MY NAME IS ROD.

generation-j

16 September 2001

FAMOUS AUSTRALIANS CALLED ROD.

Rod Marsh – Australian Cricketer

Rod Laver – tennis Star, only player to twice win the Grand Slam (also a name of Melbourne Park, an adidas shoe and an American band)

Rod Hogg – took a then record 41 wickets for Australia in the 78-79 Ashes series.

Rod Fox – shark expert, survived a great white attack in 1963 required 462 stitches.

Tonight – I want to look at a different Rod – a humble shepherds staff. Moses’ Rod.

INTRO.

So what about Moses rod? What was so good about it?

Firstly, Moses has to be one of the greatest men ever to walk the face of this planet. He isn’t Jesus Christ – but he was mortal like you and me, he did serve his God and God did use Him in incredible ways and so it’s good to look at his life for pointers to apply to our lives.

Secondly, the lesson contained within the story of Moses rod is powerful for anyone wanting to be used by God in a powerful way. (look at Exodus chapter 4)

BACKGROUND.

God has spoken to Moses in the form of the burning bush and He has called him to challenge the Egyptians, the greatest power of the day. God calls Moses to lead the Israelites of out of slavery in Egypt and to lead them to a land that “flows with milk and honey” (ch3 v8) but to do that he has to go to Pharaoh.

Moses didn’t think this was a particularly good idea. Like most of us would Moses thought he better let God know His plan had some holes in it.

“But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"” Exodus 3:11

But God – being God – persisted with Moses gently. Exodus 4:1-2

“Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.' So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."”

Exodus 4:1, 2

Was God trying to be a bit funny with Moses? Was God going a bit silly? No He wasn’t. He was showing Moses how he was going to accomplish this great feat. By using a dead piece of wood between 3-6 ft long, that Moses had probably been carrying around with him for years and years. But even though it was long dead, and there were reasons why it shouldn’t or couldn’t be used by God, God chose it.

Exodus 7:9-12 Moses rod is thrown down at Pharaoh’s feet and becomes a serpent. The demonic magicians follow suit but Moses rod swallows them up.

Exodus 7:19 As Moses stretched the rod over the water it was used to turn the canals, streams and waters of Egypt into blood.

Exodus 8:16 As Moses struck the ground it was used by God to turn the dust of the ground into Gnats.

Exodus 9:23 As Moses stretched the rod skywards it was used by God to send the plague of hail.

Exodus 10:13 As Moses stretched the rod over Egypt it was used to bring the plague of locusts across the land.

Exodus 14:16 As Moses raised His staff the Red Sea parted for the Exodus of the Israelites. “But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

Exodus 17:5-6 The rod brought supply (water). “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

WHY DID GOD USE THIS UNREMARKABLE ROD?

Exodus 4:20 reveals the answer to this mystery: the rod of Moses became the rod of God. “And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.”

There was nothing magical about the rod – it was a piece of wood. But it was God’s piece of wood. What good is a dead piece of wood in your hands with the world’s greatest army against you? Plenty of Good if that wood is God’s wood

God can use you or me or a piece of wood to do amazing miraculous things if it belongs fully and totally to God.

He can take that which is weak, insignificant, small and once truly consecrated to Him and use it mightily.

But it is up to you and I to ensure that our lives, like Moses’ Rod, become His. The question is this Bruce Chant the Bruce Chant of God?

God spoke to me a couple of weeks ago as I was driving along praying. He said you’ve given me your life, but have you given me your ways? What god was saying is I’ve trusted god with my salvation, I know I have a place in heaven, I am saved – a Christian. But have I given my ways – the way I live my life, the I think, the way I spent my time, the way I plan my future – totally over to Him?

It’s a question we all must ask ourselves because if we haven’t done that – are we really totally God’s, and can we expect God to use us?

The ways of man are sinful, carnal, corrupted. But God’s ways are just, true, right, virtuous, eternal, perfect flawless, higher than our ways. “His judgements are unsearchable and His paths beyond searching out” (Romans 11:33). In other words – we’re off the mark. We need to look ourselves and see which of our ways need giving to God. Or else our dreams of being used mightily will not be fulfilled.

THINGS THAT HINDER US FROM GIVING OUR WAYS TO GOD.

