The Sin of Nadab & Abihu - Part Two

The Sin Of Nadab & Abihu – Part Two

As we continue this lesson we want to look at some additional lessons we can learn from out text (Leviticus 9:22-10:7)

Another lesson we learn is one of regarding the priority of God. Service to the Lord comes before service to the family. This we learn when Aaron was not allowed to grieve for his sons. It was necessary for others to take the bodies out of the camp - Lev 10:4-5 “And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp." So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.” Aaron had been consecrated, and service to the Lord came first - Lev 10:6-7 “And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." And they did according to the word of Moses.”

Jesus made a similar point on several occasions as He was calling people to follow Him - Lk 9:59-62 “To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."’ Again as He addressed the multitudes following Him - Lk 14:25-33 “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."’ Again as He prepared His disciples for their work - Mt 10:34-37 ‘"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” When conflict arises between the Lord and the family, Christ comes first! For example, by obeying the gospel, despite the objection of family members. Another example is, putting the assemblies of the Lord’s church first when company comes. This does not require that we be rude to our guests. Let them make themselves at home until you return. -- This is what it means to “seek first the kingdom of God...” - Mt 6:33.

It is very easy for us to become complacent in our service to the Lord.... When this happens, it shows in our worship and service to the Lord. Rather than regard Him as Holy and glorify Him as He deserves by doing exactly as He commands, we begin to offer in worship how we want and when we want. Thus our worship is one of convenience rather than of conviction! We need to be reminded of incidents like that which happened to Nadab and Abihu to humble us in the presence of God and to remind us of the seriousness of serving God. Do we regard God as holy, and properly glorify Him in our service to Him? Do we serve Him first? Even above those closest to us? May the example of Nadab and Abihu encourage us to do that which honors God!

The Sin of Nadab & Abihu - Part One

The Sin Of Nadab & Abihu – Part One
Leviticus 9:22-10:7

The O.T. is of much value to the Christian, written for our learning, a great source of hope - Ro 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Written for our admonition, that we might not make similar mistakes - 1 Co 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” This includes even the book of Leviticus. It is a dry book too many, but of value to all. Its name is derived from Levi, from which tribe came the priests. It is primarily a handbook for priests under the Law of Moses. Reading it helps the Christian to better understand The Book Of Hebrews. Though, primarily a book outlining priestly rituals, it does record an incident involving the two sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu. What happened to them can provide valuable lessons for us. What did happen and what we can learn from it will serve as the basis for this study.

Let’s begin by reading about the incident involving Nadab and Abihu and the circumstances leading up to their actions. The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests had just been completed - Lev 8-9. In Lev 9:22-24, the glory of the Lord appeared when Aaron blessed the people, “Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” Fire came out from before the Lord. The fire consumed the fat on the altar. The people shouted and fell on their face.

Having thus provided the setting of our lesson we start with the profane fire offered by Nadab and Abihu. They offered a fire not commanded by the Lord - Lev 10:1 “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.” It is called a “strange” fire (cf. KJV, NASB). The NIV and ESV translates it as “unauthorized” fire. -- It is important to note that it was something the Lord had not commanded! Fire went out from the Lord and devoured them - Lev 10:2 “And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.” Compare the fire of Lev 9:24a “And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar,” with that of Lev 10:2. One indicated God’s acceptance, the other, God’s rejection. One indicated God’s blessing, the other, God’s curse. Why was God displeased? Several explanations have been offered:
They put hot coals in their censers which were not from the altar of burnt offering - Lev 16:12 “And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil”; Exo 30:9 “You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.” The prohibition against intoxicating drinks which followed lead some to believe they may have been drunk - Lev 10:8-10 “And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, "Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean,” Their attempt to enter the Holy Place at an inappropriate time - Lev 16:1-2 “The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” -- Their sin may have been a combination of these things, but verse one notes that it was doing that which God had not commanded

Note Moses’ explanation for what happened. Those who approach God must regard Him as “holy” - Lev 10:3a “Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD has said, 'Among those who are near me I will be sanctified,” “Holy” means “to set apart, consecrated”; i.e., to treat as special. Evidently the actions of Nadab and Abihu did not so respect God. God must be “glorified” before all - Lev 10:3b “and before all the people I will be glorified.'" This word means “to honor”. The actions of Nadab and Abihu therefore did not honor God. How does one honor God? One honors God by being in full submission to His commands and instructions.

