Introduction of Moses
1. Escaped death
2. Strategically placed in a basket
3. Raised as a prince in the land of Egypt
4. As an adult the first thing we see is Moses defending his people. He killed a man and then fled for his life.
5. He lands in the obscure town of Midian, hiding from his past, and takes up camp next to a well
6. Strange because all roads led to the wells of each town.
7. Moses has an uncunning way of helping those who can’t help themselves. He helped water the flock of what was soon to be his in laws.
8. Moses stayed 40 years in that area
9. a generation past
10. King of Egypt died
11. Moses was 80 years old when he was walking along and noticed the bush on fire but not consuming
12. God gets Moses’ attention
13. Moses says, “who I am”
14. Moses has up to this point DEFENDED the OPPRESSED
15. Moses then looks at his limitations we God commissions him for something great.
1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro,[a] the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai,[b] the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father[c]—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. —Exodus 3:1-12 New Living Translation
Critical point:
Moses is tending the flock in the wasteland where there are no inhabitants and comes to the mountain in the midst of the wilderness and God speaks.
2 generations had past - Moses is 80 - but he hears the heart of God - DELIVERANCE
The clear message of God often times comes in the LONELY places of life. —PR
God will get your attention
God always gives clear directive
God said “It was time to act” - He remembered his covenant - the people cried out.
When Moses puts all his doubts before the Lord at the burning bush, “The key to the situation was not who Moses was and what he could bring to the task in hand, but who is with Moses and supporting him. The LORD changes the focus of Moses’ thinking from self to God, from human ability to divine potential
It is human nature to DOUBT our ability but let us NEVER doubt the capability of the Lord. —PR
God wants a decision
We must ask ourselves: Is our relationship with God about him meeting all our expectations? And when he doesn’t, do we doubt him? Or is our relationship with God about him shaping our desires, perspectives, and understanding of life to his will and learning to trust him?
Doubting your ability in the midst of God’s commission is not bad as long as it doesn’t become the thing that holds you back.