A Look at God's Call to Service

Exodus 3:1-10

In Genesis 15:13-14 , God assures Abraham of His faithfulness to deliver his descendants (the Israelites) out from bondage in Egypt; that although what will befall them would last 400 years, God would deliver them.

“Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”

In looking back at the time we’ve spent in Exodus, everything we’ve read and learned together up to our verses today, in broad strokes and in the details, God’s sovereign hand is seen as He’s been preparing to fulfill this promise to Abraham:

By preparing Israel—How? By drawing the Hebrew people to a point they recognized their need of deliverance, and

By preparing Moses—How? In the circumstances surrounding his birth, to his experiences leading him to Midian, and his time (40 years) in Midian (which we discuss more today)

Today, our time will be spent learning the specifics of God’s call of Moses—how God called Moses to be both His mouthpiece and vessel of deliverance. As we look at God’s call of Moses—the hope is we will learn and see, how those who are both seeking and serving Jesus can recognize, receive, and respond to God’s call on their lives.

Let me preface our time this morning with two things:

(First) A truth---first and foremost to be in service to God is to be His “bondservant” . Any call that God places on a believer’s life carries with it an understanding of the following:

First and foremost, God’s call on your life is to serve Him

Secondly, God’s call on a believer’s life is a privilege, not a right/not entitlement

Thirdly, God’s call on a believer’s life (no matter where/what) is a act of His mercy

(Second) A perspective—(and we will unpack this point more a little later)

Many people ask the question, “What’s God’s purpose for my life?” This is not necessarily a wrong question, but I want to encourage you to think on a different perspective:

“What is God’s will and how can I meet Him there?” (Henry Blackaby)

(Four areas for us today):

I. (v.1-3) The kind of man God called

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.””

Reminder:

Moses had been forced to flee to Midian, b/c of his sin and Pharaoh seeking his life

Moses met and agreed to work for Jethro (a priest and Moses’ father in law)

In time since Moses fled Egypt to the moment God called him, 40 years had gone by

These years are silent years/unknown years (just as the years leading up to Moses going out to see his people)

These 40 years would serve as a time where God would grow, groom, and equip Moses; a time where God would at work in Moses’ life, preparing him for what He was going to call him to do.

We see this in other accounts in Scripture:

Abraham—God drew Abraham away from Ur and over the seasons of Abraham’s life, He grew, molded, and equipped Abraham’s faith said, “Here I am,”

(Genesis 22:1 “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”” )

Paul—Jesus intercepted Saul/Paul in the middle of his sin, on the road to Damascus, saved him, and sent him to Ananias and soon after, many scholars suggest Paul would spend the better part of 3 years giving, “himself to study, prayer, and meditation, and met with the Lord alone.” (Warren Wiersbe)

Galatians 1:15-18 “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.”

What’s the point? In the accounts of Abraham, Moses, and Paul we see the following:

God setting apart (salvation)

God sanctifying—and it’s in sanctification where we see,

God sending

So it is with believers today. God sets the believer apart in salvation and as believers seek and serve Jesus, God grooms, equips, molds, and prepares them to go and make disciples

(Context and Culture)

Moses was a shepherd; in the years up to God calling him, Moses was tending the flocks of Jethro; and in this time God was developing a heart in Moses that would shepherd people

The role of the “Shepherd”—the Hebrew meaning of this carries the idea of continuous action; tending the flock was his responsibility and his job (Moses was a shepherd by occupation); it was to

Feed and water the sheep (provide nourishment)

Guide the sheep (lead the sheep where they should and shouldn’t go)

Seek and save the sheep who got lost

Protect the sheep

Separate the sheep from the goats

The character of a shepherd-

A very special heart was/is needed to be a shepherd; a heart

Tough and tender

Hard and compassionate

Disciplined and soft

A special discipline was needed to be a shepherd

Spend a great deal of time alone in the countryside

Spent on becoming a man of devotion and prayer

Spent on becoming a man who would draw near to God

(You and me)—God’s call does not come to a particular profession—it comes to a particular heart:

