Sermon Snippet – Second Fiddle
INTRODUCTION – I have often spoken of my affinity for the secondary characters in Scripture. God, of course, is always the primary character in the Bible (the protagonist), and our focus should rightly be upon Him and His work. Last week, we studied Moses, certainly a major individual in the history of Israel and in the plan of God. Surrounding Moses were people whose stories are not as detailed. I find the glimpses of these lives to be intriguing and especially relatable.
1. GOD CARED ABOUT A GODLY COUPLE
Piecing Scripture together (including Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59), we learn that the unnamed husband and wife in Exodus 2:1 were Amram and Jochabed. Their defiance of Pharaoh’s vile decree (Exodus 1:22) illustrates strong faith. Jochabed’s name means “YAHWEH her glory,” and she certainly lived up to that descriptive appellation. Her careful plan (Exodus 2:2-10) is a superb exposition of Acts 5:29b: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We can imagine the feelings of this couple as they watched the floating basket carrying their beloved infant son drift down the river; the first day of school is hard enough for us! Their forward-thinking faith is a sterling example to all believers.
2. GOD CARED ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL
Miriam is also unnamed in this passage (we learn her name in Exodus 15:20 – eighty years later!). This plucky little girl steps up and speaks to one of the most important and powerful people in Egypt (Pharaoh’s daughter dared to defy his order!). There is power – real moral and spiritual power, great power – in the truth, in doing what is right. Isaiah 7:9b in the New International Version says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” This youngster stood firm and tall, setting an admirable example for young and old.
3. GOD CARED ABOUT AN ELDERLY MAN
When Moses objected that he was not a gifted speaker (Exodus 4:10), God rightly rebuked him (verses 11-13) but also provided a remedy – Aaron, the older brother of Moses (verses 14-16). How did Aaron develop his eloquence? Unlike Moses, he was not educated and trained in Pharaoh’s court. In fact, like the rest of the Israelites, he was a slave. God took Aaron’s natural speaking ability (a gift from God, no doubt) and sanctified it for this specific purpose. At this time, Aaron was eighty-three years old. His life of public service was just beginning; soon, he would be consecrated as the high priest of Israel. When Jesus said on the Cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He was speaking about His salvific work, not our usefulness! It may have seemed that Aaron was playing second fiddle, but second fiddle in God’s orchestra is a grand place to be! I Corinthians 12:12-31 is a deeply rewarding discourse on this subject of how we fit into God’s glorious plan.
4. GOD CARED ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
God had many reasons to free the enslaved Israelites, including the keeping of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would return the Jewish people to their land, and in so doing He would provide a powerful testimony to Egypt and to all the surrounding nations. Later, of course, He would fulfill the prophecy of a Messiah for all of us, a Savior born of the line of Judah and born in the land of Israel, specifically in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). There are other compelling reasons as well, including God’s essential compassion (Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-9). God is not a God of slavery. Rather, He is the God of freedom: “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (II Corinthians 3:17).
CONCLUSION – II Timothy 1:7 assures us that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [self-discipline].” Do not be afraid to call upon Jesus as Savior; the everyday lives of these ordinary people remind us that He cares about all of us and wants to save each of us for eternity. As His people, we do not need to be timid. Instead, we can be ordinary people with extraordinary power to love and to labor.