GOD gETS TO DECIDE WHO WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE (PART 2)

At Acts chapter 7, verses 23 through 24, we see Moses as the Prince of Egypt, who went to where the Hebrews were working in the field for Pharoah. While there, he saw an Egyptian guard beating on a fellow Israelite – Moses’ relative. Without thinking about it, Moses, out of anger, murdered the Egyptian.

In this discussion, we are going to learn that Moses had the right idea of what GOD wanted to do. But displayed the wrong actions, at the improper time, in the incorrect season. This resulted in Moses’ plans and effects not working out as they should for Moses nor GOD’s people. So, let’s take a closer look at these events and how can we apply them to ourselves and our families' lives today. 
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disputes between brothers

On the next day, Moses went to where the Hebrews were working once again. There he observed two of his brothers fighting among themselves. Moses attempted to intervene and try to encourage them to not quarrel. Moses said to them, “men you are brethren, why do you injure one another?” (V. 26)

Side Note: Unfortunately, disagreements or misunderstandings occur in Christian congregations all the time. (This same principle can be applied to any and EVERYTHING in our lives). Sadly, it is to be expected because we ALL are imperfect. (Compare to Romans 3:23). The underlined problem from GOD’s perspective (and should be from all leaders’ view) is that too many Christians fail to properly apply the principle stated at Matthew 18:15-17.
 
Step 1: “If your brother sins against you” [it doesn’t matter if the other party is aware they have done so or not], go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
 
Step 2: But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
 
Step 3: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.
 
Step 4: And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Compare to Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Revelation 3:19). [Yes, as much as church members and non-Christians hate this step. But sometimes disfellowshipping is necessary to protect the entire congregation].
 
NOTE: Steps 3 & 4 principles are not necessarily applicable to every situation. But Steps 1 & 2 should be applied no matter what the issue is.
Alright, let’s not get bogged down here. Moving on. 

So, Moses attempts to confront his brothers. But the injured Hebrew questions Moses' rightful authority by asking who made Moses’ judge and ruler over the Israelites. Then he exposes and challenges Moses' integrity by asking. “Will you kill me like you did the Egyptian yesterday?” (Acts 7:28; compare to Ephesian 5:11)

Moses certainly was taken aback by this brother’s response. After all, was he not helping his brothers the Israelites by his actions? Was he not attempting to take steps to help his brothers to be set free from the yoke of the Egyptians?

Today, we need to look at the actions and reactions of Moses’ efforts to help his people. We also need to consider why it is very dangerous to try to move ahead of GOD’s timing when it comes to HIS timing in delivering HIS people. 
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The ACtions and the reaction

So, when Moses realized he was exposed and many others knew about what he had done in secret. Instead of admitting his wrong or sin, facing the consequences of his sin, seeking GOD for forgiveness, restoration, correction, and the possibility of HIM getting Moses out of his bad circumstances. Moses chooses to flee to the land of Midian (Acts 7:29).

Side Note: We have to remember that GOD is not an unjust god. HE truly loves each one of us. HE sees himself as a FATHER first, that acts as a righteous judge. GOD always chooses to lick our wounds so to speak and heal them before HE opts to discipline us as our JUDGE. (That is if we truly take responsibility for our actions and truly repent).
 
Keep in mind, I am not saying GOD wants to discipline us for every little thing we do, especially after we sincerely repent. But remember, the Israelites find themselves in their current plight as slaves because of their own doings (sins). For instance, when King David acted poorly when he took another man’s wife – Beersheba, as well as murdered her husband to cover up their pregnancy. Although David later repented, GOD still allowed David to experience the full penalty for his bad decision-making. Is this not what a loving and righteous father does? Is this not what you do as a father whenever your children make bad decisions? You do not shield or prevent them from feeling the full efforts of their own poor decision-making? Okay, moving on. 

So, Moses flees instead of manning up after he is exposed. As a result, by Moses’ actions described at Acts chapter 7, verses 23 through 24, he inversely, alter the plans of GOD, which may have taken Moses off course from 

1. How GOD was going to work things out for HIS people
2. How GOD needed to prepare HIS people as well as Moses’ heart and mind for their deliverance

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Instead, Moses ended up as an alien, an outcast, far away from home and his people. 

Thought Provoking: GOD’s timing is so critical, especially when dealing with any form of deliverance. If done too soon, before the people involved are ready, the deliverance won’t stick. They will find themselves right back into the same mindset, habits, and sin. Recall while in the wilderness some had said to Moses, shortly after their deliverance.

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

How soon do they forget how really bad their circumstances were under the mighty hands of Pharoah? Did they forget that they were slaves?  

Initially, the Hebrews were not mentally ready for their freedom. They were not ready for anyone other than Pharoah a tyrant slave master to lead them. Within the Israelites’ hearts, they have not fully acknowledged their own sins against GOD and therefore, did not truly repent for their offenses. Plus, Moses was not ready to lead GOD’s people. This was obvious based on the fact that he moves ahead of GOD’s timing.  And certainly, based on the type of sin he committed and his failure to address and repent from his own sin, reflected Moses’ maturity at the time. As well as his failure to inquire of the LORD before taking action on his own.

