It's His Call!

TEXTS

REFLECTION: Psalm 135:13-14

SERMON: Exodus 2:23-3:10

BENEDICTION: 2 Thessalonians 2.16-17

INTRO

We’ve been told that “TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS”, but many of us have come to realize that time is neutral. Proximity can affect our pain, but the it’s the treatment applied to the wounds that determines how quickly and to what extent they heal. There may still be scars.

We’ve been told that if we get the right people in office, that the political change will make all the difference. But we find that we image-bearers are sinful at our core regardless of who is in any office. That even if issues were right at a national level, that does not change the human heart. We are right to engage as citizens. We are completely naive to think that any government can fix what ails humanity.

We need the Great physician.

We need the King of kings.

We need to call on the LORD!

TRANSITION

Last week, we left off with the incredible cliffhanger and stark reminder of this SIMPLE TRUTH in verses 23-25 in chapter 2.

Exodus 2:23–25 ESV

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

We spend this incredible moment in most of Chapter 2 tracking with Moses’ early life and his “unconventional” preparation as a leader. But life in Egypt was still moving on. Imagine being there…not knowing any of Moses’ story…not aware that God was at work — Moses had not yet come face-to-face with this undisclosed providence.

1. GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT!

EXODUS 2:23-25

Notice time didn’t heal all wounds. Moses was in Egypt for many years. He’s been in Midian now for nearly 40 years. The yoke of slavery and savagery is still oppressing the people of God.

Notice the leadership change. Pharaoh died.

Time didn’t heal…Political change didn’t improve…BUT PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE

THEY GROANED because of their slavery

THEY CRIED OUT for help

THEIR CRY FOR RESCUE CAME UP TO GOD!

GOD HEARD THEIR GROANING!

GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT

To “remember” something means to bring it to the front burner and act on it

Psalm 105:8 ESV

8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

Psalm 106:45 ESV

45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

You’ll recall in Genesis 8.1 - God remembers Noah

Gen 19:29 He remembers Abraham

Gen 30:32 He remembers Rachel

NOT BECAUSE HE HAD FORGOTTEN THEM, but because the time was right for Him to bring them to the front burner of his plan and ACT on their behalf…on behalf of this covenant-keeping GOD!

The best definition of “covenant” may be in The Jesus Story Book Bible: “a never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love”

GOD SAW THEM.

GOD KNEW THEM…THEIR SITUATION…THEIR ENEMIES…HIS PLAN OF RESCUE

Prayer makes the difference that matters! We can make 2 observations here about this type of effectual, fervent prayer.

THIS EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER:

1. IT HONESTLY REFLECTS OUR NEEDS

Notice this wasn’t a generic call for blessing…this was a depths of the soul crying out to God for deliverance.

2. IT RIGHTLY PROMOTES THE PURPOSES OF GOD!

Israel’s comfort was not the goal here...Israel’s power play was not the goal here…they weren’t simply crying out to change places with the oppressors - to shift the power from one sinful people for another…there was no critical theory here.

Your possessions, pleasure, power, and position are not the right motive for prayer; God’s glory is!

1. GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT

2. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF

Exodus 3:1-6

Note: Moses was doing what he was supposed to be doing. Being faithful to the do the work that was put in front of him.

Matthew 25:21 ESV

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Luke 16:10 ESV

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

The Mountain of God - Horeb/Sinai

Perspective is everything. There is no evidence that this mountain was referred to this BEFORE Moses’ encounter with God.

The Burning Bush

THE MESSENGER

Exalting Jesus in Exodus I AM Has Sent Me

This was not a fluffy little angel in a golden diaper. He appeared out of the fire. He is also referred to as “the LORD” in verse 4. The messenger spoke as God not simply for God. This is what theologians call a “theophany,” an appearance of the invisible God. Many throughout church history, especially the early church fathers, believed appearances like this were pre-incarnate appearances of Christ.

The “angel of the Lord” this special “The messenger of Yahweh” appears to Moses.

But he appears “in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush.”

There is no further description here, but we note that the flame(s) of fire that engulfs the bush, which is “ablaze with fire”, is stressed and amazes Moses—the fire was not consuming the bush.

This messenger is mentioned 6 times in Exodus with 3 different functions:

revealing Yahweh himself

to guide, serve, protect, and lead Israel out of Egypt

to lead Israel through the wilderness

I don’t want to linger here more than we need to, but there is a miraculous display of God’s power and providence that we cant simply skip over.

The bush burns and is not consumed...

This makes us think, in a spectacular way, of the never-ending, inexhaustible power of God - the one who upholds the universe. OUR GOD NEVER RUNS OUT OF FUEL...

The BUSH wasn’t burned…ultimately because the LORD was in the midst of it.

I DON’T want to erect a house where a tent should dwell, but let me digress for just a moment.

