Have you ever heard of someone trying to “find himself or herself”? They might quit their job and travel the world in an effort to figure out their core values and their purpose on earth. As we continue the sermon series “Moses: Made for More” we’ll see how the burning bush incident sheds light on the age-old questions: “Who am I?” and “Who is God?”
“Who am I?” That was a question Moses must have asked often. “Am I Hebrew or Egyptian? Am I slave or royalty?” The cause of confusion was that, although Moses had been born to Hebrew slaves, he had been adopted by the princess of Egypt after she found him floating in that basket in the Nile River.
By the time Moses turned 40, he believed he had the answer to who he was. He thought he was to be the leader, dare I say savior of his people the Israelites. He made his bid as Israelite liberator when he killed one of the many Egyptian slave drivers who was making life miserable for his people. But while Moses was certain of who he was, the Israelites, whom he had hoped to rescue, were not. When Moses later tried intervening between two quarrelling Israelites, one of the men turned on him and challenged: “Who are you? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14)
Terrified that his secret was out, Moses fled to the wilderness of Midian where he lived as a shepherd for the next 40 years. You can be sure that during that time the age-old question came back to haunt Moses: “Who am I?” Now a few not-so-flattering descriptions seemed to fit. Who was Moses? He was a political failure, a murderer, and now an outcast.
An encounter with a burning bush, however, would challenge these perceptions. With his father-in-law’s sheep in tow, Moses ascended the highlands of Horeb to look for green pasture. What he found was a bush fire. What caught his attention was that the bush didn’t seem to disintegrate in the flames. When Moses moved closer to investigate, a voice spoke from within the fire. “Moses! Stop right there and take off your sandals. You’re on holy ground. I am the God of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Exodus 3:3, 5) Upon hearing the voice of God, Moses thought he had at least one more answer to the question: “Who am I?” As he averted his gaze afraid to look at the holy God, Moses thought: “I’m a dead man! God has finally caught up with me to punish me for the murder I committed in Egypt!”
But God had not come to destroy Moses. Instead, God announced: “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10b) “You want ME to do WHAT?!?” exclaimed Moses. “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) In addition to being a political failure, a murderer, and an outcast, Moses may have figured he was over-the-hill and well past the prime of his life to be a leader. Seriously, what kind of confidence could an 80-year-old shepherd instill in the Israelites when he announced to them that he had been handpicked by God to be the one to rescue them from slavery? If you are caught on the second floor of your house in a raging fire, would you want your 80-year-old neighbor to attempt your rescue, or a younger, fitter firefighter dressed in all his gear with the proper equipment? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? And so wouldn’t God have done better to find a strapping young warrior-type and equipping him with an army for the rescue of his people from Egypt, than calling Moses?
God obviously didn’t think so. And here is the crux of our devotion. It didn’t matter who Moses was. Moses could have been a cripple. He could have been blind. He could have been a child. What was important is who God is. God explained as much when he said to Moses: “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
“That’s great, God” Moses seemed to think, “But who are you?!?” Well, God had already answered that question with the pronouncement: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:6) Like a looming stranger who bends down to a child and says, “I knew your father,” God was establishing a connection with Moses. In essence he was saying, “You may not know me fully, Moses, but your fathers did. They trusted me and I never let them down. Nor will I ever let you down.” (Mark Paustin – paraphrased)
Still, Moses hesitated and challenged: “But what if the Israelites ask for your name? Who should I say sent me?” God responded: “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14a) To paraphrase, God was saying: “Before you and I are through, Moses, Israel will come to know me better than they ever imagined. (Paustin) Who I am will be revealed more clearly with every miracle I do for Israel and every pronouncement I make.” (Reed Lessing) It’s like how your future son-in-law might answer your queries about him. “Who am I? Well, let me show you.” If he then proceeds to make a gourmet meal unlike anything you’ve tasted before, you’ll have your answer. “Ah, you’re a talented chef who enjoys making others happy!”
