Sunday, June 29, 2008

Got Moses?

What do you think of when you hear Moses? Burning bush, Ten Commandments, plaques, a sea divided, Ark of Covenant, staff turned to serpent, first five books of the Bible.

Faithfulness and obedience.

That is what is prevalent.


As recorded in Exodus, God said, and Moses did!! God spoke and Moses obeyed.

Egyptians will know I am Lord.
"So Moses and Aaron did it, as the Lord commanded them, thus they did." Exodus 7:6

Rod becomes serpent.
"And thus they did just as the Lord had commanded." Exodus 7:10

Water turned to blood.
"So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord commanded." Exodus 7:20

God gave Moses power. He told him to do, Moses did, and power was released.

Many times we see the words: "Then the Lord said to Moses" followed immediately by "pass, go, stretch, tell, rise, say, take."

What a privilege to be told by God explicitly what to do and then an honor to follow as Moses did.
Words spoken by the Lord several times in the beginning of Exodus are: "Stretch out your hand" and "Let My people go that they may serve Me."

Let us look out of the box and see the application for us today just in these two statements.

STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND
God is asking us to stretch out our hands. Let go of what we are clutching. Reach to the Father. Ask for His help. Pass your burdens to Him. Tell Him your troubles. Raise your hand and heart to Him. Go to Him in prayer with everything. Seek His face and will. Take His providential plan. Give Him your fears. Step out in faith.

LET MY PEOPLE GO THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME
Just as He cared for the Egyptians and their release, he too cares for us. He cares for us to be released from our past, from our guilt and shame, from our fears, from our pain. While we are held captive by things of this world, we cannot fully serve Him. He not only wants to release us from such pains from our own good but for His glory and to serve Him. Fear, emotional pain, physical pain, unworthiness, guilt, shame, and much much more inhibit our work for God's Kingdom. The troubles of this world can be very paralyzing. The Lord is saying: "Let My Julie go." "Let My Sammy go." "Let My Sarah go." Can you hear Him standing on His throne assertively saying "let her go"? My heart wants to insert many precious people's names, but refrain for their privacy. (Know that you are in my prayers.)

Are you stretching out your hand to God? Are you fully stretched? Do you need to extend your hand further? Reach full. Reach hard. Reach longer. The Father is waiting with abundant loving kindness!

Do you know the depths of His concern for you? do you know the longing of His heart for you to be "let go" from what takes you captive?

My heart has been heavy for many lately. I cried out to the Lord today begging Him to give me a word, a word to ease the pain, to lighten the load of many. So many places where I thought the Lord would lead and it turned into something I hadn't even considered. Something I long will bring blessing and encouragement to many.

I want to remind you of Moses' experience with the burning bush. "The bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said 'I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.' " Exodus 3:2-3

This indeed is you, my friend. You may be feeling the fire, you may feel your situation is consuming you. But remember, the bush was not "burned up" and you are not "burned up." Recall God's words in
Exodus 3:7-8. "I have surely seen the affliction of My people...I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them...and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey."

My friend, He is aware of YOUR affliction and suffering. He WILL bring you from that land, whatever it may be for you, and bring you into a land of goodness and sweetness.

Stretching to Him,

29 comments:

connie said...

What a great and awesome knowlegde, to know that God is allways there, no matter what is going on around us... Thank you for this post I love reading your writings...
How are you doing, the Lord has plased your name upon my heart, and you are in my prayers...
Connie
GBU

Laura said...

I am stretching out my hand...thank you for these words of reassurance, and your encouraging words on my blog. Waiting is hard, just as Amy said. But He is with me and I feel Him so close right now. I'm so grateful for your words. I'm thinking about Moses tonight...

Yolanda said...

Trust and Obey. Sometimes hard for us, but seems so simple. And when we go, we are so reminded of:

MY GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Love to you,
Yolanda

LynnSC said...

What an awesome word today. There are things that I know that I am holding on to too tight. There are things that are threatening to consume me... but thankfully... I know that I will not be consumed. God is so good to me.

Thanks so much for sharing this encouragement today.
Lynn

Joyfulsister said...

When I look back at the story of moses, two words come to mind, obedience and Faith. The out scretched hand remimds me how we need to stretch our faith even more at times when there is much waiting and hoping. Hugz Lorie

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

It's all about walking in faith and keeping focused on Him no matter what. God is big enough!!

In His Graces~Pamela

Anonymous said...

When you have something to say, you really have something to say, huh? Beautiful post today. Thanks!

much2ponder said...

Thank you for this thoughtful post. My heart is weary at times as I sort things out, but I have come to realize it is not only reaching out to the Lord that is needed for me. I have made his ability to change me too small. I have taken matters into my own hands many times, now it is time to let go of the burdens as you say. The only way for me to be free, totally free, is to release the grip I have over my own life. I need to care only about how I am with Him. I need not care if I become something in the eyes of man and consider only His view of me. I have nothing to prove, nothing to hide. As I realize more and more the person in me that I have created needs to be let go of in order to make room for the person He intends for me to be. My safety net is not really all that safe. I must release myself and truly trust in the Lord.

Abba's Girl said...

Isn't it amazing how at times we try to keep God in a box when He is so much more than we can imagine or think! Wonderful post.

Amy said...

Paula,

I don't even know where to begin...So I'll just start.
When Shannon took me to see the neurosurgeon Friday...the address was 234 Such and Such Street.

Then when I went over to the hospital just an hour later, I was getting my blood drawn, and I noticed something on the table where I was sitting...It was the number 234....Just laying there on the table....it was some kind of identification tag...Anyway, I looked at Shannon and told him that for some reason God has shown me that number twice in about an hour.....And since he has the Bible on his phone, I said why don't you go to Exodus 3:4.....I strongly felt God leading me there......Then he read it out loud to me.....