A heroic heart, WILLING to tackle a heroic task

A heart WILLING to shepherd people; a heart WILLING

To feed and guide people

To seek and save people

To protect and keep people for God

A heart WLLING to use his time to draw near to God

A heart WILLING to be a person of devotion and prayer

WHEN A PERSON’S HEART IS DEVOTED TO GOD, WHEN A PERSON IS SURRENDERED TO SERVE GOD, AND WHEN A PERSON’S HEART IS SET TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD, THEN IN GOD’S TIME, HE WILL CALL THAT PERSON WHERE HE WANTS THEM TO GO

Moses was a hard-working industrious man (v.1)

(Context and Culture) Where was Moses when God called him?

Again, he was working/serving--he was tending the flock of Jethro

Shepherding can be/is a demanding job; often times Moses endured

Long hours

Long distances away from home--

Apart from family

Apart from comfort

Times of loneliness and danger

What’s the point all of this?

Moses was not lazy or slothful—he was a hard and dedicated worker

Moses worked at a job and in a place few people would

Moses worked longer and more days than most people would

Moses, when God looked upon him, was at work—serving, working, and tending to his responsibilities

(You and me)

God does not call the lazy/slothful person

Lazy/slothful people will not work/finish a task—not often

God needs people who:

Work diligently at any task

Finish a task, regardless of how difficult it may be

What’s the point?

Be faithful to serve diligently where you are

Be faithful to serve in the waiting

Be faithful to allow God to prepare you in the waiting

Moses was a man of faith (v.2)--

(Context and Culture) Moses believed the miracles of God, the actions of God, and the promises of God—Moses had faith. Here’s what happened:

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses-in a burning bush—in a flame that didn’t burn out or consume the bush

God’s voice called out to Moses—from within the bush (v.4)

God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (note God say, “I am...”, not “I was...”)

God continued to speak from within the bush (v.4 to v.10 is all the Lord speaking)

What’s the point?

All of these details and the words spoken indicate this is pre-incarnate Jesus

God Himself was meeting Moses—He was manifesting and revealing Himself to Moses

This experience was a deep, intense, and unforgettable experience Moses had with God

It was an experience Moses needed to have—in seeing the glory of God it made a shift in Moses’ life:

This shift needed to have happened,

Before he could go out on mission

Before he could minister/serve others in God’s power/authority

(You and me)

Every believer should seek deeper experiences with God—to know God more and more—to draw closer Him

James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

When we really know and experience God move in our lives, in (1) salvation, (2) in sanctification, and (3) the ways He moves in our lives, it should stir in us a desire to be

A dynamic witness

Mindful to minister to others, so they can know and experience Jesus as we have—as our Lord and Savior

(N/T example)—Look at the example from the shepherds in Luke 2:16-17 “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.”

The presence of Jesus created excitement, joy, and purpose in the shepherds—they couldn’t contain themselves b/c of the good news that had arrived in the world

Luke 2:16-17 “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.”

The presence of Jesus in our lives (via the Holy Spirit) ought to stir us to

Excitement--For what He’s saved us from

Joy--For what He’s saved us to

Purpose--To take the message of Christ to a lost and dying world

Moses was a man who would stop and seek the meaning of things

(Culture and Context)

Moses stopped, turned aside, and went to investigate;

Think of what would have happened if he didn’t stop, he would have

Missed the blessing of God

Missed the deep experience with God

Missed the call of God on his life

(You and me)

Many people—included professed believers, are not interested in the meaning of things

Especially the meaning of God and spiritual things

Many people—are just too busy—too wrapped up in the affairs of life

Many people—are simply too interested in the pleasures and possessions of this world

Most people are not like Moses---they are too busy, distracted, prideful, religious, or unwilling to stop and seek the meaning of spiritual things

(You and me)—think of this way

The God of heaven and earth—the God of the Bible:

Created us

Stepped out of heaven for us

Went to the cross for us

Took on sin for us—took on judgment for us—took on separating from the Father for us

