Sermon 95
Sermon by Ian Scott-Thompson at Wonersh on 16th September 2007.
MOSES
Series on Moses ABCD. Housegroups get
three extra.
(adds 1 “God who hears” 6 “God who teaches” and 7 “God of glory”.)
Why Moses? Surely he’s old hat, history, irrelevant
today? No, actually: Moses was a hero of
faith for the New Testament church. The
Jewish people looked on him as a founding father, because he gave them the Ten
Commandments, the Law; and wrote the first five books, the key texts. So he’s the foundation of Jesus’ faith, and
we follow Jesus.
Exodus 1 & 2 is about
Moses’ birth and childhood, saved from an early death, and then growing up as a
prince in Pharaoh’s court in
verse ten – “so now, go! I am sending you…”
This is his calling, his
vocation; perhaps also even his conversion experience. This is what tells him who he is, from this
point in his life onwards. This defines
him, from here until he dies, this is his identity.
He’s caught
unprepared. Verse eleven: “Who am I, that I should go…?” He’s unsure of himself, he doesn’t know his
identity, his place in the scheme of things.
“Why me?” Why should God choose him?
God’s answer is that it’s
nothing to do with Moses, his skills or qualities: it is simply
because God will be with him, that’s what will make him
special. There’s a deep truth here;
well, two deep truths. One is about
power: we may be stronger or brighter or quicker than the next person, but the
power that makes all the difference is from God.
We went to a school
parents’ evening this week, and heard how our children could get good results
and plan ahead for a good career in life.
But the only advice that really works is to pray, and to ask
God. Unsurprisingly, the school didn’t
give that advice; but it’s way better than great results, expensive careers
advice and influential connections. What
is God’s calling for you? He knows you;
he knows your life. Vocation doesn’t
have to mean being a Vicar or a Missionary – it could mean being in property or
the futures market – but if it’s his calling it will fit you like a glove, and
you’ll be doing his work too. Ask
him. Perhaps you already even have
the answer: you just need to bring it out into the open.
The other truth, I think,
is about identity and self-worth. Loads
of people today have a real problem with this – am I needed and useful, am I
making an impact, am I somebody?
What am I? Books like this have
been written to help combat stress, depression, suicide. Recently, a brilliant young girl at
But Moses is still not
convinced. Verse 13, “Suppose they ask
me…what shall I say to them?” He’s still
insecure – he’s human, and all heroes are still human. Most of the great ones in the Bible had a
wobble like this. Abraham doubted God
would give him a son; Joshua doubted he could be courageous like Moses; Jepthah doubted he could rescue
Part of the problem is
that God’s calling is huge: it demands so much more than we can imagine. Poet Robert Browning said: A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or
what’s a heaven for? God gives us no
small vision. It stretches us so
far that we can’t possibly do it without him.
Yesterday we were part a
massive family gathering – 160 relatives on a boat trip up the Thames, a
lecture about a distinguished ancestor and a party in
Your calling places
you in a meta-narrative; it puts you in a bigger picture – God’s plan. It gives your life meaning; it gives you a
place in something truly epic.
In effect, Moses asks God,
“What’s your Name?” God’s answer sounds
a bit like Mummy’s “because I say so”:
“I am who I am.” In other words,
the being who simply exists, always has, always will. Not created by anyone else, not depending on
anybody else; self-existing, self-authenticating. Not contingent, not relying on anybody or
anything, not defined by anything else; not relative, but absolute; God simply
IS. Everything else revolves around Him,
stems from Him.
In a short while John Metcalfe will speak briefly about our Finances, which are another application of this. We approach God; He calls us to His challenging tasks. They are more than we can manage; we need an injection of extra resources; but He will be with us. Let’s remember that. “Who am I?” Answer: “I will be with you,” “I am who I am.”
Amen