When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

I also read the rest of the story (the verses that you just shared) and I didn't know exactly what God was telling me......but I knew that He was letting me know of his presence.....It was also kind of weird, because I had just taken off my sandals before reading it....and then read where God tells him to take his sandals off because he was standing on Holy Ground. I didn't know what God meant exactly, but I definitely felt the peace of His presence........

Then fast forward to your post.....I'm blown away.
I just emailed your words to Shannon.....I know he will be blown away as well.

I am printing this and taking it to the hospital with me.
Thank you for your prayers and for sharing what God spoke to you.
This girl needed to hear it.
Talk about confirmation!
God Bless,
Amy:)

Tracy said...

Beautiful, encouraging thoughts no matter our battle. Thank you for sharing.

Tonja said...

Beautiful, inspiring thoughts!

Laura said...

Paula,
How could I ever be upset with a sweetpea? Every time I visit your blog I am so humbled by its name: His ways are definitely not our ways! I always appreciate hearing what others think of the situations I throw out there. I am honored that you take the time to come and visit me! It amazes me what a sense of support and love I feel from my bloggy friends. What a blessing! Don't ever worry you will offend me, I am not one to be easily upset!
luv to you,
Laura

Lynn - JnL4God said...

I've been learning a lot about Moses lately - there are a lot of good messages in there. Hope you are doing well my friend. Let God comfort you. Let him hold you when you are weak.
Hugs and Loves,
Lynn

Plant Lady said...

Sweetpea,
What a wonderful post! Thanks for reminding me! God is so good!

Plant Lady

Sharon said...

What a great post!! I have it all set up now thanks to you!! I won't miss another!
Hugsssssssssss to ya
Sharon

About Nancy said...

Thank you for this encouraging word. I think we are all going through a trial of some kind at the present time. In Him we can trust. Amen!
Thanks,
Nancy

andi said...

thanks for that great reminder!

christi said...

this was a really great post. how i wished that God would still speak to us that He did then! wouldn't that be awesome??

i seemed to be consumed right now with just life. raising 2 young kids. i seem to get overwhelmed and feel out of control. that is how today has been. so thanks for the word. it was needed today. i need to remember to release it and hand it to him. sometimes i feel that what i am going through is not nearly bas as someone else! im healthy, my family is healthy. we have a roof over our head. you know what i mean. i need to remember he wants is all, no matter the size of the problem!
my head knows it, now if i can teach my heart not to forget it.


blessing paula!

Shirley Mary said...

And now a great post on Moses!
I love to read the comments and see how lives are being blessed through the light that God is giving to you. I read somewhere that a candle cannot give light without burning. And so through your pain, God is teaching you and then you are passing that light to others.

May you find joy unspeakable as you continue to serve God and walk in obedience to His will.

Submission
"The path that I have trod has brought me nearer God
Though oft it led thru sorrow's gates
Though not the way I'd choose,
In my way I might lose
The joy that yet for me awaits.

CHORUS
Not what I wish to be, nor where I wish to go
For who am I that I should choose my way
The Lord shall choose for me,
tis better far I know
So let Him bid me go, or stay.

Submission to the will
of Him who guides me still
is surety of His love revealed
My soul shall rise above
this world in which I move
I conquer only when I yield."

(I don't have the authors name.)

mary

TeriAnnElizabeth said...

Paula,
Your post was defintely fueled by the passion and fire of The Holy Spirit!

You are gifted of GOD with words that stir our souls - not to just reflect but to act.

Stretch out the hand over the situations that have us feeling defeated. Stretch it out to be delivered from a pit of whatever addiction we have.

I testify that HE alone saw my hand that wasn't even strong enough to lift high within the deep walls of the abyss I was living in.

Whatever state you are in - if you need HIM only - HE will come.

Love and blessings to one who is blessings so many!
Teri

Amy said...

Hey Paula!
Melissa cut and highlighted my hair yesterday (so I can at least have good hair while I am bedridden) and I told her about our 234 story...needless to say, she loved it.:)

I wanted to tell you to be sure to stop by my blog tomorrow...I have something for you.:)

Laura said...

Hi, Paula,
Just checking in to let you know what a blessing you are to me! We had a prayer meeting this morning at my old church and I left with mixed feelings. Sigh. Trust, right? Thanks for all your encouragement.

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Paula, what an encouraging word! And one to make me thing, "Am I indeed stretcing out my hand?"

Anonymous said...

RYC: My dh is up there already working on a project so we will be staying with him. Sorry for the cornfusion as you put it. Very cute!

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Thanks so much for these powerful words of encouragement.

Moses is a true example...of what God's requiring of me. Oh how I want to daily stretch out my hand...being open, ready, and willing for what HE has for me.

Thanks for challenging me to action.

Be blessed.

Kim~

Kelley said...

Paula,
I have just been so blessed by these last couple of posts. You have such a gift in relating God's word and making it personal and applicable to our every day! Thank you for your faithfulness, you are a HUGE blessing to many. I wanted to write down a couple of the things that spoke to me but then I figured I would just print out the posts because it all was so good. I hope you don't mind.

Have a wonderful 4th of July and I look forward to what you are going to say next!

Love,
Kelley

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Happy 4th my Friend.
I am going to my Dad's but I'll have the computer.
Hugs and loves,
Lynn

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Thanks Paula,

I really needed this today. Feeling like Moses when God called him but he tried to talk God out of being used.

Your words were from the throne.