Now note Moses’ further instructions to Aaron. Nadab & Abihu’s bodies were to be removed outside the camp - Lev 10:4-5 “And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp." So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.” Aaron and his surviving sons were not to grieve while still consecrated for service - Lev 10:6-7 “And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." And they did according to the word of Moses.”

It must have been very difficult for Aaron to lose his two sons in this way, on an occasion that should have been a time of great rejoicing for him. Since these things were written for our admonition (1 Co 10:11), what lessons might there be for us regarding the worship of God...? Let’s look at a few of these. When we approach God in worship, we must do only what He has commanded. This was the main mistake made by Nadab and Abihu - Lev 10:1. When we offer something God has not commanded we do not regard Him as holy - Lev 10:3 nor do we truly glorify Him - Lev 10:3. If God is holy and truly worthy of glory how can sinful man know what God desires as acceptable worship? Can sinful man read the mind of God? If so, then God is not all that holy (i.e., set apart)! If so, then God is not all that different from man and therefore not worthy of glory! Indeed, man cannot know without Divine revelation how God ought to be worshipped and glorified - Isa 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This is one reason why I choose not to use mechanical instruments in worship. In the New Testament, only singing is specified - Ep 5:19 “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,”; Co 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” To offer praise with mechanical instruments would be something God has not commanded and would be presumptuous on our part. To do so would be trying to second-guess God. If God wanted such, He would have told us. Since He didn’t, we respect Him by offering only what He commands. What about God’s approval of mechanical instruments in the Old Testament? Here we can learn from the example of Moses. At one time, God told him to strike the rock to obtain water - Exo 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Later, God told him to speak to the rock - Num 20:8 ‘"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."’ When Moses did the second time what God said to do the first time he failed to “hallow” (show reverence) to God - Num 20:11-12 “And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."’ He lost the right to enter the Promised Land - Num 20:12; Deu 32:51-52 “because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel."’ What can we learn from the example of Moses? We must do what God has revealed for the time appropriate for us. God may have approved of instrumental music in the past, but He commands singing in the New Testament. We cannot simply say, “God allowed it in the past”, therefore it must be ok today.

We will continue this lesson by looking at some other applications from our text regarding the priority of God.

The Hardening of Pharaoh

The Hardening of Pharaoh
Exodus 4:21-23

When God sent Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage He said that He would harden the heart of Pharaoh - Exo 4:21 “And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” Even though it would result in the death of Pharaoh’s son - Exo 4:22-23 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'" Because this sounds unjust, some explain it as hardening indirectly, for example; “God does not harden men by infusing malice into them, but by not imparting mercy to them.” “God does not work this hardness of heart in man; but he may be said to harden him whom he refuses to soften, to blind him whom he refuses to enlighten, and to repel him whom he refuses to call.” -- As quoted by Adam Clarke. If God hardened the heart of Pharaoh directly, the evidence shows it was still done without violating his free will or without impugning the justice of God. The hardening of Pharaoh also provides insights as to how and why God hardens people today.

So let’s take a closer look at the evidence involved in the hardening of Pharaoh. The word for “harden” is chazaq (Heb.) - Exo 4:21; 7:13,22; 8:19; 9:12,35; 10:20,27; 11:10; 14:4,8,17. “to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore” - BDB. “literally signifies to strengthen, confirm, make bold or courageous;” - Clarke. qashah (Heb.) - Exo 7:3. “to make hard, make stiff, make stubborn” - BDB. “harden, stiffen” - Strong. kabed (Heb.) - Exo 7:14; 8:15; 8:32; 9:7,34; 10:1 “hard, difficult, burdensome” - BDB. “heavy; figuratively...in a bad sense, severe, difficult...grievous, hardened” – Strong. -- So Pharaoh’s heart was made strong, stiff, stubborn; even if God did so ‘directly’, consider what else we learn as we examine the scriptural evidence below.

