"Moses as a Man"
Notes
Transcript
When Moses was a man, his life didn’t look impressive:
He wasn’t leading a nation
He wasn’t famous
He was a shepherd in the wilderness
Forty years earlier, he had tried to do something great—and failed (Exodus 2:11–15).
Now he’s older, quieter, and might be thinking some like this -
👉 “God can’t use me anymore.”
But then—everything changes.
Proposition - Last week we talked about Moses as a baby. Today we are going to look at Moses as a man. We will see four points in the life of Moses: 1) God calls and uses ordinary people, 2) Fear and excuses hold you back, 3) God’s power is seen in our weakness, and 4) Obedience is what God requires.
Interrogative question - What fears or excuses do you have that might be holding you back from following God's call?
I. God Calls and Uses Ordinary People -
I. God Calls and Uses Ordinary People -
1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 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. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 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.” 5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 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.
Moses is just doing his job when he sees:
👉 The burning bush
God speaks to him there.
Key Truth:
God often calls you in ordinary moments—not just big ones.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.
6 For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation; 7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.
18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Moses wasn’t:
In a palace
In a position of power
He was:
👉 Faithfully doing small things
And that’s where God met him.
Illustration: The Unexpected Phone Call
Imagine getting a call:
Not when you’re ready
Not when everything is perfect
But in a normal moment
God’s call often comes when you least expect it.
Are you being faithful in everyday life?
Or waiting for something “big” before you take God seriously?
II. Fear and Excuses Only Hold You Back -
II. Fear and Excuses Only Hold You Back -
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
Moses responds to God’s call with excuses:
“Who am I?” (3:11)
“What if they don’t believe me?” (4:1)
“I’m not a good speaker” (4:10)
“Please send someone else” (4:13)
Excuses keep you from experiencing what God wants to do in and through you.
6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Illustration: The Missed Opportunity
Think about someone who:
Had a chance to try out for a team
Or speak up for truth
But said:
👉 “What if I fail?”
And they never tried.
Moses almost missed one of the greatest callings in history because of fear.
What excuses are you making?
What is God calling you to do that you’re avoiding?
III. God’s Power Is Seen in Our Weaknesses -
III. God’s Power Is Seen in Our Weaknesses -
11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
God answers Moses’ excuses:
“Who has made man’s mouth? … Is it not I, the Lord?”
The reality is that God doesn’t need your strength—He works through your weakness.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Moses focused on:
His inability
His fear
God focused on:
👉 His own power
Illustration: A Broken Tool in the Right Hands
A tool may be weak or worn out.
But in the hands of a skilled craftsman:
👉 It can still accomplish great things
You are the tool—God is the Master.
Are you focused on your limits?
Or trusting God’s power?
IV. Obedience Is What God Requires -
IV. Obedience Is What God Requires -
18 Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 Now 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 mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.
Finally:
👉 Moses obeys
He returns to Egypt—the place he once fled.
God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for obedience.
22 Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Illustration: Trusting the Coach
A player may not understand:
The play
The strategy
But if they trust the coach:
👉 They follow the instructions
God sees what you can’t.
SO WHAT?
When do you choose to obey God?
Moses’ life changed at one moment:
👉 When he stopped making excuses
👉 And started obeying God
Right now—you are at your own “burning bush” moment.
Not literally—but spiritually:
You know what’s right
You know what God says
The question is:
👉 Will you obey?
What is God calling me to do?
What excuses am I making?
Will I trust Him and step forward?
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;
Final Illustration: The Line Between Fear and Faith
Picture a line on the ground:
On one side: fear, excuses, comfort
On the other side: faith, obedience, purpose
Moses had to step across that line.
