SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). A Regular Day (vs 1-2).
(2). A Bush that Burnt (vs 3-6).
(3). A Questionable Ancestry (vs 6).
(4). A Promised Deliverance (vs 7-10)
(5). A Reluctant Response (vs 11-22)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A man made an appointment to see his doctor.
"Doctor," he complained, "everywhere I touch seems to hurt lately.
Am I getting old or just senile?
If I push on my knees here, I hurt.
I push on my stomach, and I hurt!
I press on my head right here by my temple and that hurts too!
What's going on?"
• The doctor called for a full body X-ray.
• An hour passed and after evaluating the X-rays carefully, the doctor returned.
• Stroking his chin, the doctor slowly began,
• "I think I've found the reason why everything you touch hurts."
• The man anxiously replied, "Well, tell me!"
• The doctor pointed to the X-ray, "Your body is fine, but your finger is broken."
• TRANSITION: broken things in a joke are funny,
• But broken things in life are not!
• Moses had been a man of style and sophistication.
• A man used to life's luxuries.
• Quote: We are told in Acts chapter 7 verse 22 that:
"Moses the son of Pharaoh,
Was a man educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
A man powerful in speech and actions"
• But one day that lifestyle was forever broken!
• The reason being he made a stupid decision,
• In chapter 2 of this book (Exodus),
• Moses saw an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave,
• He intervened but it all went badly wrong,
• And he ended up killing the Egyptian!
• Moses, the prince of Egypt was forced to flee to Midian,
• Where he became, “a foreigner in a foreign land.”
• He found himself looking after sheep, smelly in a flat barren land.
• Worse still, they were not even his sheep!
• He is a classic case of, ‘how the mighty have fallen’!
Quote: We are told in Acts chapter 7 verse 30:
“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
• For Moses the next 40 years, don’t miss that, not days or weeks or months, but 40 years,
• He will be living as a shepherd in Midian beyond the Jordan,
• (The Sinai peninsula, and Arabian Petraea).
(1). A Regular Day (vs 1-2).
“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. 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”.
Ill:
• We are use to the term, ‘red-letter day’
• Meaning a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or memorable.
• e.g. a birthday, or an anniversary, or the day you go on holiday.
• TRANSITION: I love the fact God spoke to Moses on an ordinary, regular day.
• No advanced warning! For Moses this day started out like so many others.
Yet on this day, God would call Moses out of his safe lifestyle and into a radical lifestyle.
• Moses was in a safe place.
• He was married, he had children,
• He was enjoying family life.
• He was employed, his job was not taxing but it was regular work that paid the bills.
• He had been working for his father-in-law Jethro for 40 years.
• We might say he has, ‘his roots were not just planted but they were established & deep!’
Ill:
• If you have ever had to push a car to try and get it started,
• You will know it is easier to push when it is moving,
• It is very hard work to actually get it moving!
• TRANSITION: I think most calls of God to his people to ‘do something’
• Probably come to busy people, those already involved in some kind of service,
• And that calling and service kind of snowballs.
• I think (I can’t prove it) but from my experience,
• Most people are not ‘cold called’ into Christian service,
• Most people I know were already serving God in a variety of different ways.
And a danger and temptation for too many Christians is the comfort zone.
• We tie ourselves down with family, mortgage, career, etc,
• That God could not move us on because our life ties are so strong!
• For us to come into all that God has for us may mean,
• That we have to break out of those comfort zones.
Ill:
• Two American construction workers are enjoying their lunch break,
• They open up their lunch boxes and one of them looked inside his box and said,
• "Not baloney again! I can't believe it. I hate baloney”.
• What the Americans call, ‘baloney’.
• We British call, pork luncheon meat.
• Back to the story, the American construction worker says,
• "Not baloney again! I can't believe it. I hate baloney”.
• This is the third time this week I've had baloney. I can't stand baloney!"
• The other one said, "Why don't you just ask your wife to make you something different?"
• He replied, "I don't have a wife. I made these myself."
• TRANSITION: The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives we put there ourselves.
• If we ever want life to be any different from the same old baloney, we keep serving ourselves,
• Then we must break out of doing the same old routine.
(2). A Bush that Burnt (vs 3-6).
“So, Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.’
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.”
But before God tells Moses who he is, I like the fact he shows him who he is (vs 3).
“So, Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.’
• It was not unusual to see a bush on fire,
• The desert is a hot dry place and under the intense heat of the sun,
• Bushes were known to spontaneous combustion, catch fire,
• So a burning bush was not unusual.
• Notice what Moses said, “the bush does not burn up.”
• It was the fact that the bush burnt and burnt and burnt that grabbed his attention.
• It was engulfed in flames but not consumed..
• Notice too that God waited for Moses to respond and then he spoke,
• “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush”.
• It suggests to me that if Moses had carried on his way ignoring the bush,
• He might not have encountered the living God that day!
• Otherwise why mention it? God waited for Moses to respond and then he showed himself
Note: what God says to Moses (vs 4),
• He called him by name, ‘Moses! Moses!’
