Godly Leadership Exodus 4:18-31

Good morning to each of you and welcome to Faith Bible Church, and we look forward to a blessing from the Lord today. We pray for this service as we sing praises to you that they might come from our heart and As pastor brings your word, we would pray again for Liberty to for him to speak the things that you've laid on his heart.

And may we apply them to our lives. Lord the things that we learned today. May we walk with you and may we not have a heart that's unrepentant Lord. May we be open to anything that you would desire to point out in our life.

That needs to be corrected and we would thank you for that. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Let's stand and sing to our Lord.

I'm gonna be reading from.

1 Peter Chapter 5 verses 1 through 5, that's. 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 1 through 5. The elders who are among you I exhort I. Whom a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory That will be revealed.

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you Serving as overseers not by compulsion, but wing willingly not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. Nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief shepherd appears you receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people Submit yourselves to your elders. Yes. All of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of these words.

God’s Word Governs the Ministry of God’s Leaders

Please turn with me to. Exodus chapter 4 Verses 18 through 31. Exodus chapter 4 verses 18 through 31. So Moses went and Returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt and see whether they're still alive.

And Jethro said to Moses go in peace. Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian go return to Egypt for all the men who sought your life are dead. Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and he returned to the land of Egypt and Moses took the rod of God in his hand and the Lord said to Moses When you go back to Egypt see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in your hand.

But I will harden his heart so that he will not let you let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh Thus says the Lord Israel is my first my son my firstborn. So I say to you let my son go that he may serve me but if you refuse to let him go indeed, I will kill your son your firstborn and It came to pass on the way that I think Kevin that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses feet. And said surely you are a husband of blood to me and he let him go. Then she said you're a husband of blood because of the circumcision and The Lord said to Aaron go into the wilderness to meet Moses.

So he went and met him on the mountain of God and kissed him. So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him and all the signs which he had commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel and Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Then he did the signs in the sight of the people so the people believed. And when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and That he had looked on their affliction then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray Father we're so thankful that your word is powerful and your word makes us worship. Father we pray for this country as The Supreme Court has heard the case against The restrictions on abortion father.

We pray that the court would overturn Roe v. Wade once and for all So that the unborn children may be protected So that the unborn children may live. Father we pray that your hand would be upon the judges and that they would not fear the opinions of men and They would rule righteously according to what is just in Jesus name.

Amen. Nowadays pastors and elders Have some bizarre expectations. Or so to say they there are bizarre expectations for pastors and elders in certain churches pastors are expected to entertain. Good sense of humor is written in their job description.

Their congregants talk about how funny the pastor was rather Than what or how he preached and they argue that comedy is to make the gospel The gospel of the message of Jesus dying on the cross for our sin more relevant to the world.

Unbeknownst to them the message of Christ crucified is one of the most relevant and The most serious matters that ought to be preached every Sunday without the help of comedy. Some Pastors are expected to be businessmen as many of them have their MBAs.

Their job description includes entrepreneurship mindset. However nowhere in Scripture are those qualifications found. God doesn't raise up CEOs for the church. God raises up under shepherds who spends time with the flock who eats the same food as the flock the scripture and Under shepherds who cares for the flock.

Who guides the flock to the true shepherd. That's the qualification of the Bible. And when we pick up qualifications that are not found in the Bible When leaders do not lead according to God's Word God's people suffer the most.

This is a huge problem. Because souls are at stake people souls that need to be shepherded according to the instruction that the head shepherd has given and You may know of friends and family who attended some churches like these that I described above and They're no longer following Christ or no longer part of the local body of Christ because they don't see the need.

Why would you see the need for comic relief when you can find that elsewhere? Why would you need for another CEO when you spend time with your boss? Monday through Friday they found the comedy and successful business elsewhere and This is the crucial question for today.

What does ministry look like when God's leaders? Follow what God says. What does ministry look like when God's leaders follow what God says? When God's leaders minister according to his word his people faithfully respond in worship.

