The call of God is as unique for every individual as is every person. For Gideon it was the fleece and that differs widely from Ezekiel and his lofty falling facedown vision of the throne of God. Isaiah with the burning coal placed on his lips differs from Paul on the Damascus Road and his experience.
But of all the calls of God in the Bible it's Moses and the burning Bush that's the most famous. The burning Bush experience of Moses is unique, but it stands out as synonymous with the call of God experience.
People will often refer to their “Burning Bush experience” in their own calling to God's ministry. Moses had this dramatic and gripping call. How could there be any question in the mind of Moses that God is calling him, so now go (Exodus 3:10).
You would expect Moses to give the response like Isaiah, “here I am, send me”, but look at verse 11. But Moses says, who am I to go to pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?
Moses makes excuses not to follow this call. This continues throughout this chapter. Why does he do this?
Moses is eighty years old. Two-thirds of his one-hundred-and-twenty-year life is behind him. His mother, Jochebed, instilled in him there was something special about him and the circumstances of his birth. She no doubt instilled in him the hand of God was upon him since birth. His name meant drawn out of water. There was something miraculous ahead.
Even though Moses was raised as pharaoh's daughter he never forgot he was a Hebrew. He believed God had a purpose in his life to deliver Israel from the Egyptian oppression.
At the age of 40 his Hebrew identity ran strong within him. While an Egyptian was unmercifully mistreating a Hebrew slave his temper raged his Hebrew identity compelled him. The purpose of his life “deliverer of Egypt” rang in his ears.
He killed the Egyptian. His newly launched crusade continued the next day when he saw two Hebrew slaves fighting. But then one of them asked will you kill me too? With those words Moses caved in. His murder was publicly known.
Moses fled out of Egypt for his life. He lived in exile 40 years. His hopes of delivering his people were dashed. He had failed to deliver his people. He acted outside of God's will by committing murder. He was out of step with God's timing.
For 40 years he was becoming somebody in pharaoh's court. For 40 years he was being nobody living in exile. Imagine the response of a man supposedly called to the pastorate ministry at a young age and they fail miserably, and the church is wrecked. Then just before retirement age not even holding a place of leadership most of his adult life God calls him to be the pastor. Surprise? Yes! Making excuses? Probably.
The burning Bush was dramatic. God's instructions were clear. But think of the circumstances. Moses was 80 years old. Forty years had passed since Moses had really believed he was the deliverer. Failure has a profound effect on anyone. It gives them fear to try again in the pain of failure that's so severe. They retreat into defeatism.
They say not me Lord. I'm a failure. My day has passed. You must get someone else. My strongest days have long since passed me by. My fire to deliver my people has smoldered out. But does our work for God depend on our strength does it depend on our determination?
God says I will be with you (Exodus 3:12). There is an essential ingredient for success. That is God's presence. The sign God gave Moses, is that he will come back to this place after he brings the people out. The sign is for Moses, you will see it happen.
God works through his people. God didn't call Moses at 40 in the prime of his life he called Moses at 80. It wasn't the strength of Moses needed to deliver God's people it was the power of God. God had to instill that lesson into Moses. God demonstrated his power.
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.’” (Exodus 3:14). He is God. He is all powerful. God is creator. God is sustainer deliverer, and we cannot limit God. In Exodus chapter 4 verse 3 the staff will become a snake. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
God demonstrates his power by saying to Moses, place your hand inside your cloak.
Then the LORD said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow. “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. (Exodus 4:6-7)
Then the LORD said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.” (Exodus 4:8-9)
Would Moses dare make an excuse. With God's presence. Gods power. Yes. Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. (Exodus 4:10)”
Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. (Exodus 4:11)”
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13) The bottom line let someone else do it. Do not disturb me now. Let someone else be the activist. Let the other person have the stress of leadership. Let me stay in the Pew. I’ve grown comfortable and obscurity. I don't want to violate my comfort zone.
God will use Aaron to be the one to speak. The excuses melt away one by one. The bottom-line Moses you will serve your God or you won't.
God told Moses, “Take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.” (Exodus 4:17)
Obeying God yes will violate his comfort zone but the excitement of being used God to do miracles for the purpose of God.
Moses’ call of God is unique. What is not unique are his repeated excuses not to follow God’s call. How will I answer if they ask me the Lord’s name? What if they don’t believe I am called of God? I am not a good speaker. Get someone else to do this work.
Moses makes too many excuses. But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). Sadly, this became Moses theme verse. Please let someone else do it. Moses put his neck on the line once. And he felt like a failure. Is he willing to be that vulnerable again? Is he willing to trust God with his life? That is the challenge of Moses. That is the challenge for everyone who follows the call of God.
