Welcome to
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Sunday, 14th April 2024

Rev. Daniel Xi An Poon

We may know clearly what God’s calling for us is, but things that happen to us make us want to give up this calling. When you fall into this temptation, we must start over. True starting over is not like re-formatting a computer. When we want to start over, we may fail again. Today God is giving us a good news that can help us to start over.

To start over, we must walk with God and not rely on other people or even the knowledge from the books. The only truth is the Holy Bible – the word of God is the only way to help us. If we do not walk with God, we are just following our own logic or other people.

Exodus chapter 32 it was recorded that Moses was so furious to see the Israelites had worshipped the golden calf that he cast and broke the two tablets of Testimony given by God. God did not punish Moses because he destroyed God’s work, but asked Moses to make another two tablets like the first ones (Exodus 34:1). Moses did not bargain with God, but just followed His instruction. If we only find other people’s problem, we will never start over.

1.Turn Back to God 回转转向神

When God created us, He said “very good”. When God asked Moses cut the tablets like before, He reminded Moses of their first encounter. When Moses first met God, he was completely humble, so God wanted Moses to turn back to his humbleness. A lot of times we feel that we are capable and think our rights have been violated, so we are angry with others, just like how Moses was when he broke the tablets. God wanted us to remember how humble we were before.

God asked Moses to come up to the mountain early in the morning, even before the sun rose (V2), without bringing anyone with him or having any livestock near the mountain (V3). When we start over, do not be occupied with our worldly tasks, but come with a pure heart before God. Do not rely on our old ways, but turn back to God.

2.Wait until God Stands with Us 等候直到神与我们一同站立

Very often after we pray or read the word God, we want to start doing things we have planned but are impatient to wait. But the truth is, when we fail the paper of patience, we can never start over. When we choose to follow God, we need to commit ourselves to do God’s will and not our own will. We may have a good plan, but where’s God’s word and His confirmation? We are eager to turn the old page away to jump to the new plan, but God reminds us to wait until He stands with us.

It is important to note that Moses was holding two tablets (V4). At that time a man needed to hold a staff as it could help them walk and guide the sheep, which also symbolised the authority given to him. When Moses was carrying the two heavy tablets when climbing up the mountain, he had first put away his own staff. When we want to start over, are we willing to put down our own right or what we used to rely on, and only take the word of God with us?

When we truly put away our own right and carry the word of God, we can be like Moses to experience God’s presence (V5). At that time, Moses saw only God but nothing else. Do not linger to what good life we had in Egypt, but remember God’s grace and power.

God gave the tablets of Testimony for Moses to teach the people of Israel. None of those people had truly seen God, and they only knew Moses, but when Moses smashed the tablets, he was only showing his own anger. God did not punish Moses for this, but told him who He really is: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…” (V6-7). Our father or other earthly authorities are all human beings and therefore misrepresent God, just like Moses showed the wrong image of God in front of the children of Israel. We may make lots of mistakes in the past, but as long as we are willing to return, we will see God is waiting for us. When we wait until God stands with us, we will see God’s mercy and He will show His way to us.

3.Confess and Repent, See the Work of God 认罪悔改 观看神的作为

After hearing God’s words, Moses immediately bowed down to God to confess and repent his sins (V8). Unlike people who tend to use punishments to deal with sinners, God showed kindness, love, and truth to Moses, because only mercy can save people. Finger-pointing or blaming cannot help us to start over, only mercy can do. Moses did not blame other Israelites or complain to God, but admit that he was part of the “we” who caused the problem.

When we start over, we are not making covenant with other people but with God only (V9). God wants to raise us up so the Gentiles can see the wonderful work of God.