Moses: Paralyzing Fear (Part II)

• Review
• Moses is captivated in fear as he stands before the LORD
• God has just introduced himself for the first time in Scripture by The Name
  • Note: “God” has been written as YHWH before now, but never introduced by this Name. Therefore, this is God’s first formal introduction by Name.

• What is God’s Name?

• What name has God been using up to now?

• Since names represent attributes of a person, what does God’s Name literally mean?

• What do the Jews call God when they read through the Torah and come across His Name? What about when they write God’s Name?

• What do we call the 4 letters that make up God’s Name?

2(See: “Notes on the Trinity” attachment)

• God gives Moses an option to go to Egypt. (T/F?)

• What does Moses think will happen if he chooses not to go back to Egypt?

• What does Moses think will happen if he decides to do what YHWH asks?

• List Moses options at this point:

3Fear Brings Doubt, Faith Brings Confidence

• Moses continues to question God Ex.4:1
  • Objection #1: “Who am I to do this?” (Last week)
  • Objection #2: “Who are you to send me?” (Last week)

4Objection #3: “They won’t listen to me.”

• Moses is skeptical concerning God’s pledge to Him
• Ironically, this is the very thing that he is accusing the Hebrews!
• Answer: God gives Moses the ability to do miracles so that these unbelieving people might “see” and “believe”
• The first sign that God gives Moses to verify His word Ex.4:2-5
  • Moses’ was used as a sign
  • This actually turned into a
  • Egypt was renown for her interest in magic
  • When Moses would finally get to use this miracle, the Egyptian magicians would end up being able to do the exact same thing
  • God’s miracles were used not to promote Moses, but to God’s to those who have never heard – this is similar to how miracles were used in the New Testament
• The second sign that God gives Moses to verify His word Ex.4:6-8
  • Moses’ turned leprous
  • Moses’ hand was once he returned it to his cloak
• The third sign that God gives Moses to verify His word Ex.4:9
  • Moses would pour out water from the and it would turn to
  • The first sign that could not be tested at the burning bush
  • This sign would be particularly disheartening to an Egyptian because the Nile was seen as a giver of LIFE, not death
  • Moses is now equipped with not one, but three, powerful signs to his
  • “Moses is now without excuse. God has provided him with three miraculous signs as proof of his call. He is fully equipped.
  • The only question now is, will he obey?”

5– John D. Currid (SCE)

• Moses continues to question God Ex.4:10
  • Objection #4: “I am not good with words.”
  • Literally; “not from yesterday or from three [days ago]”
  • This problem is due to a “ ”

  • Possibly a speech impediment?

  • Maybe he had lost his ability to speak Egyptian fluently?

  • Moses simply felt incompetent to speak with authority in the court of Pharaoh
  • Answer: God’s addresses Moses’ concerns about his tongue
• God’s is Ex.4:11-12
  • Moses will not need to be eloquent, God will be eloquent through Him
  • Moses will not need to be relying on his words, God would speak through His power in the miracles (CF: Matthew 11:4-5 – how does this passage apply to Moses’ situation?)
  • God sends Moses again with the imperative: “ !”
• Objection #5: “Yes, someone should go (I guess), send someone” Ex.4:13
  • Simply an unenthused phrase saying that someone should probably go…just not necessarily him!
  • Moses should have said (like Isaiah) – “ !”
• Answer: God provides a mouthpiece Ex.4:14-15
  • The Hebrew actually states: “The of YHWH up.”
  • God amorously lets Aaron accompany Moses Egypt
• After Moses argues this point so dramatically and then goes on to see what God can do with a willing heart and willing hands, is there any wonder why Moses should write the Psalm to God:
  • "Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"
  • (Psalm 90:16-17, ESV)