But as if to humor Moses, God said: “You want a name that can fit on a business card? Ok, here’s a name: “I AM.” Hmm. Shouldn’t God have consulted a marketing firm before settling on that name? Wouldn’t it have been more comforting for us had God described himself as something like the “Dominator,” or the “Enforcer”? What kind of name is “I AM”? How was that revelation going to give Moses confidence for his mission?
When God calls himself “I AM,” he first reveals that he is a personal being, not a nebulous force like electricity or magnetism that has great power but has no feelings. God has feelings. He had heard the cries of the Israelites. He had seen their misery. He was concerned for them and was moved to do something about it. The great I AM hears your cries and prayers too. He knows what misery you’re undergoing, AND he cares.
Well, if God really cared about the Israelites, couldn’t he have found a better person to rescue them than Moses? To answer that question, we’ll go back to God’s name. Note how God called himself “I AM” not “I WOULD BE if only you would…” In other words, the name “I AM” emphasizes that God is absolutely independent. God does not need our help to accomplish his will, like we are partially dependent on the shape and size of a stone if we want to successfully skip it across water. God knew all about Moses. He knew of his past arrogance. He knew of his rash act of murder. But that wasn’t going to stop God from using this lumpy piece of clay named Moses to skip the Israelites out of Egypt! That not only denotes power on God’s part; it also denotes grace. Moses did not deserve this honor of being chosen as leader.
In the same way we don’t deserve the honor of being called God’s children. The Apostle Paul warns us against being like the Israelites when they tested God on the way to the Promised Land by grumbling (1 Cor. 10). In spite of that divinely-inspired warning, we’re still chronic grumblers aren’t we? We may have bowed our head to give thanks for our evening meal last night but then we screwed up our face at having to eat our vegetables. We pledged our undying love to our spouse on our wedding day but instead of rejoicing in this gift from God, we burn when our spouse doesn’t wipe the sink after they’re done in the washroom or park the car in the garage the way we like. If you’ve ever gone on a trip with someone who is constantly complaining about the food, about the weather, about the accommodations, you can begin to understand God’s disgust at our constant griping.
There is only one reason God puts up with us. He puts up with us because he is the great I AM, not the I WAS. That name also emphasizes that God is absolutely constant. He keeps the promises he makes, like the one he made to Adam and Eve thousands of years ago to send a savior. Now, had you and I been God, we would have pulled the plug on that plan a long time ago. It’s one thing to save people you know will be grateful for what you will do but it’s quite another thing to save people who will spit in your face for the trouble. I mean look at Moses. When the Israelite men didn’t thank him for saving them from that Egyptian slave driver, he perhaps thought to himself as he ran: “If these people don’t appreciate what I’ve done, then they can keep suffering as slaves for all I care!”
Jesus, on the other hand, dealt with our slavery to sin in a way that didn’t seem to cross Moses’ mind when dealing with that Egyptian slave drive. Instead of killing the Egyptian slave driver, couldn’t Moses have offered to take the Hebrew slave’s punishment? Ah, but why would Moses agree to that? He hadn’t angered the slave driver. And any way, he was a prince! Why would he subject himself to such torture? But isn’t that what Jesus, the Prince of Peace did—he received punishment for something he had not done. And even though he is THE Prince, the Son of God, he stood in the place of servants—those who were created to glorify him. He stood in our place to free us from the condemnation of our sins! How can anyone remain unmoved by such love from the great I AM?
And so it was utterly appropriate for Moses to remove his sandals as he stood before that burning bush—even though I doubt the ground there looked any different than the miles of ground Moses had covered to get to Horeb. But because the Savior-God was there to meet with a sinner, Moses was to treat his surroundings with respect. Likewise when we enter this church, we will do so with reverence. No, it may not look like much compared to the cathedrals of Europe, but this place is holy because God meets sinners here. For that matter, your dinner table with the leftover supper scraps becomes holy when you pull out the Bible for devotions. When that happens “take off your sandals” by taking your mind off the day’s distractions and tomorrow’s to-do list and give ear to God’s Word. And when you shuffle forward for the Lord’s Supper, be reminded that you are standing on holy ground, for although you only see and taste a bit of bread and wine, Jesus, the God-man, is meeting you in the sacrament. As the fire blazed in the bush without burning it up, so Jesus’ divine presence is also here in the bread and wine without destroying it. His divine presence is here in a miraculous way to torch our sins. That makes this place and this act of Holy Communion sacred. Treat it with awe and reverence.
