$45,000 – That’s the estimated cost most people will pay in 2021 to try to summit Mt. Everest. Approximately 800 people per year attempt to add their names to the 4,000 successful climbers of the tallest peak in the world. None of them wants their name added to 300 (10%) who have died trying. Forty-five grand seems pretty cheap compared to several recent ventures by civilians into space. For a 15-minute ride to the edge of space and back with Virgin Galactic, you’ll pay between $250K for coach and $500K for first class. After last week’s successful flight of Inspiration 4 with four civilian crew members, people are lining up to go on future flights. Three days of orbital experience for only… are you ready for this? $40 million each!
What drives people to do the “impossible” and “outlandish”? For many it’s a sense of accomplishment. Others just seek fame and notoriety. But I think all of us understand the good feeling of doing something you thought you couldn’t do. Maybe it’s the rush of overcoming a fear that has stopped you in the past, or finishing a task that you never thought you could complete.
What if God were asking you to do something you thought was impossible? I’m not talking about some meaningless self-gratifying adventure, or an accomplishment for personal advancement or accolades. I’m talking about fighting the injustice of slavery for the people of God while facing your own serious identity crisis, with serious doubts about who God is. Oh, and, by the way, doing so while going up against the most powerful ruler of the most powerful nation in the world.
Welcome to the world of Moses. This week we’ll take a look at the four excuses Moses gives as to why it was “impossible” to do what God is asking. This Old Testament “hero” certainly had a slow start on the journey of faith and needed quite a bit of guidance from God to keep moving! But move he did, sometimes just one step at a time!
Got any excuses you’ve been telling yourself and God? Of course you do and so do I. We all can learn from God’s four answers to Moses’ doubts. God is ready to help you courageously serve Him in a way you were sure you never could. Read ahead in The Story Chapter 4, Exodus 1 to 17. Next week we get to see “Part Two” of Moses’ life in Chapter five of The Story – Exodus 19 to 40.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday at 10:45am either indoors or outside. (You can also watch service online on this webpage.) Remember you can join us on Sunday night at 6:30 pm in the quad for small group discussions on The Story, too!
In Christ,
Kurt
P.S. This Sunday we’ll celebrate communion. Read Exodus 12:1-14 and Mark 14:12-25 to understand the context and huge importance of the Passover. It’s a story of deliverance and redemption in Moses’ day, for Jesus and the disciples, and for us TODAY!