,

but what we really need is worship the one true God.

We needed to experience the power and presence of the one true God,

because we need the love, and mercy, and power of God in a world full of trials and disappointments.

As I begin this message,

I tried to help us understand the we can commit idolatry by bowing down the graven images.

But we can also commit Idolatry when we love something more than the true God.

But we can also commit adultery when we trust in something more than the true God.

We can commit idolatry when we love something more than one true God.

The struggles that many in our country face - fear and anger.

These are symptoms of us worshiping false God's,

These are symptoms of worship being false God's,

and our greatest need is to encounter the burning bush

and realize who the one true God really is.

Who is the one who can deliver us from our struggles?

Who is the one who has the power over my trials?

Who is the one who loves me no matter what?

This passage reminds us

– every one of us must have a time and place of conversion.

There must be a time and a place that I can say -

I no longer worship my idolatry.

Other gods.

Other loves.

My Sin

Other things we can trust in. (My strength, my health, my government, my quarantine)

And Instead,

It is stated I'm going to put my faith and move and instead I'm going to love and worship the one true God.

I'm going to fear and worship the one true God.

I'm going to worship the God of the burning bush.

The Christ who is the exact imprint of the father and holds the world in his hands. ()

Colossians 1:15 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15–17 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

CAVEAT:

I realize some of us don't know an exact time.

- Coming to faith was a process.

- I am too young to remember.

But all of us need to know

that there is a time and a place,

where I decided,

I am not going to worship the fake gods of this world,

but the one true God.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1 Th 1:16

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 ESV

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I challenge us - each one of us.

To consider what are we worshiping,

And have I decided to abandon my idolatry

and instead commited myself to worshiping, and fearing, and being in awe of one true God

And have I decided to abandon my idolatry and instead commited myself to worshiping, and fearing, and being in awe of God