When God's leaders minister according to his word his people faithfully respond in worship first. God's Word governs the ministry of God's leaders. God's Word governs the ministry of God's leaders. Following God's commission from the mountain Moses returns to Midian to let his father-in-law know his intended departure in verse 18 and Jethro the father-in-law Gives his blessing go in peace.

Instead of departing immediately Moses waits he doesn't leave for Egypt after the blessing of his father-in-law.

He waits.

Because God gives him the green light to depart. Go return to Egypt for all the men who sought your life are dead. God reassures Moses's safety and security upon his return. Although the change of the administration did not favorably affect the lives of the Israelites It actually provided safety and security for Moses to return to Egypt without fearing for his life.

It is important to note that Moses waited upon the Lord before departing. He knew where to go and how to get there but still waited for God to speak clearly for him regarding his mission. A leader of God's people follows God's timing not his own.

God's leaders Go when they're called wherever they're called. Not when it is convenient. Not when it is logical not when it is Good. They go when God says so. Not when they feel like it. God's leaders follow God's timing not theirs.

After God's command in verse 19 verse 20 displays Moses's relocation of his family. Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and He returned to the land of Egypt and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

This relocation is more than just an individual Journey for Moses it has greater impact on the whole family. The return to Egypt is a complete commitment to the whole family. It is not a short-term service trip at his convenience.

With his protein bars because you don't want to eat the food. They're bottled waters.

No.

This is the whole family committed to God's mission and the whole family will stay there until The commissioned work is done according to what God says. The placement of verse 20 is striking. Moses's obedient action is surrounded by two sets of commands from God.

It is surrounded by then the Lord said to Moses both of them verse 19 and verses 21 through 23. Moses's action to return to Egypt is flanked by God's instructions for him. Visually God's words Enclose the actions of Moses.

Right. Verse 20 is in between 19 and 21 and 23. It's like a sandwich. This structure shows that God's leaders act only according to the Word of God. They do not go beyond the Word. The actions and authority of God's leaders are bound by the very Word of God and it shows even Structurally just brilliant how scriptures written that way.

Couldn't have been an accident. There's intention behind it. In verses 21 through 23 God commands further instructions when Moses arrives in Egypt verse 21.

Specifically.

Commands Moses to perform all the miracles shown and it's to Pharaoh despite the supernatural wonders. God forewarns Moses that Pharaoh will not Let his people go because God himself will harden Pharaoh's heart and I would like to point out there That there are two different ways Regarding how Pharaoh's heart is hardened.

One is that God hardens Pharaoh's heart and the other is Pharaoh Harding is hardening his own heart and it is important not to emphasize one over the other.

God.

Causes Pharaoh's heart to be hardened in order that. The hardened heart would drive Pharaoh to kick out the Israelites from Egypt. Yet Pharaoh is hardened his own heart on his own out of his sin and stubbornness.

It would be unbiblical and Incorrect to view Pharaoh as a mere puppet and God is the puppet master putting on a puppet show.

After all.

God did not harden Pharaoh's heart when Pharaoh's desire was to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh did not have any desire to let the Israel Israelites go. Exodus makes it clear that Pharaoh is fully culpable and Responsible for his actions and inactions.

Yet.

God.

Sovereignly hardens Pharaoh's heart for his great purpose of delivering his people completely from Egypt. And It may be hard to fathom. But biblically they're both compatible. The more Pharaoh hardens his heart to keep the Israelites enslaved in Egypt God is sovereignly delivering his people away from Egypt.

God.

Has a different intention than Pharaoh. But God's will will be done. Now what will happen when Pharaoh rejects the signs from God. Will God shows more signs. No God will speak. That's the important part.

We have a God who speaks and his speech is more powerful than the signs His speech is.

Effective.

God will pronounce his judgment against Egypt. Verses 22 through 23 share God's message for the hard-hearted Pharaoh. Thus says the Lord Israel is my son my firstborn. So I say to you let my son go that he may serve me.

