Fall 2024 GNC: Lesson 1

Introduction: To understand Exodus 3, we have to understand an important promise that God made to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel - a great nation that would live in the land where Abraham was tenting.

But, a severe famine drove Abraham’s family to Egypt where Joseph, Abraham’s great-grandson, had arisen to power and was used of the Lord to save Israel! (Those of you who were here last Fall might remember that event!)

However, after Joseph died and Israel became a great nation in Egypt, the Pharaoh enslaved them and killed many of their baby boys; Moses’ mom was able to save her son by hiding him for 3 mos before putting him in a reed basket to float down to Nile to safety in Pharaoh’s daughter’s home - Friends, even through great sadness, God was still saving children - even when it’s really bad, God is working out His good plan in ways that we may not be able to see right away.

Eventually, Moses grew up but killed an Egyptian; the threat of Pharaoh’s anger drove Moses to leave Egypt where he took up residence in Midian and became a shepherd

Content and Explanation:

Exodus 3:2, 6-10 “2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Friends, if you saw a bush that didn’t burn, you’d want to see it just like Moses, right? (let’s keep reading)

6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. 8 “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 9 “Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.””

Friends, notice that what God had done here was call Moses to serve Him by leading the Israelites out of Egypt to fulfill God’s promises.

Friends, the Israelites faced tragedy and suffering before the Lord called Moses to deliver them.

But, these difficult circumstances did not mean that the Lord had stopped working or forgot His people!

Remember, He said to Moses that He’s seen their suffering.

He’s heard their cry for help.

Here, at the right time, He’s going to act to deliver/save His people from the Egyptians.

Friends, God has done something similar through Jesus.

Friends, we need to be saved from our sins (define).

And, just like the Israelites were unable to free themselves from the Egyptian slavery without God saving them, so there’s nothing you can do to free yourself from the punishment of sin or even the desire to sin.

Friends, the punishment for sin is to be permanently away from God in a terrible place called hell.

Friends, you cannot follow the Up Rules perfectly and God will erase your sins so you can enter heaven.

We all need Jesus to save us.

He came to this earth and grew up, having lived perfectly.

He died on the cross to save us from our sins.

He lives forever and will soon come back to rule perfectly over all things.

Friends, you might be here and you have believed on Jesus to save you.

Jesus has promises for you to continue to believe.

Jesus has promised that He is always with you.

So, even when things might be really scary or difficult (like the recent stormy weather we have had), these things can’t stop Jesus from being with you and guiding your life.

No amount of wind can keep Jesus from being with you.

No amount of rain can keep Jesus from being with you.

These truths are clearly modeled for us in our memory verse about our Lord’s character.

Scripture Memory - 2 Samuel 22:2b “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;”

Explanation - Friends, even though Israel suffered so many things in Egypt, God was still with them and going to deliver them.

Illustration - A rock is hard and strong

No one is stronger than the Lord.

A fortress is a building that protects danger

Friends, even in the worst of circumstances, God is working to protect those who have believed on Him from the greatest threat, the punishment our sin deserves.

A deliverer is someone who saves another from being attacked.

Friends, Jesus died to save us from the punishment that our sin deserves.

Jesus also died to save us from wanting to sin, doing things that will ruin our life!

Admonition - Friends, you can believe on the Lord to save you because He is able to do so.

Repetition - 2 Samuel 22:2b “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;”

Conclusion: Friends, whatever promise God has made in His Word, He is able to keep it. When He promises that He can save you, you can trust that He will by believing on the Lord Jesus as your only Savior from your sins. Friends, when you’re alone, you can trust that Jesus is always with you because He’s promised to do so.