#8
(THE "DIFFICULTIES ON THE JOURNEY" SERIES)
“WHY
GOD MOVES SLOWLY!”
TEXT: Exodus
23:20-33; Judges 2:21-3:2
INTRO:
A young
boy found a cocoon outside one day while playing. He took it inside where his mother and
father instructed him what it was.
He was told how there was a life inside, one that at one time had been an
ugly caterpillar. It was now being
transformed into a beautiful butterfly.
The boy was fascinated, and could hardly wait for the day when it would
emerge. Finally the day came; he
noticed a movement in the cocoon and noticed that a small hole was beginning to
show in one end. He watched with
anticipation as the young butterfly tried to emerge. For so long the struggle seemed to go on
without any progress. The boy
became impatient and decided to help the butterfly. He got a scissors and cut open a larger
hole making it possible for the new butterfly to emerge quickly and easily.
It was quite a sight, how colorful
although quite wrinkled! The boy
watched and watched, waiting to see this new life take flight and fly away to
fulfill the purpose it was created for.
However, with great disappointment he waited, for nothing happened. The new butterfly did not fly; instead
it slowly withered and died! In
talking to someone who knew much about butterflies he discovered what had gone
wrong. In order for a butterfly to
fly after emerging, they must have had to struggle through a tiny hole in order
to force the liquids into the wings to make the wings fill out. The boy's
efforts at speeding up this process by cutting the hole larger had caused this
stage to be avoided, thus effectively ending the possibility that it would ever
be able to fly and fulfill it's creative purpose. The desire to speed up the butterfly's
deliverance only consigned it to certain death! Instead of helping it, he destroyed
it! -- Source
Unknown
God often does this with us also. He does not
always deliver us quickly, because He knows that the process of struggling is
healthy for us, it builds character. While we would like to have an
easy and quick solution to our problems, this may not in the long run always be
good for us.
PROP.
SENT: The Bible teaches
us that God only moves as fast in our lives as we are able to keep up and that
is in keeping with His plan for us!
God is not slow, He is doing a work of grace to prepare us for larger
responsibilities and His will in our lives, we need to trust the
process.
I. DIVINE DEAL Ex.
23:2O-26
A. Contact Ex. 23:20
1.
God's offer here is wonderful!
He offers to make contact with them!
a. He will send them an “angel” –
“messenger”
b. This messenger would represent God
to them.
c. God has always desired contact with
His people!
2.
They would not have to walk alone; God would go before them and be
with them!
a. God never asks us to go anywhere
without Him!
b. They were thus assured of victory,
God never loses, and since they were going with Him they couldn't
either!
3.
Being with their Shepherd and knowing His voice and leading would be
all that they would need!
ILLUS: DURING
WORLD WAR I SOME TURKISH SOLDIERS TRIED TO STEAL A FLOCK OF SHEEP FROM A
HILLSIDE NEAR JERUSALEM. THE
SHEPHERD, WHO HAD BEEN SLEEPING, SUDDENLY AWAKENED TO SEE HIS SHEEP BEING DRIVEN
OFF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAVINE. HE COULD NOT HOPE TO RECAPTURE THEM BY
FORCE SINGLE-HANDEDLY, BUT SUDDENLY HE HAD A THOUGHT. STANDING UP ON HIS SIDE OF
THE RAVINE HE PUT HIS HANDS TO HIS MOUTH AND GAVE HIS OWN PECULIAR CALL WHICH HE
USED EACH DAY TO GATHER HIS SHEEP TO HIM. THE SHEEP HEARD THE FAMILIAR SOUND.
FOR A MOMENT THEY LISTENED AND
THEN, HEARING IT AGAIN THEY TURNED AND RUSHED DOWN ONE SIDE OF THE RAVINE AND UP
THE OTHER SIDE TOWARD THEIR SHEPHERD.
IT WAS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE FOR
THE SOLDIERS TO STOP THE ANIMALS. THE SHEPHERD WAS AWAY WITH THEM TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY BEFORE THE SOLDIERS COULD MAKE UP THEIR MINDS TO PURSUE THEM,
ALL BECAUSE THE SHEEP KNEW THEIR MATER'S VOICE AND RESPONDED! – Source Unknown
4.
Staying in contact with our Shepherd is
important!
B. Contract
Ex.
23:21-26
1.
God now reveals that His contact with them would not be the only thing
that was important, their response would be also!
a. They were to obey this “angel” of the Lord.
b. They were not to rebel against
Him.
c. Obedience would play an important
role in their success.
2.
The contract called for them to completely avoid the practices and ideas
of these foreign powers.
a. God would ensure their success only
as long as they followed His commands.
b. This is still true; those most
successful in God's Kingdom are obedient servants!
3.
God will not destroy the enemy without their help, they will be a
part of the process, but with His strength and help they won't be able to
lose!
4.
