This past week, I was at the gym, on the incline bench, seeing if it might be possible for my head to get up above my feet, and I heard a sound, like something falling out of my pocket as I was doing a sit-up. I wasn’t sure and looked around. A young guy resting on the bench next to me said, “Your phone fell out. Don’t worry, I won’t take it.” Now, I really wasn’t worried that he might take it, but I didn’t want him to think – that I would think – that he might steal it. So, I fully explained that I was looking because I wasn’t sure if something had fallen out, not that he would take it. I mean, I wouldn’t want him to think I was prejudice against the younger generation. Why did I feel the need to defend myself and my actions? Why is that? Why do you and I feel the need to defend ourselves against others thinking less of us, or against any slight to our pride, or verbal attack? The more important question is how do we go about lessening our defensiveness? In this morning’s portion of the life of Moses, we’ll find a jewel in the story that may answer the how of reducing defensiveness and complaining. Let’s read. (Read Exodus 17:1-8)
Read this story of Moses and it seems clear. The people of the Hebrews have been wandering in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in Egypt and find themselves without water. So, they come to Moses, bitterly complaining. They want him to do something! Moses brings their need and complaint before God, who acts and provides water through Moses striking a rock with his staff. It’s not difficult to see in this that God is a gracious God who hears their cries. God is also powerful, who provides what the people need. The story tells us something about God. But, if we read it with a slower, observing eye, it will also tell us something about us.
For instance, did you notice – what took a second look for me to see – is that while the people are moving from place to place, including an area interestingly called the wilderness of Sin, they are not just wandering about? No, it is God who is leading them. That little phrase reveals, in verse 1, they “traveled from place to place as the Lord commanded.” They’re not wandering. They are being led by God. It’s no accident they stop at a place where there is no water. Then, when the people converge on Moses’ tent, and murmur against him, demanding water, Moses not only says, verse 3, “Why are you complaining against – the word really means, verbally attacking – me?” He also says, Why do you put God to the test?” What Moses first appears to be doing, shifting blame onto God, as if saying, “It’s not my problem, so bring it up with God,” actually turns out to be a perceptive question meant to make the people think about what they are doing. “Why do you put God to the test?” There’s nothing wrong with bringing a need up to God, but testing God is another matter.
To test God is to ask for a proof, demanding a sign or a prayer answered the way we want. The Hebrew people, even though they were being led by God from place to place, immediately react to the problem of no water by questioning whether God really is present with them. They demand a sign. They want God to prove to them that He is with them by giving them water and right in front of them would be just fine.
God refuses. Just like Jesus, who would much later refuse to give the scribes and Pharisees a sign that would prove he was the Messiah, God refuses to give them a sign. He does not bring forth water from the ground right in front of their eyes. Instead, what happens? He tells Moses to go a distance away from the people (read verse 5, 6) When Moses is out of sight, then God will give the water, when only Moses and some of the Elders who act as witnesses to God’s miracle are around. God refuses to give them a sign.
You see, when the people demand a sign from God they are asking God to prove to their satisfaction that He really is God, really is alive, really is with them. If He provides a big enough miracle, then they will believe, but if it isn’t quite up to their expectations, then they won’t believe. In demanding a sign, they have put themselves over God as a judge. They will decide whether God has done enough to qualify as God for them. They get to decide. And, God refuses to let them be judge over Him. God is God! Moses tries to tell them, when he asks, “Why do you put GOD to the test? Just as Moses shows with his own life, they are to be the servants of God, so they are to be servants of God as well. And, when there is no water, they are to bring their concern to God, not in a demanding way, but in a trusting, servant way to see what God decides to do, just like Moses. Just like Jesus who said, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me.” (John 4:34) And, Jesus calls us to follow him, to live the life of a servant.
We’re not so familiar with servants these days, but servants are people who serve a Master or Mistress. Servants live in the same house as the Master. They came under his or her roof, live there, eat there, paid there in exchange for doing what the Master asks them to do. They aren’t responsible for the decisions. They’re simply to do as they are told. That is the function of a servant.
What do you think would happen if we took on the same mind-set of a servant as Moses, or as Jesus? Any difference in how we would live? I bet it would change the way we live. For instance, it would lessen our anxieties. A member of the church staff came to me on a Friday afternoon. Not one, but two local TV stations had called to see if they could come that Easter Sunday and film footage of the service. The Senior Pastor wasn’t there. The other associates were not there either. I was the one left to make the decision. I had been on staff exactly four weeks. I had no idea how the congregation would react to having, not just one but two TV cameras in the sanctuary. I didn’t know if this was the first time
TV cameras were filming in a worship service. Here’s the one thing I did know. I wanted the Senior Pastor to walk through the door so he could decide, not I. I said yes, but I worried that whole week-end, wondering what would happen on Sunday. It turned out neither station came. I worried because I was the one responsible.