• Pharoah and the army of Egypt might not have been able to find Moses in the desert,
• But God knew exactly where he was and what he was up to!
And straight away Moses learnt an important truth about God (vs 5).
• The lesson is not that God is omniscient, all-knowing,
• e.g. He knew his name and location.
• You kind of expect God to know that sort of thing.
• Moses learnt another attribute or characteristic of God that day,
• God tells Moses to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground,
• Moses learns that the true God is a holy God!
• This is the first mention in the Bible of God’s holiness.
• It is a reminder that God is very different from human beings!
• He is set apart, he is pure, he is perfect.
Question: Why Does Moses Remove His Shoes?
• If you wear sandals in the hot summer weather,
• You know that when you talker them off your feet are normally dirty,
• Especially if you have been on a dusty or sandy track.
• So, removing your shoes does not make you or your feet any cleaner,
• So why remove them?
Answer: let me suggest 4 reasons other reasons why God told him to remove his shoes.
(a). It might simply be so that Moses can fully experience God.
• e.g. He saw God via the fire in the bush.
• e.g. He heard the voice of God speak to him from the bush.
• e.g. He felt or experienced God, maybe the heat went through the ground to his feet.
• e.g. He smelt the burning wood as the tree was burning
• So, Moses was able to experience God through four of his five senses,
• This encounter would be full on!
• (b). Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission.
• e.g. Matthew Henry in his classic commentary explains,
• “Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission.”
• In other words, he was obedient and submissive to the command of God.
• Removing his shoes signified Moses forfeiting his comfort as he stood on the hot ground.
• And for Moses this was the first step of surrender as God deals with his past, present,
• And is about to reveal and shape to him his future.
• (c). Putting off the shoes was symbolic of putting off the earthly or profane.
• Some scholars consider that removing shoes,
• Signifies putting off the earthly or profane before we approach the holy,
• e.g., The Old before Testament priests had to do this before they entered the sanctuary.
• (d). Putting off the shoes was symbolic of coming home.
• e.g., In Eastern homes you always take your shoes off before entering a home.
• Remember at this stage of his life,
• Moses has been rejected by his own people the Hebrews,
• And also, his adopted people the Egyptians.
• He describes it in the naming of his child (chapter 2 verse 22),
• As being, “a foreigner in a foreign land.”
• But from now on Moses will find his true home - here with God.
ill:
• In the New Testament (Matthew chapter 10 verse14),
• We see Jesus instructing his disciples to shake the dust off their feet,
• If their message of the gospel is rejected.
• TRANSITION: This suggests a union with the place you stand,
• You are either with God or not with God.
• So, Moses was coming home from now on Moses will find his true home with God.
(3). A Questionable Ancestry (vs 6).
“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.”
Question:
• Why does God describe himself here as the, “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.
• In fact that title is used in multiple places in the Bible, why?
• You might think it would be easier just to refer to himself as the God of Abraham.
Answer:
• Let me suggest that God uses this description, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.
• Because the use of all 3 names emphasizes the covenant that God made with Abraham,
• And that promise was repeated to following generations.
• So, the title, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Is a reminder that God keeps his word, God keeps his promises.
But I think that descriptive title may have had another understanding for Moses,
• Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are three people who all failed God badly.
• Like Moses they all attempted to do God’s will their way,
• And as a result, they all failed God.
• e.g., Abraham deceived and lied (Genesis chapter 12)
• e.g., Isaac copied his father Abraham and also deceived and lied (Genesis chapter 26)
• e.g., Jacob uses fraud and cunning to take Esau’s birth right from his brother. (Genesis chapter 25)
• They all did God's will their way and failed God,
• But amazingly God never failed them, he never abandoned them for someone else.
• He gave them all another chance, a new start!
Application:
• There is always a new start.
• No-one here is a hopeless case, no one here needs to walk out that door a failure,
• When we come humbly and in repentance with God there is always a new start!
(4). A Promised Deliverance (vs 7-10)
“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.’”
• God clearly spells out to Moses what he wants him to do,
• We could call it the four ‘Ds’.
(a). It will be a delivering work (vs 8).
“So, I have come down to rescue them (or deliver 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.”
(b). It will be a dangerous work (vs 8).
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’”
• There is a name for anyone who messes with Pharoah,
• It is called victim!
(c). It will be a disappointing work (4:21).
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”
• Question: How would you like to be sent to someone who will not listen?
• Answer: Me neither! It’s hard enough going when people listen!
(d). It will be a directed work (vs 8).
“So, I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians”.
• Christian ministry is never…
• Me and God, not even God and me, it is always God through me (his people)
(5). A Reluctant Response (vs 11-22)
• God had a plan for Moses; he wanted him to GO back to Egypt,
• And to be the person he would use to free the Israelite slaves.
• But Moses like many of us, was not sure he fancied facing the mighty Pharoah!
We read Moses’ response (vs 11):
• "Who me lord?" - "Who am I?"
• "You've got the wrong person!",
• "I'm a failure.... I killed the Egyptian".
• "I'm 80 years old... past my prime".
