Exodus 3

To talk on God's answer to a people's cry.

And in the passage we have read in Exodus.

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They were suffering as a result of the slavery that they had found themselves in.

And that also reminds us of how we live in times where it would appear people are crying.

And the manner in which people cry these days could take various forms.

And I've always been amazed at how people respond to cries in different ways.

I like looking at mothers with little infants.

I've never been able to interpret the meaning of the cry of a child.

But I've noticed that when a child cries, a mother somehow knows what that child is crying for and crying about.

And it does not matter how busy a mother may be.

She's quick to respond.

She knows the voice of her child, even if there are many other infants.

When a child cries, she rises and goes to attend to her child.

There's something in the heart of a mother that causes her to understand the deep need of her child.

And she responds to that need.

I see in this passage we have read a similar thing.

God, being the father of the Israelites, understood the children of Israel so very well,

that even their wordless cry was very clear and plain to him.

The passage we read tells us that when they suffered as a result of their slavery,

they groaned.

It was not just a wailing, external wailing.

It was a deep, passionate expression of the pain in their hearts.

They groaned because they found themselves in a situation that they did not expect,

that shouldn't have been their story.

They who had been favored by the Lord.

They who had ancestors that had the promises of God, that had the covenants of God.

They who were on the path to greatness found themselves in a situation that contradicts everything that the promise of God had for them.

The Bible tells us that God heard their cry.

When he heard their cry, he acted upon it.

You know, each time I walk the streets of this city,

I seem to see people crying in various ways.

I have come to understand that one does not only cry when he opens his mouth to bow or shout out.

There are many that their very actions is a form of crying.

So for some, their persistence in a godless lifestyle seems to be an expression of a deep cry.

Because I have talked with people who seem to be getting deeper and deeper into some horrible lifestyles,

not because that is what they want, but because that is the only way they think they can quieten the cry,

the desperate need of their hearts.

I have been involved with alcoholics in the area we minister.

And for many of the alcoholics, the first thing I hear is that I hate this lifestyle I found myself in.

And so many of us are quick to look at them and pass by as though these are irresponsible people.

Yet, discussing with them, they tell me that there is something eating me up.

I hate this lifestyle.

I am in bondage.

I don't like what I am going through.

And so the Lord tells me, as he is telling us here, when we meet such people, their cry reaches to God.

Because the Bible tells us that when the children of Israel cry in verse 24 of chapter 2,

it says God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.

You see, we have a God who hears the cry of those whom he has created in his image and in his likeness.

We have a God who is attentive to the desperate need of those he has called and prepared and intended to occupy his kingdom with him.

We have a God who minds, who cares about his creation,

who is not interested in the death and the destruction or the eternal separation of anyone from him.

That is why in Christ Jesus, he prepared the way of restoration and salvation.

So an interesting thing happens.

In chapter 3, we are told, when God heard the cry of the children of Israel,

he came down.

He came down.

He does not stand aloof from the cry of the desperate need of his children.

Every time there is a cry for help, God always comes down.

Every time there is a deep yearning for a visitation that will bring about the kingdom of God in the lives of people,

God comes down.

What I find strange is the manner of the coming of the Lord to these children of Israel here.

When I started to read, when I first read this place several years ago,

what I thought was that God in coming down would come to Egypt and confront Pharaoh

and stand in the might of his glory and do something that will shake the throne of Pharaoh.

That would have been a spectacular way of saving his children

and proving that the children of Israel were indeed a chosen people.

But that is not how God responded to the cry.

God responded to the cry by sending a man,

by going to the back sides of a desert,

by going far from Egypt, the center of oppression.

He located a man in Egypt, in the desert,

and came to Moses in the desert.

Why would God come to Moses in that secluded place?

When Moses, in chapter 2 from verse 11,

had demonstrated a personal passion for reaching out to help the children of Israel.

From verse 11 we are told that when Moses was grown up,

he went and was walking about,

having come from the palace,

free and insulated from the captivity and the oppression around,

and he saw an injustice being done to an Israelite.

Of course, he did not keep quiet,

nor did he stand as a spectator,

but he acted in killing the aggressor and he did.

Oh, how I wish it would be that easy for us to think on our own,

by our wisdom, by our ability.

We can do the work of God.

We can establish the kingdom of God by our strength.

But that was not to be the strategy of God.

And I'm judged that when God saw that act of Moses,

even though I thought God would have said,

well done, I found a man.

I found a man who is passionate for me.

I found a man who is interested in setting my people free.

I thought he would just commission Moses.

But God ignored him.

Like he would always reject every human effort

that we think is what matters in bringing about the salvation of souls.

And God waited until Moses was ready.

Forty years God waited.

And that challenges me.

That as long as God has not found the right instrument you will use,

you will wait.

Though people will be suffering,

God will wait.

