Introduction: We humans have a tendency to go from one extreme to the other. If we find out that we are wrong in a particular area, it’s easy to make as serious a mistake in the opposite direction. Though he was raised as Egyptian royalty, Moses never forgot his own people. It was his desire to deliver them from slavery. His problem was that he went about it the wrong way. Instead of relying on God, Moses took things into his own hands. It wasn’t the right time, and Moses didn’t use the right methods. As a result, his own people rejected his leadership. In addition, he murdered a man and was forced to flee Egypt.
Forty years pass. The time is now right for the Israelites’ deliverance. But Moses has now swung to the opposite extreme. He not only doubts his own ability to lead, he also doubts God’s ability to save His people.
I. Holy Ground (Exodus 3:1-6)
When and where do we encounter God?
Most people seem to think that God is found only inside church buildings. But that isn’t the case. God created the whole universe and He may be found anywhere. Another misconception people have is that we encounter God only when we set out to worship Him. But many, if not most, of the encounters with God which are recorded in the Bible, took place when people were going about their ordinary, every-day business. The question is: Are we ready to meet God at all times, in all places?
Another important question is, “What makes a place holy?”
Most people would say that a place is holy if it has been set aside, or dedicated, to God. At best, that is only a partial truth. What really makes a place holy is God’s presence. If God isn’t there, even a chapel or a cathedral isn’t holy. As Moses found out, if God is there, even a patch of brush is holy.
Application: This concept, that it’s the presence of God which makes a place holy, has a special meaning and application for Christians. We are repeatedly told that God lives in us through His Holy Spirit. For example, in Ephesians 2:21-22 it says, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (NIV) Now, if God lives in us we are, by definition, holy. We need to think and act in a way that is consistent with the holy status God has given us. “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV)
II. God Is Not Indifferent (Exodus 3:7-10)
Does trouble mean that God is angry with us?
When we are going through hard times it’s tempting to think that it’s because we’ve done something wrong. Now, it’s always a good thing to consider whether we’re in trouble because we’re reaping the consequences of our own sin. If we are, we need to repent and get things right. But don’t forget that some of the trouble we encounter is the result of other people’s sin. If we’re not guilty, then we shouldn’t wallow in false guilt. In this case, the Israelites were suffering, not because of what they had done, but because of the sin of the Egyptians. Verse 9 clearly says that the Egyptians were oppressing them.
Does suffering mean that God doesn’t care?
Not at all. In verse 7, God says that He was concerned. But if God cares, why doesn’t He prevent suffering, or at least stop it right away? There are several possible reasons.
1) God’s purpose in every situation and circumstance is to draw us closer to Himself and make us more like Christ. Sometimes suffering is the only way we will learn some of the lessons we need to make us more Christlike.
2) Sometimes, God waits to help us until we ask. James writes, “...You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:2-3 NIV)
3) Sometimes God allows suffering to continue, because the conditions aren’t yet right to put an end to it. We tend to forget that we are not the only people in the world, and that our problems are not the only problems. God has to take, not only our problems, but everything else into account. In this specific case, God had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites. But what about the people who were already living there? In Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that the Israelites couldn’t have the land until the sins of the people who were already there had reached a limit. God had to wait to bring relief to the Israelites until those people had crossed the line.
Lesson: Don’t give up on God even though it seems like you are going through a lot of trouble. He cares. He will act when the time and circumstances are right.
III. Excuses, Excuses (Exodus 3:11-4:17)
God was ready to act, but Moses wasn’t. What excuses did he give?
1) Excuse No. 1: “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11) Moses basically said that he wasn’t qualified for the job. He wasn’t capable of dealing with Pharaoh and he wasn’t qualified to lead the people out of Egypt.
What was God’s response?
God wasn’t expecting Moses to do this by himself. He wasn’t to depend on his own skills and qualifications. He’d already gotten himself into trouble by doing that. Instead, God promised to be with Moses (Exodus 3:12). If there was any doubt in Moses’ mind that God was really calling him to do this task, those doubts would be removed by the fact that the Israelite nation would worship on the mountain where God was speaking to him.