• "I cannot go to posh Egypt in these crummy clothes".
• "Try someone else".
Note:
• God was NOT asking Moses his advice, i.e. "Do you think this is a good idea?"
• He had already chosen the best person for the job,
• God never requires us to do something beyond our ability.
• It may stretch us, hard and difficult, we can do it with his help.
• So, God says to Moses in verse 12: "You can do it Moses",
• The reason you can do it is because, "I am with you".
Application: What is our reaction when God asks us to do something?
• To witness to somebody,
• To support a meeting or an activity.
• To help someone, or to visit someone.
• I am hoping that it is not, "Try someone else!"
ill:
Turn to Isaiah chapter 45 verse 9:
"Woe to the man who fights with his creator,
Does the pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with him who forms it, saying?
"Stop you’re doing it all wrong" or "How clumsy your work has no handles".
• I meet many Christians with that mentality,
• They think God forgot their handles,
• Lord, I would serve you if…
• I could sing like. Or preach like? Or play piano/guitar like?
• Or if I had a testimony like?
• If only I could? - Or if only?
• If that describes you.
• Then you are "a pot" arguing with its creator.
• When we hold that mindset, mentality, we are saying:
• God, you got it wrong with you.
• You forgot your handles and made a mistake!
• Remember God made you unique,
• The way he wanted you to be with your own personality and character.
• With your own particular handles or lack of them!
• You are a one off! Unique.
• God has given you talents and at least one spiritual gift (maybe more)
God knows all about our weakness as well as our strengths:
• He fully knows what we can do and what we can't do.
• And he works within that knowledge.
• He may often stretch us, but he won't make us do things we can't,
• He knows us and he cares for us!!!
God is clear in his calling, and Moses is his man (vs 11)
• Even if Moses does not realise it, “…but Moses said to God...”
• God does not ask his advice, he simply says.
• "I've got a job to be done and you’re the best man to do it".
• Moses reacted like we react:
• He came up with a list of excuses, a list of reasons to avoid obeying God.
MOSES COMES UP WITH FIVE EXCUSES, FIVE REASONS NOT TO OBEY GOD.
• First, he said he was insignificant.
• “Who am I that I should” (chapter 3 verse 11).
• Second, he said he was ignorant.
• “Suppose they ask what God’s name is?” (chapter 3 verse 13).
• Third he said he would be impotent.
• “What if they don't believe me?” (chapter 4 verse 1).
• Fourth he said he was incompetent.
• “I have never been eloquent” (chapter 4 verse 10).
• Firth he said he was irrelevant.
• “Please send someone else to do it” (chapter verse 4:13).
• Moses comes out with a load of excuses focusing on his weaknesses,
• And each time God answers his excuses one-by-one.
Excuse number 1: "I will not have all the answers". (vs 11-13).
• Moses thought he would look stupid going before Pharaoh and the people.
• And not knowing how to answer their questions.
• That is a reason why many Christians do not witness today,
• In case we look stupid, by not being able to answer people’s questions.
ill:
• There are a number of questions that people normally ask us,
• e.g., How do you know the Bible is true or unchanged?
• e.g., Why does God allow suffering?
• So, a little bit of work now, will prepare us for when those questions arise.
• Excuse number 1: "I will not have all the answers".
• Answer number one: "You will have all of me" (vs 14)
• "I AM" The self-existing one, your creator is with you.
• People whoever they are:
• Rich or poor. black or white, tough or weak.
• Clever or thick, Man UTD fans and the others.
• They all need Christ!
• And we have him, so share him.
Excuse number 2: “Suppose they ask what is God's name?” (vs 13-14).
• In response to the question Moses asks,
• God states his own name for the first time:
“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.”’”
• Up until this moment the Israelites called their God Elohim or El,
• Which was a title, not a personal name,
• Or they called him, “El Shaddai”, often translated as God Almighty.
• Now when God gives a name for his people to call him,
• It is a name that conveys his dominion over all things,
• The source of his power, and his eternal nature:
• I AM. he is the self-sufficient, self-sustaining God who was, who is, and who will be.
The name of I AM is how God chose to introduce himself,
• It would become so sacred that in Judaism, the name is not to be spoken.
• The significance of God’s self-given name encompasses all that He is,
• And how we are to relate to Him.
• “I AM THAT I AM” (Hebrew: ‘ehyeh asher ehyeh’)
• Which can be translated “I will be what I will be”
• Or translated “I will become whatsoever I may become.”
This expression is an idiom,
• An expression that has a meaning that cannot be understood by the individual words.
• Remember the context of the passage in Exodus.
• The Israelites were crying day and night for deliverance.
• God was calling Moses to help lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
• Moses asked God – what is God’s name or what should he say to the Israelites?
• In God’s response, He provides a promise to Israel,
• He would become what they would need Him to become,
• In this case their deliverer!
TRANSITION: This promise found in the name of God,
• Can be extended to the world of mankind.
• God will become what they need him to become,
• He will be our saviour and our deliver too!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=B4xLW0O67GXtOEHvaDIP1xpiCEhZYTE2
