The Challenge Of God's Call-8 Series

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

Attention:

Just Being Honest

In a trial, a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her & asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know me?' She responded, 'Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, & frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, & you manipulate people & talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot & I sincerely hope you have what it takes to be a good lawyer. Yes, I know you.'

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room & asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?'

She again replied, 'Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a

youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, & he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone, & his law practice is one of the most notorious in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.'

The defense attorney nearly died...

& both of them simultaneously looked to the judge, who immediately asked both counselors to approach the bench.

In a very quiet voice, said, 'If either of you screw-ups asks her if she knows me, you’ll both do jail time!

Some things can be a real Challenge to us.

All Christians deal with the realization that God’s Call presents a Challenge to our flesh! If we heed His call, then God can work in our lives. But if we trust ourselves rather than God, He is not working in our lives.

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 have found in earlier weeks 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. Our AWE(:6)

6. Our COMPASSION(:7-9)

7. Our INABILITY(:10-11)

8. Our POWER(:12a)

9. Our FAITHFULNESS(:12b-13)

10. Our PROBABILITY(:14-15)

11. Our COMMITMENT(:16-17)

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

Our LEADERSHIP(:18a)

Explanation:(:18a)Instill trust in others?

:18—“Then they will heed your voice; & you shall come, you & the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; & you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; & now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ ”

Moses is not responsible for convincing the elders, only for declaring God’s message in a faithful & believable manner. If some will not hear it, they are responsible for their own choices, but Moses is not responsible for their inattention.

Ex. 4:29-31—“Then Moses & Aaron went & gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; & when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel & that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads & worshiped.”

The whole scenario is God’s design, & He has revealed to Moses that “the elders” “will heed” Moses’ “voice”(:18a). Moses will present a viable witness. Moses’ witness is not stayed on himself but upon the self-existent & ever-existent God, to bring it about.

This lets the reader know that though Moses himself has personal responsibility for following the LORD’s command, he is nonetheless not alone in it. The “elders” of Israel are to appear before Pharaoh(“the king of Egypt”) as well(“Us”/“We”). They along with Moses(& Aaron—See 4:10-16) Thus they will also witness God’s desire lived out thru Moses’ faithfulness. Witnessing the faith of others goads those of lesser faith to be stronger witnesses.

Together they will witness God’s power as He gives them an audience with the Pharaoh.

Without prior commitment to God, there can be no Leadership in the things of God.

“Voice”—lq kol—1) Voice, sound, noise; 2) lightness, frivolity. Strong—from an unused root meaning to call aloud; A voice or sound.

“Come”(See :9, 13)—awb bow'—

“Elders”(See :16)—Nqz zaw-ken'—

“King”(See :19)—Klm meh'-lek—1) King. Argumentation:

Mat. 15:1-14—“Then the scribes & Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered & said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father & your mother’; &, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”-- ‘then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear & understand: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Then His disciples came & said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered & said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”