Story Three: Your Friend is a Gift from God!
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Sometimes, it is hard for me to imagine that everyone has been laughed at in life. People are laughed at for several different reasons, but hopefully when you were laughed it was because you told a funny joke or you made a funny face or gesture. However, sometimes we are laughed at because we look different than someone else or because we are from somewhere else. In addition, sometimes when we are laughed at we struggle with understanding what everybody else is laughing at us. It’s in moments like these that we can injure our self-esteem and when our self-esteem is injured, sometimes the pain hurts several years later.
God does not condone such behavior violates both the Golden Rule, and the Second Greatest Commandment:
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- Matthew 7:12 [KJV]: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
- Matthew 22:39[KJV]: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Slide 4)
That behavior also violates other principles of the Bible: (Slide 5)
Proverbs 24:17 [KJV]: “”Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.” (Slide 6)
Ephesians 5:4 [KJV]: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”(Slide 7)
Galatians 6:1 [KJV]: “Brothers, if a man is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, watching yourselves, lest you also be tempted.”
There’s a story in the Bible that helps me in these situations. It comes from the book of Exodus. Here, God asks a man to face his past and then God sends him on a journey to meet the king of the empire. Thankfully, the God of our universe gives this man a friend to help him with the goal. Before I turn you lose in the scripture, I would like to give you the story layout.
Let’s discuss the characters first.
The Lord
Here we see that Lord or God is called Yahweh. Moses asks the Lord what is your name? And then God responds. I am who I am. That means in short, “I am” or “Yahweh.” (Exodus 3:14.)
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Here’s a breakdown:
- “I AM WHO I AM”: This signifies God’s unchanging and self-sufficient nature. He is the source of all being and has no beginning or end.
- “I AM THAT I AM”: This emphasizes God’s unique and absolute existence.
- “I AM has sent me to you”: This indicates that Moses is being sent by the very God who is revealing himself, connecting God’s identity with his mission.
Moses: He had spent 40 years as a shepherd, exiled after killing an Egyptian, and likely felt inadequate to stand before a powerful ruler like Pharaoh and lead a nation. Moses stated, “I am not eloquent, because I’m slow of speech and slow of tongue,” expressing a fear of being unable to speak effectively on God’s behalf. He was afraid that pharaoh the king of Egypt would laugh him out of his court.
Aaron: Aaron served as Moses’ spokesman and helper in leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Aaron performed miracles, such as turning his staff into a snake, and communicated God’s messages to the people. He also helped Moses hold up his hands during the battle with the Amalekites, and later became the first high priest.
Pharaoh: he was the ancient king of Egypt that would not let God‘s people go. It took God ten different plagues to make him let his people go.
Trivia Question: (Slide 9)
Can you name the 10 plagues that God sent on Egypt?
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| Answer: 1. water turning to blood 2. Frogs 3. Lice 4. Flies 5. pestilence on livestock 6. Boils 7. Hail 8. Locusts 9. Darkness 10.the death of the firstborn. |
(According to Exodus 2:5-10:)(Slide 10)
Moses was sent down the Nile River in a basket and pharaoh‘s daughter picked him up. His mother got to nurse him until he was five. He became the prince of Egypt. While walking the kingdom, one day he seen an Egyptian beating up his kinfolk; so, Moses done something very bad. He murdered the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. Unfortunately, there was a witness, so Moses fled into the wilderness, and this is where Jesus found him and our story takes place.
We see that God sends Aaron to be a friend and to help God‘s vision come to pass. Pharaoh died, and the people of Egypt passed through the Red Sea. They went into the wilderness. It was in the wilderness that God met Hagar in her abandonment, Job in his despair, and now Moses in his lostness. God takes all of our checkered Pastor and uses it for our good.
Now let us read Exodus 4:10-17 (KJV)
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“10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. 17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”
How did Moses’s past experiences shape his reluctance to obey God’s call?
What specific fears or insecurities did Moses express in his objections?
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What does God’s statement, “Who has made man’s mouth?” reveal about God’s power and authority?
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How does God’s promise to help Moses speak demonstrate his faithfulness and
willingness to equip those he calls?
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How does this passage encourage us to step out in faith, even when we feel inadequate?
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How does the passage highlight the importance of community and reliance on others in fulfilling God’s purposes?
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Describe a situation in your life where you were embarrassed or ashamed? How did God shine his presence upon you? Do you feel his presence now? If not, take time to pray.
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Excuses, excuses, excuses. Don’t we get tired of hearing excuses? As a pastor, I get tired of hearing excuses of why people don’t come to church. Well, have you ever thought about how God feels about receiving our excuses?
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Mosses sure gave God plenty of excuses on why he could not work for him. Yet with every excuse, God gave Moses exactly what he needed. Recorded in the pages of the Bible Moses became angry with God and God responses by giving grace. In Moses‘s anger, God brings in his brother to help. Aaron, as Moses‘s friend makes up for the lack of speech that Moses claims to have had. Aren’t you glad that God does not condemn our human frailty, but offers his strength and support in difficult times? Moses and Aaron worked together with God to free their country from the slavery in Egypt.
God shows us many things about friendship with Moses and Aaron. You know, a good friend isn’t embarrassed by what you can’t do or by what you do not know. A friend stands in to be a help and a strength when we struggle. Essentially, a good friend (a gift from God) will offer what you need to feel more complete, supported, and motivate you in your journey of personal growth and development.
God created the church not for him selves but for a blessing to his people. Church is a blessing to us Christians because God unites us together to serve and to make good works. When one person lacks in the congregation, God always puts another person there to take up the slack. We all come together in one accord for the purpose of God‘s vision. The pastor is there to see that the vision is brought to the congregations attention, and it is the congregation command too carry out the goals of God. Why would you not want to go to church and be part of God‘s plan?
Now that we know how to open up to somebody else and we know that God is going to give us a friend. Let’s take a moment to pray together.
Let’s look at some things to know. (Slide 12)
- A gift from God is a friend.
- If you lack friends, ask God.
- With friends comes responsibility. -If God has put people in your path that lack something, then he’s put you there, to fill the gap.
- Share your vulnerability with Christ and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
Memory Scriptures:
Exodus 2:10
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Exodus 3:1
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Isaiah 41: 10
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