Dreamworks did a nice job with the movie “The Prince of Egypt.” But they changed an important fact. Moses wasn’t in the prime of life when this happened. He was 80. God is confronting you with the truths of this tonight so you can get the message now. Get it while you’re young. Don’t stay in the wilderness.
Here at 707, Dan has led us though a series designed to help you discover what happens when you encounter God. “All you need to know” is a series about the God whose name changed everything. You’ve been looking at OT characters who met God.
The Bible says, that the things that happened to them happened for our instruction. So let’s see what we can learn from Moses’ life.
Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exodus 3:1
Talk about a dead-end job! Moses is a stinkin’ shepherd! He didn’t even start his own business. He didn’t earn his own way. The guy is working for his father-in-law! Literally, he’s out in the wilderness.
What’s sad about this deal with Moses is that he used to be a somebody in Egypt. He was raised in the king’s house. The future was bright. His potential was unlimited. He was slated to help rule. But in one hotheaded moment, he took matters into his own hands, killed an Egyptian who was abusing one of Moses’ Jewish brothers, and ruined it all. He abused his privilege. He lost his status. Now, he’s on the run… in the wilderness – doubting his ability. “I guess all I’m meant to do is take care of a few sheep in an obscure wilderness.”
Maybe that’s the way you’re feeling about your life. Look at those photo albums your mom has on the shelf – pictures when you were little. See the hope in your eyes. You were going to run faster than anybody – and be the smartest kid in the class. You were going to leave your mark on this world – good job, fast car, hot spouse. But look at you now. You’re not working for your father-in-law, but it’s a dead-end job. Or maybe you have no job at all. Things aren’t working out real well for you at home or at school or in your relationships. You’re feeling like there’s no point to your life. There’s no purpose for it. It’s not a stretch for you to say, “I’m in the wilderness.”
That’s not a bad place to be. He has you right where He wants you. God loves to come to us in the wilderness. Look at verse 2.
The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
Exodus 3:2
Are you in a wilderness? Look for your burning bush! God wants to talk to you.
A burning bush is the way God chose to get the attention of Moses. He might be seeking to get your attention in other ways. But don’t miss this: God lets us experience wilderness times – dead-end jobs, bad relationships – because He knows that it’s when we are in the wilderness that we are most ready to encounter Him. That’s when He gets our attention. For Moses, it was a burning bush.
What’s been the burning bush for you? How has God been working to get your attention? Maybe it’s been through a friend, through a book, a CD, or though 707.
What do you do when you are in the wilderness? There’s no real point, no real purpose, no real passion in your life? And God’s seeking to get your attention. You do what Moses did.
1. Draw near.
"This is strange," he thought. "Why isn’t the bush burning up? I will go closer and see."
Exodus 3:3
What if Moses said, “I have some sheep to shepherd. I can’t stop right now. I’m too busy!”
Go close. Move in. Some of us are just too busy. We won’t slow down long enough to seek God, to see what He’s doing to get our attention.
Day after day after day, we go through the motions. No point to it all. No real purpose. We go from one movie to the next, one job to the next, one relationship to the next. And we stay in the wilderness because we won’t draw near.
“I have a job I’m pursuing. There’s a girl I’m chasing. I’m focused on school right now. No time to really draw near to you, God.” And we miss our burning bush – and stay in the wilderness.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8
What’s keeping you from turning aside? From drawing near? Will you set aside your agenda for God’s agenda? This morning, Dan challenged our AM worshippers by saying, “Get God’s plan A for your life instead of your plan B.”
Draw near. That’s what you do when you are in the wilderness. What’s next? Do what Moses did.
2. Listen up.
When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Yes, here I am.”
Exodus 3:4 (TEV)
God was looking for some one-on-one time with Moses. God knew his name. Just like He knew Moses and pursued Moses, He knows you and pursues you. He knows your name.
I have called you by name; you are mine. You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NLT)
Yesterday in our leadership class…
Some of you grew up in homes like that. And you think God’s like that. He’s not. Draw near. Listen up. You know what He will say? He’ll whisper your name and give you a hug!