The quality of their future rested on what they did in the present! Our future glory is being shaped
now!
ILLUS: THERE IS A
LEGEND OF A WEALTHY WOMAN WHO, WHEN SHE REACHED HEAVEN, WAS SHOWN A VERY PLAIN
MANSION. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS
HER MANSION FOR ETERNITY. SHE
OBJECTED TO THIS PLAIN HOUSE BEING HERS! SHE WAS TOLD HOWEVER BY THE HEAVENLY
GUIDE, "WELL THAT IS THE HOUSE PREPARED
FOR YOU!" SHE LOOKED AROUND AND ACROSS THE STREET NOTICED A HUGE BEAUTIFUL
MANSION OF GREAT BEAUTY AND SO ASKED, "WHOSE FINE MANSION IS THAT ACROSS THE
WAY?" THE RESPONSE STARTLED HER, THE GUIDE SAID, “THAT MANSION BELONGS TO YOUR GARDENER!”
SHE WAS SHOCKED AND SAID, "HOW IS IT THAT
HE HAS ONE SO MUCH BETTER THAN MINE?" THE ANSWER WAS INSTRUCTIVE, "WE DO NOT CHOOSE THEM, YOU DO THAT BY YOUR
EARTHLY FAITHFULNESS, FOR YOU SEE WE BUILD THESE MANSIONS FROM THE MATERIALS
THAT ARE SENT UP BY YOUR SERVICE BELOW!" – Source Unknown
5.
This was a more important contract with God than the “Contract with America” the Republicans
talked about!
a. It was a contract of mutual
assurances.
b. Their future depended on their present
obedience!
II. DIVINE DELIVERANCE Ex. 23:27-33; Judg. 2:21-3:2
A. Confidence
Ex.
23:27-28
1.
God here promises to put a fear on their enemies if they will walk with
Him!
a. Their enemies would be "terrified" of
b. Their enemy would know of God's
love and blessings on
2.
This would really build
a. Great confidence would enable to
them to be victorious!
b. They would not be afraid of the
future or success!
ILLUS: THE STORY
IS TOLD OF A TERMINALLY ILL WOMAN WHO CALLED HER PASTOR TO COME TO SEE HER.
WHEN HE ARRIVED, SHE BEGAN TELLING
HIM HOW SHE WANTED THINGS TO BE AT HER FUNERAL, THE HYMNS, THE PASSAGES OF
SCRIPTURE, EVEN THE MEMORIES SHE WANTED FRIENDS TO SHARE. TOWARDS THE END OF HIS VISIT SHE SAID
WITH A TWINKLE IN HER EYE, "ONE MORE
THING, PREACHER, WHEN THEY BURY ME I WANT MY OLD BIBLE IN ONE HAND AND A FORK
PUT IN THE OTHER." WELL, THE
BIBLE WAS NOT A SURPRISE, BUT THE FORK WAS!! THE PASTOR ASKED, “WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE BURIED WITH A FORK IN
YOUR HAND?" SHE ANSWERED, "I'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT ALL THE CHURCH DINNERS AND BANQUETS I'VE ATTENDED THROUGH THE
YEARS, AT THE BEST ONES WHEN THE MEAL WAS ALMOST DONE, SOMEONE WOULD COME TO
COLLECT THE DIRTY DISHES AND LEAN OVER MY SHOULDER AND WHISPER, 'YOU CAN KEEP
YOUR FORK.' DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANT? IT MEANT DESSERT WAS COMING,
AND NOT A CUP OF JELLO OR ICE CREAM, YOU DON'T NEED A FORK FOR THAT; IT MEANT
SOMETHING REALLY GOOD WAS COMING LIKE CHOCOLATE CAKE OR CHERRY PIE. WHEN THEY TOLD ME I COULD KEEP MY FORK I
KNEW THE BEST WAS YET TO COME. WHEN
PEOPLE SEE ME IN MY CASKET I WANT THEM TO ASK 'WHAT'S THE FORK FOR?' ... YOU
TELL THEM PREACHER; THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” THIS WOMAN HAD CONFIDENCE! -- Source
Unknown
3.
They could face the future with absolute
confidence!
B. Conquering Ex.
23:29-30; Judges
2:21-3:2
1.
This is the key part of this passage; God would not drive them out all at
once in a short period of time!
a. God would go slowly with the
victory, not because He delights in making them miserable, but for practical
reasons!
b. To let them drive out all their
enemies at once successfully would have left them with more victory than they
could handle!
2.
Quick and full victory would have left a lot of open land and empty
cities that they were not strong enough to take possession of, they were not
numerous enough or strong enough to handle all this before new enemies, wild
animals, and weeds would take over, then they would have had to fight a second
time!
a. God was saving them grief later by
going slowly now!
b. This slower process would encourage
their skills for future larger tasks!