But if you refuse to let him go Indeed, I will kill your son your firstborn. It starts with thus says the Lord. Thus says the Lord. Means it's not Moses's speech. The words Don't come from Moses. It has the power and the effect of God himself.

One professor if one said if we're gonna go up there and Preach and say thus says the Lord. The Lord better say it. Thus it is no longer Moses's words. But God's very own word and God's word is effectual.

When God speaks he means it. When God speaks he carries it out to completion. Unlike us God never produces empty words. Ineffective words or powerless words. That means you can trust his word with all your heart with your life.

His promises are Faithful you can trust him. Now, what does God say? First he starts out with a declaration. Israel is my son my firstborn. The theme of sonship is important in the Bible. In ancient days or even a few hundred years ago Sons reflected what their fathers did and who their father Was.

So if the father was a baker, then the son was expected to be a baker. If the father was a Butcher the son was expected to be a butcher goes the same way with the mother and the daughter, of course, right?

Now in a similar sense for God to declare Israel. To be his son means means Israel as God's people would reflect Who God is to the rest of the world? Hence, they will be set apart from the rest of the surrounding nations.

As God is set apart from every other deity who's false they would be commanded to stay morally pure as God is. They're reflecting how holy God is how pure how clean. And this is what it meant for Israel to be God's Son a People group that reflects God's character.

Now the concept of firstborn shows even more favor in ancient times in some cultures today. Of course, the firstborn sons would inherit the most. The firstborn sons would represent their fathers. In that sense God graciously adopted Israel as his firstborn to represent him and inherit what belongs to him.

And this Sonship theme ultimately is fulfilled in God's one and only son Jesus Christ. Jesus fully Represents who God is. Jesus does what God does in delivering his people completely out of the slavery of sin?

Jesus can do that because Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus can die for our sin because Jesus is the Son of God. Who does what the Father does? Graciously delivering his people. Now, what does God order Pharaoh to do?

God orders to let his son go that he may serve him. This is a command for Pharaoh to let God's people to fulfill what God's people are meant to do to serve God. God's Son is to serve God. In One sense Exodus is not about liberation.

But a change in masters Exodus is about God transferring his people from serving the evil king to rightfully serving their father. And as God's firstborn Israel belongs to God rather than Pharaoh. God was simply claiming what was rightfully his.

He's claiming his son back. And what will happen if Pharaoh? disobeys. But if you refuse to let him go indeed, I will kill your son your firstborn. Oftentimes Many who do not know the Bible or God mischaracterized God as a cruel deity.

Because he killed the firstborn of Egypt. But the argument made here is that of a fatherly protective care in order to free his very son. What kind of father would not do anything possible to free his son from bondage?

What kind of father would idly wait when someone is? Violently violently oppressing his child. The reason for God's pronounce of pronouncement of judgment to kill Pharaoh's firstborn is this. If Pharaoh prevents God's people from living as God's son.

Then God will prevent Pharaoh's firstborn from living. Period. God is the father will step in to rescue his child. God is the father will allow Pharaoh to experience what God has experienced when his firstborn.

Could not live as his firstborn. This is who God is to his people. He's protective and caring of his child. That's how he sees his people. A Child that he has to protect and care for to the uttermost no matter what he has to do.

He will do it. He is not a passive father who does nothing when his child's life is in danger. God will do anything in his power. To guarantee his child's safety and well-being so that his child may live as his child.

That's the type of God we worship in this section. Every part of Moses's ministry is driven by God's Word. Moses departs Midian according to God's Word at God's appointed time. Moses is to perform signs according to God's Word.

Moses is to speak to Pharaoh and the content of the message is God's Word. From the Old Testament to the new the leaders of God's people have always been bound by the very Word of God. This means pastors and elders minister according to what Scripture says and not by the current trends in academia or the cultural relevance.

Harvard and Yale can produce contradictory and ever-changing methods for ministry. But our standard is set by the unchanging Word of God and we stand by it. The church leaders job of course is not to please the public nor the media but to honor Christ and That's the standard we live by.