Pharaoh hardened his own heart. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard (chazaq), and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. - Exo 7:13 “Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.” “So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh's heart is hard (kabed); he refuses to let the people go.” - Exo 7:14. “Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard (chazaq), and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.” - Exo 7:22. “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened (kabed) his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.” - Exo 8:15. “Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard (chazaq), and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.” - Exo 8:19. “But Pharaoh hardened (kabed) his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.” - Exo 8:32. “Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard (kabed), and he did not let the people go.” - Exo 9:7. “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened (kabed) his heart, he and his servants.” - Exo 9:34. “So the heart of Pharaoh was hard (chazaq); neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.” - Exo 9:35. -- In the first five plagues, and in the seventh, Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

Then God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. “And I will harden (qashah) Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” - Exo 7:3. “But the Lord hardened (chazaq) the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.” - Exo 9:12. “Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (kabed) his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him,” - Exo 10:1. “But the Lord hardened (chazaq) Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.” - Exo 10:20. “But the Lord hardened (chazaq) Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.” - Exo 10:27. “So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened (chazaq) Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.” – Exo 11:10. “Then I will harden (chazaq) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” - Exo 14:4. “And the Lord hardened (chazaq) the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.” - Exo 14:8. “And I indeed will harden (chazaq) the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.” - Exo 14:17. -- Not until the sixth plague did God begin to harden Pharaoh’s heart.

The purpose of hardening Pharaoh’s heart was to convince the Egyptians that the LORD is truly God - Exo 7:3-5; 14:4 By multiplying the signs and wonders in the land; by delivering Israel through great judgments. The purpose was to convince the Israelites that the LORD is truly God - Exo 10:1-2 By His signs done in the land of Egypt. That generations to come might be told of this. To convince the world that the LORD is truly God - Exo 9:13-17. God could have easily overwhelmed Pharaoh with His signs. But God “raised” Pharaoh up, even as Pharaoh was “exalting” himself “God kept Pharaoh ‘standing’, i. e. permitted him to live and hold out until His own purpose was accomplished.” – Barnes. “God had preserved him for this very purpose, that he might have a farther opportunity of manifesting that he, Jehovah, was the only true God for the full conviction both of the Hebrews and Egyptians.” - Clarke. Thus God hardened, or strengthened, one who was determined to resist. That God might show His power and proclaim His name in all the earth! -- God never forced Pharaoh to resist against his will; having demonstrated his own obstinacy and desire to resist, God simply strengthened him that he might continue his resistance until God’s own purposes were fulfilled. Such ‘hardening’ was not unique to Pharaoh. It happened in Jesus’ day (e.g. Jn 12:37-41), and it is not limited to the past...

Let’s now look at what the New Testament writers wrote concerning the hardening of people. For example, the nation of Israel has a ‘partial hardening’ (NASB) or blindness of Israel has occurred - Ro 11:25 “Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Was this hardening or blindness against their will? No! It was only after they had ample opportunity to hear God’s Word - Ro 10:16-19 “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."’ It was only after they had repeatedly rebelled against God - Ro 10:21 “But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."’ Was this a hardening of ‘all’ Israel? No! It is a ‘partial’ hardening. God has always preserved the faithful remnant - cf. Ro 11:1-7 “I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,”. Many Jews have accepted Jesus, both then and now. What was the extent of this ‘hardening’? As with Pharaoh, it gave them strength of heart to continue in their resistance. With Israel, it enabled them to resist against the Word of God - Ro 11:7-10 “What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."’ What was the purpose of this ‘hardening’? It was an act of mercy! Their unbelief justified God terminating His covenant with Israel and making a new covenant that involved both Jews and Gentiles - Jer 31:31-32 ‘"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.”; Ep 2:11-19 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”. By allowing Gentiles in this new covenant, God hopes to make unbelieving Jews jealous enough to come back - Ro 11:11-15 “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” Thus the ultimate purpose was to save both Jew and Gentile! - Ro 11:30-32 “Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” -- Until the “fulness of the Gentiles has come in”, the nation of Israel (as a whole) has been hardened.

