Introduction

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It's a joy to gather together as a family of faith, to share in the warmth of fellowship and the nourishment of God's Word. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. Each one of us, in our own unique way, is part of the grand tapestry of God's eternal plan.

Today, we find ourselves standing on holy ground, much like Moses in Exodus 3:1-4:17. "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. 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..."

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This passage continues to unfold the divine dialogue and the commissioning of Moses, a man who, like us, had his share of doubts and fears. Yet, he was called and equipped by God for a purpose beyond his own understanding.

We are going to consider three main points from this passage: Perceiving God's Plan, Preparing for God's Purpose, and Proceeding in God's Path. Each of these points invites us to engage with God's Word, to listen to His voice, and to respond in faith and obedience.

I am reminded of the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust Him in the dark, that is faith." Isn't that where Moses found himself? On the dark side of the wilderness, facing the unknown, yet called to trust in the God who is ever faithful.

Let's bow our heads together in prayer: Gracious and Loving Father, we are grateful for this time together in Your presence. As we open Your Word, we ask that You open our hearts. Help us to perceive Your plan, prepare for Your purpose, and proceed in Your path. Like Moses, may we respond to Your call with faith and obedience. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

Transition. So, let's step into this sacred narrative together, trusting that the same God who spoke to Moses speaks to us today. Are we ready to listen? Are we ready to respond? Are we ready to perceive, prepare, and proceed? Let's find out together.

Perceiving God's Plan

In the wilderness, Moses was tending to his flock. It was a task he had performed countless times. But this day was different. This day, he would encounter the living God in a burning bush. This day, he would begin to perceive the plan that God had for him.

Moses was drawn to the sight of the bush that was on fire but did not burn up. It was a curiosity, a mystery. But as he approached, God called out to him. Moses was not just a spectator, he was a participant in this divine encounter. God had a plan, and Moses was a part of it.

It's interesting to note that Moses was in the wilderness when he encountered God. The wilderness is often a place of testing, of hardship. It's not a place where we would expect to find God. Yet, it was in the wilderness that God revealed Himself to Moses. It was in the wilderness that Moses began to perceive God's plan.

God's plan was not immediately clear to Moses. He had questions, doubts. He wondered why God had chosen him, what he was supposed to do, how the people would respond. But God was patient with Moses. He reassured him, equipped him, and guided him. God's plan was revealed step by step, as Moses was willing to listen and obey.

The first aspect we can draw from this is that God's plan often comes to us in unexpected ways. Moses did not wake up that morning expecting to encounter God in a burning bush. He did not expect to be called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But that's exactly what happened. God's plan was unexpected, but it was perfect.

The second aspect is that God's plan requires our participation. Moses had to make the choice to approach the burning bush. He had to make the choice to listen to God's voice. He had to make the choice to obey God's command. God's plan was not forced upon Moses, it was offered to him. And he had to choose to be a part of it.

The third aspect is that God's plan is revealed to us step by step. Moses did not receive all the answers at once. He had to trust God, to take one step at a time. God's plan was not a roadmap with every detail marked out. It was more like a journey, with God leading the way and Moses following in faith.

The fourth aspect is that God's plan is perfect. It may not seem that way to us. It may seem difficult, challenging, even impossible. But God's plan is always perfect. It is always for our good and for His glory. Moses may have felt inadequate, overwhelmed, even scared. But as he trusted in God, as he followed God's plan, he saw the power and the faithfulness of God.

Transition. In the encounter with the burning bush, Moses began to perceive God's plan. It was not an easy process. It required faith, obedience, and courage. But as Moses followed God's plan, he saw the deliverance of the Israelites, the judgment of the Egyptians, and the glory of God. He saw that God's plan was perfect. And so it is with us. God has a plan for each one of us. It may come to us in unexpected ways. It requires our participation. It is revealed to us step by step. And it is perfect. As we trust in God, as we follow His plan, we will see His power and His faithfulness.

Preparing for God's Purpose

As we continue to engage with this divine narrative, we find Moses in the presence of the burning bush, a spectacle that defies natural explanation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO