COLD FEET AT A FIERY BUSH
Exodus 3.1-22
S: Change
C: God’s call to mission
Th: Movin’ On Up!
Pr: GOD USES BROKEN PEOPLE.
Type: Inductive
I. ROUTINE
II. CURIOSITY
III. “HINENI”
IV. MISSION
V. DOUBT
VI. “YHWH”
VII. SUCCESS
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Understand that when God is on the inside, it does not matter if you are broken (He is enough).
• Put away your excuses.
• Fulfill your mission.
• You are a deliverer (everyone of us).
Version: ESV
RMBC 17 February 08 AM
INTRODUCTION:
CONTEXT:
We have begun a series on the book of Exodus, and we learned two weeks ago that a new pharaoh was in charge that no longer remembered Joseph, and so…
1. The Hebrews are in bondage in Egypt.
The Israelites were increasing in population and it was a threat to the Egyptians.
And every time the Egyptians take measures to stop it, it is thwarted by the hardiness of the Hebrew population.
They were an increasingly fertile bunch.
Finally, the pharaoh commands that all Hebrew baby boys are to be thrown into the Nile.
It is at this time…
2. A deliverer is born – Moses.
Jochebed, his mother, hides her new baby boy for three months, but she knows that it is only a matter of time until he is discovered.
She places him in a basket, in the Nile River, among the high reeds, right near where the pharaoh’s daughter bathes.
Pharaoh’s daughter does take pity on this baby, and thus, the very one pharaoh wants to kill is saved by his daughter.
Named Moses by this daughter, he is educated by the Egyptians.
In spite of this, as he grows and mature, Moses retains his Hebrew identity, and somewhere along the line, understands that God has called him to deliver the Hebrews out of bondage.
But…
3. Moses runs before He is sent.
He is so anxious to fulfill this duty, and when a fellow Hebrew is being beat up by an Egyptian, he kills the Egyptian.
Instead of appreciating this act of salvation though, his fellow Israelites refuse to acknowledge his authority as a leader and judge.
ILL Personal
I can identify with what Moses went through to a point. At the end of my college years, I was anxious to get into the pastorate. I began considering what role God would have me in, and I was sure God wanted me in the pastorate.
What I did not expect is that God would call me to be a youth pastor. This was not my desire. This is not what I wanted to be. But I was a youth guy for eleven years.
It was quite an intense time. I kept waiting for the go ahead from God to enter into a different kind of ministry. I was champing at the bit, ready to gallop out and do God’s will. I kept telling Him to just set it up and I was ready to go.
Eventually, God did give me the go ahead, obviously. But I had to do a lot of growing in the meanwhile.
Now I am less than a year of being a half a century (as my dad likes to remind me), and never have I felt so inadequate, unready, and unqualified to be a shepherd.
That is probably what Moses felt by this time – inadequate, unready, and unqualified.
He was on the run now, but for a different reason.
He was running away.
And now…
4. Moses just wants to forget Egypt.
He moves to Midian.
He meets a nice family, with a nice girl.
And at the age of forty, he settles down, raises a family, and lives peacefully as a shepherd.
Egypt disappears from his memory…
ILL Routine (H)
An Episcopal priest was preaching in an unfamiliar church one Sunday morning. As he stood in the pulpit to begin the service, he tapped the microphone to make sure that it was on. He heard nothing, even though, it was working fine. So he leaned closer to the microphone and said, he thought, to himself; "There is something wrong with this thing."
The well trained congregation immediately responded, "And also with you."
There is something wrong with us!
Don’t be insulted by this, but we are all failures.
But here is the good news.
Our failures are not the last word.
Note this…
5. Note that GOD USES BROKEN PEOPLE.
In fact, God seems to prefer it.
We each qualify for God’s service, just as we are, failures and all.
You see, when we know that we are a failure and we know we have nothing to offer, it is then the light and glory of Christ’s salvation can shine through.
We know it is not about us.
It is about Him.
God uses broken people, like you, like me, like Moses.
Let’s hear about Moses…
OUR STUDY:
I. ROUTINE (1)
(1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
As we noted before, Moses has settled down, and…
6. Moses was living an ordinary life as a shepherd.
This is his 14,600th day of watching sheep in the wilderness.
He had dutifully kept moving sheep to the next green pasture all over Midian.
He was a different man now.
He had lost all his ambitions for leadership and greatness.
So, it was just another ordinary day, until something very curious happens.
You see, God gets his attention.
II. CURIOSITY (2-3)
(2) And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
You know, out in the wilderness, there was usually not much to write home about.
Usually, it was “watched sheep again today.”
But on this day, there was fire!
Not only that, it was fire that was inextinguishable.
And we learn here that…
7. It is wise to check out the unusual.
This was a strange fire, for it kept burning and burning and burning.
