Shabbat shalom, chaverim, and welcome to another unscheduled sermon, because this message was Father's choice, not mine. It came about in two parts - first, by means of a shocking revelation which I will share at the end, and second, an insightful article by Pastor Oldfield of Calvary Independent Baptist Church in Post Falls, Idaho, who like myself was raised an Anglican and whose encouraging message that I chanced upon spurred me on further and which I have liberally drawn from today, with much gratitude [1].

I'm calling today's word, Taking the Bull by the Horns, but there is an obvious slight of hand involved in that. The expression, to 'take the bull by the horns,' probably originated out in the Old American West in cattle country. Sometimes it was necessary for a cowboy to get up close and personal with a stubborn steer, not just in a rodeo, but in real life. And of course the phrase has since come to mean 'dealing head-on with some particular problem'.

'Grabbing the serpent's tail' may be similar in meaning, but it runs a bit deeper, coming not from life but from the Davar Elohim (Word of God). I am sure we have all read Exodus 4 many times. It has never occurred to me to delve deeper into these five verses, but I think it might be a real blessing to us if we do so today. So let's take a look at it verse by verse:

"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to me: for they will say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you'" (Ex.4:1).

When this conversation with Elohim (God) took place, Moses was standing barefooted before the burning bush. Yahweh was giving this 80-year-old man His commission to lead Israel out of Egypt. He had revealed Himself as "I AM THAT I AM (Heb. Ehyeh-Esher-Ehyeh - the Name the Father calls Himself)...this you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'." What an honour to be used by Elohim (God) - no matter what He is commissioning us to do. Our response should, like Samuel, be: "Speak, Master, for Your servant is listening." Or, "Master what would You have me do?"

But that was not Moses' response. "But, but, but…" Just five verses prior to chapter 4, Yahweh had said, "And they SHALL listen to your voice…" And still Moses "answers" Elohim/God, saying "But, behold, they will NOT believe me, nor listen to me." I hope you can see how applicable this is to all of us. How often do we talk back to Elohim (God)?

Many writers commenting on this verse try their best to tone down Moses' words. Some say he was only talking about the common people; the leaders would believe him, but not the rest. I suppose that some might reverse those two, because either way it is only conjecture. It's just guessing. Others explain this by saying, "Israel won't believe right away. What should I do to bring them around?" And some try to insert "a what if" into the equation. "But what if they don't believe me?"

Isn't the most honest interpretation of this verse that Moses is convinced they will not believe him? He probably remembers what happened forty years earlier when he tried to muster support after defending one of them from an Egyptian bully? "Who made you a prince and a judge over us?" There was no "what if" about it. "Behold, they will NOT believe me, nor listen to me." What he was really saying was, "I don't trust anyone in Israel to believe that You have spoken to me or commissioned me."

Notice what Moses was doing. He was transposing his worries, his unbelief, his excuses onto the backs of other people. He didn't have any right to say that Israel would not believe him, even if there was that likelihood. Moses was one of those 'the glass is half empty' people. He was pulling a potential problem from tomorrow into his faithless heart that day, as we all do from time to time. And it was ruining his fellowship with Yahweh. If we want to truly enjoy the fellowship of our Saviour, we need to squarely deal with our unbelief.

I think we have grounds to criticise Moses, but we must do so humbly, because he was no different from us. We can criticise or condemn Moses, because we know the end of the story. But we don't typically hold outselves to the same standards by which we judge others when we criticise ourselves, because we look through fleshly eyes and minds and can't see into the fog. "Father, it is going to end up in a disaster?" we typically ask. But ss that something we should ever try to tell the omnipotent Elohim (God) when He's given us a clear instruction and likely even told us the outcome?

Perhaps while looking askance (sideways) toward Moses, we need to praise him for his good example. To be sure, he lacked faith and obedience, but what did he do about his problem and his lack? Wasn't this essentially, "Master, I believe, help my unbelief" (Mk.9:24)? He took his problem to Yahweh for a solution. In a round about way, he at least admitted he had a problem, and he took it to the perfect place for resolution.

Next passage:

"And Yahweh said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' And he said, 'A staff (rod)" (Ex.4:2, NRSV).

