Listen to the Sermon
Sermon Details
- Pastor Name: Jonathan Cornell
- Date & Time: March 8, 2015 | 10:00am
______________________________
SERMON SERIES:
Markers
God offers us glimpses of his grand plan to keep his people moving along the journey of faith.
This week, we are continuing in a series of messages this Lent through the book of Exodus, and we’re looking for the signposts, the markers—as it were—that kept Moses and his people moving toward their future, the goal of the Promised Land. The Israelites were moving into a new way of life, a new paradigm. One that maybe you can relate to—it’s the journey from captivity to freedom, from a life of worry and doubt to a life of freedom in trust that God is ultimately in control. And whenever we take these steps, it always requires more than a little faith. Using what you know, and trusting God with what you don’t.
Would you turn with me to our passage today? We’re looking at Exodus 7 verses 8-13.
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
Let the good news come now, Father, not only in word but also in power, and with great assurance. And now, God, I pray that your Holy Spirit would come so that these words would not just be my words, but yours. Let them breathe your power and your trust into our lives, that we might have the faith to go where you lead. For we pray, not in our own power, but in the strong name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, amen.
This morning’s marker is a staff, a plain old piece of wood you would use to guide sheep or to steady you as you walk. It’s a walking stick. This week, I paid a pastoral visit to one of our members, and the purpose was for us to introduce our dogs to one another, both lovers of big dogs. Sam had not yet met Max the Chocolate Lab. As we were heading out for our walk, I was offered a walking stick. It’s steep and slippery in some spots; this will help steady you as you go.
There was not anything unique or special about the stick, but as I soon found out, it was a very useful in icy conditions—and for corralling dogs back onto the path.
For the two men in this morning’s reading, Pharaoh and Moses, this staff has very different meanings. For one of these men, the staff will represent something to know, and for the other man, the staff will represent a way to go.
Download the entire transcript here: Exodus 7 8-13 Staff to Invite