1. Fears

Exodus 4:1 “Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.'”

Moses was fearful – that was why he was reluctant to go along with God’s plan.

But who of us wouldn’t be in that situation: “Please go and tell Osama bin Laden …”

Many of us are fearful if we give our ear fully to what God is saying He will tell us something we don’t want to hear. Sure God tells us things we don’t want to hear (if we are listening) but He isn’t sadistic.

Ask Him for bread He won’t laugh and give you a rock. He didn’t give you a spirit of fear – but of love, power and self disciple. The word says we can boldly into the presence of God – because he desires it.

Fear – will hold you back.

Fear – is largely unfounded. Tactic of the enemy.

A reason why people don’t come to Christ – Fear. Not just the “seeker” but the Christian. What if they think I’m lying…

Get on that trapeze and trust God. Fear not - Believe and do not doubt.

2. Not dealing with the Old Ways.

Somethings from our old life stay in the system – like they were gone – but they are dormant waiting to bite us when we least expect it.

God had to deal with Moses over his walking in the old ways.

Exodus 4:10-12 “Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."”

Moses brought up excuses to God as to why he couldn’t be used – His speech. What he was doing was drawing on His carnal experience. The sinful way of looking at the situation. As born again believers in God we need to heed the wake up call and look at things through the eyes of God. I can do all things… Old things have passed away…

E.g. In America I read of a number of people from a town who all mysteriously came down with a devastating illness. Several people died and many suffered permanent brain damage. What investigators discovered was that a local farmer had found a truckload of discarded seed corn and fed it to the his pigs. The corn (not intended for animal feed) had been treated with a pesticide so that insects wouldn’t eat it before it germinated. The pigs ate it, seemingly with no ill effects.

But when the town’s people ate the pigs they were poisoned. It seems that many substances-pesticides and heavy metals like lead and mercury-do not pass through the digestive system, but remain in the body, forever. In tiny doses, the effects are minimal. But over time, the effects are horrible.

That's what can happen to us – we take something in and think that is gone and forgotten. But it’s still in our life because we haven’t given it to God. Sins, hurts, unforgiveness, character weaknesses etc.

Not consciously repenting, receiving forgiveness and giving that way of our life to God, actively strengthening that weakness – will hold us back from being totally consecrated to God for His glory.

3. Unrealised Hopes.

Exodus 5:22-23 “So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.””

Moses cries out to God saying God you promised us one thing but all we have got is another!! His hopes are being tested. Hopes are powerful, but they are also a target for the enemy.

When things don’t go the way WE planned and intended – there is a tendency to pull back and withdraw from God instead of trusting God more and realising this is the “waiting”/ learning/ growing part before the promise is realised.

Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

We can become sceptical of the things of God. We have missed it. We were dreaming it’ll never happen. But we are only “as young as our dreams and as old as our cynicism”. Reinhard Bonkke

Hedging your bets is not a God-way of living. 100% living is. Regardless of what you’ve been through, God was there. But He may have intended you to reach a different conclusion than the one you did about Him, His kingdom and His way for you. It’s ok – recommit to pursuing that goal, that dream that vision He first placed within you.

4. The Busyness of Life.

Exodus 5:9 – “Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words”

In this verse we see the tactic of the enemy – Pharoah. When people get a sniff of vision, of things beginning to change – get them busy!!

Life is always busy. That’s a fact. But you choose how you make it busy and with what you make it busy.

We can busy ourselves with things that are totally unnecessary – but we see them as essential. Take them away and suddenly you are still alive and you have a chunk of extra time.

Busyness takes us away from God. In an ideal world we’d love more time to pray and study the word and go and take people out to share Jesus. So why not do that. I realise in my life I need to work at making time for God because it is easy to be busy in his name but not spend time with Him. It’s a matter of priorities – “seek first the kingdom of God”

Summary.

Just like the rod of Moses that became the Rod of God – our lives can bring victory, liberty, life, godly judgement, freedom and glory to God. But are you, the you of God. Does God own you?

If you want to be used mightily by God – understand he will use you if you consecrate your way fully to him, 100% full-on.

Pray – recommitments.

Pray – remove fear from people’s lives to serve God fully.

Pray - salvation – become God’s tonight.