Title: God's Call (Exodus 04:1-9)
Content God's call can be divided into two major categories. One is a universal call, which is God's love for the world, and calls all people into the ark of salvation, and the other is a call among those who are saved to carry out the work.
end. Moses' staff
The staff was the only tool on which Moses relied. He was like an alter ego that always carried his staff with him wherever he went, relying on him when he was in trouble, and used as a whip when tending sheep. He was holding his staff even when he stood before God, and until he recognized the existence of God, the staff was more precious than God. God told Moses to throw his staff and toss them to Moses.
At this time, the true nature of the wand was revealed. The staff turned into a snake. After all, Moses lived a life that depended on Satan in a life without God. Even in our lives, we may think that sustaining life without God gives us comfort, strength, and courage to live. For those without God, money, fame, power, and knowledge are the tools that sustain their lives. But these are also things that can make our lives miserable later in life. Satan's ingenuity is hidden that even makes believers fall.
“For money is the root of all evil. Some, coveting money, have erred, and have erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
But should these things be ignored and we should live a life of celibacy, isolated from the world? God told Moses to pick up the serpent again. At that time, the serpent became a staff again, and Moses took the staff again and carried on the work of God. When he held out his staff and stretched out his hand toward the Red Sea, the Red Sea parted (Ex 14:15-21), and when he struck the rock with his staff, water came out (Exodus 17:6). The staff no longer belongs to Satan.
Things such as money, fame, power, and knowledge will surely be used for Satan's purposes when they exist without God. But even those with whom God is with them, these things will be useful. Some people think that if they believe in Jesus, it is wise to give up all that they have had in life. But God thinks differently. He wants everything you have to be used more powerfully for you. There are many places where wealth is used for money, honor for fame, authority for power generation, knowledge for knowledge. We will also be able to use our talents effectively.
Paul had it all. He was the one who possessed everything that was insignificant such as money, fame, power, and knowledge. We think only of his confession that he was poorly ministering and regarded everything as dung, and we assume that everything he had was meaningless. But you can get a glimpse of the fact that everything he had was put to good use for the Lord. His knowledge helped to teach Jews and Gentiles more logically and effectively about Jesus, and his honor (Roman citizenship) prolonged his death, but rather provided the leaders of the time with an opportunity to witness the gospel, and his fame provided favorable conditions for witnessing in each synagogue. It is a dangerous idea to think that your talents or abilities, whether past or present, have no value in the sight of God.
Jesus gives a stronger admonition to the issue of using talent. 'Talent' is a word for 'talent' (of course, it was a monetary unit at the time), and those with five and two talents worked hard with the given talents and left five and two more talents, respectively, to be praised by their master, but the one who had one talent rather You can see that they are eventually cast out by stating that 'the master knows that he reaps where he did not sow, and gathers where he did not scatter' (Matthew 25:14-30).
After all, God is making it clear that He will not forgive you for not using your talents and abilities. The reason is that the talents and abilities are also God-given (remember, the master gives them talents). In any case, if we realized Jesus right away, we should know the talents we have right now so that we can use them effectively for God's work.
I. Moses put his hand in his bosom (chest)
God tells Moses to put his hand into his bosom (chest) this time to Moses, who is not convinced even though he directly experiences the rod becoming a snake and the snake becoming a staff. When he went into and out of Moses' bosom, his hands had turned white. It became a leper and rotted. Bosom or chest refers to the state of mind. Moses could know that his heart was a sinner by putting his hand in his bosom and removing it.
A sinner's condition can never be judged by outward appearances. Because only the heart, or conscience, can know sin. Those who do not know Christ cannot escape their sinful status, no matter how much they deny it. Just as Moses had to be a sinner even though his status had changed to become an innocent shepherd who had nothing to do with sin, so no matter how innocent our outward appearance changes to be like an angel, his status does not change. .
God told Moses to put his hands again, and when Moses did it again, his hands were clean. When his dead hand, which had rotted without life, came back out of his bosom, he was transformed into a living hand. This is also a passage that shows the fact that the lifeless mind turns to death, but the living mind does the work of saving. The most important thing is that we must understand the gospel with our hearts. This is the biggest difference between religion and the gospel.
The gospel is to convey the facts that have already been accomplished. Let us know that our sin problem has been completely solved and now we only need to hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17), and the Holy Spirit will be our comforter and always guard us, It tells us that according to the pattern of Esau's life, He has prepared a reward and even a crown.
On the other hand, religion is the belief that things are done. So they endlessly pursue works and make sacrifices to secure their salvation. Judging from the outward appearance alone, it seems that you will receive a more complete salvation. However, religion without life will eventually perish. Because God does not favor people by their outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).
Two miracles that God revealed to Moses in calling him before he delivered the people of Israel from Egypt had very special significance. It is also a basic tool that gospel witnesses should have. Evangelists should definitely have this tool with them. No, rather, it would be more appropriate to say that you need to discover.
It is the gospel with the talent and life that can be used for God's work. Only when these two are in harmony can the complete ministry be guaranteed. No matter how talented he may be, without life he will not be able to do anything for the Lord. Also, if you have life but do not use your talents, you cannot bear any fruit. These two must come to fruition in harmony within us. It will bear beautiful fruits in it.
All. Aaron, Moses' co-worker
God appointed Aaron to solidify Moses' call and fill his shortcomings. Although he was physically the older brother, he was written with a perfect co-worker spiritually. Co-workers are very important in carrying out God's work. This is also a very important lesson regardless of the times of the Old Testament or the New Testament. Even in politics, it can be the difference between success and failure. For a simple example, Saul had no good co-workers (loyal) around him, but David had many co-workers who were willing to give his life. Everywhere in the Bible, this partnership is taught as very important.
Peter and John went together as co-workers. Considering their abilities, knowledge, or the environment they lived in, the two were very similar and could not be superior to each other, but Peter always witnessed ahead and John watched from behind, and sometimes only helped. Considering this alone, you would think that Peter would have been more active and powerful, but in reality, you can see that John was a precious writer. This is because the Gospel of John, 1, 2, 3 John, and the Book of Revelation he wrote have a great influence on enriching the lives of Christians today.
Barnabas and Paul are not polite either. Originally, Barnabas invited Paul from Tarsus to be a teacher at the Antioch church, and the Antioch church established and sent Barnabas and Paul as the first missionaries. Paul cooperated under Barnabas's leadership, and Barnabas was always the leader during the first missionary journey. However, it was Paul who received greater use later, and Paul also always had his co-worker by his side.
There is nothing more important than meeting a good co-worker who has been entrusted with God's work. We hope that we, who are called to become God's servants, discover our talents and become Christians who pray to meet good co-workers after being armed with the gospel of life.