C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR APRIL 2 & 9, 2023 : LESSON SIX, TOPIC – UNCOMMON GRACE IN MOSES’ MINISTRY

THEME: Some Characters WHO GROW in the Grace and KNOWLEDGE

January to June, 2023

Unit Two: Spiritual Growth Before Christ Came

April 2 & 9, 2023

LESSON SIX

TOPIC: UNCOMMON GRACE IN MOSES’ MINISTRY

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say (Exodus 4:12)

The special grace of God was enjoyed by Moses. The gracious God released the assignment at hand. God is still doing that today.

BRIEF COMMENT

Moses was a child of circumstance. Rather, he was a child of destiny prepared and sent by God to fulfil specific purpose for Him (cf. Eph. 1:4). The divine patronage he enjoyed as a servant of God, in spite of the hostile environment in which he operated, was enough proof that he received uncommon grace for ministry. Right from when God called and commissioned him, and throughout the period of his impactful and fulfilled ministry, it was a manifestation of great wonders and uncommon grace.

Upon sensing God’s call in his life, Moses put up an objection of the fact that he was slow on speech (v. 10). But God’s answer was clear, direct, and provided additional proof of His sovereignty: Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth… (Exod. 4:12). As the Creator of all things, mankind inclusive, God gives the abilities needed to function effectively, including the ability to speak eloquently (v. 11). So Moses needed not to create issues with his slowness in speech, because His Maker and Sender will help and give him an interpreter in Aaron, his blood brother. That was another wonderful work of God’s grace!

Later on, it was recorded for Moses that he was ‘powerful in speech’ (Acts 7:22). Moses undoubtedly enjoyed God’s presence and enablement beyond what man can fathom. God is still in the business of pouring His powerful and unlimited grace upon His people, who are available and cooperating with Him. You can be the next person to enjoy God’s uncommon, exceeding and unlimited grace, provided you cooperate with the God of grace. He will not only be with your mouth, He will guide you wherever you go. Grace in action!

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK ONE

Mon. Mar. 27: For With God, There Is No Impossibility (Exod. 4:3-4)

Tue. Mar. 28: Flesh And Blood Cannot Do This (Exod. 4:6-7)

Wed. Mar. 29: Faith Does The Impossible (Exod. 4:9)

Thur. Mar. 30: Faith And Obedience Produce Great Results (Exod. 7:10)

Fri. Mar. 31: Fear Not Before The Adversary (Exod. 7:20)

Sat. Apr. 1: Follow God’s Order For Performance (Exod. Exod. 8:6)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

1. God’s grace offers mentorship and encouragement to those He wants to develop as leaders.

2. God’s grace offers mentorship and encouragement to those God wants to develop and use as leaders of His people. Cooperate with Him for the special abilities that are exclusively His.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:37.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

AIM: To help learners discover and tap into the uncommon grace found in Moses’ ministry.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, learners should have:

i. been able to tell who Moses was, and what God used him to do;

ii. understand and be able to explain the uncommon grace of God in his ministry;

iii. been able to mention the involvement of God’s grace in the life and work of Moses; and

iv. become thirstier and more desirous of God’s uncommon grace in their lives and ministry.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCES: Exodus 4-15; 25:1ff; 35:4-29; 36:3-7; 36-40:30

Glory to God in the highest; His grace saw us through the length and breath of lesson five, titled, JACOB’S SONS AND HOW THEY FARE UNDER GRACE. It had been established that whatever we are, is a function of grace, not our human efforts. May we therefore receive grace to appreciate God and accord all the honour to Him alone, for all we are, and would become, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

UNCOMMON GRACE IN MOSES’ MINISTRY is the topic under consideration in this current lesson. Overwhelmed by the enormity of the task he had been given, Moses doubted his ability to perform it. This resulted in an amazing dialogue between Moses and God, as Moses frankly admitted his inability and fear about what God wanted him to do. God, on His part, graciously encouraged His servant and gave him the assurance he would need if he was to be equal to the mission entrusted to him. Exchanges like these ones suggest the meaning of: The Lord would speak to Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks with his friend (Exod. 33:11). That is uncommon grace!

With the uncommon grace unleashed on Moses, he went on to extenuate Pharaoh’s power right in his own domain, led God’s people out of Egyptian bondage and stirred them up in making donations for, and the actual building of the tabernacle.

As we study on, may our lives, homes, ministries and vocations be laden with same uncommon grace, to record undeniable spectacular feasts for the glory of God, through Christ Jesus, in Jesus’ name

Amen.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION:

This lesson is divided into two broad division further subdivided into parts A and B.

DIVISION I: IN LEADING THE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT

This division discusses God’s grace at work in an unprecedented manner, as it manifested in the ministry of Moses. How Pharaoh, his people and power were mitigated, and how the people of God were graciously led out of Egypt are some of the issues raised here.