For these things alone (and there are others), we should stop and consider the meaning of who He really is

(You and me)—Example from “Disciplines of a Godly Man” (Head in the sand/Out of the sand)You can be the believer who goes through life with his/her head in the sand,:

You may miss and avoid the brokenness in the world, but you’ll miss experiencing God working in the brokenness in this world

II. (v.4-6) The call of God Himself—the factors included in God calling Moses

Exodus 3:4-6 “So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”

(Context and Contrast in each of the following things)

(Context and Culture) God’s call was to a seeking man (v.4)

God called Moses when Moses stopped and sought after the meaning of the burning bush

“So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look...”

Moses was not ignoring the burning bush, he was curious about it and sought to know more about this thing—and it was then that God called him.

(Contrast)

God’s call on a person’s life is reserved for the one who truly seeks to know about Him; any person who truly desires to know God will be met by Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29 “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.”

Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Amos 5:4 “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live;”

Luke 9:24 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”

Luke 11:9-10 ““So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Knowing God—truly knowing God, comes from

Being known by Him (so many have it the other way around)

Being sanctified by Him

In sanctification, the believer should have an intention of the heart, that says:

“What is God’s will and how can I meet Him there?” (It’s not wrong to ask what God’s will is for your life, but this question removes any temptation to make it about yourself)

God’s will for the believer’s life is sanctification—to be set apart to Him—to be daily conformed into the image of His Son—and in sanctification, in the discipleship process of the believer—God equips, prepares, strengthens, and refines them until the time He sees fit to call and send

Sanctification at times (many times) can, and is often, a difficult experience—but remember it’s purpose---to conform the believer more and more into the image of Christ; so the more we (1) diligently, (2) intentionally, and (3) obediently pursue and yield to God’s sanctification, the believer will grow:

To know Him more

In spiritual maturity

To see His heart for how you can serve Him

Sanctification comes in the spiritual disciplines of the believer’s life, it occurs in our

Spending time with Him through His Word),

Spending time with Him through prayer,

Obedience to His Word

Serving Him

Discipleship

(Context)--God’s call was a personal call (v.4)

Notice God’s words: He called Moses by name

Notice Moses’ response: “Here I am.”

(Contrast)

God’s call to you is/will be personal, why? Because He knows you—every one of us God knows

God’s call on a person’s life is to serve Him—and to be in service of Him—is to be His bondservant—therefore, God’s call is reserved for those who have been saved by Him

Exodus 33:12 “Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’”

Psalm 4:3 “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.”

Isaiah 43:1 “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”

(Each of these verses carries with it the foundation of salvation in God calling and setting apart for His purposes)

We must always respond positively when God calls us

“Here I am”—this is phrase indicating a heart ready and willing to obey

Abraham--”Here I am” (Genesis 22:1 “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.””)

Samuel--”Here am I” (1 Samuel 3:4 “that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!””)

Paul—”Here am I” (Acts 9:6 “So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.””)

(Context) God’s call was a holy call (v.5)—

Note what happened

God stopped Moses where he was and told him not to come closer

God told Moses to take off his shoes

Note why this happened

The ground where Moses stood was holy—not just b/c of the ground, rather b/c God was present—He was there

God was manifesting Himself in a special way (using the ground for a specific purpose)—to call Moses to be His servant/messenger

Note the lesson here—God is holy

“Holy” means—

That God is separate and distinct

That God is entirely different from mortal man

That God is pure, righteous, moral, just and eternal

That is God is perfectly in every detail of these things

“Holy” means—when mortal man enters God’s presence—he must be prepared (respectful, reverent, and submissive)

(Contrast)

Who God isn’t

Chummy best friend to man

“The man upstairs”

The grand-father type who allows us to behave any way we want and gives us what we want

Who God is

Holy

Different

Completely set apart from the universe

Exodus 15:11 ““Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Leviticus 11:44 “For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Psalm 99:9 “Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.”

Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!””

1 Peter 1:16 “because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

Revelation 15:4 “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.””