Though they will be groaning and be dying under the oppression of the enemy,

God will wait.

Little wonder that thousands of years from the time man fell,

God waited.

The Bible tells us that in the fullness of time in Galatians chapter 4,

Galatians 4 · chapter mention

in the fullness of time,

God sent his son born of a woman

to be the instrument of salvation.

God waited.

Until the time was right for him to effect the salvation of man.

He waited.

God waited.

God waited.

God waited.

God waited.

And yes, everything has been made ready.

Everything has been finished.

Yet the question that I hear the Lord bringing to my heart,

and the question that I hear the Lord bringing to us is,

has he come down, you know,

in the people that call upon him,

in London,

in the community,

in this assembly,

that is sitting in this church,

has God come, you know,

for us to,

for us to hear him calling us,

and say,

have you heard the groaning that I hear?

It's amazing that Paul was,

that Moses, sorry,

Moses was in Egypt,

he had never heard the groaning that was going up to heaven.

And,

the same thing it seems is happening to many of us.

We come and sit in church,

and enjoy ourselves in church,

and enjoy corporate worship.

Wonderful as it is.

I know there are many that are committed,

that are quietly,

actively,

working for the kingdom of the Lord.

But,

many of us Christians,

are oblivious to the groaning,

and the cry,

that is going up to heaven.

We pass,

we,

in buses,

on the streets,

we see,

various manifestations,

of the cry,

of the agony,

of souls,

that are under the taskmaster,

that leads the children of God,

unto sin.

And we do not hear,

we do not understand,

that it is a cry,

being lifted to the Father.

And,

many of us,

myself included,

have found myself,

have found themselves,

passing judgment,

condemning,

ignoring,

looking down on them,

and either writing them up,

as,

as poorly trained people,

or,

as people who do not know God.

And,

we pass them by.

when I hear,

someone,

arguing,

against the very existence,

of God,

and demonstrating,

such knowledge,

that is foolishness,

before heaven,

I,

I recognize now,

that it is a desperate cry,

being lifted,

to heaven.

And,

I'm wondering,

when I meet such people,

can I trust God,

to rise,

to be his representative,

to rise,

to be a channel,

through which,

he will address,

that cry.

Because,

you see,

you and I,

on a daily basis,

wherever the Lord sends us,

he is sending us,

as,

the answer,

to the cry,

that is being lifted,

wherever we are.

God's desire,

is that,

because,

you and I,

are there,

he would have found,

the Moses,

to send,

to answer.

He would have found,

the person,

that he would send,

to respond,

to the heart cry,

of the people,

that are around.

Of those people,

that are in sin.

Of those people,

that are,

rebelling,

against God.

Of those people,

that are living,

the lifestyle,

that you and I,

have,

by the mercy of God,

come to learn,

and know,

is not what God,

created us for.

The Bible tells us,

that we are created,

for his glory.

So,

every life,

that is not living,

to glorify God,

is a life,

that is,

is crying out,

because,

of a task master,

that has placed,

a task,

on that life,

that is difficult,

to accomplish.

So,

Jesus,

when he came,

in response,

to the cry,

of the world,

in John chapter 4,

John 4:31

verse 31,

speaking to,

the woman,

of Samaria,

he was able,

to tell his disciples,

when they came to him,

and say,

eat,

eat,

he said,

now I have food,

to eat,

that you do,

that you do not know of.

And for him,

he said,

my food,

is to do the will,

of him,

who sent me,

and to finish his walk.

So,

Jesus realized,

that yes,

he had a need,

for food,

but there was,

something that more,

there was more urgent,

that was more important,

than satisfying,

the immediate need,

of his physical body.

When he met,

the Samaritan woman,

Jesus didn't just see,

a woman,

that was in argument,

with him.

he saw,

a woman,

whose life,

was a cry,

for her.

And he understood,

that the will of God,

was for him,

to stop at that moment,

and respond,

to that cry.

And he could forget,

his personal need.

He could forget,

his comfort.

He could forget,

that,

which had caused,

his disciples,

to go into the town,

to look for food,

for him.

And he would,

ignore it.

So that,

he would,

meet the cry,

of a soul,

in need,

of the Savior.

I don't know,

how many times,

the Lord causes,

you and I,

to meet with,

the,

the,

the,

the,

the light,

lightness,

of the Samaritan woman.

And those,

we find ourselves,

in discussion with,

what,

what do we sense,

when we meet them?

What do we hear,

when we meet them?

Oh,

how do we need,

the help,

of the Spirit of God?

So that,

we will be sensitive,

so that,

beyond the argument,

beyond the discussions,

we find ourselves in,

we would hear,

the desperate cry,

for a Savior.

And trust God,

for the wisdom,

to respond,

to such.

