I AM...Calling
Part of I AM—A Study of Exodus
September 17, 2023

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I AM…Calling

Moses wanted to help his people but it was not his time.

He thought it was and killed the Egyptian turning his own people against him. What did he do next? He ran away. He ran as far as he could go and became a shepherd living in isolation. He spent the next 40 years tending sheep in the middle of the most insignificant place he could find. He was running from the Egyptians and I think he thought God was dine with him because his plans didn’t work out.

If you’re not dead, God’s not done.
You may be in a difficult season right now, but God may be allowing you to go through what you are so he can get you to where you need to be.

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
Exodus 3:1-3

God used a burning bush, something out of the ordinary, to get Moses attention.

What does God have to use to get your attention?
God isn’t going to yell at you or leave you written instructions on your laptop. He will get your attention if you are seeking Him. The problem is when you are wandering, you are not seeking God, you are just trying to get up every day.

God doesn’t have to blow up your life to get your attention. You don’t have to reach the bottom to start looking up. God doesn’t always use those types of situations.

Once Moses saw the burning bush, he could have turned and walked away but he didn’t. He walked closer to it because he needed to know why it was on fire and not burning up.

Once you sense that God is directing you, draw closer to Him and keep seeking His will. Pray for clarity and wisdom as you start to discern what God has in store for you. Stop looking at all that went wrong and questioning why you are where you are. Start looking ahead, you can do this by intention.

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.”
Exodus 3:4-6

Moses hid his face because he knew he was sinful.
Has God ever nudged you to draw closer to him and you disqualified yourself because of your past?

There is nothing in your past that should keep you from coming closer to Christ.
Only you can make that declaration. God wants you to draw closer to Him, the only hinderance is you. Stop making excuses and start receiving what God has in store for you.

Once God captured Moses attention, Moses was open to listening. God didn’t hammer him for what he did. He didn’t shame him or bring it back up. As Moses got closer to the burning bush, God spoke to him. God speaks to Moses reaffirming what was in Moses heart.

“The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:7-10

Even with a history, bad timing, and sin, God told Moses he was now sending him to bring his people out of slavery.

Your time and God’s time may not be the same time. Sometimes when God tells you to wait with unanswered prayers, he is having you wait for a reason, he has something better in store for you that you cannot see right now.

Do you know how to listen to God?

God speaks to us through:

  • His written Word (the Bible)
  • Prayer
  • Circumstances
  • Other believers
  • The Church

Instead of embracing what God has for Moses, he makes excuses why he should be disqualified from his calling.

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:11-12

Moses still doesn’t believe God, since he (Moses) failed to get it right in the past.

“Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.”
Exodus 3:11-15

Moses has one last excuse for God to use someone else. He has a speech impediment.

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
Exodus 4:10-13

What excuse have you used with God?

  • Are you too young? Do you think to yourself that you are just in school and have enough on your plate. You need to seek God and stop making excuses.
    -** Maybe you don’t have the money.** God has never had a money problem, he has a willingness problem. Share what God lays on your heart and trust that God will bring it to fruition if its from Him.
  • Raising kids, too many activities? Why not do something that involves your kids? Seek the will of God and draw close to Him. In His time he will reveal your next.
  • Are you too old? Nope. Your age is not an excuse. Moses was around 60 or so when God called him to do the biggest thing in his life.

Seek the will of God and draw close to Him. In His time he will reveal your next. That’s between you and God so learn how to listen for his leading.

In Summary

1. God used a burning bush to gain Moses attention. What does God have to do to get your attention? God can use little things or big things to get your attention. Look around where God is moving and go there. When the bush was burning, Moses walked closer to it. When you sense God moving, move closer.

2. Once God captured Moses attention, Moses was open to listening. Learn how to listen for God’s still small voice. God is still speaking to His people. He is still leading and guiding. Do not tune him out. Seek him before he gets your attention in a way you didn’t want or expect.

3. After Moses listened to God, he acted.
You need to do something. Maybe you need to go on a missions trip. Maybe you need to make that call or step up your giving.

Whatever God is placing in your heart right now, pursue it.

It could be now or not yet, but God is leading you, you just need to learn what he is telling you. Keep seeking God and when he reveals what’s next for you, you will have peace about it. That is a tell tale sign that God is involved. You will have peace that comes from being in step with the Spirit.