PROMISES KEPT

Sermon Notes, October 7, 2012

Pastor Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s message was titled “Promises Kept.”  She discussed promises, and keeping promises, from parents saying, “If you do that again I’ll break your arm!” knowing it won’t be kept, to Marlin, in the movie Finding Nemo whose promise to always take care of his son was impossible to keep because he couldn’t control Nemo’s circumstances.

In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God in the burning bush.  God calls Moses, twice, and tells him to take off his shoes—to show reverence.  This was like God’s calling card.  Then He gives Moses His resume: “I am the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  By this Moses knew that God is who He says He is; He has not changed.  In verses 7 and 8, God sets the scene.  He tells Moses He has seen the misery of His people; He has heard, and He cares.  In verses 10 and 11, He tells Moses “I’m sending you.  Go!” 

Moses objects: he tells God “I’m not adequate.” Moses was in hiding because even though he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he had killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite. But instead of being grateful for his help, the Israelites asked “Who made you ruler and judge over us?  Will you kill us too?” Moses fled to Midian, in fear for his life, where he ended up herding sheep on the back side of the desert.  So he had reason to feel inadequate.

In verse 12 God promises “I will be with you.”  Moses responds in verse 13, “What if they don’t believe?”  God tells him to tell the people that “I am” has sent him.  He promised Moses His presence, “I will be with you.” And He promised him His power, changing Moses’ staff into a snake and back to a staff, making his hand leprous then healing it, and making water from the Nile become blood.

In verse 18, Moses goes back to Egypt, after telling God he is not good at speaking.  God sends his brother Aaron to speak for him.  God kept His promises.  What was the impact on Moses?  After his encounter with God, Moses never had a problem believing God.  He trusted in God’s presence and promise.  He was no longer an alien; he was added to the list of patriots.

The odds of promises being kept is directly related to the one who is making them.  When we know God and His character, we can trust His promises. He promises His presence, and His adequacy is trustworthy.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)