Moses,

didn't expect,

that having left,

Egypt,

having run away,

from Egypt,

having created,

for himself,

a new livelihood,

having found,

a new job,

having been comfortable,

in Jethro's house,

as a shepherd,

and lived there,

and built a life,

for himself,

for 40 years,

he didn't expect,

that God,

would suddenly,

show up,

and disloach him,

from his place,

of comfort.

God,

I wonder,

if we would need,

God,

to come,

and disloach us,

from their places,

of comfort,

from our comfort zones,

from the worlds,

we have created,

for ourselves,

from the comfortable,

form of spirituality,

we have created,

for ourselves,

so that,

we would open,

our ears,

to hear,

the cry,

that is being,

lifted to heaven,

on a daily basis,

and just,

go out there,

and trust,

that God,

will use us,

as instruments,

to bring a difference,

in the life,

of just one person.

As a pastor,

I would so,

very much like,

to see a church,

filled like this,

and be the pastor,

of such a church,

then I can say,

I'm a successful pastor,

with a huge,

congregation,

but beyond that,

is the more,

important need,

to be people,

who will be sensitive,

to the call,

and the commissioning,

of God,

to go,

and reach out,

and bring others,

just as,

the mercy of God,

found us,

just as,

we cried,

our whole lives,

were a cry,

for desperate help,

and the Lord,

came down,

he came down,

for us,

for you and I,

and that is,

why we are here,

in the same way,

the Lord,

has several others,

outside,

and you know,

as long as,

we do not rise,

to go to them,

we will continue,

to suffer persecution,

persecution,

can I tell you,

that is really,

one of the reasons,

why,

the northern part,

of Nigeria,

is suffering,

the persecution,

that it is going through,

because you see,

there was a time,

in Nigeria,

when we were,

so comfortable,

we were,

so comfortable,

in our churches,

we were,

so comfortable,

in our,

in our growth,

that we did not think,

reaching out,

to the Muslims,

was a thing,

that we needed,

to take seriously,

my church,

for instance,

was not active,

in reaching out,

even to Muslims,

why,

because,

they were very friendly,

and we thought,

so long as,

a person is friendly,

so long as,

they lived by,

a set of rules,

that made them,

acceptable people,

so long as,

they were not drunk,

they were not stealing,

they were not committing adultery,

so long as,

they were,

they were the kind of,

respectable,

and responsible people,

that we should have,

we were comfortable,

in having them,

but we did not hear,

the cry of their hearts,

for an eternal,

savior,

and we ignored that,

we welcomed them,

as neighbors,

but we did not,

share Christ,

with them,

and I think,

because they didn't,

get what they,

hungered for,

in our lives,

because we didn't,

present,

that which would,

change them,

for eternity,

when time of persecution,

came,

they were happy,

to kill us,

beloved,

if we ignore,

those who are,

crying around us,

if we continue,

to keep quiet,

concerning the cry,

that is rising,

on a daily basis,

on our streets,

very soon,

our voices,

will be silent,

we will be silenced,

but I thank God,

that,

I don't know,

if it's just me,

but in reminding me,

of this word,

this commissioning,

of Moses,

and a reminder,

of the fact,

that this is what,

Jesus came and did,

he is telling me,

that I have a responsibility,

to be his voice,

he has come down,

but he has come down,

so that he will be expressed,

in you and I,

so that when you go out,

when I go out,

when I speak,

to a person by the road,

it will be the Lord himself,

walking in and through me,

how I pray,

that you and I,

will be the answer,

that God is raising,

for this generation,

and this time,

to bring the people,

back to him,

there is a promised land,

there is a promised land,

there is a promised rest,

that the Lord,

has prepared,

would you,

avail yourself,

so that,

he will,

now use you and I,

as the instrument,

by which you will bring,

people to Christ,

to salvation,

he sent his son,

his son,

whom you and I,

most of us here,

especially those,

that have surrendered,

their lives to Jesus,

his son,

who brought us,

out of darkness,

into life,

faith in his son,

who established us,

as citizens of heaven,

for which we have,

the confidence,

that if we were,

to leave the earth now,

we know,

where we are going to,

we are so happy,

in the fact that,

a departure from the earth,

means being present,

with Jesus,

and yet,

there are so many,

who do not have,

this assurance,

and we know,

a departure for them,

from the earth,

is not likely,

to translate,

into being present,

with the Lord,

yet,

we are neighbors,

yet,

we pass them,

on the streets,

yet,

we argue,

and we discuss,

with them,

yet,

we must be careful,

can I tell you,

something I have found,

very difficult,

in this country,

is the challenge,

of being very proper,

in discussing,

with people,

I'm,

I'm,

I'm,

I've been told,

that I must be,

very careful,

what I say,

so much so,

that it would appear,