Side Note: Alright before moving on, let’s consider this. We all know and can agree that nothing we can do, will do, or have done, surprises GOD. NOTHING. He knows our future and EVERY single thing we will do and say in any situation before we even do and say them. (Compare to Jeremiah 1:5). Now, that’s good.

GOD being the GOD He is, gives us the room to make judgments and decisions for ourselves. But within that scope of freedom, HE provides us, HE always prompts us by throwing at us warning signs our way or sending to us HIS prophets or other servants to warn us not to go, or say, or do this or that. GOD will prefer us to always heed all of HIS warnings. But HE gives us the space to choose for ourselves. But if not, we too, like Moses, like King David, like King Solomon, like King Saul, or like Ananias and Sapphira will abuse and misuse that GOD giving freedom for our own personal gains or crooked pleasures (Compare to Acts 7:23-29; 1 Kings 11:4; 2 Samuel 12; Acts 5:1-11). Resulting in an appointed time when we will have to face the full consequences of our bad decisions in our present or future. Not because GOD wants to punish us. No certainly not. But because we refuse to benefit from GOD’s provisions of repentance and forgiveness. We refuse to be obedient. We refuse to abandon our ways, actions, habits, and speeches. We refuse to turn it around. We refuse to LET IT GO. Okay, let me not get bogged down here. Let’s move on. 
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we must be ready

Now, we really don’t know whether Moses, through his actions, when he killed the Egyptian soldier was acting within GOD’s plan and timing or not. The Bible does not tell us that here in these verses. Either way, Moses had to live in exile for 40 years. And as we know, this still did not alter GOD’s plans for Moses’ life. 

Side Note: Now, please do not get this twisted. GOD hates the shrewing of blood. 

GOD still wants to use Moses to deliver HIS people. But only after when Moses and the Israelites have sincerely repented and were emotionally ready for the journey (the process) GOD was about to take every willing vessel through to place the Kingdom of GOD burning bright within each one of them. They need to be trained to live holy, consecrated lifestyles and for the Kingdom of GOD to be endowed within them according to the will and plans of GOD and not man. 

But at the time of Moses’ untimely action, he nor the Israelites were ready. In fact, according to Acts chapter 7, verse 30, it would take Moses 40 years to be ready to carry the weight and responsibilities of delivering GOD’s people from Pharoah. And it was in Mount Sinai in the wilderness at the burning bush in which GOD spoke to Moses to call him into full-time service. 
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burning busH

Now, if I had seen the burning bush that Moses had seen, I know my initial thought would be – what in the world, and THEN I would be like, deuce. I’m out! But that was not Moses’ response. Moses saw the unusual phenomenon and walks up to it to get a closer look. He is amazed by what he sees (Acts 7:31).

Then, when he least expects it. As he is standing there, a powerful and mighty voice comes from out of the bush. Can you imagine the confusion and overwhelming emotions that must have poured out of Moses? And yet, again, Moses does take off, running out of fear. Moses leans into this unusual phenomenon.

Now, I don’t know what your background is or where you come from. But where I am from, the culture I was raised in. If anything like that would have occurred. We ain’t sticking around long enough to figure it out. NOPE!! But Moses continues to observe this bush as this powerful and overwhelming voice speaks to him.

As we know, that voice was the LORD’s who was introducing Himself to Moses. 
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I AM GOD of your fathers, the GOD of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob (Acts 7:32). 

Now, I can be really animated sometimes. So, when I read this verse and imagine what Moses must have heard. I can literally hear James Earl Jones with his deep, rich, booming voice. Yall know that famous voice – the character James played as Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. Okay, moving on.

Again, Moses did better than I probably would have. Or maybe it was because it was the Spirit of the LORD calling him forth at the right time, in the right season that made Moses stay and observe. From this burning bush, GOD gave Moses three simple instructions.
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1. For him to acknowledge he was in the presence of the LORD. Therefore, Moses was standing on holy grounds.
2. This required Moses to remove his sandals (Acts 7:32).
3. Then GOD proceeds to say to Moses that GOD sees and hears the plight of HIS people. Therefore, Moses had to carefully listen to everything GOD was about to say to him.

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GOD’S TIMINg

Now, we see it was GOD’s timing to set HIS people free. Moses was finally ready to carry the responsibilities of freeing an entire Nation. And although the Israelites’ mindset was still stuck in bondage – they were still brainwashed by their condition and circumstances while in Egypt. BUT they FINALLY repented. They FINALLY TURNED THEIR FACE TO GOD. They FINALLY wanted a change, to be transformed. They FINALLY wanted to live right, differently. Therefore, it was the aroma from their remorseful hearts that enticed the FATHER. They genuinely felt sorrow for the sins they committed, which led them into captivity under the stern arms of Pharoah. So, now GOD can turn HIS attention to HIS people and begin their process to not only free them physically (from Pharoah) but also mentally, spiritually, emotionally, financially, etc. A POWERFUL restoration and revival were FINALLY coming their way. 

