Jul. 28, 2021

“THE LIFE OF MOSES”

“LEARNING FROM OUR FAILURES”

EXODUS 2:11-25, PSALM 119:67,71

1.   Basic Principles In Dealing With Failure 

Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.”

Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”

*Experiencing Failure Promotes An Obedient Life

The psalmist states “before I was afflicted I went astray”- “but now I keep Your word.”

*Experiencing Failure Prompts A Teachable Spirit

Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”

2.   Lessons From Failure

Exodus 2:11-15

*Spiritual Ends Cannot Be Achieved By Fleshly Means

Moses acted on his own- vs.12 “and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”

*Timing Is As Important As Action

Exodus 2:13-14 “And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” 

He needed to learn that waiting on God is the mark of wisdom and strength, not foolishness and weakness.

*Trying To Hide The Wrong Doesn’t Erase It

*Spiritual Leadership Is God-Appointed Not Self-Assumed

Moses apparently thought that his job was to take God’s place rather than to obediently follow His lead.

3.   Strategic Changes After Failure

Exodus 2:16-25

Did Moses learn from his mistake? He certainly did! In the rest of Exodus 2 we see three changes that took place in Moses as a result of what he learned through failure:

*Developing A Servants Attitude

vs.16-17 “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”

*Willing To Be Obscure

vs.18-21 “When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” 19And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” 20So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses.”

vs.21-22 “Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

Moses was willing to live away from the limelight and in the shadows of an obscure home in a barren desert.

*The Ability To Rest And Rely On God

vs.23-25 “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”

4.   Concluding Remarks About Failure