To those who do not believe Paul writes of another ‘hardening’ (though the word is not used). In connection with the apostasy preceding the return of Christ - 2 Th 2:1-10 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” In which God will send a strong delusion upon some, to believe a lie - 2 Th 2:11-12 “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Is this being done against their will? No! It involves people who did not receive the love of the truth - 2 Th 2:10 “and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” It involves people who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in sin - 2 Th 2:12 “in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Why is God doing this? That they might be condemned (judged) - cf. 2 Th 2:12. Just as hardening Pharaoh made his obstinacy more evident, so the delusion to believe a lie will reveal one’s pleasure in sin. How can we be sure that we will not experience this strong delusion? Have a love for the truth! - cf. 2 Th 2:10. Do not take pleasure in unrighteousness! - cf. 2 Th 2:12 -- The choice is ours as to whether we will experience this ‘delusion’!

We have seen that God hardened the hearts of the wicked, and is willing to send a strong delusion for them to believe a lie.... Not in violation of their free will, but in conjunction with it. “The ‘hardening’ of men’s hearts by God is in the way of punishment, but it is always a consequence of their own self-hardening.” - ISBE. Strengthening the resolve of the wicked if it somehow serves God’s purpose. How much better for us to have God strengthen our hearts in doing good, not evil.... As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians - 2 Th 2:16-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” As Peter prayed for those in Asia - 1 Pe 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” This God will gladly do...if we love the truth, believe the truth, receive the truth by obeying the gospel, and remain firm in holding to it. In what way will God ‘strengthen’ your heart today...?

The Excuses of Moses

The Excuses of Moses
Exodus 3:1-4:17

When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush he called him to the task of leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. In response, Moses gave excuses as to why he did not think he was the man for the job. The excuses of Moses, and God’s response to them, will serve as the basis for our study. For in a similar way, as God’s people today, we have received from God a special calling. Not to go to a country to deliver those in physical bondage, but to a world to deliver those in the bondage of sin - Mk 16:15 “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”; 1 Pe 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” -- Too often, though, we behave just like Moses, making the very same excuses!

Let’s begin by reading Exo 3:1-10, refreshing our memories of how God called Moses. Reminded of this call, we are now ready to consider the first of five excuses given by Moses, “Who am I?” found in Exo 3:11 “But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"’ Though Moses was once a member of the ruling house of Egypt he was now but a lowly shepherd. 40 years had passed since he had been in Egypt. He was an 80 year old man, already past the average life span for his generation. -- This prompted Moses to wonder whether he was the right man for the job. But God’s response was quick, and should have been adequate.... “I will certainly be with you...” - Exo 3:12 “He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."’ God promised to be with Moses, and this alone should have been sufficient. As Paul later wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Ro 8:31

Some use this same excuse today, trying to excuse ourselves by believing that we are insufficient for the task. It is true that by ourselves that we are insufficient, but God can make us sufficient - 2 Co 3:5-6 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Look what He did with the apostles! They were uneducated and untrained men - Ac 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Through Jesus, God has provided us the same assurance given Moses - Mt 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."’ With His help, we can accomplish anything He wants us to do! - Ph 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

As will be apparent later, any excuse for not doing what the Lord has called us to do is simply a smokescreen. So it was with Moses, and we find him quickly coming up with another excuse, “What shall I say?” This excuse is found in Exo 3:13 “Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"’ Moses knew that should he go to the children of Israel, there were bound to be questions such as, “Who is this God who sent you to us?” And perhaps, “Why are we to leave this country we have come to consider our home for over 400 years?” -- Moses expresses inadequacy in knowing what to say. Again, God’s response was quick, “Thus you shall say...” - Exo 3:14-15 “God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” God tells Moses what he needs to say in response to their questions.