Yahweh is so gracious; so understanding. "He will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smouldering wick until He brings justice to victory" (Mt.12:20, NRSV). Elohim (God) didn't even say, as we quite often do in our supposed great superiority, "What did I just tell you?" Exodus 3:18 says, "they will listen to your voice" (NRSV).

Notice that Yahweh didn't rebuke His servant, as He would have been perfectly justified in doing. He merely asked, "What is that in your hand?" Moses may have been still yattering away, but he was forced to stop. "What am I holding?" "Yahweh, as you can see it is my shepherd's staff. It is one of the tools I use to direct and help my sheep."

Now, of course, Yahweh didn't ask the question because He didn't know what it was. Elohim (God) doesn't ask questions like this in order to learn something. We see this time and time again, where Father asks similar questions. They are to make us focus. "Pay attention. I am going to use something you know very well, but in ways you have never seen before." "Look into that barrel, and notice how little oil or how little grain there is right now." "What is in that barrel? Water you say? Dip some of it out and take it to the governor of the feast" (Jn.2:1-11). Moses was holding a shepherd's crook, and it may have been a lot taller than he was, as is mine that I use to flush out the chickens when they run off and hide in the bushes.

That'll give you some idea of how long the creature he created out of it was:

"And (Yahwewh) said, Throw it on the ground. So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake (serpent); and Moses drew back (fled) from it" (Ex.4:3, NRSV).

That 6 to 8 foot-long rod became a snake (or a 'serpent' in the NKJV) when it hit the ground, and like I said, it was probably still 6 to 8 feet (4 cubits) in length. That is no small snake. And if it was a cobra, I think we could say that it was an exceptionally large serpent. Some cobras can even spit their poison with deadly accuracy; they don't have to strike their victims. I experienced one striking at me in South Africa some years ago when I was visiting a venom extraction farm...fortunately it was behind a sheet of glass or I wouldn't be here. That glass was covered in venom and had it got on my eyes it would have blinded me. So I wonder how far away from his body Moses tossed his staff? I probably wouldn't have tossed it very far. But no matter how far it was, it wasn't far enough for a man with bare feet to make a rapid exit. After 40 years on the back side of the desert, Moses must have been very familiar with the snakes of the region, just as I was growing up in Malaysia. This was probably as terrifying as anything Yahweh might have done.

At this point I am tempted to follow the example of the commentaries, but I'm going to restrain myself. Moses fled from a huge snake. But he didn't look down and picture the devilish serpent who beguiled Eve. I doubt that he immediately thought about the serpent-god of the Egyptians either, or that Pharaoh often used serpents to represent his power and authority. You're I'm sure aware that Pharaoh wore the uraeus or cobra's head on his crown for protection, raised up and ready to strike, and that it represented the goddess Wadjet, or that it represented his power and authority. I am sure that what happened to Pharaoh's magician's snake when it was swallowed by Moses' snake showed that Pharaoh's gods, authority and power were meaningless before Yahweh.

The important point I want to make for now is that it was a huge and deadly snake. It was no grass snake. While saying that, I will add that snakes are among the most feared of all creatures, and to look at this as a picture of our worst fear is not doing disservice to the text. Is anyone going to criticise Moses for jumping back and running a few steps from this monstrous thing? The snake is one of those archetypes I was telling you about recently [2].

Next verse:

"Then Yahweh said unto Moses, 'Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail' - so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand" (Ex.4:4, NRSV).

Why wasn't Moses bitten by this serpent? It was certainly within striking range. The herpetologist might say that the snake was initially disorientated, giving Moses a chance to escape. Someone else might point out that just because it was a snake, it might not have been venomous. But my uncle, who was a tea planter in Sri Lanka and told me all about that species, who had a close encounter with a cobra that nearly cost him his life, would have told you otherwise. Ordinarily if Moses had picked up a cobra by the tail, he would have been struck dead instantly, and he must have known that. The true answer to the question as to why Moses wasn't bitten is that Yahweh didn't want the serpent to strike; that was not its purpose in this situation. And the truth that we often miss is this: most of the problems in our lives are not there to kill us, but to strengthen us and push us closer to our Heavenly Father.

