Exodus 3:1-10 The Call of Moses

Review

Moses, the prince of Egypt, sought to liberate his people, the Israelites, with a plan of murder and rebellion. This plan failed and Moses had to flee to Midian where he fended off some wicked shepherds from seven Midianite daughters. This led to him marrying one of them and staying in Midian with his new wife, son, and father-in-law living the quiet life of a shepherd for 40 years.

The last passage ended with the Lord listening to Israel’s cry and deciding He would act in saving them from their bondage. Today’s passage is His first step of Israel’s salvation: calling Moses. The main point of the message today is this: God

A Remarkable Sight v.1-3

A Quiet Life

The quiet life of Moses was no longer different to him. He was likely very used to this new life of quiet shepherding; this life of family, fatherhood, husbandhood. I mean, it had been 40 years of this. This new life was no longer new; it was just life!

But Moses’ comfort was about to be stripped from him in a sense. And it all started with this day where he was leading his flock to Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, also known as the Mountain of God.

The name “Mountain of God” was likely given to this mountain after all these things happened. This mountain was very important for God’s appearing to and interacting with Moses and the Israelites.

Verse two tells us that the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush.

It is important to note that when Scripture says “The Angel of the Lord,” it is referring to the preincarnate Christ. This means that Jesus Christ Himself appeared here, the Son of God who would save the world from sin. Jesus came down to speak with Moses, in a fascinating way.

Why does Jesus not just come down as Jesus and talk to Him like that? Why the burning bush that is not consumed? This very form that Jesus took and spoke from spoke of who He is.

This moment is one of the biggest, most important moments in history. This is when Israel would be reintroduced to their God, whom they have not seen in a very long time. Moses experienced blessings from the Lord, but He never saw God bless His people. In fact, all Moses saw was injustice and God not saving his people from that injustice.

And so, the way in which God would speak to Moses and what He would say, especially about Himself, would be imperative to setting up the rest of Moses and God’s relationship for the next several decades. And thus set up Israel’s relationship with the Lord.

The Burning Bush

What is so remarkable about this bush?

In a scientific sense, this sight is remarkable because a bush on fire, in the desert, should be consumed and turned to ash. But this bush burned perpetually. It was never consumed.

This is a miracle in of itself. This is not possible unless something or someone over and outside of this world, above all the scientific laws, said it could be so. Thus points to this remarkable sight being of God.

What does this say about God?

God appearing in this bush points two parts of the Lord: His humility and His holiness.

Humility

There are many other stories in Scripture where God appears in a whirlwind or a mighty storm. These are grand and terrifying appearances of the Lord. So we know He could have really scared Moses here into following Him, but that isn’t what He chooses. He chooses a humble bush. Not even a strong tree, but a frail bush. This does not mean that God is weak, rather this means He is humble and meek. He has great power that He is willing to restrain for the sake of His relationship with Moses.

He did not just want to scare Moses into following Him and doing His will, He wanted Moses to have a relationship with Him in this whole endeavor. The way to start this, then, is humility.

Holiness

This is referring to the fire that enveloped the bush but did not consume it. God is often referred to as a fire. Hebrews even refers to the Lord as an all-consuming fire. Yet, here we see this fire did not consume the bush. Its leaves were still in tact. The make up of the bush did not lessen. The bush stayed completely the same, yet was engulfed in flames. These flames point to the holiness of God, His sanctifying work in us and not destroying us still.

God is so holy, so perfect, like a fire. Fires are not content to remain in one place. This is why fireplaces and campfires need so much attention and protection. Fires are quick to spread and engulf everything. And when fires catch something, anything flammable will be consumed and destroyed. So is God — any sin in our lives that we, believers, are holding onto, God is not content to leave it be. He will not skirt around it. Instead, He will destroy it completely. And if there is any of you that does hold onto that sin, He is willing to destroy parts of you as well.

Yet, like the humble flaming bush, God will not destroy us who have His Spirit in us. Rather, He leaves us alive, uncondemned. Only changed to look more like Him.