I believe the bush is symbolic of the Word of God…the Holy Scriptures - our Bible.

The Word of God has stood the test of the ages...

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Psalm 119:89 ESV

89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

John 1:1–2 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

God’s Word will not fail…it will stand because He is in the midst of it!

I believe the bush is also symbolic of the CHURCH of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The church is not a cultural institution.  It is an organism.  It is a family, a flock, a body, the bride of Christ.

It is not a club, not a volunteer organization, nor is it a service provider.  It is the Spiritual Authority on earth ordained by Christ Himself to officially affirm and give shape to Christian life and yours.

The church wasn’t birthed by culture, she isn’t sustained by culture, nor will she be shattered by culture.  In fact, she thrives as she worships Christ and reveals the Gospel that is counter cultural by its very nature.

She will burn brightly

in spite of the winds of this world

She will burn brightly

in spite of the assaults of post-modernism and pragmatism creeping into every aspect of church-thinking.

SHE WILL BURN BRIGHTLY, though, NOT because of the flawed men and women and boys and girls that comprise her…but because the CHURCH is the bride of the Lord, Jesus Christ himself…her lamp is trimmed and burning because He is in the midst of HIS CHURCH!

(v3) Moses responds to the image, turns to the side to see it.

(v4) The Lord takes note of Moses drawing near…He had drawn him; Moses had responded.

(v5) So they exchanged names. That is the first step in forming a relationship…

The Voice of God

Exodus 3:5–6 ESV

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.

Immediately as they exchange names - it becomes clear they are NOT equals. This is not a casual encounter with

You are there / unholy — I am here / holy

God speaks with clarity.

There is an initial command that demands obedience.

Exalting Jesus in Exodus I AM Has Sent Me

As an act of respect and reverence, which is still practiced in many settings today, Moses took his shoes off. In the book of Joshua, a similar experience happened to Moses’ follower, and he is told the same thing ( Josh 5:13-15).

But it is also an act of simple obedience…God said it…it must be done.

Hear Mary’s voice ringing in your ears from the Wedding at Cana where Jesus’ first public miracle occurred:

John 2:5 ESV

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

God calls each of us to himself…but the only way to approach the God that created the Heavens and the Earth - to the only wise and true one seated on the throne of glory and power - the only way to approach Him…is on HIS TERMS…He’s in charge / It’s His Call, and he has commanded that we come to him through His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

(Tim Chester notes)

Exodus for You Chapter 2: What’s in a Name? (Exodus Chapters 3 to 4)

Today, people like to define God for themselves. Think about people who say, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual” or, “I think God is like …” What they’re saying is, “I don’t want anyone to tell me what to think about God. I’ll decide for myself what God is like. I’ll imagine him or her or it in whatever way I choose.”

Christians are not immune to this. Of some aspect of God’s character or Christian truth we might say, “I don’t like the sound of that … I just don’t think God is like that.” It might be his judgment, or his sovereignty, or his sexual standards. We make a god in our image and he becomes a fluffy god—a god who suits our desires but cannot help us when we are in need. We think of God in the way we want to think of him.

God is a speaking God. He has revealed himself to us in His Word.

God clearly speaks today through His Word! He is still revealing himself through His Word to all who will stop and turn aside to see this great light.

GOD REVEALS HIS PLAN (vv 7-10)

Exodus 3:7–10 ESV

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. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

We see God’s Motive in verses 7 & 9

God says,

(v7) I have surely seen...

I have heard

I know

(v9) their cry has come to me

I have seen the oppression of the enemy

He knows what is happening

He know WHO is perpetrating the evil

I know that there are times we are all tempted to wonder whether or not God is keenly aware of what’s going on…does God see what is happening in our world? does God know?

He is keenly aware of everything. Nothing catches him off guard.

The key is coming up soon...

God is also responding to Israel’s cry for deliverance…and he will respond to yours.

Exalting Jesus in Exodus I AM Has Sent Me

A prayer that God hears is when a person genuinely cries out to God for mercy and forgiveness in repentance and faith. If you will cry out to Him, He will hear you and save you. It is not about a magical formula. It is about crying out over the misery of your sin and begging Jesus for mercy.

We see God’s Purpose in v8

Exodus 3:8 ESV

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.

God will transfer His people. He will take them out of Egypt and put them in a place with milk and honey ( 3:8). It is a land occupied by other nations, and they will have to conquer them later.

God is going to save them from something (slavery) for something (worship and witness).

That is exactly what has happened to us in the gospel.

We see God’s Plan unfold in v10

“Come, I will send you...”

It’s God’s call…and he calls a man!

Israel is crying out, but God is not in our kind of hurry’. God wasn’t delaying or dithering on His part of the covenant. In God’s perfect will, He wanted a shepherd for his people (Ps. 77:20[21]), so his chosen man had to learn how to look after someone else’s sheep!