Just as Moses ministry was governed by what God had said the church ministry is governed by what God says in Scripture. For Christian ministers Scripture protects us from false teaching and abusive actions and for Christians in general the flock.

They are protected by Scripture from abusive church leaders. God's Word is the fence that protects his sheep and the under shepherds. If Any pastor or elder tells you to do something that is contrary or not in the Bible?

You are not bound to listen to him. He has no authority to order you to do any of that. That's because God's leaders are bound by God's Word. Now what happens when God's leaders disobey? The second part tells us when God's leaders disobey the Consequences affect the people.

When God's leaders disobey the consequences affect the people. The next three verses 24 through 26 May be a bit bizarre to many of us. Moses wife Zephora Notices that God is about to kill her son Gershom.

She immediately circumcises her son and places the foreskin on Moses's feet and Proclaims a mystical phrase. Surely you are a husband of blood to me. At first this may seem both random and crazy. Why did Moses include this episode right after God's?

Message to Pharaoh. Regarding what would happen to his firstborn? How does this episode fit here?

First.

This episode fits chronologically. It goes with the time Verse 24 starts with and it came to pass on the way at the encampment. This precise episode Occurred right after Moses and his family left Midian to go to Egypt.

This is a journey episode. So chronologically it makes sense. This is immediately what happened. Second this episode fits thematically in verse 23 God warned Pharaoh that if he does not let Israel his firstborn go God will kill Pharaoh's firstborn.

Here Moses's firstborn is about to die because Moses did not circumcise his son. The theme of firstborn continues to this episode.

Third.

This episode fits structurally in Exodus there are two places in which the topics of firstborn and circumcision occur back-to-back. The first portion is here right after God threatens to kill Pharaoh's firstborn upon his disobedience.

We see the circumcision of Moses's son right here and the blood from the circumcision averts the death that was coming. The second section has a reverse order the Institution of the Passover in Exodus 12 43 through 49 in which every male participating in the Passover has to be circumcised and the Lamb's blood averts the death of the firstborn.

In Exodus 13 every firstborn of Israel is commanded to be consecrated and redeemed to be part of God's people. So this forms a giant sandwich right the warning about the firstborn in chapter 4 and then the circumcision of Moses's son and the blood that averts the wrath then the Passover requirement which requires circumcision and the Passover also has the Lamb's blood which averts the death of the firstborn and then the consecration of the firstborn of Israel, so there's firstborn circumcision circumcision firstborn.

Now what's in the middle? It's the whole ministry of deliverance in Egypt. This bizarre episode is the front cover of the book for Moses's ministry in Egypt. It flanks the whole ministry in Egypt like a book.

Cover to cover the covers are firstborn circumcision circumcision firstborn.

It.

Emphasizes what is going to happen in Egypt as God delivers his people. The second thing I need to note is that the theme of the blood that averts the wrath. The blood that averts the death of the firstborn.

This occurred personally for Moses when God was about to kill because Gershom the firstborn was not circumcised. But what averts the death when Zephora takes the blood and puts it on the feet? For some reason the blood averts the death that's coming and in the same way in a grander scale the Passover lamb.

The lamb's blood averts the death that's coming for everyone who participates in it. When the blood is covering the doorpost that family is delivered the angel of death passes over and ultimately The greatest Passover lamb is Jesus Christ himself.

It is his blood That covers us. So that the wrath of God does not fall on us. It's his blood that covers us that that death Passes over us. That's the beauty of Egypt. Exodus that we see. Connected to the New Testament.

Now now that we know that this episode is Purposefully placed here and it's quite important. What does this tell us? First we see that the Lord met with them on the way to Egypt and he sought to kill Moses's son.

Because he was not circumcised this probably means that Gershom was stricken with some sort of sickness and he was dying and Now we have to ask why would God seek to kill Moses's son for not being circumcised?

As we know Moses was an Israelite a Descendant of Abraham and according to God's covenant with Abraham every male in Genesis 17 every male had to be Circumcised. That was the entrance and the sign external sign of membership into God's people.