And so, God shows up in this humble, holy bush. Moses sees this sight. The bible pens this sight as “remarkable.” Yes, the burning bush is a remarkable sight because this bush is aflame but not consumed. However, there is something else remarkable about this sight—God came to Earth to call a murdering, coward, Moses, to follow Him.

Why would God do this? Why does He call Moses? Why not just rescue Israel without Moses? He could have. This is a remarkable truth: God chooses to work through us for His plan, despite not needing us. He WANTS to use us. He desires to let us have a part in God’s plan.

English Standard Version Psalm 46

10  “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Lord Calls Out v.4-6

Holiness and Submission

Now in a remarkable act, we see God speak out to Moses, calling his name. He commands Moses to remove His sandals for the ground beneath his feet is holy ground

God’s very presence made the dirty ground holy. So holy that if Moses were to wear his sandals on that ground, it would be an utter disrespect of God.

God then declares who He is to Moses:

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

This is great assurance for Moses. After the decades of not seeing God act, God is now talking to Him. And it is not some random other god, but this is the One True God of His ancestors. After all the stories of God’s work with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses now sees God and knows He is true.

Rightfully so, Moses responds with submission and humility, as he should:

Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Moses heard the Lord and saw the flame of the bush and was fearful. He knew that because he is a sinner, he should not be allowed in God’s presence. And so, he fears death upon God’s presence.

We should fear the Lord in the same way. Not just in a respect way, but even in a genuine fear. The man who does not fear the Lord believes himself to be greater than the Lord. Or he sees himself to be righteous from his own works.

Do you fear the Lord? His discipline? His wrath? His greatness? Do you hide your face before the Lord?

The Lord’s Plan v.7-10

Here are a few things we see from these last few verses:

The Lord has been paying attention

Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings…

I have hammered this point several times, but I will press on it a little more one more time. God is aware of your suffering. Not only this, but God is present in the midst of our suffering.

The disciples turned apostles were set up to do incredible things for the Lord and yet, simultaneously Suffer tremendously. Almost all of them would be killed in horrible ways for their faith. So what does Jesus say to them before He leaves them to this life? (Matthew 28:20)

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

That is true for us as well. He is with us In our suffering and struggles. He is with us when we weep. He is with us because He has suffered too, and even more so.

He too was rejected. He was betrayed. He was mocked. He was despised. He wept. He pleaded with the Father for another way. He was brutally tortured. He was killed. If anyone knows our suffering, it is our King, our Lord, Our Creator, Jesus.

2. The Lord has a plan

…and I have come down to rescue them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey

Though God allowed them to suffer for a very long time, we see that He has now come down intervene. He says that He has come to rescue them.

Remember, our suffering, in the grand plan, is only for a short while. In the end, it is our sharpening to look more like Christ. We must accept this truth and trust Him in the midst of our suffering.

God’s plan does not just involve rescuing, but also prospering. God intends to bring them into a full and prosperous land.

This does not mean that your suffering will end with a massive paycheck in the mail. But this does mean that the Lord will prosper us in different ways despite our suffering. Sometimes that is in our family. Sometimes it is financially. Sometimes it is mental clarity or a new job. But overall, our suffering will end in prosperity because we get to be with Christ in the end. Even in you do not receive anything good and you suffer in Christ until you die. You have Him now as you suffer giving you abundant life and then you get Him eternally after death. This is our ultimate prosperity.

Finally, God tells Moses it is him whom He will use to do these things.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

This is a high calling on Moses. Also an uncomfortable one. He is living a very sweet, quiet life with his family. This calling would require he go back to the place he fled, to a people who hate him, and spend the rest of his life leading them through the wilderness until he would die there. So yeah, Moses was not keen to say yes. We will see next week that he wrestles with God on this. He pulls out every stop he can to change God’s mind about choosing him. But ultimately, it will be Moses to do this. He will uproot his life for the Lord’s glory and the salvation of his people. He will bear this burden of leadership to the glory of the Lord. Yes he will do this well, but still not perfectly. Moses will end up letting his pride lead him to sin against the Lord in a major way, thus losing his chance at entering the promised land for Israel. Yes, he still went to be with the Lord after death, but he was still a sinful man.

