“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

A young preacher asked an older, more seasoned preacher, ‘What should I speak about?’ The older man’s reply: ‘About God, and about 20 minutes!!’

Well, not everyone would agree with his thoughts about duration (and it does, in fact, take under a minute to read verses 6-8). But Moses certainly spoke about God.

More importantly, he spoke from God.

God was speaking through him.

At the end of our first term in Bible College, I was sent to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for two weeks of ministry experience. I went with a good friend and fellow-student, Billy Williamson, a Scots lad from Greenock. We were warmly welcomed into the church, and into the home of the ‘Elim’ pastor and his wife: Dennis and Ronaldine Phillips. Dennis passed on this piece of counsel about preaching, and I’ve never forgotten it: ‘Just give them what you’ve got.’ He was saying, ‘Don’t worry if it’s short; don’t get hung-up about the length. Just receive from the Lord, and then deliver it. Give them what you’ve got.’

Such as I have give I unto you!

Well, Moses had a word from the Lord.

But note that although the preacher needs to give what he or she has got, the congregation aren’t guaranteed to receive it: to believe and obey it. They won’t necessarily like it. As we will see tomorrow, this ‘church’ didn’t enjoy Moses’ sermon. No-one was likely to listen again online. They pushed the dinner plate full of good food away.

But here’s the important thing: Moses spoke what God gave him to say. He was faithful; and I suppose we could say the talk ‘went viral’, because it has been heard by innumerable people through the centuries, and we are still listening, and benefitting today.

Whether people believe His Word or not, God is powerful and God is able.

PRAYER: Lord, we pray for all who are called to preach your Word. May they hear from you, and loyally and courageously pass on whatever you give to them