Studies in Exodus

Studies in Exodus Presentation 03

The Table of Contents Chapter 1v1-22 Introduction Chapter 2v1-25 Preparing a Deliverer Chapter 3v1-22 The Call of Moses [1] Chapter 4v1-17 The Call of Moses [2] Chapter 4v18-5v21 Final Preparations Chapter 5v22-6v27 Discouragement and Comfort Chapter 6v28-7v24 The Exposure of Evil Chapter 8-v1-10v29 Idolatry: A Dangerous Refuge Chapter 11v1-10 Corrective to Final Judgment Chapter 12v1-30 Blood on the Doorposts Chapter 12v31-42 God’s Faithfulness Chap.13v1-16 Consecration of The Redeemed Chap.13v17-14v18 God’s Dead Ends Chap.14v19-31 Power to Deliver Chap.15v1-21 The Exultation of God Presentation 03

The Call of Moses [1] Chapter 3v1-22 Presentation 03

Introduction اما حودا Have you ever let God down badly? Can you look back over the years and wish your service had been more productive? Moses must have felt like that after 40 years of exile in Midian. At 80 years of age Moses clearly considered himself disqualified from the task to which God had called him, that of deliverer. But God had other ideas. The words "BUT GOD" should be printed in the introduction of this chapter. Words God constantly writes across our lives. You see we often write ourselves off before God does! Presentation 03

The Call of Moses God’s Revelation How would God gain the attention of a dispirited Moses who was resigned to being a sheep farmer for the rest of his life? God did revealed himself to Moses in a remarkable way. But notice that it is often in our common daily routines that God makes himself known. As Moses was watching his sheep, he was attracted to a bush on fire. That in itself was not unusual. In the desert thorn bushes are often set aflame by spontaneous combustion. What caught his attention was the fact that this bush was not consumed by the flame. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses God’s Revelation The symbolism of the burning bush teaches an important lesson. God's presence transforms without consuming! Moses and Israel would later reflect on this revelation discovering that weakness can be transformed by God's glorious power yet not be consumed by it. God deals tenderly with our frailties when we submit to his service! This motto the Church of Scotland appears with the symbol of a burning bush. The Latin words ‘NecTamen Consumebatur’ – ‘nor was the bush consumed’ are a timely reminder that God’s grace preserves when destruction seems inevitable. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses God’s Revelation But God's revelation to Moses was more than visual. As Moses approached this strange sight he was told to remove his shoes. He was standing on holy ground. In the East the removal of one’s shoes is regarded as a mark of respect. Moses was learning that the God of his fathers was a holy God. Again and again in scripture and in church history we find that there is a clear relationship between God's call to service and his revelation of his holiness. cf Isaiah "Woe is me...” Isa 6.5 and Peter, "Lord depart from me for I am a sinful man” Luke 5.8. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses God’s Revelation In the famous novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, Quazimodo the hunchback says to Esmerelda, "It is only when I see how beautiful you are that I see how ugly I am". It is only when we truly grasp God's holiness that we are able to recognise the ugliness of our sin. As we see something of God's holiness we become aware of how our lives need to be changed in order to be his representatives. Murray McCheyne wrote, "A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God". God reveals himself to us as holy in order that we might see our need of holiness! Presentation 03

