Thursday, August 21, 2014
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I was at the headquarters of an international missionary radio ministry, and I was looking into creating a radio project and I needed a little help. I was told that I should speak with, let's just call him Chuck. Okay?
This man that they wanted me to speak with was a very interesting fellow. While discussing a project he would begin brainstorming. But he wasn't very good about keeping in touch once he headed off to do the project. In fact he literally sometimes could not be found! He didn't call in. He didn't communicate at all! This is exactly what they told me, "You'd hear nothing from him, and then suddenly he would reappear and the video is completely done." The gentleman that recommended him said, "You know, he just about drives you crazy, but we love what the guy produces."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Silent But Not Inactive."
Our word for today from the Word of God is in Exodus 12. I'll begin at verse 11. This is the story of the Jews who have been in Egyptian bondage now for over 400 years. They have been waiting a long time for God's deliverance. They have been through all kinds of discouragements and disappointments; plagues, Pharaoh saying, "No, you can't", "No, you can't", "Yes you can." And it looked like they were never going to get out. They were very discouraged.
They expressed their discouragement to Moses, and he had actually kind of gotten used to all these setbacks. But he knew that liberation was coming, but it was going to have to happen in a way only God could do it and in God's time. He said to them that "there's going to have to be a price to pay in order to be protected from the death penalty that is going to be assessed on Egypt. He said, "You are to slaughter this lamb, (That's the Passover, of course.) cover the doorposts with the blood and the angel of Death will pass over you."
Well, one night God said, "This is how you're going to eat this Passover meal: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover." All of a sudden God says, "Okay, things are going to happen fast. Eat it fast; there will not even be enough time for the bread to rise."
And then when you get to verse 33, He urges the people to hurry and leave the country. "'For otherwise,' they said, 'we will all die!' So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing." And then he says, "Let's get out of here."
Even God's people thought He wasn't going to come through, it had been so long. And then it happens in one night. It's like the man recommended to do my project. You weren't sure he was doing any work at all. Nothing seemed to be happening. You don't hear anything from him, and then bingo! Suddenly there's the final prize and you really love it.
Mary and Martha had to wait for Jesus to come for Lazarus. And while they were waiting, things got worse. He could have come sooner. He didn't. Lazarus died. Then Jesus came. Mary and Martha believed Jesus could heal a sick man, but He had a lot more in mind. He was going to raise a dead man. They had to wait for Jesus to do the powerful thing He was planning to do.
God might seem pretty silent where you are right now, and you've pondered, you've planted. Nothing seems to be happening and nothing seems to come through. You might need Exodus faith. Yes, something is happening, but you may not be able to see it.
When God is silent, He's getting the answer ready for you. Like the flowers, you say, "Oh, they just bloomed today!" You know what? They've been growing, some of them, for months under the ground. That's how it is with God. You can't see it, and then suddenly there it is. It may look to you like nothing is coming together. Oh, it's coming together. He will take you to a deeper level though and increase your faith in Him while you wait. Sometimes you may think He frustrates people and He just doesn't know what He's doing, and you're wondering if He's doing nothing.
He may be silent, but I assure you, your God is not inactive and you are going to love the finished product. It is worth the wait.