Obviously, there were two miracles going on that day: the supernatural creation of the serpent from the staff and then its disappearance back to a staff. You might say that one was a negative miracle, while the second was more positive. But both were under the complete control of Yahweh. The arrival of that cancer is no more out of Elohim (God's) will, or control, than its miraculous cure. Yahweh might permit some fool to start a wildfire, and Yahweh may send the rain just before that fire hits your house. The Creator is not some powerless idol. He is in sovereign control of all things. Ideally, Moses should have had as much confidence in grasping the serpent's tail as grabbing his old, familiar shepherd's rod.

If you have ever seen any wildlife documentaries you will know that the very worst place to grab a venomous serpent is by the tail. If a 3 foot-long arm grabs a 6 foot long snake by the tail, the more dangerous end of that snake will probably come swinging around toward you in just a second or two. The place to grab a live snake is where? Always by the neck! that is just behind the head. But Elohim (God) specifically told Moses to grab its tail. Maybe the poor creature was trying to slither away. Whether that was true or not, it was still not the logical thing to do. But the terrifying serpent, under the command of Elohim (God), instantly became a comforting and useful tool again. Think on that.

This may be a digression of sorts, but I think it is applicable so bear with me: Please turn to Acts 28 where Luke calls the people of Melita (modern Malta) a barbarous, but kind-hearted people. They were not godly or believers. When Paul was out gathering firewood in the midst of a storm, he was attacked by a poisonous viper:

"Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it in the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand" (Ac.28:3, NRSV).

It was not just a strike, but the venomous beast hung on his hand, pumping its poison into Paul's body. But Paul just shook the snake into the fire (v.5) and went about his business without showing any ill effects. Immediately the idolatrous people thought that Paul must have been a criminal, but when nothing happened their opinion changed: "This man must be some sort of god" (v.6). Through that event, an opportunity was given to present the gospel to Publius, the governor of the island. The important point is this: The snakes of life, when surrendered by us and submitted to Yahweh, can bring about eternal blessings.

Last verse:

"That they may believe that Yahweh, the Elohim (God) of their fathers (ancestors), the Elohim God of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has appeared to you" (Ex.4:5, NRSV).

Was there anyone present that day beside Moses? Were there any witnesses to this pair of miracles? Yes, remember that there was a similar miracle in Pharaoh's palace, when Aaron's rod was cast down and became a serpent, but then so did the rods of Pharaoh's priests, albeit Aaron's then devoured the others. But that miracle certainly didn't impress Pharaoh and apparently no Israelites were present. Remember verse 1 - "And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, or listen to me: for they will say, Yahweh hath not appeared to you." How could this private miracle, miles from any of the people of Israel, help Israel to believe Elohim (God) or Moses?

Understand that Yahweh had no intention of turning Israel into a democratic nation, something most Westerners have problems grasping. Elohim's (God's) proper government is a theocracy, where He is King, not a democracy; Yahweh is in charge. When Korah decided he'd like to have as much power as Moses, he was spectacularly judged by Yahweh (Num.16:1-40). The Creator of the Universe had chosen Moses to be the Prime Minister or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in His theocratic kingdom, just as He will call Torah-obedient, Messiah-trusting, overcoming believers to be kings and governors over the nations and their provinces in the Millennium. But after stumbling decades years earlier and aimlessly meandering for forty years, Moses had become unfit for effective leadership and was replaced by Joshua to head the second generation.

How did Elohim/God encourage the faith and obedience of Israel? By strengthening His chosen leader, Moses. Israel needed a lieutenant-governor who could trust Yahweh during the coming days of trial and testing. The wrath of Pharaoh is going to be as scary as a 6 to 8-foot cobra. "Moses, can you trust Elohim/God to defeat that snake?" The impassable Yam Suf (Red Sea) is going to be as daunting as a mountain range in a blizzard. "What is that in your hand, Moses? Your old shepherds rod? Hold it up and watch the waters part to the right and left." "Are you hungry, Israel? Have you ever eaten rattlesnake? I will take care of you," Yahweh says. When Moses becomes the commander Elohim (God) wants him to be - in character, emunah (faith) and submission - the people of Israel will be the people He wants them to be. That's the way it works in Father's Kingdom.

None of us have to be a Moses, a Joshua, or a Paul to learn the lessons of faith. We all have serpents coming into our lives, even at the command of Yahweh. Think about that. If, at the command of the omnipotent, all-powerful Creator, we grab their tails, each and every one of them can become instruments of righteousness for the glory of our Saviour. And we will become leaders worthy of guiding our families, our friends, or our nation toward our Heavenly Father and so accomplish the Kingdom tasks He has given us.