However for some unknown reason Moses's son was not circumcised. Alarmingly Moses's son was not part of God's people. It's like have having this thought that if Lauren and I have a kid and our kid Never comes to church The pastor's kid is never here.

Since birth. Oh, he's just at home. Just never and you never see him. That would be bizarre.

Now.

Why was this a deadly matter, right? The very deliverer whom God chose to save his people did not let his son into God's people. The very deliverer whom God chose to save his people disobeyed God. After all Gershom the firstborn was perfectly safe in the land of Midian, right?

There's no record that he was dying or he had some illnesses there. What's the difference? Well since Moses. Since Moses life in Midian. There was one big change. God called Moses to deliver his people out.

And he was about to start his ministry in Egypt. The difference is that Moses was held to a higher standard because he had been just commissioned To lead God's people. When Moses was just an unknown shepherd in Midian It did not matter whether his son was circumcised or not in the grand scheme of things.

However, God had a stricter standard for Moses the newly commissioned leader of.

Israel.

God places his leaders under a stricter standard. A leader's disobedience after all does not just stay at a personal level. It impacts the whole community and this continues in the New Testament in James 3 1 Jesus is half-brother.

James Warns us that not many of you should become teachers my fellow believers Because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We have to be really careful. Teachers of the Bible have to be really careful because one false teaching can lead a soul astray and Also when a leader of God's people fails It drastically impacts the whole community.

God's chosen leaders disobedience has huge consequences to the community of believers and This is sadly too true in the American churches. An adulterous church member may break his family apart. But an adulterous pastors and elders Can crash the church?

Adulterous pastors can publicly bring shame to the name of Christ. A Normal Christian adultery may not make to the nightly news. But an adulterous pastor will a Heretical lay person may deceive one or two members before he is kicked out.

But a heretical pastor impacts the whole body because he's going to be preaching it and all of the members of Christ will hear that and Even if some can discern that's false, but the impacts done the consequence is done.

Sometimes it's too late and the damage done by the so-called pastors is so great That I do not have to give you specific examples. In fact before the judgment seat of Jesus the former pastors teachers and elders Might face a scarier and smokier Session than murderers thieves and adulterers.

Those whom God has called to tenderly care for the souls of his flock are Undeniably held at a higher standard. Because their fall is too damaging to the body. It is God's mercy when pastors are fired before the church splits.

It is God's grace To die a young and faithful pastor than an old wealthy heretic. This is why I'm very grateful for all of you who Continually pray for the church pray for me and pray for the elders. Because I don't have it all together.

I am NOT Better than you. I am NOT better than other pastors. I'm a fallible man. So, please do continue to pray for the leadership and that we may represent Christ well with every sermon and every decision that's made and every interaction with the body of Christ.

Right because we the elders and the pastors are held to a higher standard and the church's Duty is to help the elders and keep them keep the higher standard of Scripture. Right. It's your duty to call out false teaching.

If I if I ever say anything false about Scripture anything false about God We have to the church keeps The leaders to a higher standard here so far we have been focusing on God's leaders. What about God's people?

God’s People Respond to the Authenticated Word of God with Faithful Worship

So when God's leaders reveal the authenticated Word of God the proper response is faithful worship. When the God's leaders revealed the authenticated Word of God the proper response is faithful worship.

Verse 27 introduces Aaron Moses's brother and also a new ministry partner. As God commissioned Moses in the same way he commissions Aaron by speaking to him by showing up to him. And What happened when Moses and Aaron meet?

So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him and All the signs which he had commanded him. Then the elders are gathered in support of Moses and Aaron. Verse 30 broadens the audience to the God's people to the people of God and similarly Aaron speaks to the people all the words that God has spoken to Moses and Performed the signs in their sight in Both instances whether it is Moses telling God's Word to Aaron or Aaron telling God's Word to the people it is emphasized that all the words are.

Told.

This is important because God's Word is meant to be spoken to the people. God's people need to hear his word Frequently.

