Ready or Not

Sermon Notes
“Ready or Not”
Exodus 33:12-23
Rev. Dr. David Hutchinson
Sunday, October 16, 2011

This sermon was preached as an improvisation, and so there is no manuscript. There was a recording made. And these are the notes from which I preached that day.


Why did God refuse Moses?
    God refused Moses’ request to see God’s face.
    Moses wanted to see God.
Why did Moses ask?
    Because Moses felt inadequate
    Moses didn’t feel ready
Maybe God’s refusal was a way to get Moses ready in a different way.
    Maybe God’s refusal was God’s yes.

Emily Dickinson Poem
    “Tell the truth but tell it slant…”
Shema
    Why do Jewish people cover eyes when they say it?
    Why do we bow heads when we pray?
    To concentrate
    So why was Moses hidden in the cleft of rock?
   
Some things we understand right away
    Other things take time…concentration

Boy going to kindergarten
    Mother wakes him on second day…

God does not want to brush Moses off, or disrespect Moses
    Nor us…
    But some things take time

Some things you are NEVER ready for…IF by ready you mean:
    Technical prowess

Me and jazz
    At some point you just have to be you and play

Other examples
    Church
        Mission
            Ministry
                Stewardship
                    The pain in the world
                        Injustice
    At some point….got to commit

It’s not about ready in the sense of ability
   
The question is:
    Is God WITH you?
    Are YOU with God?
   
Read Ex vs. 14-16
    “my PRESENCE will go with you”

Gene Lees and Dizzy Gillespie
    Story…
    “Aztec suite”, then another song

    Gene and Dizzy supposed to play together
    Gene said “no way”, “I’m not ready”
        “I’m not good enough”
    But Dizzy restored relationship   
        Got the crowd off the dazzle…connected people

It’s not about being technically ready
    It’s about
        Is God with you?
        Are you with God?
        Are with one another?
            That’s it

            Because then…if we are…then
                Then we will dazzle
                That IS the truth…
                    Then…….