The Way of Obedience

by Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.

Exodus 6:11-13, "Go in; and tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Isra'el leave his land." 12 Moshe said to ADONAI, "Look, the people of Isra'el haven't listened to me; so how will Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?" 13 But ADONAI spoke to Moshe and Aharon and gave them orders concerning both the people of Isra'el and Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt.”

Moshe wanted to disobey the L-rd because he wasn’t confident in his ability to speak to Pharoah or in his ability to lead Isra’el knowing they would not listen to him. Moshe was relying on his own ability missing initially that G-d had no intention for him to rely on his own ability but to rely on Him!

2 Corinthians 1:9, “In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead!”

Do not purpose in our flesh, but put our trust in G-d whose Word and Spirit will empower us to obey whatever He calls us to do.

G-d chooses those who are unable!

1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “Just look at yourselves, brothers - look at those whom God has called! Not many of you are wise by the world's standards, not many wield power or boast noble birth. 27 But God chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise; God chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the strong; 28 and God chose what the world looks down on as common or regards as nothing in order to bring to nothing what the world considers important; 29 so that no one should boast before God.”

G-d ignored Moshe’s excuses. How do I feel when G-d ignores my excuses?

1 Corinthians 15:58, “So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord's work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.”

Our obedience will not be in vain, but beware that our assignments may no always be outwardly successful.

Colossians 4:17, “And tell Archippus, "See that you complete the task you were given in the Lord."

The most important issue is not outward success but that we please G-d through our obedience!

You may be familiar with a poem by Robert Frost entitled The Road Not Taken. But the road we must be determined to take is the Way of Obedience! This Way will not be without peril nor will it be the Way of least resistance. In fact, we should expect peril and persecution. See 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29, and Philippians 3:10

Additional Reading: Exodus 6:6-13, Ezekiel 3:1-9, John 15:18-20, Romans 13:11-14, 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Colossians 4:17, Psalm 31:15, Philippians 3:8, Ephesians 3:18