Just like God wanted Moses, Jesus wants you. He cares about you. You are precious to Him. He wants a relationship with you so much that He invites you to participate with Him in setting some people free. God offered the same to Moses.
"Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
Exodus 3:10
Setting people free. Who’s God calling you to set free? What’s at stake is not just the freedom of God’s people, but God’s glory. I’ve heard Dan put it this way at 707: What we are really about here is God’s renown – His celebrity, His popularity, His reputation.
“It will be my battle, my victory, and my glory! But I have a gift for you, Moses: I am going to give you a part in my deliverance – a leading role under Me.”
Draw near. Listen up. That’s what you do when you are in the wilderness. What’s next? Do what Moses did.
3. Remove sin.
Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
Exoldus 3:5
In the Bible when people have a face-to-face encounter with God, they see two things: His holiness and their sin. When one man of God, Isaiah, saw the Lord, the angels were singing “Holy, holy, holy” to God. And Isaiah said, There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful.
Isaiah 6:5 (TEV)
Job had the same experience. I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.
Job 42:5-6 (NLT)
When you see God, you see His holiness and you are deeply aware of your own sin. You know that some things have to change. There are things I have to remove from my life. I have to take off my shoes.
What sins needs to be removed from your life? A relationship with someone who is not passionate about God? A career goal that is clearly out of God’s will? A habit or an addiction that dishonors God? What’s keeping you from connecting with a holy God?
If I don’t take off my shoes – if I don’t remove my sin – then God won’t use me. I miss out on plan and settle for plan B.
Draw near. Listen up. Remove sin. That’s what you do when you are in the wilderness – and God is seeking to get your attention. What’s next?
4. Don’t duck.
When God says, “Here’s plan A for you, we can come up with all kinds of excuses for sticking with plan B. Someone said: “Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.”
Moses gives four lame excuses why he’s not going to do what God wanted him to do. We use these same excuses all the time.
Excuse #1. I’m not qualified.
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
Exodus 3:11
Moses points out his smallness and weakness and insignificance to excuse himself from the job that God wanted him to do.
God’s answer to that tactic is always the same: “You’re right. You are small and weak. But that’s no excuse to cop out. Why?”
Certainly I will be with you.
Exodus 3:12a
God says, “I love to do big things through small people! How else will My name be glorified? Moses, I didn’t choose you because you are so great. You are a stinkin’ shepherd. I don’t call many wise or powerful people. I like to use what is weak in the world to shame the strong. So you are absolutely right; you’re no qualified. But don’t let that stop you. I say to you what I always say to people who are poor in spirit and admit that they are weak. I will be with you.”
It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.
II Corinthians 3:5 (NLT)
Moses said, “I’m not qualified.” God said, “I will be with you.” He was with Moses and he will be with you.
Excuse #2. I’m not authorized.
Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they won’t believe me. They will ask, ‘Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
Exodus 3:13 (NLT)
“If they say, ‘Who sent you? What right do you have to come and talk to us? Who authorized you?’ what will I say?”
God introduces His name here. In the Bible, names express the nature and character of a person. That is certainly true when God gives us His name. God says, “Tell them I Am has sent you.”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14
What does it mean when you ask God, “Who are you?” and He answers, “I AM WHO I AM”? It means a lot. Part of what it means is this: Tell them that the eternal God, the One who didn’t have a beginning, the One who always is – the Creator of all – tell them I Am sent you.
Moses said, “I’m not authorized.” God said, “I’m authorizing you. The Great ‘I Am’ has sent you.” God authorized Moses and God authorizes you.
Excuse #3. I’m not believable.
Then Moses said, "What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ’The LORD has not appeared to you.’"
Exodus 4:1 (NASB)
“Weren’t you listening, Moses? I already said (Exodus 3:18), ‘They will pay heed to what you say.’ And now you say, ‘What if…?’ Are you calling Me a liar?”
Moses gave a vote of no confidence in Almighty God.
But what does God do? God gives him firsthand experience of how He is going to work miracles through Moses. Just a couple of little miracles to give Moses a small demonstration of the power of God.
Excuse #4. I’m not articulate.
Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."
