Exodus 3 1-15

Lent 3

Exodus 3:1-15

March 14th

“Holy Ground” (CPR)

Introduction: One of the most famous speeches in American history is Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.  The occasion was the dedication of a cemetery where those who had been killed in the Civil War battle were buried.  It was, Lincoln said, “altogether fitting and proper” that they would do this.  But, Lincoln went on, in a larger sense, those who had come to set apart that ground could not “dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.” The brave men who had struggled there had already hallowed it “far beyond our poor power to add or detract.” It was those who had died for their country at Gettysburg that made holy the land on which they were now standing.

            It was also a death that enables us to stand on holy ground.  Jesus’ Death Enables Us to Stand on the Holiest Ground, and in the Very Presence of God.

I.  What makes ground holy?

            A.  As Moses tends the sheep of his father-in-law, God appears to him in a burning bush.  God tells him to remove his sandals because the ground on which he is standing is holy ground.  Moses hides his face, because he is afraid to look at God (vv 1–5).

            B.  God tells Moses he will be taking him on a journey from holy ground to a good and spacious land.  The good land was fruitful, but it was filled with wicked people.  The people were so wicked that God didn’t want any of them left when the Israelites settled there.  God wanted them completely wiped out so their idolatry would perish with them.  He knew that if any of them survived they would ensnare the people of Israel with their idolatry (vv 6–10).

            C.  The ground Moses was standing on wasn’t nearly as spacious.  It wasn’t a desert—sheep could graze there—but it wasn’t flowing with milk and honey either.  Still, it was holy ground because it is where God chose to reveal himself to Moses (vv 11–15).  He revealed himself as “I am who I am.” It was a name that would be in use for generations to come.  Years later, Jesus would say, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (Jn 8:58).  This is the key to all holy ground.  Holy ground is a place where God reveals himself to us.

II.  How can anyone stand on such holy ground?

            A.  Moses understood how unworthy he was.  He wasn’t even up to the task God had for him: “Who am I to go to Pharaoh?” And he was even less worthy to stand in the presence of God.  Sin makes anyone unworthy to stand in God’s holy presence.  God’s holiness cannot tolerate sin.  In fact, anyone coming into God’s presence dressed in the rags of sin would be destroyed.  As we are by nature, we could no more stand on such holy ground than could Moses.  We, too, are corrupted through and through by sin.  Examples. 

            B.  But God says, “I will be with you.” It’s ironic that God first says, “Don’t come any closer; this is holy ground.” Then he says, “I will be with you.” Why the difference?

Illustration: In the 1800s Dr.  Mo Bradley introduced modern medical practices to Siam (Thailand).  When he began using the smallpox vaccine, he went to the king for help.  If the king would support the vaccinations, the whole country would be vaccinated.  The king did help: he had all his subjects vaccinated first, then his family.  After he saw that everything was okay, he himself was vaccinated.

            God does it the opposite way.  He knew we couldn’t act first to enter his holy presence, so he sent his Son to death before us.  That’s why God can be with us even after he’s warned us to stay away.  He came near to us.  Because Jesus reconciled us to God, we sing these words confidently: Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow his example pure .  .  .  Let us suffer here with Jesus, and with patience bear the cross.  Let us gladly die with Jesus.  Since by death he conquered death .  .  .  Let us also lives with Jesus.  He has risen from the dead .  .  . 
            C.  Because of Jesus, we can draw near to God.  God doesn’t say, “Don’t come any closer.” He says to us, as a communion hymn says, “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord” (LW 240:1).

Conclusion: As daunting as the task of going to stand before Pharaoh seemed, the more amazing call from God was for Moses to stand in his, God’s, own presence.  If Moses was inadequate to the task of freeing Israel from Egypt—and he was—he was infinitely less adequate to stand in the presence of the holy God.  No one wrapped in sin can.  But God enabled him to do both.  By promising to go with Moses, God would enable Moses to face Pharaoh.  And by sending Jesus into death to remove sin, God allows Moses—and each one of us—to stand in his holy presence, on the most hallowed ground, forever.

            What place is like that for us—a special place where God is, where God speaks to us? Receive responses.  This church is holy ground, isn’t it? This is where God comes and talks to us.  Moses took off his shoes as God asked him to, but, more important, he listened to what God was saying.  Do you think God wants us to take off our shoes to show that this is holy ground? No.  But how can we treat this place as very special, as holy? We treat it as special as we listen carefully to God’s Word.  We treat it special as we confess our own sinfulness before God and receive His forgiveness.  We treat it special as we understand that God comes to us in the Body and Blood of His Son Jesus in this Holy Supper.  God told Moses that he was getting ready to help his people in a very wonderful way and that Moses would be their leader.  When we listen to God speak here in this holy place, we hear him say how he helped us in the most wonderful way.  He sent Jesus to suffer and die to take away our sins.  For His sake He gives us eternal life in heaven! And we know that’s very holy ground, isn’t it! Until then we come to church to stand on holy ground because we are in the presence of our saving God.  Amen