Prove It

GETTING STARTED

Let’s say a man walked out of the wilderness, knocked on your front door, and began to proclaim a message from God. Many of us would politely turn him away, and then go phone the police about a madman strolling the neighborhood. Moses knew what he was up against in his mission to lead the Israelites out of captivity. Why should anyone believe him?

  • What’s the difference between a message from God and a message from man?

READ THE WORD: EXODUS 4:1-9 (ESV)

4:1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What are the three signs that God gave to Moses?
  2. How did Moses demonstrate faith in this passage?
  3. After the first two signs, why did God give Moses the potential of a third sign? How would this have concerned or comforted Moses?
  4. What evidence do you think you need to follow where God is calling you?

RESPOND TO GOD

God gave tangible evidence of his power that strengthened the resolve of Moses. But, like always, God didn’t act randomly. His display of power over the snake (evil), man’s afflictions (slavery), and the Nile (the lifeblood of a nation) showed that nothing can stand against the Lord, and that he had seen the plight of the Israelites. God did not send Moses back to the Israelites without first equipping him for service. It is exciting to know that God has provided for those who are in Christ. He has equipped us for service through the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Spend some time asking God to give you eyes to see the ways he has equipped you for the work of your day.
  • Ask God for ears to hear the Spirit.