Exodus 3:19 - "But I know that the king of Egypt will not
permit you to go, except under compulsion."
In the early chapters of Exodus the Lord God is talking with Moses from the burning bush. You'll remember that after Moses had been raised as a son of Pharaoh in Egypt he recognized that God wanted to deliver the children of Israel through him. After he had grown up he went out to his brethren and he saw one of them being beaten by an Egyptian. He rose up and killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand, but what he had done became known and he fled from Egypt and from Pharaoh and settled in the wilderness of Midian. Moses spent the next forty years of his life tending sheep in the wilderness, and that's where we pick up in Exodus 3. At this point in history, while Moses was tending the sheep, he saw a bush that was on fire and yet it was not consumed and he turned aside to see this marvelous sight. As you know God began to speak to Moses from this bush and to tell him of His plans for Moses life. God called Moses to return to Egypt so that He could deliver His people through him. God had an exact plan for Moses, He knew everything that was going to happen, and that's what I want to focus on. God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask him to let the children of Israel go 3 days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to God. But right after He tells him this He says in verse 19 - "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion." God knew that Pharaoh was not going to let the children of Israel go but He told Moses to go to him anyway. God's plans don't always make sense to us. If God told me to go to a certain individual and speak to them and He also said, "And, by the way, they're not going to listen to you." My first response would be, "Then what's the point? If they're not even going to listen then why should I go?" But that's not the way that faith works. Faith is obeying God when it makes absolutely no sense at all. God knew that Pharaoh wouldn't listen but He told Moses to go anyway, and He always has a purpose.
Later on in the conversation, in chapter 4 verse 14 we're told this - "Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart."" This is the second time in this passage that we're told that God knew something. Moses was making excuses why he couldn't do what God had told Him to do, but God shot down every one of his excuses. Moses was laboring the case that he couldn't speak well, and finally God told him to go anyway and He would send his brother Aaron to be a mouth piece for him. And when He talks about Aaron He says "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart." God knew that Aaron spoke fluently, and He also knew that Aaron would be coming out to meet Moses.
The events that were about to unfold in the book of Exodus and in the life of Moses didn't catch God by surprise. He knew that Pharaoh would refuse to let the children of Israel go. He knew that Aaron was going to be a spokesman for Moses. He knew everything that was going to happen before it did, and it's the same way in your life and in mine. God had a plan for Moses and He knew every detail of that plan from beginning to end. It's easy for me to sit back and scoff at Moses' doubt, but I have the entire picture, he didn't. Moses simply had to trust God to perform His will and His plan through his life and God did that. Moses had doubts and excuses, but that's because he was a man with a nature like ours. It's easy to ridicule him for his doubts and excuses, but when I look at myself I realize that I do the exact same thing. God said in Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." God know the exact, specific, individual plans He has designed just for my life. He knows and has orchestrated every event and circumstance that comes into my life. And just like He told Moses that He knew what his future would hold, He tells you and I "I know the plans that I have for you."
God used Moses to accomplish great things in spite of Himself. Despite his excuses and doubts God used him in a mighty way and Hebrews 11 identifies him as living a life of faith. God knows the plans that He has for you. He knows every detail of your future. When we realize this it gives us great comfort. We have no need to be anxious for anything, we don't need to worry about tomorrow because God is in control of it. We simply have to trust Him and rest in His perfect knowledge.
In the early chapters of Exodus the Lord God is talking with Moses from the burning bush. You'll remember that after Moses had been raised as a son of Pharaoh in Egypt he recognized that God wanted to deliver the children of Israel through him. After he had grown up he went out to his brethren and he saw one of them being beaten by an Egyptian. He rose up and killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand, but what he had done became known and he fled from Egypt and from Pharaoh and settled in the wilderness of Midian. Moses spent the next forty years of his life tending sheep in the wilderness, and that's where we pick up in Exodus 3. At this point in history, while Moses was tending the sheep, he saw a bush that was on fire and yet it was not consumed and he turned aside to see this marvelous sight. As you know God began to speak to Moses from this bush and to tell him of His plans for Moses life. God called Moses to return to Egypt so that He could deliver His people through him. God had an exact plan for Moses, He knew everything that was going to happen, and that's what I want to focus on. God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask him to let the children of Israel go 3 days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to God. But right after He tells him this He says in verse 19 - "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion." God knew that Pharaoh was not going to let the children of Israel go but He told Moses to go to him anyway. God's plans don't always make sense to us. If God told me to go to a certain individual and speak to them and He also said, "And, by the way, they're not going to listen to you." My first response would be, "Then what's the point? If they're not even going to listen then why should I go?" But that's not the way that faith works. Faith is obeying God when it makes absolutely no sense at all. God knew that Pharaoh wouldn't listen but He told Moses to go anyway, and He always has a purpose.
Later on in the conversation, in chapter 4 verse 14 we're told this - "Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart."" This is the second time in this passage that we're told that God knew something. Moses was making excuses why he couldn't do what God had told Him to do, but God shot down every one of his excuses. Moses was laboring the case that he couldn't speak well, and finally God told him to go anyway and He would send his brother Aaron to be a mouth piece for him. And when He talks about Aaron He says "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart." God knew that Aaron spoke fluently, and He also knew that Aaron would be coming out to meet Moses.
The events that were about to unfold in the book of Exodus and in the life of Moses didn't catch God by surprise. He knew that Pharaoh would refuse to let the children of Israel go. He knew that Aaron was going to be a spokesman for Moses. He knew everything that was going to happen before it did, and it's the same way in your life and in mine. God had a plan for Moses and He knew every detail of that plan from beginning to end. It's easy for me to sit back and scoff at Moses' doubt, but I have the entire picture, he didn't. Moses simply had to trust God to perform His will and His plan through his life and God did that. Moses had doubts and excuses, but that's because he was a man with a nature like ours. It's easy to ridicule him for his doubts and excuses, but when I look at myself I realize that I do the exact same thing. God said in Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." God know the exact, specific, individual plans He has designed just for my life. He knows and has orchestrated every event and circumstance that comes into my life. And just like He told Moses that He knew what his future would hold, He tells you and I "I know the plans that I have for you."
God used Moses to accomplish great things in spite of Himself. Despite his excuses and doubts God used him in a mighty way and Hebrews 11 identifies him as living a life of faith. God knows the plans that He has for you. He knows every detail of your future. When we realize this it gives us great comfort. We have no need to be anxious for anything, we don't need to worry about tomorrow because God is in control of it. We simply have to trust Him and rest in His perfect knowledge.
In duty’s path go on;
Walk in His strength with faith and hope,
So shall thy work be done.
Commit thy ways to Him,
Thy works into His hands,
And rest on His unchanging Word,
Who Heaven and earth commands.
Though years on years roll on,
His covenant shall endure;
Though clouds and darkness hide His path,
The promised grace is sure.
Give to the winds Thy fears;
Hope, and be undismayed;
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.
Through waves, and clouds, and storms,
His power will clear thy way;
Wait thou His time, the darkest night
Shall end in brightest day.
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command;
So shalt thou, wondering, own His way,
How wise, how strong His hand
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