Encountering God (3)
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We are on this journey of encountering God through the recall of Moses and burning bush. Last week we discussed that a God encounter must have your full attention. Today is all about learning who God is. When we encounter God is must be on God’s terms. We have leave behind all of our prejudices and what we think we know about God.
Immediately after getting Moses’ attention through the burning bush God defines himself.
Exodus 3:6 (ESV)
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.
Why does God chose to define himself in this way?
The fist is looking at the promises-God promised Abraham the promised land. The place where Moses is going to lead Israel. We aren’t going to spend a lot of time on this, but as Christians we must realize that we serve the same God and enjoy the same promises that those in the Old Testament were promised.
Second is the present tense I am.
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
God had a plan of redemption all the back in the garden of Eden. He knew how he was going to bring his people back to Him and out of the sin they have chosen. God referes to these men as alive, although they were physically dead. However, we know that they were alive in God and joined with him in Heaven.
This brings to point that God salvation isn’t just for the moment and his promises are eternal.
But why these three men out of all those who could have been picked historically.
1. Pioneer
Going off into the unknown. A journey Moses was about to embark on. A Journey everyone of us takes when we recieve Christ as Lord and Savior.
Abraham realized that in order to serve God he had to walk with God God’s way and in God’s direction. Abraham is the father of Faith.He listened to where God wanted him to Go.
Moses would need this type of faith. God was reassuring him, through example that, although this is unchartered territory for Moses it’s isn’t for God. God had done this before and was victorious in His endevors.
Issac was faithful in His inheritance
2. Inheritance
Moses is about to inherit a promise that wasn’t given to Him, although he was the one who is called to walk it out. We as Christians inherit promises all though the bible.
As we are grafted into the vine—adopted as sons and daughters we are not only reciptients of the inheritance God laid out for Israel but we are accountable for how that inheritance is used.
Issac had very few ups and downs in his life, but he had to manage God’s resources well. When we recieve Jesus as Lord and Savior we understand that our life is not out own and therefore our resources aren’t our own either. God can and often times will ask us to appropriate our resources to areas that don’t always benefit us, but that advance the kingdom of GOd. The big question is are we going to be faithful to listen>
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Everything is God’s. In my house I own everything. i find it funny when I ground my kids from their tablets and they state you can’t it’s mine. I ask: Is it under my roof? Does it use my wifi? Do you charge it with my electric? Then It’s mine. I just let you use it as I see fit.
I teach the kids stewardship. If you want game time then chores come first. If you want time to yourself, the things I need done have to be done first.
God is the same way. Why do you think God tells us to give him the first fruits?
What are the first fruits: If you’re given $1,000 a week all in $100 bills which one is first?
Many would state the first one that enters your hand. But I get checks and they all enter at the same time:
The first one that flows out
Putting God first in our inheritience is giving God the beginning of everything. Your day, your finances, you family. God shouldn’t be an after though, but it should be the initial thought that all other thoughts flow through.
Last God is the God of Jacob
3. Adversity
More fully blessing in the face of adversity.
Jacob had to face a lot of issues. Betrayal by his brothers. Betrayal by his bosses wife, Betrayal by the kings servant.
But dispite the hard times Jacob remained faithful in his obedience and actions.
Moses is about to face some difficult times. More so dealing with difficult people, but he will be blessed through the difficulty.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.