"Experiencing God-Part 5

"God Works Through His Servants – Part 5: When God Invites You In"

Opening Illustration: The Ordinary Shoe Salesman

Imagine being a poor, uneducated shoe salesman with no title, no seminary training, and no pulpit.

Now imagine someone telling you, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”

That’s exactly what happened to D.L. Moody.

Moody heard those words spoken by a friend, Henry Varley, and they gripped his soul.

Later, he reflected on them and thought, “That means any man… even me. Varley didn’t say educated or brilliant or ordained—just consecrated.”

And Moody consecrated himself to God.

God used him to shake two continents with the gospel.

What if that could be you?

What if the only thing keeping God from doing something significant through your life… was your availability?

That’s what we see in the life of Moses in the second half of this study.

God’s work through Moses shows us four more powerful truths—about how God works through His servants.

I. God Speaks to Reveal Himself, His Purposes, and His Ways

Text:

Exodus 3:2–8; Numbers 12:6–8

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

6 And 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 at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,

8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Numbers 12:6–8

6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

-Pray

Look with me at Exodus 3. Moses is on the far side of the wilderness. He sees a bush on fire, but it’s not burning up. That alone gets his attention. But then—God speaks.

“Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush… God called out to him from the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” — Exodus 3:2, 4

Notice what God reveals:

His Holiness – “Take off your sandals… this is holy ground.”

His Identity – “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

His Compassion – “I have seen the suffering of My people.”

His Purpose – “I have come down to deliver them.”

His Plan – “So now, go. I am sending you.”

God never just hands out assignments—He first reveals who He is and what He’s about.

“With Moses, I speak face to face.” – Numbers 12:8

Application: Before you ask God, “What do You want me to do?” first ask, “God, who are You?”

He wants you to know Him before He works through you. His voice is personal, His call is specific, and His purpose is always tied to His character.

Henry Blackaby writes:

“God reveals what He is about to do. That revelation becomes your invitation to join Him.”

II. God’s Invitation Leads to a Crisis of Belief

Text:

Exodus 3:11–13;

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

4:1,10,13;

1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Hebrews 11:24–27

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

When Moses hears God's assignment, what’s his immediate reaction? Excitement? No. Confidence? Not at all.

It’s fear. Insecurity. Doubt.

Listen to Moses’ responses:

“Who am I that I should go?” (Ex. 3:11)

“What if they won’t believe me?” (Ex. 4:1)

“I’ve never been eloquent.” (Ex. 4:10)

“Please, Lord, send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13)

This is what Blackaby calls a “crisis of belief.” It’s the moment when you must decide:

Will I believe God is able to do what He says—even through someone like me?

“By faith Moses… refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter… he persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible.” – Hebrews 11:24,27

Application: Your crisis of belief will always test your view of God.

It’s not really about how weak you are—but how strong you believe God is.

Henry Blackaby writes:

“When you believe nothing significant can happen through you, you have said more about your belief in God than about yourself.”

III. You Must Make Major Adjustments to Join God

Text:

Exodus 4:19–20;

19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

Hebrews 11:24–29

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Obedience isn’t passive. It requires change. Look at Exodus 4:20:

“So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and returned to Egypt…”

He left comfort. He left his job. He left family. Why? Because to join God, you have to reorient your life.

Hebrews 11 says:

“By faith Moses left Egypt… By faith he kept the Passover… By faith they crossed the Red Sea.”

Faith moves your feet.

Application: Is there something God is calling you to leave behind?

Something you need to adjust to be fully available to Him? Obedience will always require a personal cost—but it leads to eternal reward.

IV. You Come to Know God by Experience as You Obey Him

Text: Exodus 14:15–31

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night[a] without one coming near the other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw[c] the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Now we fast forward to the Red Sea moment. Israel is trapped. The Egyptian army is behind them. There’s no way forward—unless God shows up.

“Then Moses stretched out his hand… and the waters were divided.” — Exodus 14:21

The people walk through on dry ground. The Egyptians try to follow, but God closes the sea.

“That day the Lord saved Israel… and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” — Exodus 14:30–31

How did Moses come to know God so personally?

He obeyed—step by step—and watched God do the impossible.

Application: If you want to truly know God, don’t just read about Him—obey Him.

Each step of obedience deepens your understanding of who He is.

Jesus said:

“The one who obeys My commands is the one who loves Me, and I will reveal Myself to him.” – John 14:21

Closing Challenge: God Can Work Through You

You don’t need to be extraordinary. You just need to be surrendered.

“Elijah was a man just like us… and he prayed…” – James 5:17 “They took note that Peter and John were ordinary men… but they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13

God is still looking for someone who will say, like Isaiah:

“Here I am, Lord. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

Henry Blackaby says:

“God is able to do anything He pleases through one ordinary person who is fully consecrated to Him.”

Personal Reflection Questions…

What was the most meaningful truth from this study?

How would you reword that truth into a personal prayer to God?

Is there an area of your life where you’re facing a crisis of belief?

What is God asking you to trust Him with?

What major adjustment might God be calling you to make?

Where have you seen God reveal Himself as you obeyed Him?