This is helpful for us as we tend to think that if we are to be called to do something, especially ministry-related, we need to be perfect. This is not true because it is not possible. All these people God used in the Bible were sinful and at times faithless. But God still chooses to use them.

Calling

See, Moses’s calling was very clear. God showed up in a very miraculous way to Him and said “Go do this.” However, God does not call people like this today. How do you know when you’re called to do something, like Moses was called here? Here is the truth: some of you are called to ministry. Perhaps as a pastor of sorts. Perhaps as a missionary. And others of you are called to work normal secular jobs and be missionaries there. But how do you know? Here are a few tips on this.

First, to know what God is calling you to in the big things, you must know what He has called you to already, just as a Christian. The reason this is important is because in order to know what God is calling you to, you must be walking in step with the Spirit. Otherwise, you will act without wisdom and discernment, but attribute that to God’s calling. Here is what you are already called to:

God has called you to know Him

English Standard Version Psalm 46

10  “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

To know God is not just to be aware of His existence, but it is to seek to know Him more deeply every day. It is to meditate on His word. It is to be in ceaseless prayer to Him. It is to never stop learning and growing in your love and faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has called you to be holy

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

This means you are to be fighting sin daily. If you are not fighting sin, killing sin, dying to your self everyday, then you are not being holy as Christ is holy. Rather you are living in unholiness and sinfulness. And if you are just reveling in your sin and tell me you feel as if you are called to be a pastor, I will not just say “Great pursue it with everything,” rather I would say “You need to focus on getting closer to God before you consider these things.”

God has called you to make disciples

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Not all of you are called to be missionaries in a vocational sense, though some of you likely are. However, all of you are called to be missional wherever you are. No true Christian gets an out when it comes to sharing the Gospel to those around you, wherever that is. In your school, your job, whatever!

So, regardless of what you’re deciding to do in life, do not neglect any of these three things. If you are neglecting them, I will not trust your judgement of what your calling is, honestly.

Now what if I am doing these things, but I am still not sure if God is calling me to do this thing. Here are four questions you should ask in these situations (once again, in order for these questions to be helpful, you must be walking with the Lord):

Do I have the ability?

I felt as if God was calling me to be an actor in theater, but then I kept failing auditions. It was clear that I was not capable of doing that job. If you are called to something, you need to either be skilled in that thing or able to learn the skill of that thing. I say because sometimes God equips us for the sake of a calling.

Do I have a desire to do this?

When you’re walking in step with God’s Spirit, your desires will, at times, match up with God’s. So God will give you desires to do things you are called to. There is another caveat to this. Sometimes, you have absolutely no desire to do what you have been called to do. When I found I was called to ministry, I did not want that. I wrestled with God about this. Moses is going to argue with God regarding His calling too. So this question alone cannot answer if you are called. You need all four!

Do I have the opportunity?

Sometimes we think we are called to do things that simply are not possible where we are or in general. If there really is no opportunity for you to do something you feel as if you’re called to do, perhaps you are not called to do that right now. If you were, wouldn’t the Lord give you the opportunity?

Do I have the church’s approval?

This is one of the most important questions. There are times when we have no desire to do something, but everyone else that is trustworthy around us (pastors, godly people in the church) say that we are called to do that thing. Sometimes we have a desire to do something and think we are called to it, but when you talk to godly people around you, you find no one thinks it to be a good idea!

This also happens when there is a need in the church. I have spoke to so many youth pastors who first became a youth pastor simply because no one was doing it. That is God-honoring for them to do. We should be willing to put the church’s needs ahead of our own desires, to an extent.

This is also the most important step because biblically, when someone is called to something, it is usually through an older more godly person. When Timothy is called to a life of ministry, it is Paul (his spiritual father) who calls him. When Moses is called it is literally God. So ask those who are further along in their walk around you. Godly, trustworthy people. People who actually know you, not just random yes-men.

So, if you are trying to discern whether or not God has called you to a certain job or to do something major in life, first make sure you’re already doing what you’re called. Then ask those questions. Talk to others about it! Honestly, if you make a major decision in life without consulting anyone, you likely didn’t consult anyone because you knew you should not be doing it. Then, the best part of making these big decisions, just do something! God will use all you do for His plan and your purpose.