Exodus Series: Trusting God Exodus 13 - 14

God is trustworthy: God will lead us God knows what we can handle God has a plan for us God won’t leave us God will fight for us God has and will rescue us

They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’” Exodus 14:11-12

Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ Exodus 14:13-14

Barriers to trusting God: Too self-sufficient Too quick to call on others Feel distant from God, like Job Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Job 13:15 Feel as though we’ve been let down in the past Fear that God won’t be there for us if we do step out Fear of poverty, suffering, for us and ones we love. Instinct to protect ourselves and who we think we are. Don’t live in the reality of God’s power -too sensible Allow ourselves to worry

How to develop a habit of trust in God

1. Don’t rely on your own understanding – we can’t see all that God does   Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)

Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long. Exodus 14:19,20   Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33 (NIVUK)

2. Surrender, cry out to God, confess doubts   But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:30-33 (MSG)

3. Recount what God has done in the past and be thankful   Then Moses said to the people, ‘Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Exodus 13:3

4. Fix eyes on Jesus, trust Holy Spirit and listen to your spirit Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honour, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he ploughed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Acts 1:8

How to develop a habit of trust in God   Don’t rely on your own understanding – we can’t see all that God does Surrender, cry out to God, confess doubts Recount what God has done in the past and be thankful Fix eyes on Jesus, trust Holy Spirit and listen to your own spirit

Self Concept Diagram Area of Illusion Self Concept (How I define ‘me’) Bruises Real Self (how God sees me) (caused by significant emotional experiences) Deficits (an affect of the absence of love)