Side Note: REVIVAL. Many church leaders and members have been talking about a revival. A revival that is so much needed in this day and age. But we have to be mindful that a true revival – a revival where GOD is in it and moving with great power and authority where lives are forever changed, hearts are mended, bodies are healed, families are restored, and the people are blessed. IT MUST AND WILL ONLY START WHEN THE PEOPLE – GOD’S PEOPLE do two things. 

1. Acknowledge THEIR wrongs and repent – sincerely repent.
2. And turn their face to GOD and plead to HIM to change them, change the church from the inside out. 

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moses was god’s man

Now, there is one more point I want to make before ending this blog post. And I cannot emphasize this enough. 

MOSES WAS GOD’S MAN.

HIS choice. HIS selection. HIS anointed and appointed vessel. No other man or woman or person can do what Moses was assigned to do. Only Moses could have messed up on GOD’s plan for him and the nation of Israel by either forfeiting his right to do as GOD said. Or rejecting his divine assignment. Or by living an unholy and unrighteous lifestyle – i.e. immoral sex, acting in an abusive way – physically or emotionally, or practicing anything mentioned at Galatians 5:13-21 or 1 Corinthians 6:8-10. 

Side Note: Please review these verses very carefully and work to root out these behaviors from out of your system.

It was based on and completely up to Moses whether GOD would be forced to look elsewhere for another MAN to fill the role, the need GOD had for HIS people. To deliver HIS people. 

god is a planner – the master strateGist

This leads me to 1 Corinthians chapter 12. In this beautiful chapter is a verse that displays how thoughtful and well GOD takes care of HIS children. He is a planner and therefore, HE carefully considers our every need and places people in the rightful roles and positions and locations inside and outside the church to ensure the needs of HIS people are met.

The church and its leadership have GOTTEN SO FAR OFF AND AWAY FROM THIS MISSION OF GOD. Declaring things that are not so – like the gifts of the Spirit have ceased, no longer needed. Or my all-time favorite – you need nothing but the Word – the Bible. Okay, keep on just believing that. You have a right to do so. But in time, GOD will certainly reveal to you the error of your way and stinking thinking when you and your family lose your life just as Korah, a rebellious leader, lost his life and was the cause of his entire family losing theirs as well.

The church and too many leaders have made it powerless because they have gotten away from the key power tools of GOD. Let’s look at some of these and then end this post.

Every believer should read the entire chapter of the first Corinthian 12 over and over again and get it in them. And then live it out in their lives. Because here GOD states the following concerning every church, every leader, every man, woman, and child that are HIS. 
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1. Men (leaders) that have appointed men and women in roles and positions that GOD has not appointed them HAVE NO POWER. [For example, the recent trend in the Church where many prophets and prophetess and other members are switching or wearing a double title such as prophet and pastor, etc. in the local church for whatever their reasoning are. (Let me leave this one alone before I get into trouble with GOD by something I might say)]. At any rate, there is no oil or power in doing this - especially if GOD is not leading you to do so. Because GOD did not appoint them. Man did. WAIT ON GOD’S TIMING AND APPROVAL. It is always right.
2. The church continuously allows men and women to self-appoint themselves in roles that GOD did NOT clearly show through either signs and wonders, creative phenomenon, or through HIS prophet, or some other vetted and trusted servant of HIS that so-and-so is called in a given role that they are claiming and declaring over themselves. When this is done, that person IS A LAIR. And they too will be thrown in the lake of fire for condemning and sentencing the church, GOD’s people to death. One more point here. Church leaders must, must address and confront these leeches who are sucking the blood of life out of GOD’s people. And providing a one-way ticket to hell. (Compare to Matthew chapter 18).
3. Church leaders are failing to wait on GOD and receive confirmation from GOD about HIS appointment in roles concerning specific men and women in the church/ministry. Especially, those roles that are critical to the church and GOD’s people – aka the 5-fold ministry – first apostles and prophets, then pastors, Bible teachers, and evangelists.
4. Far too many appointments in the Body of Christ are done similarly to the political system. Based on favors, profits, bribes, and other grotesques means. 

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In far too many churches, the providence we should use in governing ourselves in appointing and confirming individuals into different roles or assignments has been abandoned. It is no longer about the will of GOD but the PROVIDENCE OF MEN. WHAT A SHAME! For 1 Corinthians chapter, 12 is so well written and planned out for the success, growth, and benefit of the entire church.
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THERE IS NO MEMBER in the Body of Christ, whether small or great; young or old that should not be used in GOD’s house – when and only if a member of the BODY is operating within GOD’s timing and providence. Look at those verses closely when you get a chance. But for now, I will end it right there.