From The Backside Of The Desert To Holy Ground_exodus 2.15-3.22 Series

2026.01.11. Sermon Notes. “From the Backside of the Desert to Holy Ground” Exodus 2.15-3.22

William Akehurst, HSWC

SCRIPTURES: Exodus 2:15-25, Exodus 3:1-22, Genesis 15:13-14, Acts 7:22-34, John 8:58, Hebrews 11:24-27

KEY WORDS: Deliverance, Covenant, Holy Ground, I AM, Calling, Obedience, Redemption

BIG IDEA

GOD often prepares HIS servants in hidden places before revealing HIS power in public deliverance. The GOD who sees affliction, hears cries, and remembers HIS covenant reveals HIMSELF as I AM, the eternal Deliverer WHO sends HIS servant to redeem His people.

INTRO

Having been found out about killing an Egyptian who was beating one of his Hebrew brothers, Exodus 2 ends with Moses running for his life. Exodus 3 begins with GOD revealing His Name. Between those two moments lies 40 years of silence, obscurity, and preparation.

GOD is never late. HE is never rushed. HE prepares the man before HE performs the miracle.

I. GOD’S PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS (Exodus 2:15-22)

Exodus 2:15-22

15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”

19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”

20 So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”

21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

MOSES FLEES EGYPT

“When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses…” (2:15)

Moses leaves Egypt as a fugitive, not a hero.

He was trained in Pharaoh’s court, but was still not ready for GOD’s calling.

POINT: Deliverance cannot be accomplished in the flesh, even with good intentions.

MIDIAN: FROM PALACE TO PASTURE

Moses settles in Midian, marries Zipporah, and becomes a shepherd.

• From commanding servants - to tending sheep

• From royal robes - to desert garments

• From public strength - to private humility

“And she bore him a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, ‘I have been a stranger in a foreign land.’” (2:22)

HEBREW INSIGHT:

Gershom - “a stranger there”

Moses learns what it means to live as a sojourner - just like Israel will.

APPLICATION

• GOD often removes us from what we know to prepare us for what HE has planned

• Hidden years are not wasted years

• Shepherding sheep prepared Moses to shepherd people

II. GOD HEARS THE CRY OF THE OPPRESSED (Exodus 2:23-25)

Exodus 2:23-25

23 Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to GOD because of the bondage. 24 So GOD heard their groaning, and GOD remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And GOD looked upon the children of Israel, and GOD acknowledged them.

Four key verbs define GOD’s response:

“GOD heard… GOD remembered… GOD saw… GOD knew.”

POINT:

• GOD was not absent - HE was working unseen

• The covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still stood

• Israel’s suffering had reached GOD’s appointed time

APPLICATION:

Your prayer may feel unanswered, but GOD is never indifferent.

III. THE HOLY GOD WHO REVEALS HIMSELF (Exodus 3:1-6)

Exodus 3:1-6 MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH (Ex. 6:2-7:7; 11:1-4; 12:35, 36)

1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of GOD. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, GOD called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

And he said, “Here I am.”