It was right out of the Twilight Zone.
But we learn that when something unusual happens, it is always wise of us to ask what God is saying.
You see, we do not live in a random universe.
There are no coincidences.
For God is constantly seeking to get our attention, and will use the common in an extraordinary way to get it, whether it is a car accident, sickness, or losing your job.
So Moses goes to take a look, and is surprised to find a talking bush!
III. “HINENI” (4-6)
(4) When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (5) Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (6) And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Note this, God knows his name.
You see, we serve an intensely personal God.
He knows us.
He knows us by our name.
And when God calls him, Moses answers, “Hineni.”
“It’s me!”
This is a change in Moses.
Before he would have hauled out his resume and encouraged God to check his references.
He would have said, “I am the man you are looking for.”
But that is not what happens, for…
8. Moses has finally become a nobody.
His answer to God is a quiet and reluctant, “It’s me.”
You see, we think God is looking for people that could sell ice to an Eskimo.
But God is not impressed by that.
God is not impressed with us.
Instead, He is checking out our humility, sensitivity, and availability.
So when Moses answers with, “Hineni,” it becomes a holy moment.
Moses is now standing on holy ground.
It is just him and the Lord.
And God says, “I’m the God of your family – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – men who have failed, but through whom I did extraordinary things.”
With this, Moses, this once proud, bold, courageous, ready to take the bull by the horns type of man, was afraid.
He has cold feet at a fiery bush.
IV. MISSION (7-10)
(7) Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, (8) and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (9) And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
God says, “I have seen my people weeping.”
“I have heard the crack of the whip and the cries of the little ones.”
“I have felt the pain.”
“I see.”
“I care.”
“I am touched.”
And then He says something very powerful, “I have come down to deliver them.”
Then God says, “By the way Moses…”
9. God: “I have a job for you.”
“I am sending you…”
You are not a lost cause.
You may have been a failure.
You may be broken.
But work with me on this.
At 80, you are finally ready to do my will.
V. DOUBT (11-13)
(11) But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (12) He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (13) Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
Moses is filled with insecurity at this news.
He is comfortable being a shepherd.
He knows what is coming every day.
Sheep “baa”; sheep graze; sheep sleep.
It is comfortable.
Besides, he says, “I don’t have all the answers.”
What if someone asks me about the dinosaurs on the ark?
Of if someone asks me about the problem of evil?
Of what if somebody wants to know anything about the Da Vinci Code.
I won’t know what to say.
You see…
10. We resist use after failure.
But I think God’s answer was more like this…
“Wait a minute, Moses. Time out. You didn’t get the plan. That’s not what I said! All you have to do is be in the right place at the right time and watch Me work. It will work great! You just keep your heart prepared, make sure you’re walking in obedience, and then watch Me as I deliver those Israelites out of Egypt.”
(Swindoll)
You see, there was no way he was going to talk God out of the plan.
VI. “YHWH” (14-15)
(14) God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (15) God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. “
If God calls us…
11. We have all we need.
It is that simple.
And it is all there in His name.
“Yahweh.”
“I am who I am.”
It is “I AM has sent you.”
He is the only self-existent, infinite Being.
He is the one eternal reality, that is always relevant to the present!
He loves man the way He has always loved man.
He hates sin as He has always hated sin.
He is always holy.
He is always righteous.
He is always just.
So when you go in His name, you have all the equipment you need for any job that needs to be done.
VII. SUCCESS (16-22)
(16) “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, (17) and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ (18) And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ (19) But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. (20) So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. (21) And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, (22) but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians."
Moses, I have a job for you.
Yes, it is dangerous.
It will be disappointing.
But…
12. This mission is guaranteed to work.
Failure was not an option.
Success was certain.
CHALLENGE:
So understand this…
13. Understand that God is always enough, and it does not matter if you are broken.
There are all kinds of ways that you might be in bondage today.
You are broken, and you know it.
It could be a matter of finances – you love money, you love things – and now you are over extended – and bound.
It could be an addiction of some kind – drugs, sex, gambling – and you can’t seem to break free.
Perhaps you feel bound by guilt, unbelief, or stagnation – the feeling that your life is going nowhere.
You are broken and empty, and you know it.
But here is the truth that we must hold on to – God is enough.
And He is always enough.
Always.
So…
14. Put away your excuses.
Don’t misunderstand me here.
It is not that He does not want us finding healing from these things.
He very much does and He directs us to healing when we understand our brokenness.
But when God calls us, they are no longer excuses He accepts.
Our excuses are never good enough.
When God calls, it is a call that must be answered affirmatively.
It is not an invitation.
It is not an invitation that can be turned down.
ILL Calling (S)
According to the book No Ordinary Time, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the first peacetime draft occurred October 29, 1940. President Franklin Roosevelt and Secretary of War Stimson sat on a stage in a crowded auditorium in Washington, D.C. In the preceding weeks all males between 21 and 35 had been given a draft number, and all those numbers were in cobalt capsules in a big fishbowl on the stage. Stinson was blindfolded with some yellow linen cloth cut from a chair used at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He reached into the bowl and pulled out the first capsule he touched. He handed it to the President who read into the many microphones before him, "The first number is 158."
No sooner had the president spoken than a women’s scream was heard. Seated in the middle of the crowded auditorium, Mrs. Mildred Bell gasped. Her 21-year-old son, Harry, who was supposed to be married the following week, held number 158. Now his future was linked to that of his country. Number 158 was held by some six thousand registrants in different precincts throughout the country, including Cleveland welder Michael Thompson, father of three children; Jack Clardy, a one-armed African- American banjo picker from Charlotte, NC; and unemployed James Cody of Long Island City. In New York, the surnames of those bearing number 158 told a story in themselves: Farrugia, Chan, Weisblum, Tsatsarones, Stoller, Clement. Some were pleased and proud to be the first number called, others said they’d make the best of it, still others were upset at their bad fortune.
God draws the number of all those he saves.
We are called to be salt and light, to be ambassadors and priests, and there are no deferments.
We’re enlisted to display righteousness in a wicked world, to help the weak and feed the hungry, to represent the Living God, to tell sinners about Jesus.
There is no one who is saved who is not drafted by God to be an agent of grace.
So…
15. Fulfill your mission.
So what is your mission?
What is our mission?
It is our mission to see that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
We are not to settle for anything less.
But do you know what is happening everywhere in the United States?
The evangelical Christian population is dwindling.
It is not growing.
In fact, here in Erie County, only 5% of the population is evangelical.
Write that down in your insert.
Only 5% of the population is evangelical.
Do you know what this says about the church in Buffalo?
It says we have not been doing a very good job.
We are just moving people about from one church to another.
And what new decisions that are being made to follow Jesus, plus those Christians that are moving into the area are not keeping up with those that are dying or moving out of the area.
This means the church, all of us, Evangel, Hillview, Brick by Brick, Love Joy, Christian Fellowship, Cazenovia Park, The Tabernacle, The Chapel, Eastern Hills, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Olive, Armor Bible, Randall, and a host of others, are not doing a very good job.
It also means that we don’t have to worry about competition for over 90% of the population is available.
But one thing is for sure, we need to think differently about being and doing church.
This is why we must change.
We are losing our effectiveness.
We have a mission (not an intermission).
We are to fulfill it.
It is our mission to see that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
But here is the good news for you, in case you think you are not good enough, God uses broken people.
In fact, God prefers them.
God prefers the failures.
So unless you are a failure and you know it, you are not likely to be much good in fulfilling your mission.
But if you know it, then know this…
16. You are a deliverer.
Everyone of us is a deliverer.
We have the same mission as Moses.
We are to be the vehicle that God uses to bring people out of their bondage, and move them on up to the Promised Land.
This is why, that at anytime, we think it is our mission to come here and be comfortable, we are mistaken.
God calls us to make disciples.
He calls us to be a witness.
It is not an invitation.
And it is no time to have cold feet at a fiery bush.
For Further Study: Job 42.5-6; Isaiah 46.10; Jeremiah 29.11; Matthew 28.18-20; John 1.14; II Corinthians 4.7
BENEDICTION:
After the postlude has concluded, I will be returning to the platform. If you have any prayer need or want to discuss a change that you feel God wants to make in you, please feel free to come up and meet with me.
God uses broken people…remember this…in the end, Moses was not known for his failure; he was known as a great leader, a man of faith, and more importantly, a humble friend of God.
God uses broken people…so praise Him!...you and I are useful to Him…to fulfill His mission of seeing every man, woman and child have the opportunity to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
RESOURCES:
SermonCentral:
Appleby, Chris When God Calls
Boyd, Shelton A Second Chance
_____, You’ve Got to Be Kidding
Nance, Greg Making Moses Lead
Twamley, Jim What’s in a Name?
Van Emmerik, Chip Jehovah
Books:
Briscoe, Jill. "Here Am I -- Send Aaron!" Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1978.
Gispen, Willem H. Exodus. Translated by Ed M. van der Maas. Bible Student’s Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Regency Reference Library, 1982.
Pink, A. W. Gleanings in Joshua. Chicago: Moody Press, 1976.
Ramm, Bernard. His Way Out: A Fresh Look at Exodus. Glendale, CA: Regal Books, 1975.
Swindoll, Charles R. Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication. Great Lives from God’s Word, vol. 4. Nashville: Word Publishing, 1999.