Exodus 4:10
God, some people can just talk about You so easily. Not me! My tongue gets all tangled. Do you remember when I proposed to my wife? I practiced that proposal for three weeks and couldn’t spit it out. I never scored high on the verbal skills tests. You gotta prove to me ahead of time that my mouth won’t freeze up on me.
See, Moses thought that God should only pick people with special natural abilities to deliver His word. But God can take a person with little or no communication skill and still get His point across.
God says, “I have unlimited power over all of the people of the world. I’ll help you speak and I’ll help them hear. I made everything and I control everything. I will be with your mouth and teach you in the moment what to say. No rehearsals. Just the promise. And remember who’s giving the promise! I’m God!”
Line up all your excuses. God knocks them down one-by-one.
[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
Moses still isn’t listening. In spite of God’s answers to all his objections, Moses adds up all his excuses.
Add up all the excuses. 1+2+3+4= Send someone else!
I’m not your man, LORD.
But he said, "Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will."
Exodus 4:13
“God, put it into the heart of Karen or Stephanie or Beth to go. Send Corey or Dave or Eric.” Moses isn’t giving any more excuses now. He’s simply saying “No.”
This is when God gets angry.
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses…
Exodus 4:14
Why the anger? Think with me. Every objection Moses raised, God answered. “I’m going to bless you to set some people free and I will show My power – a power so great that absolutely nothing will stop Me. I Am is on the move. So, nothing can stop you from doing what I’ve called you to do.”
Why did Moses still refuse to go? It’s simple: he didn’t believe God. He didn’t trust the Lord! Listen carefully. That ticks God off because it steals His glory. Remember: what’s at stake in the deliverance of God’s people is not just their freedom, but God’s glory. Moses is throwing water on God’s renown – His reputation. When you say “no” to God, you are doing the same.
God is angry because there is hardly a greater insult you can pay to someone than to say, “I don’t believe You. I don’t trust You.” And to say to God, “You can’t be counted on, Lord,” it’s not a good thing to say!
God gave an answer to every one of Moses’ excuses. Remember His answer to Moses’ second excuse? He tells us who He is. And for you to accomplish what He’s called you to do, it’s all you really need to know.
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 4:14
Nothing in all creation takes Me off guard and backs Me into a corner. I am the same yesterday, today and forever. Just as I am faithful to Moses, I will be faithful to you.
I am energy and I am power. I never need recharging. I never need a back-up system. There is nothing for Me to plug into. Everything in the universe plugs into Me. You don’t think you can live for Me, can do what I’m asking you to do? I am an inexhaustible reservoir of power.
And I am closer than you think.
This infinite absolute self-determining God has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ. In John 8, Jesus says, “Truly, truly! I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Before He was born as a little baby in a manger, the Second Person in the Trinity, Christ Himself, was speaking to Moses from a burning bush.
You want to know who I Am is? Look at Jesus!
I want you to work with me. And in the process of working with Me, you’ll be near Me. And that’s your highest good. You’ll find a joy, a peace, a satisfaction that most people never know.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD , have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Draw near. Listen up. Remove sin. Don’t duck. That’s what you do when you are in the wilderness.
5. Get moving.
So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.
Exodus 4:20
It wasn’t easy. He had to deal with confrontations with God’s enemies, rebellion from God’s people. But God was with him every step of the way. Miracles from the heavens. Freedom for the people. And a closeness to His God.
God wants to do the same through our lives if we’ll just get moving for Him.
* * *
It’s worth saying “Yes” to Jesus to see Him work. You’re in the wilderness. You’re feeling despair. Is this marriage going to work? Is my job going to work out? Should I just wave the white flag and give up school? I’m ready to settle for plan B or plan C.
What we need at 707 are people who are sold out to live in the presence of God – to live for the glory of God. Will you leave the security of tending sheep in a wilderness to do what God is calling you to do?
I love the way Dan puts it. God is looking for radical obedience, radical authenticity. Whatever you want me to do, Lord, I’ll do. And whenever You want me to be, I’ll be. And wherever You want me to serve, I’ll serve.
Draw close. Listen up. Remove sin. Don’t duck. Get moving. This is the way out of your wilderness. Will you act on what God has said to you tonight?
