2021-01-17
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Exodus 3:1-4 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the Angel of the Lordappeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
Exodus 3:9-12 The Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”
Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
Exodus 4:10-13 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant —because I am slow and hesitant in speech.” 11 Yahweh said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”
1. Never ignore God’s call
Vs 3:4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- Fear could have kept Moses away from the presence of God
- This fear could have led Moses to miss out on God’s calling and plan for his life
2. Never question God’s call
Vss 3:10-11 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Vs 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
- The “what ifs” in life will always lead us to question God’s plan
- This is a specific tactic of the enemy to keep us from trusting God
- Moses answered in verse 4, “Here I am,” but when he heard the scope of God’s call he questioned the wisdom of God in calling him
- God will never call you to something in which He doesn’t also equip to you fulfill that call successfully
3. Never doubt God’s power
Vs 3:12a He answered, “I will certainly be with you…”
- Throughout this “burning bush” encounter, God continually assured Moses His power was all that was needed
- And yet, Moses continued to doubt His own ability, God’s call and ultimately, God’s power to make it happen
- In our lives, doubting that God can equip us to fulfill His call has been the one thing that has kept many people from ever accomplishing great things for Him
- Until you accept that you can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, you will never make an impact for Him
4. Always trust God’s heart
Vss 3:16-17a “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites…
- God made it clear that He never forgot Israel in the midst of their problems and despair
- Certainly at times there were moments where Israel wondered where God was, but His timing was always right