The Challenge Of God's Call-4 Series

The CHALLENGE OF GOD's CALL-IV—Exodus 3:1-22

Assistance/Availability/Discovering/Significance

Attention:

Commercial Shrimpers—The shrimper must know the migration patterns of the shrimp they are trying to catch. Shrimp migrate up & down in the water column during the day/night & inshore & offshore at different times of the year.

We see shrimp boats right off the beach of St. George, etc. Shrimping nets require a smooth sand bottom otherwise the net would become caught on outcroppings & torn, plus the natural landscape would be torn up.

Boat purchase/lease/rent is of great consequence & is perhaps their most expensive investment.

Shrimpers are heavily regulated in nearly every aspect of their job. Drag-nets are regulated as to mesh size & must comply with current laws regarding excluders(exclude fish, turtles, etc..). Their catches are regulated as to total poundage, shrimp size range & type. Shrimp processing is regulated, etc...

Yet they do it because they love it. They do it because they live well(generally not extravagantly) due to it. They do it because its their passion.

Shrimping presents a Challenge to shrimpers—separates the weekend warriors from true shrimpers.

As Christians, we too all face a true Challenge in Answering God's Call.

Exodus records the significance of God’s call to Moses.

Answering God’s call presents a significant challenge.

To What does God’s call present a challenge?

16 challenges of/to God’s call.

We found earlier that,

God’s call presents a challenge to...

1. Our OCCUPATION(:1)

2. Our OBSERVATION(:2-3)

3. Our AVAILABILITY(:4)

4. Our APPROACH(:5)

5—God’s call presents a challenge to...

Our AWE(:6)

Explanation:(:6)Appreciation

:6—“Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, & the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.” ”

God now definitely reveals Himself to Moses. He is the very same God who was the God of Moses’ own “father”(singular), Amram(Ex. 6:20). God also revealed that not only had Moses’ father served this same YHWH, but also “Abraham”, “Isaac”, & “Jacob” had served the same God! >400yrs. between Jacob & Moses.

Upon this revelation with its relation to holiness(:5), Moses “hides his face”(from God) because he was fearful of looking upon “God.”

Acts 7:30-34—[Stephen’s testimony]“And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; & as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, “saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, & the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled & dared not look. ‘Then the LORD said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning & have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.”’

**Those who would be ‘unafraid’ to look upon God in all His fullness are those who have absolutely no idea of God’s searing, regal, divine majesty, nor their own personal lack thereof!

Later(Ex. 33:18-23), Moses would be allowed to visibly see a fleeting glimpse of God’s back but not His face. However Jesus is the fullness of God in human form(1Jn. 1:1-4; Jn. 14:7-9).

1Jn. 1:1-4—“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, & our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, & we have seen, & bear witness, & declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father & was manifested to us-- that which we have seen & heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; & truly our fellowship is with the Father & with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

Jn. 14:7-9—“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; & from now on you know Him & have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, & it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, & yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

“I am”(See :11)—ykna aw-no-keey’—Personal Pronoun—1) I(first pers. sing.). Strong—a primitive pronoun; I. Used 3X.

“God”5X(See :1, 4)—Myhla—

“Father”—ba awb—Strong—a primitive word; Father, in a literal & immediate, or figurative & remote application).

“Hid”—rto saw-thar’—Hiphil(causative) Imperfect—1) To hide, conceal. Strong—a primitive root; To hide(by covering), literally or figuratively.

“Face”—Mynp paw-neeym'—1) Face. Strong—plural(but always as singular) of an unused noun [hnp paw-neh']; The face(as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally & figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix)as a preposition--Before, etc.).