1. GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
Exodus 1:21 - "And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them."
Because of the exploding Israelite population, the midwives were instructed to do something evil (i.e., murder), but they feared God more than Pharaoh and did what was right. What a good example for us today! It is still the case that those who obey God will be blessed and those who disobey Him will be cursed (cf. Deut. 28). Concentrate on pleasing the LORD (cf. Acts 5:29), and things will work out for the best.
2. GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES.
Exodus 3:8 - "So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites."
Although over 400 years had passed since the giving of the promise to Abraham, God's word had not changed. He had promised to give them the great land of Canaan and He was actively working to fulfill that promise at precisely the right time by first freeing the Israelites from bondage. God keeps His word, but we must be patient and trust in the Lord and His timing, especially when it feels as if He is "late" (cf. II Pet. 3:8,9).
3. IF GOD HAS A WORK FOR US TO DO, HE WILL HELP EQUIP US FOR IT.
Exodus 4:1-5:
"Then Moses answered and said, 'But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, "The LORD has not appeared to you."' So the LORD said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' He said, 'A rod.' And He said, 'Cast it on the ground.' So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Reach out your hand and take it by the tail' (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 'that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.'"God had big plans for Moses as a mediator and deliverer, yet Moses initially resisted quite strongly. Moses had concerns about his ability to convince the people but God removed every obstacle. He answered Moses' questions and gave him the necessary power. God won't expect you to do something that you cannot do. He will give you the tools to succeed!
4. GOD WILL ONLY PUT UP WITH OUR EXCUSES FOR SO LONG.
Exodus 4:14 - "So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: 'Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well...'"
Moses had questioned and balked at God's command five times during their conversation at the burning bush. God was tired of it and became angry. Moses got the point and stopped making excuses and started obeying. What about us? Are we making excuses in our lives for things God has instructed us to do? It's easy to talk ourselves out of doing the Lord's will when it is difficult or makes us uncomfortable, but friends, God's patience has a limit!
5. IF YOU WANT TO LEAD OTHERS TO DO GOD'S WILL, YOU MUST FIRST BEGIN WITH YOURSELF & YOUR OWN FAMILY.
Exodus 4:24-26 - "And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses' feet, and said, 'Surely you are a husband of blood to me!' So He let him go. Then she said, 'You are a husband of blood!'--because of the circumcision."
Apparently Moses had failed to circumcise one his sons as was commanded of him. How could Moses lead Israel if he wasn't leading faithfully in his own family? God would not allow Moses to be a hypocrite, so He forced the issue and the matter was resolved. Hypocrites tell others what to do and then they do something different themselves. Good leaders are consistent in their words and deeds at every level.