Isn’t it also interesting that when God called to Moses from the burning bush, he did so by name? God didn’t say, “Yo, Old Man!” or “Hey Shepherd Dude!” rather “Moses! Moses!” Those are the first recorded words of God in the book of Exodus. That’s quite fitting, don’t you think, for a book whose Hebrew title is “And these are the names”? (Lessing) God had come to that place at that time to speak with this Moses. But Moses was certain God had the wrong man. “Who am I to stand before Pharaoh and save the Israelites?” Moses croaked. “Send someone else.”
We’ve already heard one way in which God dealt with Moses’ hesitancy. He directed Moses to who he was, the great I AM who would be with Moses. To prove his point, he said to Moses: “…this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you…” (Exodus 3:12a) Do you remember the sign God provided? Are you thinking of how God had Moses throw down his staff that turned into a real live hissing snake? That was one of the signs, but not the first one he gave. The first sign that God offered was this: “When you [Moses] have brought the people out of Egypt, you [and the Israelites] will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12b)
What do you think about that sign? Would it have bolstered your faith? I mean it was a promise of something that would happen in the future so it was a sign that required faith. It’s really no different than when Jesus said: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
Have you ever wondered: “Is that true? When I die, will I really go to heaven? And is that where my loved one is right now? I just wish God would give me a sign…” Well, he has given you a sign—his divine pronouncement is as certain as the one he gave to Moses. And that promise did bolster Moses’ faith because the writer to Hebrew tells us: “By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27) Moses’ faith in what he could not see was not put to shame because he did return with the Israelites to that mountain just as God said they would. And your faith in the Jesus’ promises are not in vain either. When we, like the enslaved Israelites, wonder: “Is anyone there? God, are you really all that the old stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob say you are? Are you really with me?” God’s answer is: “I AM.” (Paustin)
“Who am I?” Is that a question you’ve asked yourself? Sure it is. The student asks: “Who am I? Where do I fit in at school?” The new parent asks: “Who am I? How will I ever properly care for this child?” The widow and widower ask: “Who am I now that my spouse is in heaven?” Your pastor and Early Learning Center teachers ask: “Who are we that God should call us to train and encourage his people at Mt. Calvary?” We the members of Mt. Calvary ask: “Who are we to think that our little congregation can support all these called workers and pay down our mortgage?” When these thoughts and doubts race through our minds, we will humbly take off our sandals and listen to God speak. He calls us by name, as he did Moses, and says: “It doesn’t matter who you are. What matters is I AM. I AM with you. I AM for you. I AM your shield, your joy, your hope. So go boldly, and serve as did Moses.” Amen.
SERMON NOTES
(pre-service warm up) Have you ever heard of someone trying to “find himself or herself”? What does that mean? And what might people do to “find themselves”?
Moses must have often asked himself: “Who am I?” What kind of answers might he have considered?
Moses continually asked: “Who am I?” when he really should have concentrated on the question: “Who is God?” What comfort did God offer when he said: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”?
God revealed himself as “I AM.” That name emphasizes the traits below. Fill in the blanks and then explain how each trait brings comfort.
I AM = God is a _______________________.
I AM = God is _________________________.
I AM = God is _________________________.
God directed Moses to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. What are some circumstances where we would do well to “take off our sandals”?
When God told Moses he was sending him to lead the people out of Egypt, Moses was sure that God had the wrong man. What surprising sign did God offer FIRST to assure Moses that he would be with him? How has God offered us similar signs?
When we, like the enslaved Israelites, wonder: “Is anyone there? God, are you really all that the old stories about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob say you are? Are you really with me?” What is God’s answer? (Follow up bonus question, not covered in the sermon: The Angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses in the burning bush was really the pre-incarnate Christ: the Son of God before he took on human flesh and became Jesus. During his earthly ministry, Jesus made use of the answer he gave to Moses at the burning bush. When? How does that give us continual comfort today?)