We think of ourselves as in charge, if not in an official way, at least in charge of our own lives. We consider ourselves responsible for what happens. No wonder we worry. Ah, but if we would change our understanding to that of a servant of Jesus Christ, then we are no longer in charge. God becomes the One responsible. We don’t have to worry what will happen or how things will turn out. Just like a servant, we show up to receive our directions. We carry them out, and we give the responsibility to the Lord. Moses was out front, leading the people, but when they camped, he was in the tent of the Tabernacle, seeking guidance from God, asking for instructions, because he was God’s servant. When a worry comes our way, we bring it to the Lord. We ask for guidance, direction and help and we pray about it and pray about it and keep praying about it until we can give the worry up to God, until we can say, “God, this is too much for me” – just like Moses. “You tell me what I am to do.” We transfer the responsibility for the outcome from ourselves to God. God is our Master. We know we have made the transfer and have gained the understanding that we are servants when we have an inner peace about the issue. We’re not praying to get peace; but inner peace is one signal that we have given the responsibility for the outcome over to the Lord. We are God’s servant.
Gaining this understanding of being God’s servant makes an impact on our anxieties. It makes an impact on our defensiveness as well. There are several reasons why we get defensive. For instance, we get defensive:
Maybe our pride gets nicked. I’m cooking hamburgers at the barbeque and you comment on the hamburgers, “What are you serving up there Cliff, hockey pucks?” It would be easy enough to get defensive and say, “Yeah, well at least I’m not the one sitting around criticizing those who are working.” But, if we consider ourselves God’s or Christ’s servant, than why do we try to make ourselves as least as good as others if not better? Self pride will always be self-defeating because there are always others who are better, smarter, richer than we. Why not leap over self-pride and rest in our connection to our Master? As one saint from an earlier generation used to say, “I am a son of the King!” And, you know what that makes us when we are a son or daughter of the King; a prince, or princess! So, write in the sermon notes section on page 3 of the announcement insert next to pride, “Christ lifts me up. I am a son or daughter of the King!” (and put an exclamation mark at the end)
There are times when we defend our self esteem, trying, by our words and actions to prove we are a worth-while person. We back the car out of the garage and tear off the side view mirror. When we tell someone, the person replies, “That was dumb of you.” It would be easy to defend ourselves, perhaps by attacking the other person. You know what they say; the best defense is a good offense. We feel like responding that way because we think that what we do shows our value. But, when we see ourselves as servants of God, then our self-esteem comes, not from our actions, but from God. After all, God SO loved each one of us, that He gave up his only Son – for us! We are greatly valued! In the notes, let’s remind ourselves of this by writing, after self-esteem, “Christ died for me!” (and put an exclamation mark at the end)
How about those occasions when we try to correct another’s opinion of ourselves, so they will think well of us, or at least, not badly of us, as when the young man said he wouldn’t steal my cell phone that fell out of my pocket? From a servant point of view, who cares what other’s think? What matters only is what our Master thinks. As the apostle Paul says it so well, “It is before (our) own master that (we) stand or fall.” (Romans 14:4) Our aim is to please God, not others. After the words in the sermon notes that say, others’ opinion, put down, Christ is my master (and put an exclamation mark at the end)
Then, we come to the category of escaping responsibility. Uggh! That’s a hard one. How many times do we try to duck and run from blame by defending ourselves. “My hands were wet from doing all the dishes and they slipped when I picked up your great-great grandmother’s china serving dish and it broke. “Yes, the report is late, but my computer’s internet access was down over the week-end,” or “You should have seen the traffic.” Our excuses can be a mile long. Here’s another way to look at it. We are servants of the living God. Christ, give me courage to say the truth and face the consequences.
So, who’s servant will we be? The servant of others’ opinions, or of our own pride, or the servant of the living God, who lifts us up with dignity and gives us courage to live for Him? The world is watching, looking for those strong enough not to be defensive, or passing the blame or complaining, but truthful, honest, courageous servants of Christ. God give us all strength! Amen.
All who follow Christ are called to be Christ’s servants. I ask those who have been called and elected to be Elders and Deacons to come forward in response to this word, as we sing. And, if you are an Elder, whether currently on Session or not, I invite you forward to sit in the front pews so that after the vows are given, you may lay your hands on the new Elders and Deacons. Shall we sing.
Sermon Notes in Bulletin
Pride – I’m good enough (or better than you) – Christ lifts me up (I am a son of the King)
Self-esteem – (I am a worth-while person) - Christ died for me
Others’ opinion – (I am worthy of your respect) – Christ is my master
Escape responsibility – (I should not be blamed) – Christ gives me courage to face the truth