2) Excuse No. 2: “They won’t know that I represent You (Exodus 3:13). Right. Anybody can make a claim that he represents God. What do I tell them if they ask which God I’m representing?”
What was God’s reply?
a) Tell them that you represent the “I AM.” This Name will ring true with what they know of My character (Exodus 3:14-15).
b) Remind them of the promises I’ve made through the centuries to their ancestors (Exodus 3:16-17).
c) Don’t sweat it. They’ll listen to you. I promise that I’ll get you out of Egypt (Exodus 3:18-22).
3) Excuse No. 3: “They won’t believe me.” (Exodus 4:1) Moses is getting a little reckless here. God had just told him that the Israelites would listen to him. The problem is not that Moses won’t be believed, but that Moses doesn’t want to do what God is telling him to do.
What was God’s reply?
God is very patient. “Okay, you want proof? Here’s three miraculous signs for you.” (Exodus 4:2-9)
4) Excuse No. 4: “I don’t talk so good.” (Exodus 4:10) By the way, was Moses’ statement true? He might have thought that of himself, but Acts 7:22 says that he was powerful in speech. Even though God provided Aaron as an interpreter, we’ll see in later chapters that it was Moses who did a lot of the speaking. He must have had a lot more talent and ability than he admitted to.
What was God’s reply?
a) I made your mouth (Exodus 4:11). I’ll see to it that you have the ability to speak.
b) Not only will I help you speak, I’ll teach you what to say (Exodus 4:12).
5) Excuse No. 5: “I don’t want to do it. Pick somebody else.” (4:13)
What was God’s response?
a) God got mad (Exodus 4:14). By this time it was obvious that the problem was not one of ability – particularly since God specifically told Moses that He would give him the skills and abilities needed for the task and that the people would listen. The problem was one of the heart. Moses just didn’t want to obey God’s call.
b) Even so, God was willing to meet every objection. “You don’t want to do it? Alright, Aaron will be your assistant.” (Exodus 4:14-17)
Lesson: When God calls us to do something, He also gives us the ability to do it. Excuses don’t cut it. Though God is amazingly patient, He still requires obedience. The question is not whether God’s plan will be accomplished – it will be, but whether we will have a part in that plan.
IV. Practicing What You Preach (Exodus 4:18-26)
Though Moses reluctantly obeyed God’s command to go back to Egypt in order to rescue the Israelites, his heart wasn’t in it. It’s ironic that the man chosen to rescue God’s covenant people was, himself, not obedient to the covenant. He hadn’t circumcised his son as God had instructed. If Moses’ wife had not intervened, God would have killed Moses for this neglect.
Lesson: Our actions need to conform to what we say we believe. A lot of people seem to think that if they’ve been called by God, it gives them a license to live however they like. God’s standards are for everybody else, but don’t apply to them. This isn’t true. God doesn’t make exceptions for leaders. If anything, leaders should be all the more careful that they live what they preach.
It’s interesting that in this passage, God calls Israel His firstborn son (Exodus4:22). In other words, God has brought the Israelite people into a family relationship with Himself. You don’t mess with God’s kids! Because the Egyptians won’t let the people go, God says that He will kill the firstborn of Egypt.
Lesson: As Christians we should take comfort from this. We also are called God’s children. We are in God’s household or family. As God’s children we can be sure that God will take a very dim view of anyone who messes with us!
V. Warm Welcome (Exodus 4:27-31)
Most of the time our fears aren’t justified. When we are doing God’s will, He not only gives us the strength to do it, He also prepares the way. Moses was afraid that he wouldn’t be accepted by his people. When they saw the evidence that He was sent by God, and that God cared about their situation, the elders of the people bowed down and worshiped.
Lesson: Don’t let your fears prevent you from doing what God asks of you. It is not our job to determine results. It’s our job to obey. God will take care of the results. He will fulfill what He has promised.