Who we must be:

Respectful

Reverent

Submissive

(Context) God’s call was from the only true living God Himself (v.6)

Note what God did not say:

That He was the God of Moses’ forefathers

Note what God DID say

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died had been gone for more than 400, yet this teaches us they were

Still alive, living with God and serving Him

Note what God is declaring:

About Himself

He is their God (present and active tense)

He is the living and true God

About believers—

Believers are living and are actively engaged with God when they leave this earth- just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and others who have gone before)

Believers really do enter the promised land of heaven

III.(v.7-8) The reasons why God called Moses

Exodus 3:7-8 “And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.”

(3 Specific Reasons-but know this as we get into them)

The message God used to call Moses---was the same message God was sending him out with—the message of deliverance

The message God uses to call you to Himself—is the same message God sends you out with—the message of deliverance

When God calls a person to something—it’s not to satisfy man’s will—it’s to satisfy His will; that the message of deliverance of man’s sins has come through His Son Jesus Christ

Let’s walk through this to understand:

(Context) God was concerned about the suffering of His people (v.7)

He saw the affliction and misery of His people—

“I have surely (indeed) seen the oppression of My people...”—forceful language

He heard the cries of His people

“…and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters...”

God knew about their sorrow and suffering—and was deeply concerned about their need

“…for I know their sorrows.”

(Context) God desired to deliver them from their bondage

God, in manifesting Himself to Moses was revealing His intention to be the Deliverer of the Israelites—to be their redeemer

(Contrast)

God always sees our suffering—

He knows about

What binds you, holds you down, and afflicts you

Your sorrow/worry/suffering

He knows what sin does to you; what the enemy wants. tries, and afflicts you with

He doesn’t sit on a throne oblivious and uncaring; He is

Concerned about your suffering,

Compassionate towards you suffering

Desiring to deliver you from your suffering

Psalm 40:17 “But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

God always hears those who truly cry out to Him for deliverance

God desires to deliver you from your bondage—from sinking under the weight of your sin/bondage

Jesus in stepping out of heaven, revealed His intention to be your redeemer, your deliverer, to take you out from darkness into marvelous light; to accomplish the work of redemption in your life

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

The Israelites had no way out of bondage unless God intervened—and He did in sending Moses

We have no way out of our sin—unless God intervened—and He did in sending Jesus Christ

God desired to give the promised land to His people (v.8)

(Context) Not only was God going to lead them from bondage—He was going to lead them to the promised land; a land flowing with milk and honey

“Milk and honey”—means a land that flourished with the best of everything—full of provision—where God would meet all their physical needs—a place where He would establish a place to dwell with His people (temple)

(Contrast) God not only redeems us from something He redeems us to something.

He redeems us from Satan and the bondage of sin, and

He redeems us to Himself and to heaven

Heaven is a place flowing with milk and honey—where all our needs are abundantly met

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””

Revelation 22:1-5 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

Heaven is spacious; there is room in heaven for all who will believe

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:1-3 ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

IV. (v.9-10) The expected response to God’s call

Exodus 3:9-10 “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.””

(Two responses God expected from Moses—He expects from every person He calls to serve Him)

Moses was to behold

God is repeating what He told Moses in v.7, (1) because it was important and (2) because He wanted to drive the point home to Moses’ heart

God desired to see Moses’ heart see and be broken with compassion for the sufferings of the Israelites, the same way as He did

Moses was to go as God’s messenger

Moses was commissioned by God—He was sent by God

Moses didn’t commission himself

Moses had no authority to do such a thing

Moses was being called, appointed, sent, and chosen by God alone to be His minister

(You and me)

In the commissioning

How many pulpits, ministries, or positions have been filled with those who are not truly called by God?

How many people look at ministry only as a profession/title/a way to make money?

How many people look at ministry as a means to feel religious?

In the response

God expects, when He calls, not for man to fulfill his agenda, but to accomplish His will: to lead sinners:

From sin to righteousness

From bondage to liberty

From death to life

From suffering to health

From hunger to fulness

From loneliness to friendship

From division to reconciliation

From hate to love