EXODUS 33 lesson # 27
The Greatest Work
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Q What makes a leader a great leader in your estimation? What things do great leaders do?
An = In many of the portraits of great leaders in the Bible there is hidden work that they do. It is not something we can see very often. It is a work done in private. However, it is one of the most important things that a leader can do! It is the way of things when God is present in their lives. This work is the work of intercession.
Q In a prayer at the end of chapter 32 what has Moses offered God?
An = Moses has offered his place in the book of life in exchange for the lives of the Israelites. God granted Moses’ request but refused his act of substitution. (Remember the incense altar is to have no other acts of sacrifice associated with it.) God extended mercy but reminded Moses that He still is just and fair and would punish the guilty, not the innocent. Note: However, merely escaping with one’s life is not enough. Just as praying for the salvation of another is not enough. People need more than just relief from damnation. Let us turn to Exodus 33.
III. The Gift Without the Person. Exodus 33:1-6.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:1-2.
Q How God speaks of the children of Israel. “Who brought them up from Egypt? An = God speaks of them as Moses’ people, not His own people.
Q In the rest of verse 1 and in verse 2, what gifts does God promise to give them?
An = He promises to give them land and guidance to get there via the angel.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:3-6
Q What is God not giving to them in verse 3? He repeats this in verse 5?
An = God is going to give them the land and send them guidance but not be among them. God is going to give them gifts, but not Himself.
Q Is God going to let them be like the rest of the pagan world?
An = Seemingly so, He will give gifts, as He does to all peoples but not His presence. Most people pray to God when they want something: health, a job, a mate, good fortune in our business or school, etc. The non-Christian or “weak-Christian” world prays in the same way. God is saying I am going to give you a home and guidance out of the desert so you can get there, but I will not be among you.
Q Do you know of some Christians who really just want things out of God, but are not really concerned with getting to know God?
An = Let them share and if they do not, then give an example from your own life when this was your focus.
Q What would you think of the parent who said to his child, “I will pay for your education, and give you some direction in your life but I do not want to spend any time with you or be close to you”.
An = The best would be missed. The same is of our relationship to God. True faith in God in not in getting things from God, but having a relationship with God. Surely He will give us good things, because He is a good father, but the greatest thing He can give us is Himself, a relationship with Himself.
Q Will the child succeed who has gifts but no fellowship with their parents?
An = No, to grow up a healthy person we surely need to that fellowship, and it must be a positive relationship for us to succeed in life. Israel might have received the land, but could she survive without God? Could she be the “chosen race” without His Presence?
Note: I admit that with some people, it is best to just get the money and run. You do not want to know them or get close to them. But, I am speaking of good people, godly people, the greatest gift they can give us is themselves. Some of you married couples with young children, have received help from others in your age bracket, but what you really value is your friendship with one another. You cannot put a price on the friendship, the laughter, the joy!
So, it is with God. He is quite well worth knowing! He is the greatest gift and the greatest work is to help others come close to Him and get to know Him.
Q Why was Israel to take off their ornaments?
An = There is really no joy in the gifts of God without the Presence of God. Look at verse 4. They began to mourn when they heard what God had said.
RQ How many of you are doing fine, you have been blessed of God in many ways, but if you are honest, you really do not have a close relationship with God?
Q How many of us here in this room have friends and family who do not have God in their midst? They have a lot going for them, but not God in their lives.
An = Part of today’s message is what you can do for them, how to do great work.
IV. The Tent Outside, not Inside the Camp. Exodus 33:7-11.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:7-11.
Q What is the purpose of the Tent of Meeting?
An = To meet with the Lord.
Q Where is the Tent of Meeting?
An = It is outside of the camp. That is clear in verse 8 and stressed all through this short passage. God will meet with men and women but in Israel that does not happen in their midst. It is outside the camp.
Q Did the Israelites recognize the Presence of God when He spoke with Moses?
An = Yes they did. They saw the cloud and they respected Moses’ relationship to God and bowed to the earth in respect. However, they did not have such a relationship to God themselves.
Q How many of you this morning really respect a grandparent or parent because they truly do have a relationship to God?
An = I am sure a lot of respect other’s relationship to God, but it is not part of your life, it is outside the camp; outside your camp, your life’s experience.
Q What causes people not to have a close relationship to God, even though they have experienced blessings?
An = Maybe the reason is we have been obstinate or stubborn like the Israelites. We would not trust the Lord no matter how many times we had opportunity to do so, or we have made a crucial mistake like the Israelites did with the golden calf. Whatever the reason for His distance, we realize that the Place of Contact with God is outside of our camp.
V. The Solution: Moses Wants the Presence In the Camp. Exodus 33:12-17.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:12-13.
Q What is the solution to the Israelites distance from God?
An = Someone close to God, someone God knows by name, someone God is very pleased with has begun to pray for them.
Q Look at the last phrase of 33:13, what is Moses telling God?
An = “Remember that this nation is your nation.” “This people is your people”. Moses is telling the God the obvious.
One time I was preparing to teach in LA about five years ago, and I was stuck. I had studied hard, but nothing would come clear. Finally, in desperation, I cried: “God, you love these people more than I do, bless them, teach them, they are your people”. Sure, I knew God loved them more than I did, but in prayer an obvious truth became very clear, it became very real to me.
By the way…He answered.
If you are on good terms with God: Remind God that your friends and family are really His!
Oswald Chambers says: “A mother, a husband, or wife, or a Christian worker, praying for another soul has a clear indication that God has answered their prayer; outwardly the one prayed for is just the same, there is no difference in his conduct, but the prayer is answered. The work is unconscious as yet, but at any second it may burst forth into conscious life. We cannot calculate where God begins to work any more than we can say when it is going to be come conscious; that is why we have to pray in reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Note: Notice what happens next!
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:14.
Q What is God saying here?
An = God will go with them. The presence as well as the gifts will be there.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:15-16.
Q What does Moses understand?
An = He knows that the true value is not in the gifts but in the Giver. The Old Testament scholar Durham wisely says: “No people can be the people of God without the Presence of God.” What make a child special is that he or she is loved. What makes the people of God special is not just the blessing of God but that they are specially loved by God. He is in their midst.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 33:17.
Q What does this say to us as parents?
An = God will answer our prayers if He is pleased with us. He knows us by name, and we have the privilege to petition Him. We can do the greatest work!
Note: One thing that has caused me to draw closer to God myself is that then I can be used of God to draw others close. If God is pleased with me…then I can ask for my friends.
VI. Application:
>>>> Have someone read I John 5:16.
Q What is being promised here?
An = Notice, this is balanced much like Exodus 32, God is merciful but also will not override complete justice. However, despite the scary warning about a sin unto death, there is much hope here. This verse can be our promise.
Q Do you have doubts whether you can pray like this?
An = If you are a wise and courageous person today you can admit that you really do need to draw closer to Him despite the image you may presently carry. If you can be so honest: Amen. Then, draw close to Him, do so knowing that you can look forward to participating in the “greatest work”.
Q What if you are the one who is far from God today or farther than you wish you were?
An = Do what I did once as a young person. I was so distraught, I couldn’t pray. Finally, I prayed to the Lord: “Lord, please wake someone up tonight who can pray for me.”
It appears He woke someone up.