Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jan 21st, 2017 Don’t Rock The Boat – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Exodus 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible

(Second Milers also read – Mark 13 – 14; Proverbs 21; Psalms 101 – 105

Read the “0121 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.” (Exodus 5:20-23)

Good morning. Most of us have heard the saying: Don’t Rock The Boat. Usually at work, when something good is happening. Don’t rock the boat: you don’t want to spoil the good thing happening. And truthfully, the only one who has time to rock the boat is the one who is not paddling. Moses was just carrying out God’s orders. In the eyes of Israel, he was rocking the boat. They said that it was Moses’ fault that there was a riff between God’s people and Pharaoh with his people. This riff would continue even as they left Egypt…

“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:10-12)

But if Moses did not rock the boat, Israel would still be working as slaves down in Egypt. God was answering their cries for help by sending Moses. And Moses rocked the boat. The problem appears to be a lack of belief. God was answering their prayers and they did not know it. God sent plagues to force Egypt to let Israel go. When they thought it was all over, either Pharaoh’s wrath or drowning in the Red Sea, God supplied a third option. Israel watched as the Lord parted the sea, and caused Israel to pass through the midst of the sea on dry ground. They followed God for a while, but when there was no water they complained. When there was no meat, they complained. When Jesus came, they didn’t even recognize their Messiah. They thought that Jesus would defeat the Romans and set up the Kingdom. But Jesus rocked the boat in revealing their sins, and their need for a Saviour.

Are you a boat rocker? There are people all over who are walking through life oblivious to their coming destruction. Are you going to rock their boats and wake them up? Are you going to let them row over the waterfall that leads to the lake of fire? God is rocking your boat. Jesus said…

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John15:1-2)

Jesus also commanded…

“…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

You need to get the Gospel out. Whatever you do… DO rock their boat.

Peace.