August 25, 2008

Text: Exodus 8

"SO THE LORD DID ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF MOSES"
"And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs, which He had brought against Pharaoh.
So the LORD did according to the word of Moses."    Exodus 8:12-13

"So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.
And the LORD did according to the word of Moses..."    Exodus 8:30

1. Guarding against wrong interpretation

a) That Man has power over God

b) That God would do the bidding of Man

2. Important notation of the manner in which Moses prayed

a) He cried out to the LORD

    i) As one who pleads

    ii) As one who pleads before an Almighty God

b) So Moses... entreated the LORD

    i) To entreat is to beg

    ii) There is great humility seen on Moses' part

3. Some reasons why God "did according to the word of Moses"

"And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.
Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people."    Exodus 11:3

a) Lessons of prayer

    i) God will hear prayers offered to Him

    ii) God will answer all prayers within His will

    iii) The petitioner must learn to "entreat the Lord"

    iv) He learns much about prayer through the experience of praying

b) Lessons of Servanthood

    i) The servant must learn much about his Master

    ii) He must seek to fathom his Master's plan(s)

    iii) He must learn to cultivate a strong relationship with the Lord

    iv) He learns how to handle "greatness" (honour) given by the Lord

c) Lessons about the future ministry

    i) He understands the place of prayer in life and ministry

    ii) He learns how to wait upon the Lord for His revelation

    iii) He learns to exercise greater faith in God

AN IMPORTANT BALANCE

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt...
So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning the east wind brought the locusts."    Exodus 10:12-13

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt."    Exodus 10:21

1. God is the One who is in absolute control

2. It is He who commands and directs Moses as to the course of action to be taken