Facing The Future: Lessons From Moses Stories

Dr. James Mayfield
Tarrytown United Methodist Church

March 26, 2006

 Text: Exodus 3: 1a, 2, 4-5, 6b-7a, 9-10a (see Moses stories in Exodus)

All of us are facing changes; we are always facing changes. So, the question before us is: “How shall we face the future?” We can find some clues in the stories about Moses.

Although Moses was the son of Hebrew slaves, he had been raised in the household of Pharaoh. When he was an adult, Moses left Egypt because he had killed a man who was abusing a Hebrew slave. Moses made a new life for himself in Midian herding sheep for his father-in-law. The passage we read this morning tells about Moses' life changing experience of being told by God to go back to Egypt to lead the Hebrew people out of slavery so they could go to the promised land.

Moses did not want the assignment and gave a variety of reasons why he was not the right man for the job. But God responded to each excuse with resources that left Moses no option but to say yes. The remainder of his long life, Moses was involved in doing what God had drafted him to do. Living as he understood God wanted him to live did not lead Moses into a life of tranquility, with no problems, frustrations and conflicts.

To begin with, Moses knew Pharaoh would not willingly give up his Hebrew slaves. After all, Pharaoh's wealth and the economy of the country was dependent on the cheap labor of the Hebrews. And it was as Moses expected. Time after time Moses presented God's demand and each time Pharaoh refused, and each time Egypt was hit by some sort of curse. It was not until all the first born in Egypt died while the plague of death passed over the homes of the Hebrew slaves, that Pharaoh not only let them go but sent them away wealthy.

But they had not been gone long when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army to bring them back. It appeared the Hebrews were trapped at the edge of the Red Sea , but God divided the waters allowing the Hebrews to cross safely, and when the Egyptians followed they were drowned when the waters came together.

The Hebrews celebrated their escape from slavery and their freedom made possible by God. But their lives were nothing like what they had experienced before. Whatever their dreams about freedom may have been, the reality they faced was the ordeal of surviving in the wilderness. Although God provided what they needed --guidance day and night, food and water for each day -- they continued to whine and complain. They even longed for the “good old days” of slavery. While Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving Commandments from God, the people talked Moses' brother, Aaron, into making them a golden calf, so they could worship the kind of god they wanted. Their rejection of the one true God, made God so angry God was ready to destroy all of them. But Moses talked God out of doing that. However, when Moses came down from the mountain and actually saw the people worshipping the god of their own making, he lost his temper, shattered the stone tablets on which the Commandments were written and had the unrepentant offenders executed.

For 40 years Moses led this cantankerous, complaining group of ex-slaves in the wilderness. It was not until the old slave generation had passed away and been replaced by people born free and accustomed to wilderness living, that God allowed the Hebrew people to enter the promised land. Moses was not among those who entered the land of Canaan ; however, before he died, God sent him to the top of Mount Nebo , and from there he was able to see the land promised by God in the distance.

What does Moses' life have to teach us about facing the future, dealing with changes and unexpected situations and crises?

In writing a brief summary of Moses' life the New Testament writer of the Book of Hebrews used one phrase over and over: “By faith ....” By faith Moses did this; by faith Moses did that. Moses' faith was not merely his trusting God, but his trusting God so completely Moses was willing to do what he understood God wanted him to do. One of the hymns I grew up with was “Trust And Obey.” It seems to me this is the essence of what faith is -- trusting God so completely we are willing to do what God wants us to do; we trust and obey.

Moses trusted God so completely, he was willing to invest his whole life doing what he understood God wanted him to do -- even though in the eyes of the world what he was attempting appeared not only impossible but a sure way to trials and suffering. Moses trusted God, trusted God so completely, he totally gave himself to doing what he understood God wanted him to do. By faith Moses did what he did.

While his living was shaped and driven by his God-given purpose, Moses did not have a script to follow. From one day to the next, Moses did not know what challenges he would have to face. By faith Moses led the people -- one day at a time.

This one day at a time way of living was underscored in the way God provided food -- quail in the evening and manna in the morning, one day at a time. In fact when the people tried to gather more manna than was needed for one day, the excess became wormy and rotten. Their physical survival was one day at a time. There was no well marked map showing them which way to go. God provided Moses guidance by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. By faith, Moses moved through his life, leading the people through the wilderness for 40 years, one day at a time.

Just before he died Moses went to the top Mount Nebo and saw the Promised Land in the distance. It was by faith, he knew his mission was complete. He died trusting that his life had been lived as God intended him to live. He died trusting his life had not been wasted. He died trusting God's promises would be fulfilled. Moses faced his death, as he lived his life – by faith, a trust in God that was so deep and profound he gave himself in total commitment.

How shall we face the future? By faith – trusting God so completely we strive to live as God intends. Like Moses, this does not mean we will always get the assignments we want. Like Moses, we will have to deal with unexpected challenges, one after another. And just as God did not abandon Moses, God will not abandon us. If we trust God so completely we give ourselves to doing his will, we will receive what we need to face what must be faced, one day at a time. And even if like Moses we do not make it all the way to the fulfillment of God's promised land, by faith, we will be able to see it in the distance.

How shall we face the future? By faith. And our marching song could well be: When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go, never fear, only trust and obey. 1.

God help us live our lives the way Moses lived – by faith. Amen.

Pastoral prayer:
God, it is easy for us to be overwhelmed and discouraged by the daily news of war, terrorism, crime, and various abuses of life. At times we are tempted by both cynicism and hopelessness. Help us rediscover hope – hope for ourselves and hope for the world. Help us learn from our ancestors who by faith lived through times of crisis and hardship. Rescue us from allowing ourselves to be consumed by the fear of what might happen. Deliver us from worrying about what is beyond our control. Motivate us to live here and now, doing what we can to make life better. Inspire us to place our faith in you, so we will live each day doing our best and trusting you with the future. God, we pray for the leaders all around this planet who have the ability and the power to bring violence to an end and to work toward peace. Show us what we can do to encourage and motivate them. Give us the vision to see what we can do that will help and the will to do it. Trusting that even in the midst of the storms, you are the Lord, God of the universe, we pray as Jesus taught us: "Our Father ...."

1. THE UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL, #467