Again, a similar excuse is sometimes given today. We try to excuse ourselves by saying that our knowledge is inadequate. But God has told us what to say.... It is really quite simple - Mk 16:15-16 “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” How simple? - 1 Co 15:1-4 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”; 2:2 “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” And so, as with Moses, we have no reason for saying “what shall I say?”

As we return to Moses, we see that despite God instructing him what to say, he soon raises a third objection, “Suppose they will not believe me?” This excuse is found in Exo 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.'" Now that he knows what to say, he balks at the idea that the people may not listen. Is he afraid of failing? Has he already forgotten that God will be with him? God responds by equipping him with several convincing proofs.... The rod, which turns into a serpent - Exo 4:2-5 “The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." 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. 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-- "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."’ His own hand, which turns into leprosy - Exo 4:6-8 “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. 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. "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.” The water, which will turn to blood when dropped on the dry ground - Exo 4:9 “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."’

Some today hesitate to share the gospel for fear that they will not be listened to. The fear of failure keeps them from trying. But just as God gave Moses convincing proofs, so He has given us the evidences necessary to convince the honest and sincere person.... The Word of God, is able to produce faith - Ro 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”; Jn 20:30-31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Especially its evidences concerning the resurrection of Christ, fulfilled prophecy, etc. -- With such aids, we cannot justify our inactivity in sharing the gospel with others!

You would think by now Moses would accept the call; but a fourth excuse is quickly given... “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” We find this excuse in EXO 4:10 “But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."’ Moses claims that he is not an eloquent speaker. But God is not moved by this objection.... He already knows the inability of those He calls - Exo 4:11 “Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” But He is able to make up for anyone’s shortcomings. Again, promising to be with Moses - Exo 4:12 “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."’ He had even arranged for Aaron to be Moses’ mouthpiece - Exo 4:14-16 “Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.” (who was sent earlier so as to arrive about this time - Exo 4:27 “The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.”)

Some Christians try to use this excuse as well. But it did not stop the apostle Paul - 1 Co 2:1,3-4 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.” – “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,.” It has not stopped others. I know of some who overcame speech impediments to become preachers. I know of one who despite stammering would preach any opportunity he could. At the very least, we can make use of those who can speak by arranging studies for them with others (as did Cornelius - Ac 10:24,33 “And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.” – “So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.")

We have considered four excuses that Moses gave; but as mentioned earlier, they were really smokescreens. The true reason for all these excuses is found and revealed in Exo 4:13 “But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."’ Moses simply did not want to go! The previous excuses were simply a smokescreen attempt to hide this fact! Now that the smokescreen is removed, God’s impatience with Moses becomes evident. His anger was kindled against Moses - Exo 4:14a “Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses”. Read vs. 15-17 with an emphasis on the word “shall” to appreciate the Lord’s anger.

The same is true with us today…! Any and every excuse we could offer is only a smokescreen. We really would rather that God use someone else! We really don’t want to do what God has called us to do’. But, the Lord’s anger is kindled against those who do not live up to their calling! -- If we have been making excuses, we need to repent!

With Moses, we know the rest of the story.... Moses answered the call, and went to Egypt. With the help of God, he delivered the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. But, what about us? What will be the rest of our story...? Shall we heed the call to preach the gospel to the lost? Or shall we make excuses and one day suffer the wrath of God? -- Only time will tell, but I pray that I encouraged all not to make excuses...

What about the call to obey the gospel of Christ? Are you making excuses for not responding as you know you should? A future lesson will address some of the excuses people give for putting off their obedience, but if you know what you should do, you need to act today!