God's Word for Me Today
Thursday, October 18, 2001
Focus: Change the World!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for a new day of living for You! Thank You for all of Your blessings in my life, from the air I breath to the salvation Jesus purchased for me on the cross. God, use me this day by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit to be a world-changing agent in Your service. Open doors for me and for Christians everywhere to share the Good News of Your love and salvation. As I read Your Word open my heart and mind to its truth that I may be equipped to live more faithfully for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Exodus 4:18-31
18 Then Moses went back home and talked it over with Jethro, his father-in-law. "With your permission," Moses said, "I would like to go back to Egypt to visit my family. I don't even know whether they are still alive.""Go with my blessing," Jethro replied. 19 Before Moses left Midian, the LORD said to him, "Do not be afraid to return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. In his hand he carried the staff of God. 21 Then the LORD reminded him, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will make him stubborn so he will not let the people go. 22 Then you will tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I commanded you to let him go, so he could worship me. But since you have refused, be warned! I will kill your firstborn son!'"
24 On the journey, when Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the LORD confronted Moses and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah, his wife, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She threw the foreskin at Moses' feet and said, "What a blood-smeared bridegroom you are to me!" 26 (When she called Moses a "blood-smeared bridegroom," she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone. 27 Now the LORD had said to Aaron, "Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses." So Aaron traveled to the mountain of God, where he found Moses and greeted him warmly. 28 Moses then told Aaron everything the LORD had commanded them to do and say. And he told him about the miraculous signs they were to perform. 29 So Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called the leaders of Israel to a meeting. 30 Aaron told them everything the LORD had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. 31 The leaders were soon convinced that the LORD had sent Moses and Aaron. And when they realized that the LORD had seen their misery and was deeply concerned for them, they all bowed their heads and worshiped
Questions for Reflection
If you’ve moved away from the place where you grew up, have you ever returned? If so, what was different?
Moses recognized that he was under the authority of Jethro, so he asked Jethro’s permission before returning to Egypt. Under whose authority are you? What permission may you need to receive in order to be a world-changer in God’s service?
Questions for Exploration
What considerations did Moses make after saying, “Yes,” to God before he actually made the trip back to Eqypt? (4:18-20)
What further instructions and assurances did God give Moses? (4:21-31)
What convinced the Israelite leaders that Moses’ call from God was authentic? (4:29-31)
Questions for Understanding
What were the potential “roadblocks” for Moses’ carrying out God’s call in his life? How did he deal with them?
What role did Aaron play in Moses’ leadership among the Israelites?
Why did the Israelite leaders believer Aaron and Moses?
Questions for Application
Moses told his father-in-law his plans for going back to Egypt. He knew that he was under Jethro’s authority. List those under whose authority you serve. What is one way you can be more faithful in that relationship today?
Moses and Aaron worked in cooperation. Who is your partner in ministry? Who holds you accountable? (Note: if you have no answer for this question, it is of first priority that you submit to a ministry partnership/ accountability group, if God is going to use you as a world changer!)
Moses Asked Jethro’s Permission!
We live in a permissive era. Many reject authority of all kinds. Due to the recent terrorist attacks on America, we are once again seeing a willingness among Americans to subject ourselves to the authority of others. The reality is that God has always developed authority structures for His people. We are first and foremost subject to Jesus Christ. He is our LORD—that mean’s He’s our master. He tells us what to do, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we do it. When we stumble we ask forgiveness, and resubmit ourselves to His authority.
But there are other authorities to whom we must submit. We are to obey our parents, to respect our in-laws, to live under the authority of the government, unless its commands are contrary to God’s will. In the church we submit ourselves to the authority of elders, teachers and pastors. It is in these partnerships and relationships that we have the accountability to be and become world changers. Apart from that accountability, we are destined for failure, because God created us for relationship with Himself and others. Today is a great day to examine our “chain of command,” and to submit ourselves to the authority of Jesus and to those He has placed over us. In doing so, we establish the structure necessary for being world changers for Him! While it’s often difficult to submit to one another out of reverence for Jesus, it is in those very relationships that God works most powerfully in our lives.
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