While Moses was patiently tending to another man’s flock…God met him there.

They exchange names.

Begin a living relationship with one another.

God describes who He is and His connection to the Israelite people.

God discloses his full awareness of the problem:

I am God

I have surely seen

I have heard

I know

I have come down to deliver them / to bring them up

Their cry has come to me

I have seen the oppressor AND the oppression

MY SOLUTION - I’M SENDING YOU

You, Moses, with your fragile childhood.

You, Moses, with your impulsive failure the first time you were moved with compassion to act on behalf of your people.

You, Moses, who fled when you had been found out.

You, Moses, the family man…the shepherd.

God could have handled all himself with one thought, one word!

Joseph Exell writes:

it does undoubtedly appear most remarkable that God did not personally execute what He had personally conceived. The thinking was His, so was the love; all the spiritual side of the case belonged exclusively to God; yet He calls a shepherd, a lonely and unfriended man, to work out—with painful elaboration, and through a long series of bewildering disappointments—the purpose which it seems He Himself might have accomplished with a word.

We find, however, that the instance is by no means an isolated one. Throughout the whole scheme of the Divine government of the human family, we find the principle of mediation. God speaks to man through man.

Which got me to thinking...

In response to the call of God,

Abraham left everything behind and set out for an unknown destination (Gen. 12:1; Heb. 11:8);

Isaac faced the impossible odds of death itself and experienced a God who did indeed provide and whose promises could be trusted (Gen. 22:1–14; Heb. 11:17–20);

and Jacob discovered the folly of living by his wits when he should have been trusting the promises of God (cf. Gen. 27 with 25:23)

Joseph was sent to save lives in a famine ( Gen 45:5-8).

Here Moses was sent to deliver people from oppression and exploitation (3:10).

Later, Elijah was sent to influence the course of international politics ( 1 Kgs 19:15-18).

Jeremiah was sent to proclaim God’s word ( Jer 1:7).

Jesus himself said that He was sent “to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” ( Luke 4:18-19).

The disciples were sent to preach and demonstrate the power of the kingdom ( Matt 10:5-8).

Paul and Barnabas were sent for famine relief ( Acts 11:27-30), then they were sent for evangelism and church planting ( Acts 13:1-3).

Titus was sent to put a messed up church in order ( Titus 1:5).

What will we do about all the pain and anguish in the world? It’s not your call, It’s HIS CALL!

What will we do about the people near us who have not yet heard the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ? It’s not your call, It’s HIS CALL!

What will we do about the millions of people who all over the world in areas where Christ has not been named? It’s not your call, It’s HIS CALL.

It’s HIS CALL! AND HE IS CALLING YOU!

God is a sending God!

God is sending you…because it’s HIS CALL and this is how HE has chosen to work...

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Luke 24:47 ESV

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 20:21 ESV

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

WE’VE BEEN TOLD THAT TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS…but Time is not the Great Physician.

WE’VE BEEN MISLED FOR YEARS AS WE HAVE GULLIBLY BELIEVED THAT POLITICAL CHANGE COULD GET THE JOB DONE…but Politics cannot produce righteous JUDGEMENT - only the King of kings can!

We find ourselves CALLING ON GOD…crying out for deliverance.

When we do, we hear the LORD calling us to the plan!

We need to “remember” God’s covenant…the great commission! Some of us have forgotten it…ALL of us need to bring it to the front burner because it’s HIS CALL.

We need to remember God’s name…and declare it to a lost and dying world - that OUR GOD alone SAVES.

We need to remember God’s plan!…and marvel at the fact that he chose us to be a part of proclaiming his goodness to the nations! We need to walk in OBEDIENCE as we fulfill our role as ambassadors for Christ.

In the coming verses, Moses pushes back on this assignment for many reasons. Although C. S. Lewis described himself as a ‘most reluctant’ convert; the fact is, there may have been no more reluctant convert recorded in history than Moses.

ONE PREACHER CREATED A VIVID PICTURE OF GOD’S CALL ON OUR LIVES USING THIS ILLUSTRATION:

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Great Commission

When Jesus ascended to heaven after his mission on earth, the angels asked him: “Did you accomplish your task?”

“Yes, all is finished,” the Lord replied.

“We have a second question,” said the angels. “Has the whole world heard of you?”

“No,” said Jesus.

The angels next asked, “Then what is your plan?”

Jesus said, “I have left twelve men and some other followers to carry the message to the whole world.”

The angels looked at him and asked: “What is your Plan B?”

Friends, there is no Plan B. Jesus desires to reach the world through men and women like you and me.615

TRANSITION TO PRAYER / RESPONSE

I wonder, TO WHOM IS THE LORD CALLING YOU TO TODAY?

Maybe He’s calling you to Himself first, because you don’t know Him as Lord & Savior.