Sunday Sermon: Moses, Now Go!
“10Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.”
Anniversary Sundays are significant for any church—they offer us an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness in the past and look forward to His plans for the future. Let us give thanks to God for these 19 years of His guidance and grace.
In light of this anniversary, I want us to reflect on the story of Moses and the Exodus, a journey that began with an encounter with God. In Exodus chapter 3, God appears to Moses through the burning bush and calls him to deliver the Israelites from oppression in Egypt. God says, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry." Yet, when God calls Moses to this monumental task, Moses hesitates, pleading with God to send someone else. Moses' reluctance stemmed from two major reasons—his difficult past in Egypt, where he had been rejected by both the Egyptians and the Hebrews, and his personal fear of public speaking.
I can relate to Moses' feelings of inadequacy. Moses was an outsider who struggled with identity issues, much like many of us who have faced cultural differences, identity crises, and the fear of not belonging. When God called me to ministry, I, too, felt inadequate. I was introverted, shy, and uncomfortable with public speaking. Being a 1.5 generation immigrant, neither my Korean nor my English was perfect. Like Moses, I asked God to send someone else. But God reassured me, just as He reassured Moses, saying, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say."
What is remarkable is that God uses our weaknesses to accomplish His purposes. Moses felt unqualified to confront Pharaoh, yet God chose him to lead His people out of Egypt. Likewise, when God calls us to do His work, it’s not about our abilities; it's about His power working through us. As 1 Corinthians 1:27 states, God chooses the foolish and weak things of the world to shame the wise and the strong. He does not leave us alone but provides help along the way, just as He sent Moses' brother, Aaron, to assist him. God has placed people in our lives and in this church who are here to help us fulfill our calling.
As we celebrate 19 years of this church’s ministry, let us remember that it is God who started this work. Despite our weaknesses, God calls each one of us to join in building His kingdom. Let us also recognize the people around us, our "Aarons," who support us in this journey of faith. As we reflect on the past, we also look to the future with hope, trusting that God will continue to do incredible things through this church.
Let us pray: Father God, we thank You for Your faithfulness over the past 19 years. As we look back on Your goodness, help us to move forward with faith and hope. Thank You for calling us, despite our weaknesses, to be part of Your redemptive work. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)