The Call of Moses God’s Revelation Moses had tried to accomplish God's purpose of deliverance through murder and a mask of deceit. But at the outset of this encounter with God he was learning that zeal must never override morality. The end never justifies the means. God is concerned both with the end and the means by which it is accomplished because he is holy! E.g. He would not advocate lying to advance his purpose. Cf 2Cor.4.2 “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God”. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Revelation of God’s Mercy Moses learns not only about God's holiness but about his mercy. God reveals his compassion and mercy in his speech, "I have seen,.. I have heard... I know... I have come to deliver them“ 3v7. God is not indifferent to the condition of his enslaved people in Egypt but is ready to act on their behalf and deliver them from oppression. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Revelation of God’s Mercy Some have asked ‘why bother involving Moses, why not simply directly intervene in history’? God chooses to accomplish his purposes through human agency. And Moses had been groomed for leadership not just in the courts of Egypt but also in the Midianite desert. The apparently ‘wasted years’ had also been years of preparation. In his shepherd role Moses learned patience in leading stubborn and awkward sheep – a quality he would later need. There is no wastage with God. He can even capitalise upon our failures. Cf Joel 2.25 Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God God's call to Moses is very simple, "So go now I am sending you". The man who has failed God, is recommissioned. The ‘failure’ is being sent back to work. How that should have thrilled and excited Moses heart. Like Jonah after his disobedience, when delivered from the stomach of the great fish we read, "the word of God came to Jonah a SECOND time” Jon. 3v1. Isn't it amazing to discover that past failure does not disqualify us from future service. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God Moses has lost all his drive for the work of God, his failure has crippled him. While it has dealt a necessary blow to his self confidence, his self worth had also been badly shaken. Therefore Moses begins to rehearse a catalogue of excuses which he thinks would disqualify him from active duty in the work of God. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God First he asks, "who am I?” 3v11. The self assurance of 40 years ago has been replaced by uncertainty. The brash "I can do anything for God" Moses is replaced by a man unsure of his abilities. Indeed, he considers himself a nobody and therefore in no position to advance God's purposes. But God delights to use nobodies. Martin Luther wrote, “God made the world out of nothing and it is only when we are nothing that he can make something out of us”. Indeed, the all important qualification required for Christian service is the call of God. And of the two responses to the call of God, rashness or hesitancy, the latter is the safer. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God Moses uncertainty is dealt with in two ways, first he is given the promise of God's presence, "I will be with you“ v12 and secondly, that the success of his venture will demonstrate that he had acted correctly. "When you have brought the people out of Egypt you will worship God in this mountain." Is it possible to be mistaken and enter some work for God to which he has not called us? Yes, but God is able to check us when we go wrong. Cf. [Isa 30.21] "When you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way walk in it". Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God Moses second concern is that the Israelites will ask him awkward questions. They will doubt his credibility and question whether this returned Egyptian prince knows the true and living God. It is also possible that their questions would be designed to discover whether or not God was worthy of their confidence. Not only had some Israelites had been influenced by Egyptian worship but they were also puzzled by God’s past failure to help. Today many unbelieving people ask, “Can you show us that your God is worthy of our confidence and trust..” Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God For Moses, perhaps the sneer of the Israelite, who saw him murder the Egyptian still rankled, "Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?“ 2v14. It is easy for leaders to form a cynical assessment regarding how people might respond to God’s Word. When God reveals his purpose to one person we must expect him to incline the hearts of others to follow. Many a man has been worried about his wife's attitude to a call of God to overseas service, only to be astonished that she was equally worried that he might not go! Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God God's answer to Moses may at first strike us as rather strange, "This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you””. V13.The Hebrew expression “I am”,contains this meaning, "I was, I am, and I shall always continue to be". It can also be translated, "I will be what I will be". God is saying, “My character does not change nor does my commitment to my people, nor does my determination to accomplish my sovereign purpose”. The entire divine character of God could not be fully understood by any one generation of Israelites but God would continually make himself known giving more and more light to fill out their understanding. Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God But what about the strength of opposition? What about Pharaoh and his armies? God assures Moses that Pharaoh would be forced to accede to his request. Pharaoh would not release the Israelites unless, "a mighty hand compels him” v19. In a land like Egypt with its many hundreds of gods the mention of the God of the Hebrews would cause no great surprise. Pharaoh would assume that the God of a foreign enslaved people would be inferior to the Egyptian gods and to himself. And so God would correct that assumption! Presentation 03

The Call of Moses The Call of God The deliverance of Israel would take place in such a way that Moses and the surrounding nations would be in no doubt about the fact the God of Israel was the true and living God. Our thinking is often too horizontal and so we often ask the wrong question about God’s work. We ask, ‘What might man do to damage the work of God?’ We should be asking, ‘What might God do to secure its completion?’ Presentation 03

The Call of Moses Conclusion God's plan of redemption was being put into operation. Nothing would be able to withstand it; not all the might of Egypt and certainly not the reluctance of the man Moses, whom God had chosen for this task. God’s purposes of redemption are ongoing. Do not disqualify yourself from involvement. At 80 years of age God recommissioned Moses and said “Go”. What part might God yet have for you to play in his great work? Presentation 03

Studies in Exodus