Frequently.

Completely.

Unlike most of the cults God's people are not treated as inadequate to handle the truth of God's Word. This means God's leaders need to preach the whole counsel of God faithfully. We do not hide God's Word from his people.

That's like hiding bread from starving children. It's cruel and the father will take care of the false teachers. Second. The words from God are authentic. Authenticated by signs each time. This is the crucial purpose of science.

Signs do not exist to magnify anyone's ministry magnify one's reputation. No, it serves as an authentication process for God's people to know that God has truly spoken to these speakers. This is why the Apostles were performing signs.

That we do not see today right, they were doing some miraculous things, but in the end the purpose was to point to The testimony of Christ the gospel that Jesus truly is risen. Right, they didn't have a separate healing ministry in their ministry they healed but their ministry was focused on the gospel, right and What is the proper response to the authenticated words of God?

Verse 31 says so the people believed and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had Looked on their affliction then they bowed their heads and worshipped. When God's people hear God's Word the proper response is that of belief and worship.

Recall the Israelites at this point have been paganized right? They didn't even know the name of the Lord. But when they hear God's Word It stirs of faith. God's Word is effective. It pierces through our hearts.

When it is proclaimed God's Word is authoritative. When it pierces our hearts the proper response is worship. When God's people receive God's Word they effectively experience his Presence, that's why they're bowing their heads.

The burning bush didn't show up to the people. But the words were enough and that's for us, too. Because God is present with us in his word. That's why Jesus is called the Word of God. His very presence is the full revelation of who God is through his word and You know what?

He performed seven signs all pointing to the death and resurrection of.

Jesus.

This means we must avoid any churches or cults that hide the Word of God from their people. For the longest time the Catholic Church. Their main Bible was a Latin Vulgate as in the Bible was written in Latin It was preached in Latin and let me tell you most of the world They don't speak Latin they don't understand Latin and still many Catholics are Discouraged from opening up the Bible which allows them to experience and encounter the living God That is not found in our faith.

Every.

Flock.

Every person who calls upon Jesus deserves to know what God says. And When the church or cult leaders do not preach or teach the full counsel of God they are preventing God's people from worshiping. Any pastors who preach from movies books or psychological concepts are starving their flock from the true food the food that they're supposed to be nurtured in to grow in.

And Any cults that discourage their followers from reading the Bible for themselves are suffocating the very souls of the people. This is why scripture is central to our worship service here. In fact, this church is so centered in God's Word.

It is in our name faith Bible Church. All of our songs that we sing either directly quote God's Word or summarize portions of the Bible. This is why we have scripture readers every Sunday.

So that.

Even if they tune out the sermons. At least they came and they got to hear God's Word said out loud and this is why. The whole sermon passage is read before the sermon. I know some passages are long many verses.

Sometimes I've read a chapter. A whole chapter up here takes four or five minutes. But that's how important God's Word is. Even if you don't understand anything I say at least you got to hear the Word of God one of my Old Testament professors professor said.

You got to let them smell the bread before you feast. And this is why we mainly preach expository sermons to properly understand and apply Scripture rather than cherry-picking verses here and there to fit our agenda.

Even if the agenda may be good the whole scripture has to be read and understood and taught. The agenda is thus driven by God's Word. Not by the pastor not by me. I don't get to choose. I wish to preach on.

No, I just follow where I left off. Therefore when we hear God's Word Our hearts are stirred up for worship. When we hear God's Word our souls encounter the Living God. That's the beauty of this text.

When God's leaders minister according to what God says how it has to be done God's people Responds respond in faithful worship. They get to see who God it God is as.

He is.

Unfiltered. Let us pray father. We're thankful that We have a community we can call home a local body that is faithful To the Bible and it has been faithful for decades Decades. It's not something that I brought here.

It's in its own.

Lineage.

Father we pray that you would keep it that way and father We pray that we as we feast on your word every single day That it would help us to worship you better to see you clearly To know who you are better In Jesus name. Amen.

You're now dismissed.

You.