Sermon Tone Analysis
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If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Intelligence?
Height?
Better hair, more hair?
We can be our worst critic when it comes to the weakness and flaws that we notice about our-self.
Exodus 3–4 shows us, among other things, how God can use weak, imperfect vessels by His power, for His glory, and for the good of others.
Remember what Paul says:
As we will see, Moses will show himself to be a living example of this verse.
We last left the story with Israel crying out with groans to God because of their slavery.
Here we will examine the calling and commissioning of Israel’s mediator-leader, an imperfect man, Moses.
God Reveals Himself (3:1–6)
Chapter 3 begins by setting the scene of what is about to occur.
But what I want us to notice is that they were at Horeb, which is called “the mountain of God.”
This is a natural name for the mountain because of what happened there: God showed up.
It seems to be the same place as Mt.
Sinai, where Moses later received the Ten Commandments.
God drew Moses to this place in order to reveal Himself to him.
Moses was “shepherding the flock” (v. 1).
It is important to note that Egyptians did not think highly at all of shepherds (see Gen 46:34).
It is also important to recognize the shepherding pattern being set here.
Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian.
David was also a shepherd who was taken from the sheepfolds to become king.
God loves to use shepherds!
He even refers to Himself as a shepherd (Ps 23:1; Ezek 34:13).
Ultimately, salvation would come through Jesus, the good shepherd, who laid down His life for His sheep John 10:11
Under the Law of Moses, the sheep died for the shepherd; but under grace, the Good Shepherd died for the sheep (John 10:1–18)
Warren W. Wiersbe
In verses 2–4 we find a unique encounter with the “Angel of the LORD.”
This was not a fluffy little angel in a golden diaper.
He appeared out of the fire.
He is also referred to as “the LORD” in verse 4.
The messenger spoke as God not simply for God.
This is what theologians call a “theophany,” an appearance of the invisible God.
Many throughout church history, especially the early church fathers, believed appearances like this were pre-incarnate appearances of Christ.
Moses was first drawn in by the burning bush.
What an amazing sight!
Before Moses’ eyes, he saw a bush burning without being consumed.
The “fire” is representative of God’s holy presence.
Fire appears later in Exodus and in other Scripture—in a pillar of fire that leads God’s people, fire at Mt. Sinai, in the tabernacle, and the Day of Pentecost.
When God forbade idolatry later in Deuteronomy, Moses said, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deut 4:24
The author of Hebrews used this language also in describing how to worship (Heb 12:29
Fire is appropriate because we know that we are drawn to fire and amazed by fire, but we also tell children, “Don’t play with fire.”
Fire is to be taken seriously.
And so is God.
He is holy.
Now we must ask, “How might we be accepted by God if He is so holy?”
The sacrifices in the Old Testament are pointing to the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus.
Only in Jesus can we be in God’s Holy presence.
He is our “righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” 1 Cor 1:30
The bush “was not consumed” (v.
2).
Moses was seeing something mysterious.
While it burned, it was not consumed.
Why did the Almighty God use a scrubby bush to reveal His presence and glory?
It would seem that the bush was just a common acacia plant.
It had no intrinsic worth.
It was in itself completely helpless.
And it could not back out.
It was caught there, indwelt by the presence of God and fire.
Like the bush, we will never know God until we are helpless in His hands.
We will never be of worth to Him until there is no escape.
As long as we can run, as long as we know we can depend upon our avenues of escape, we are not really in God’s hands.…
Let me tell you with assurance that the happy Christian is the one who has been caught—captured by the Lord.
He or she no longer wants to escape or go back.
The happy Christian has met the Lord personally and found Him an all-sufficient Savior and Lord.
He or she has burned all the bridges in every direction.
Some of God’s children are dabbling with surrender and victory.
They have never reached that place of spiritual commitment which is final and complete and satisfying.
They still retain their escape routes.…
I thank God for the little bush!
It was caught, it was helpless.
But it was radiant and useful and enduring in the presence and hands of the living God.
Exodus 3; Luke 9:23–25; Philippians 3:7–16
Men Who Met God, 72, 73, 74.
A. W. Tozer
Then “God called out to him from the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ ” (3:4).
God called Moses by name.
This is significant for all who are called to salvation have experienced God’s personal call.
Jesus said, “Zacchaeus.”
Peter said that God “called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Pet 2:9
God did not have to call us, but He did, in His mercy.
God wills to be known and worshiped.
Our natural response should be, “Here I am,” like Moses (and Samuel and Isaiah).
As Moses began to approach the bush, God said, “Do not come closer.…
Remove the sandals from your feet” (v.
5).
To show the gap between a holy God and sinful man, He says, “Do not come closer.”
Again, it is only through Jesus that we draw near (Heb 10:19–22
God then identified Himself with the patriarchs: “I am … the God of Abraham” (v. 6).
Before He entered a relationship with Moses, He entered a relationship with Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
God was also giving Moses a bit of personal history of Himself.
The God of the burning bush was not an unknown God; He was the God who acted on behalf of these earlier persons.
So they exchanged names.
That is the first step in forming a relationship.
They met each other.
Have you met Jesus Christ?
Paul says we Christians have come to know God, or rather to be known by God (Gal 4:9)
God Reveals His Plan (3:7–10)
God is a sending God.
Notice three parts to this commission:
(1) God’s motive,
(2) God’s purpose, and
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