God's work — Faves of Dave - Bible Study

Ex. 3:7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

If you recall from our previous episode, the LORD God is speaking to Moses by the angel of the LORD. Once again, there is an emphasis on the LORD’s attention to the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. Exodus 3:7-9 makes it clear that this is not some random event. The LORD has “seen” their affliction, “heard their cry,” and he “knows their suffering.” The situation has the full attention of the LORD.

More importantly, the LORD is going to do something about it. This is revealed by the LORD’s words to Moses in verse 8. “I have come down to deliver them” from the oppression in Egypt and bring them to a place of abundance, a land that was currently supporting at least six other groups of people.

If you’re wondering if there’s anything special about this list of people who are inhabiting the land where the LORD will take the Israelites, I’ve yet to discover what that significance is. We do know these groups did not worship the LORD. They served other so-called gods. The Jebusites, Amorites, and the Hivites were descendants of Canaan. It’s safe to assume that they will not be thrilled when the LORD brings the Israelites up to their land. This suggests a future conflict.

In verse 9, the LORD restates his awareness and concern for the plight of his people in Egypt before laying out his plan on how he is going to accomplish this deliverance. Then, in verse 10, the LORD informs Moses that he will send Moses to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Before we consider Moses’ response, it is important to stop and remember that the LORD has already announced that he has “come down” and will deliver his people. How does this line up with this announcement that he is going to send Moses to Pharaoh and use him to deliver the Israelites? Simply put, it means that the LORD’s power and authority will accomplish it, but that Moses would be the LORD God’s human agent of communication and authority. More on this shortly.

Moses responds to the LORD’s charge with a very reasonable question: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (v.11) Let’s stop for a moment to think about what is going on in Moses mind. Moses was approximately 80 years old at this point. The first half of his life was spent growing up in Egypt and in Pharaoh’s house. My guess is that if the LORD had commissioned a much younger Moses to do this, he might have thought that he was a logical pick since he seemed to know that he was a Hebrew, but also had the privilege of being a part of Pharaoh’s household. That’s simply a guess. But now Moses was a murderer, a fugitive, disrespected by at least a few of his kinsmen whom he tried to help, and for the last forty years has been leading sheep around in the wilderness. In Moses’ mind, he is entirely unqualified for this task. Moses appears not to have heard the LORD say, “I have come down to deliver them.” (v. 8) His focus is entirely upon his perception of his own identity and questions the LORD’s charge.

In response to Moses’ self-doubt, the LORD assures him that he will be with Moses. (v. 12) The LORD instructed Moses that the sign that he is the LORD’s agent is that he will return to this same mountain with the Israelites. Notice that the sign is not something to motivate him to follow the LORD’s instruction. The sign is the LORD’s foretelling of something that will happen in the future, and it will affirm to Moses that he can trust the LORD’s words. The LORD is giving something to Moses. But Moses must have faith in what the LORD has promised.

Do you see the application for us today? The bottom line is that the LORD gave his disciples commands that I believe we are supposed to continue today. For example, we must love the LORD our God and love our neighbor as ourselves. The LORD also gave his disciples the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching others what Jesus had taught his disciples. We have no right to say, “Who am I?” If the LORD is giving us something to do, we are not doing it by our own authority, power, or wisdom. We are being blessed to be agents of God’s work, grace, and truth. God is the one doing the real work. We just need to follow the LORD’s commands by faith. What a privilege.

Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Yes . . . I know it’s only two verses. But there are some intriguing things in these two verses. The first thing we want to consider is the word “Therefore.” It’s one of those big points that is made in a Bible Study Methods class, and the saying goes, “Whenever you see a 'therefore,' you want to go back in the text to find out what it’s 'there for.’” In other words, what follows the “therefore” must be interpreted in light of what was said before.

It’s important to apply it here; otherwise, we can’t really understand what Paul is telling the Philippian believers when he says, “as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (v. 12) What are they to obey, and what does that have to do with fear and trembling?

In the beginning of the letter, Paul recalls their “participation in the gospel from the first day until now” and then assures them that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:5-6) Shortly after, he explained that he prays that their “love may abound more and more with knowledge and discernment” (v. 9). He continues by exhorting them to be unified and to stand firm in the gospel, because he knows they will face persecution. (vv. 27-29) The means by which they can do this is to adopt the same kind of mindset or attitude demonstrated by Christ in humbling himself to leave the glory of heaven, entering into his own creation, becoming a servant to his human creatures, and being “obedient” to death on a cross.

Ah! There’s something. Jesus was obedient to the Father’s will that he die for the sins of the world. We could say that Jesus was obedient to the gospel. So then, if the same God who sent his Son into the world to bring us the gospel and the hope of forgiveness of sins and eternal life, also began a good work in Jesus’ followers, it’s reasonable to interpret this call to obedience of the Philippian believers as a call to obedience to the gospel that God would direct in their lives.

So, our next question then should likely be, “So what does that have to do with 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling?’” Furthermore, one might argue, “I thought salvation was by faith and not by works.” Given that our immediate context informs us that it was God who began the good work in them suggests that Paul is not telling them that their salvation is based on their works. Further reading of Paul’s letters reinforces the idea that God’s salvation for us is based on His work through Christ. God gets the credit for our salvation. Therefore, what Paul is saying in “work out your salvation” is to be obedient to the gospel and continue doing the good things God has been doing in their lives. Is there any way we can verify that meaning? Look at verse 13. “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Clearly, what Paul means is for them to cooperate, or rather, be obedient, to what God wants them to do in standing firm in their faith and demonstrating love and being unified.

So, why should they do this with “fear and trembling?” The explanatory clause of verse 13, indicated by the word “for,” suggests a reverential kind of fear. We should not take the idea of doing good works of serving others lightly, because we diminish what Christ has done for us on the cross by not showing the same concern and love for others.

That’s pretty heavy for two verses, isn’t it? May the Lord instill the remembrance of his love toward us so that we will show love to others as the Lord works His works through us.

Episode 349 - "The LORD will deliver his people" - Exodus 3:7-12

Episode 332 - "Be obedient to God's work in your life" - Philippians 2:12-13