sharing the gospel,

is becoming a challenge,

because,

I have to be,

very careful,

I'm,

I'm learning,

I'm trying,

but it's,

it's the,

it's the only,

difficulty,

I have,

because,

I see an emergency,

I see,

people dying,

every day,

and I wonder,

whether I have,

the luxury,

of being careful,

when I'm,

facing,

a dying person,

I see,

someone,

that needs,

to be encountered,

with the offense,

of the gospel,

of Jesus Christ,

and I wonder,

whether I have,

the luxury,

of being careful,

how,

I present it,

I remember,

John the Baptist,

who would meet people,

who,

whose hearts,

are right,

led him,

to confronting them,

in a very,

frank manner,

and he would say,

you brood of vipers,

who,

who wants you,

to flee the judgment,

to come,

and I wonder,

how come,

he was not careful,

in his expression,

and yet,

we are required,

to be careful,

I have nothing,

against being careful,

but would we,

would we,

allow that,

to,

to affect,

our presentation,

of the gospel,

to those,

who are,

crying,

to heaven,

maybe the cry,

that is being lifted,

is for people,

that would,

be confrontational,

with the gospel,

if need be,

not saying,

that is the acceptable mode,

but I'm sure,

you see,

if,

if we avail ourselves,

to be the instruments,

of response,

to God's cry,

as Moses did,

when he places us,

before the Pharaoh,

of the day,

he causes us,

to meet with,

he would give us,

the wisdom,

to speak to him,

he would help us,

on how to approach him,

he will help us,

on how to confront him,

but one thing,

we all need,

is to be sensitive,

to the cry around us,

do we see,

what the Lord sees,

do we hear,

what the Lord hears,

are our hearts,

on fire,

with the kind of thing,

that sets his heart,

on fire,

that causes him,

to come down,

maybe the encounter,

with you,

would be the only encounter,

someone would have,

with an opportunity,

to make it,

into eternal life,

or exit,

into eternal condemnation,

what would we do,

if we are faced,

with such an opportunity,

Moses of course,

protested,

and he said,

Lord I'm not the person,

I'm not the qualifier,

I don't know,

how to speak,

well I don't have,

the decorum to speak,

I don't know,

how to stand before Jesus,

I don't know,

how I would confront him,

and maybe that's the challenge,

that many of us have,

certainly there are times,

that I have that challenge,

I'll tell you truly,

there are times,

that I feel intimidated,

by the kind of people,

that I will be speaking to,

or by the people,

that I find myself,

in discussions,

because,

I discover,

that I'm not intelligent,

enough,

when they bring issues,

and they bring arguments,

that are way above me,

I am lost,

as to what to say,

but God didn't say,

we should go,

in our wisdom,

God has not told us,

to depend on ourselves,

like Moses tried,

to depend on himself,

Jesus in Acts 1,

when he was sending,

his disciples,

to go,

he was very clear,

as to how they should go,

not in their wisdom,

not in their ability,

not in their understanding,

this is what he said,

to them,

in Acts chapter 1,

Acts 1:7

verse 7,

he said to them,

it is not for you,

to know the times,

or debts,

the father has sent me,

by his,

set by his,

for own authority,

but you will receive power,

when the Holy Spirit,

comes on you,

and you,

will be my witnesses,

in Jerusalem,

and in Judea,

and Samaria,

and to the ends,

of the earth,

the power,

is in the presence,

of the spirit of God,

and the words,

that the Lord himself,

will inspire us,

to say,

and the things,

he would inspire us,

to act on,

in the moment,

that he causes us,

to meet the people,

in whom is a cry,

I see all these,

wise arguments,

as an expression,

of a cry,

because,

I have met,

with very intelligent,

children of God,

who have responded,

to the cry,

of equally,

intelligent people,

and have seen,

the wisdom of God,

break the wisdom,

of the world,

so God,

is able to use us,

to bring many,

to salvation,

he is able,

to use us,

to bring many,

out of the captivity,

that they have,

found themselves in,

he,

we have seen him,

break yokes,

in this country,

in the lives,

of people,

in various ways,

and he is,

setting many free,

or if only,

we will be able,

to avail ourselves,

and say,

Lord here I am,

sent you,

here I am,

going beyond,

the excuses,

such as Moses,

presented,

to believe,

the battle,

is the most,

to say,

here I am,

just help me,

to be your voice,

help me,

to be your answer,

to this generation,

to a generation,

that is hungry,

a generation,

that is crying,

a generation,

that is yearning,

for a unique,

reception,

and you and I,

are the answers,

that God,

has raised,

will we,

just,

keep,

enjoying,

the fellowship,

of one another,

oh a fellowship,

like this,

is like heaven,

to me,

and I love it,

but we are not,

yet in heaven,

and while,

on this side,

of eternity,

there is work,

to do,

this work,

for Jesus,

ready at your hand,

is a task,

the master,

for you,

and I,

he has called us,

to do,

let us pray together,

Thank you.