DIVISION II: IN BUILDING THE TABERNACLE

In this second division, we shall see how grace motivated the people’s giving, and how same grace gave the workers needed skills in building the tabernacle.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. IN LEADING THE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT

A. EXTENUATES PHARAOH’S POWER

B. LEADS THE PEOPLE OUT, BY GRACE

II. IN BUILDING THE TABERNACLE

A. GRACE MOTIVATES THE PEOPLE’S GIVING

B. GRACE GIVES THE WORKERS NEEDED SKILLS

LESSON EXPOSITION

April 2: I. IN LEADING THE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT (Exodus 4-15)

Leading people is very tasking. It takes a special grace of God to be a good leader who will be able to lead the people from where they are, to their destination. This will not be without strong opposition, even from the led and external forces. Are you a leader? Ask for the grace of God to lead the people into their God-given destiny. Moses graciously led his people out of the den of Pharaoh by the powerful hand of God. Grace does not only deliver but also leads and settles His people, causing them to rejoice after a seemingly terrible experience.

A. EXTENUATES PHARAOH’S POWER (4:1-12:32)

For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aarons rod swallowed up their rods (7:12).

i. 7:9: Pharaoh would demand a sign. God knew and had instructed His servants to throw down Aaron’s rod that would turn to a snake before the ruler, which they did. God’s gracious power did it.

ii. Pharaoh immediately summoned his magicians to tackle God’s servants by turning their own staffs into snakes, only for Aaron’s snake to devour the magicians’ — an ominous sign for Pharaoh’s court (7:8-13). ‘Power pass power’!

iii. vv. 7:8: Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, demanding that he freed God’s people from slavery. God graciously confirmed their message with miracles.

iv. 7:14-22: God permitted Pharaoh’s magicians to duplicate the miracles on some of the occasions. They thought they could match YAHWEH (Eccl

8:11). They soon realised their foolishness.

v. 8:1ff: God allowed them to replicate the first and second plagues, but shamed them afterall, so much that they acknowledged they were witnessing the finger of God (v. 19), thus conceding victory to God’s grace (cf. Acts 16:16-18).

vi. 8:16-19: They were eventually completely floored by grace (9:22-26; 10:21-23), until the last straw that broke the Camel’s back (12:29-30). God’s grace beat Pharaoh black and blue right in his own backyard! God’s power is great enough to defeat both man’s connivance and Satan’s power with ease.

vii. 12:32: …bless me also… Pharaoh relented at last, humbly admitting Moses’ access to supernatural powers not available to him. When grace gives you victory, your enemies are bound to bow!

viii. Reliance on God’s grace neutralises the enemies and their arsenal. You must trust in the grace of God for unstoppable divine interventions.

B. LEADS THE PEOPLE OUT, BY GRACE (12:34-15:22)

And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to by day and night (13:21).

i. 12:34-36: When the Egyptians discovered all of their eldest children dead, Pharaoh, not only permitted the Israelites to leave, but also chased them out. But the Egyptians gave them wonderful and relevant provisions as they rushed them out. Grace worked for them.

ii. v. 37: The Israelites comprised about 600,000 men, aside women and children. They had remarkable grown from 70 people, in 430 years. Grace grows and blesses God’s people.

iii. 14:5ff: As they took off, Pharaoh suddenly realized he was losing his ‘work-force’, and as a result, he sent his army after the grace-carrying God’s people, and caught up with them at the Red Sea.

iv. 14:19: See grace in action for God’s people. First, God’s angel separated the enemies from God’s people with a dark cloud. Then, grace split the sea in two for God’s people to walk through on dry land (vv. 21,22).

v. v. 23: Grace saved God’s people from the enemy who tried to recapture them (cf. v. 30). That same grace led God’s people into Sinai on the way to the Promised Land (15:22). Whosoever messes with God’s grace does that to his own doom.

vi. With the grace of God in, and upon you, you cannot be hooked down, hindered or resistencia, because He that is working behind the curtain of your life is mighty and marvellous. He is God Almighty, who led His people out of the den of Pharaoh. Praise His name.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. No power can stand before, or resist God’s power; seek it, and remain glued to Christ in obedience.

2. God can lead, or deliver His children who trust in Him out of any challenge they may find themselves; learn to invite Him into your situations.

WORK TO DO

How can God’s uncommon grace work for you as a believer?

SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO

* Having understood that grace is God’s ability in man to do what ordinarily he would not have been able to do, then, to get God’s grace to work for us, as believers, is one of very crucial issues in life.

* First and foremost, you need to know the source of grace, which is God (Deut. 6:1-5).

* You need to cooperate and align with Him (Exod. 20:1ff)

* Also, belief in grace of God, which will work for you (Jn. 14:1-3)

* You must have unflinching trust and unwavering confidence in God, the source of grace.

* Be humble before God and maintain total submission to His authority (Jam. 4:7).

* You cannot afford to take grace of God in vain, and/or reject it (2 Cor. 6:1; Heb. 2:3).

* Endeavour to run for sin and resist the devil (Heb. 12:4; Jam. 4:7).

* Those who abuse God’s grace will never be profited by the grace.

* So, ask the Holy Spirit to help you do those things that will make His grace work for, and in your life.