In our scripture passage today, we see Moses dealing with the Israelites complaining. To be fair to the Israelites, they have left the only home they ever knew and have been wandering in the desert for a long time.

But here they complain about the manna God has given them. They describe the different types of food they had in Egypt and they long to return to slavery!

Moses has had enough of the people’s complaining and he lays his burdens on God. He asks God to kill him so that he doesn’t have to deal with his current predicament!

3 big forces are pressing in on Moses:

He feels constant criticism.

He feels the feeling of a crushing burden.

He feels alone.

The most important thing that Moses does in this passage is that he presents his feelings to God. He is honest with God. When Moses does this, God provides for him. This is an example for all of us.

God is at work far beyond what Moses can see. He is also at work in OUR life far beyond what we can see. Ask him for his help. He is with us. We are not alone.

Jesus came not to give us burdens, but to bear our burdens. That is the beauty of his grace. He gives us rest. He provides. Trust him.

Have you ever been changed by a friendship?

In Exodus 33, after Moses had received the commandments and the golden calf incident, Moses began meeting with God "as one would speak with a friend."

Moses asks: "Please let me know your ways so that I may know You." (Exodus 33:13) and "Please, show me your glory!" (Exodus 33:18)

After the Lord answered Moses, it changed him. From then on, he had to be veiled because the glory of the Lord had shown so brightly on him.

Being a friend of Jesus changes us into people growing in love. How do we do this?

1. We ask
2. We practice spiritual disciplines like sabbath, solitude, prayer, fasting, scripture, community, generosity, service, witness

Let's be intentional in living in a way that leads to friendship with Jesus.

Ryan McCoy, FBC Shreveport Minister of Discipleship, delivered a powerful and artful sermon yesterday in the form of a soliloquy from the point of view of Pharaoh from the stories of Moses in Exodus. In looking at it from this point of view, we were able to connect with the ways in which the postures of Pharoah's heart might mirror our own. He expounded upon the way Pharoah reacted to Yahweh's demands with these words:

"Haven't you ever felt that burning need for control? It's MY life, MY path, MY power, MY authority... I've seen the power of God, but I'm not ready to stop being god myself. I can do it all on my own."

At the end, Ryan offered up this prayer for us all:

"God you are great and mighty and you care for your people. You love us so much that you pull us out of bondage and out of death and into life. Lord may we humble ourselves before you. May we bow before your cross, come to your altar and say that you are God in this land, that you are God over all and that includes me. Lord, may we give up what we think is our power so that we can enjoy life. We love you and we trust you. In your son's name we pray."

Amen.

Do any of you talk to your plants?

Moses had a significant conversation with a plant (tree) that had consequences throughout the entire world.

Moses went from a Prince to a slave and at age 80 spoke to God.

The sermon bullets:

• A Suffering people.Egyptians beating Hebrews
• A compassionate God. Exodus 2:24-25

How does God respond?

• A mysterious meeting.Exodus 3:1-3
• An unexpected calling. Exodus 3:7-10
• A reluctant servant. Exodus 3:11

Moses asks, Who am I?

God answers, I will be with you even to the ends of the earth.

Moses asks with resistance:

Who are you? What if they don’t believe me?

I can’t speak well and finally, send someone else?

• An Equipping God. Exodus 4:2

What is in your hand? (All Moses had was a staff)

God takes the ordinary to remarkable.

Plus God used Moses 80 years of unique life as the training to equip Moses.

God can use your life!

How is God calling you to go make disciples of the world?

No worries, you are never called alone.

God always calls . . . with one another.

What do we do when we are brought low in life?

In our text today, Moses experiences a sudden fall. After he kills an Egyptian slave driver he is expelled from his life of luxury in the Egyptian palace. He flees Egypt and heads east.

Everything in Moses’ life changes. He marries a shepherd’s wife and becomes a shepherd himself. The prince becomes an exile -

he finds himself in the lowest of lows.

We don’t know how Moses felt about his fall. From the text it appears that he made the best of his circumstances. He accepts his new job and his new family. This is a good lesson for all of us when we fall.

What if Moses’ exile was exactly what Moses needed to be the leader he became to be? We can learn important things in our own failure and exile. Moses is eventually called by God to do a very difficult and important job to lead God’s people out of Egypt. God can use our time in exile to help us grow. Over and over again in Scripture, God uses the wilderness to teach his people.

Our own exile can come about from our own mistakes or perhaps from something outside of our control. If our hearts are consumed by bitterness and pride and anger, we will miss the opportunity to allow God to help us grow through our tough times.

A Beautiful Thing: Anointing at Bethany

Weekly Devotional 3.3.2025

“But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8

Mary, Lazarus’s sister, used an expensive oil to honor Jesus as their guest, anointed Him, and prepared Him for burial. Though the disciples could not understand why she would use the rare oil this way, this humble servant gave her best for the sake of Christ. What do you value more than Jesus? Would you give that up to serve Jesus in faith and obedience? Reflect on how you can be a humble servant and give Jesus your best as a way to serve and honor Him. Lower yourself so that Jesus may be lifted up. Humble yourself so that He is exalted.

For the next few weeks we'll be looking at the life of Moses. So much of Moses' life echoes the life of Jesus and we're looking forward to diving in.

Moses is born in a time of genocide and suffering. The Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses' mother had to resort to sending her baby down the Nile. At that point, Moses' life hung on the compassion of others for survival - Pharoah's daughter found him and showed compassion, adopting him as her own. God isn't mentioned in this story in Exodus, but the providential care of God is in full display. Clearly, God's hand of protection was upon him admist all the dangers.

All of our lives have twists and turns. We have setbacks or grief that flattens us. But when we pray and offer ourselves to God, God has a way of redeeming and even using the hard things in our lives to guide and equip us. God's hand is there protecting and preparing us. Your life has a purposes in God's plan. God loves you and God knows you.

Where do you see care from others for you and the provision of God in your life?

Power Over All: Jesus Raises

Weekly Devotional 2.24.2025

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

This week, we continue to explore Jesus’ miracles and His power and authority over death! The two miracles we will focus on today are Jesus raising a girl from the dead and healing a woman who was hemorrhaging. From creation and sin to disease and death, Jesus has power and authority over all things, the ability to heal what is broken, forgive all our sins no matter how numerous or grievous, and bring those who are dead into newness of life by His grace. You have been brought into newness of life, where one day, you will be raised from the dead to eternal life with Jesus. We often feel that we need to see something extraordinary to call it a miracle, but God’s work in the life of every believer is truly miraculous.