ILLUS: WHEN
AMERICAN AIRLINES TRAINS THEIR PILOTS THEY FIRST SEEK TO PROVE THEM BY USE OF A
SIMULATOR. THE SIMULATOR IS
DESIGNED TO PRESENT THE PILOT WITH A VARIETY OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS SO THAT HE
WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE ANY EMERGENCY IN THE FUTURE UNDER REAL CONDITIONS. HE
LEARNS ON A SIMPLER LEVEL WITH SMALLER EVENTS, EVENTUALLY BUILDING UP TO
COMPLICATED EVENTS AND THEN ON TO FLYING A REAL PLANE. AREN'T YOU GLAD THAT THEY
LEARNED ON A SMALLER SCALE FIRST!? THIS IS SIMILAR TO HOW GOD WORKS IN OUR
LIVES ... HE GIVES US VICTORY OVER SMALL THINGS FIRST, AND THEN BUILDS FROM
THERE. IF WE CAN'T HANDLE THE
SMALLER THINGS, HE DOESN'T DESTROY US WITH LARGER THINGS. – Source
Unknown
3.
Some people want quick easy victories, they want the short cuts. If they take them, they will miss out on
becoming all they could be!
ILLUS: WHEN JAMES
GARFIELD, LATER TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE U.S., WAS THE PRINCIPAL OF HIRAM
COLLEGE IN OHIO ONE FATHER ASKED HIM IF THE COURSE OF HIS STUDIES COULD BE
SHORTENED SO THAT HIS SON MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE HIS STUDIES IN LESS TIME.
GARFIELD SAID, “CERTAINLY, BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU
WANT TO MAKE OF YOUR BOY. WHEN GOD
WANTS TO MAKE AN OAK HE TAKES ONE HUNDRED YEARS, BUT WHEN HE WANTS TO MAKE A
SQUASH HE REQUIRES ONLY TWO MONTHS.” – Source
Unknown
4.
God did not want to solve one of their problems by creating a new one, He
knew that victory would be better for them in a longer time
frame!
5.
God lists several reasons for giving victory over a span of time here in
Exodus 23 and in Judges 2 & 3:
a. Partial victories would give them
time to grow stronger.
b. Partial victory now would give them
time to adjust to a new environment.
c. It would prevent wild animals from
multiplying and creating a new problem down the road.
d. It would allow a new generation of
Israelites who had never fought before to learn how to fight and develop their
skills.
e. It would also keep them dependent
on God over a longer period of time, thus keeping them from developing
self-sufficiency.
f. It would keep them from
having more than they could handle!
6.
God still works this way with us, for often the same
reasons!
7.
He doesn't want to overwhelm us with more than we are strong enough to
handle!
C. Commitment Ex. 23:31-33
1.
While God reiterates His action, He again makes clear to them that He is
calling for a commitment on their part!
2.
They are not to water down their commitment to Him by compromising with
those they are to drive out.
a. God implores them not to make a
covenant with the enemy, only with Him!
b. He warns them that they are to
cling only to Him if they are to weather the storms and
succeed!
ILLUS: VINES ARE
INTERESTING THINGS; THEY HAVE NO REAL STRENGTH IN THEMSELVES ALONE. THEY ARE EASILY DESTROYED BY WINDS OF
ADVERSITY AND STORMS. THE ONLY
THING THAT MAKES THEM A SUCCESS IS WHEN THEY HAVE LEARNED TO CLING TO SOMETHING
STRONGER THAN THEMSELVES. BY
GROWING ON A STRONG TREE AND CURLING AROUND AND AROUND IT THEY ARE IMMUNE ALMOST
FROM DANGER. IF CONTRARY WINDS BLOW
AGAINST THEM THEY ARE SIMPLY BLOWN TIGHTER AGAINST THE TREE. IF WINDS COME FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION
THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM HARM BY THE TREE ITSELF BLOCKING THEM. NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION THE STORM COMES
FROM, THEY ARE HELD IN PLACE. THEY
CAN SPEND THEIR TIME GROWING BECAUSE THEY RELY ON THE TREES’
STRENGTH. – Source
Unknown
3.
God warns them that if they compromise the pagans will be a "snare” to them.
a. In the Hebrew this term, “snare” is stronger than the English term would
suggest, it means “destruction” not
just “stumbling.”
b. God wanted them strong and safe,
and victorious in the long run.
4.
Victory would not be quick and easy, they couldn't handle that, though
they would have preferred it that way no doubt!
5.
Trust Him with the process, He is not slow, only we
are!
CONCLUSION:
Why is it that God seems to move so slowly so often in answering our
prayers? God’s purpose in our life
is not so much to remove conflicts as it is to build our character and to teach
us faith. Victory over time keeps
us relying on God and gives us the time to mature so that we can handle the
victories that come without producing sinful pride. God moves slowly so we can keep up with
Him! He will rarely move faster
than the rate at which we are willing to follow Him, or are able to follow
Him!