As I have set about attempting to tie all the loose ends of unfinished instructions together for my successor, including revelations that cannot be published in my own time, I have come across some pretty enormous challenges in my life that have nearly stopped me altogether. I am going through a major health one right now as you know. And the greatest of these challenges, I discovered only the other day, was my own FEAR caused by a LACK OF FAITH.

I haven't got much done at all over the past few months because of my ever worsening condition, a reason the website is far from complete still. Doubts have crowded my mind as I have had to stare death in the face several times. Every doubt under the sun has rushed forward in an attempt to consume me. And, yes, I have even doubted my salvation once or twice. It's an old story. All of us go through it and have to make some fundamental choices. That's why I told you two weeks ago [3] we need to closely examine our foundations. I know mine very well now and self-doubt only let me go so far. I got as far as the resurrection and my retreat was halted abruptly.

A few days ago, on 29 May 2025, I had a vision that had me crying out in terror. You see, I saw, crouching in the corner of my room, not two feet away from my bed, a dark grey giant with horns on his head crouching on the ground. My feet were on fire with pain.

I knew upon coming fully to that what I was looking at was my own, naked, raw FEAR, and that the Enemy had weaponised it against me. That's what he does best, doesn't he? I knew what the Enemy was doing and I knew what to do. I metaphorically 'took the bulls by the horn', which is the title of today's sermon, owned the fear as legitimately being mine instead of running away from it - fear caused by doubt - confessed it, then dealt with it by proclaiming my faith in Christ and disowning that beast along with it's demon-handler, and turned around. It does no good to vacilate, postpone or draw back, does it?

We have to overcome our fleshy instincts to flee or to go for the easy option, and do one better than latter-day American cowboys of the Wild West. We're going to do what the ancient Minoans of Crete did, men and women alike. What did they do? When faced by an angry bull, they seized its horns and then somersaulted over the bull's head, leanding with their feet on the bull's back, and then leaping and somersaulting one more time to land on the ground behind the confused bull, to then walk away.

When I made that decision, the fear instantly vapourised and that's when I sat down to prepare this talk for you. Which is greater? That which we fear in the world, whether our own sense of helplessness or actual confrontational adversaries, or the One who created the cosmos, and did for Moses and His other servants, of which Scripture boldly and emphatically testifies, and raised Yah'shua (Jesus) from the dead as He promises to do for us one day too? You know, I hope, the answer because resurrection power is available through the Ruach (Spirit). But if you don't yet know, I invite you to take the risk to find out by confronting your fear and fully puting your trust in Him.

That's where, as I said two weeks ago, you will find reality. Though there are some exceptions like John the Baptist who apparently was given a special gift in the womb (for we read He was filled with the Ruach haQodesh/Holy Spirit there and recognised the presence of the unborn Messiah in the womb of Mary, who was close by his mother Elizabeth - Luke 1:41-44), when it comes to faith, we are all on a level playing field. Even John the Baptist, the greatest of all the nevi'im/prophets according to Christ, had his doubts right at the end, you will remember).

So take the snake by the tail and turn it back into a staff, rod, toqef or sceptre of authority - the one you've been given by, and in, Christ, by your trusting in Him, your faith (and, if you are a godly wife and have been given a godly husband, grab your husband's sceptre of authority over you too) - that is to say, face the angry bull, take it by the horns, and either wrestle it to the ground like an American cowboy in the strength of the Almighty, as Jacob did at Peniel (Gen.32:22-32), or leap gracefully over it like an ancient Minoan and leave the bull - your baffled doubt and fear - behind for Yahweh to take care of, and MOVE ON facing YAH'SHUA/JESUS confidently to your dying breath!

May our ever true Heavenly Father, Yahweh-Elohim, bless you, may you find Him trustworthy, as you yield the reins of your life to Him. Trust Him with whatever big choices or journeys you have to make, through His well-beloved Son, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), our Saviour, Redeemer, Navi/Prophet, Guide and King. Go in shalom/peace and spiritual strength. Amen.

Endnotes

[1] K. David Oldfield, Taking the Bull By the Horns - Exodus 4:1-5
[2] The Fallen Female and Carl Jung
[3] Videos #SM156a & b, Right Spiritual Foundations & Critical Realism