Central Thought: He whom God calls He empowers.
Hymn: Soft and tenderly Jesus is calling
Exodus 3:1-22
In the last study, we learnt that Moses out of fear ran away from Egypt to Midian Exodus 2:14-15. While there, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and asked him to go to Pharaoh to demand for the freedom of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. This was a daunting task. He was to go and confront one of the most powerful rulers at that time on behalf of mere slaves without any physical army backing him up. For 40 years Moses was trained in the wisdom of the Egyptians whilst in Pharaoh’s household (Acts 7:22). The next 40 years was spent as a shepherd in Midian. During this period, Moses learnt how to survive in the wilderness. The next 40 years was to be used to lead the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land. The circumstances surrounding Moses’ call and his response shall be considered in this study.
Lesson Objectives:
- To examine the circumstances under which Moses was called.
- To understand why God sent Moses to Pharaoh.
- To emphasize the need for reverence of God’s presence in our midst.
- To appreciate the eternal Name of God- “I AM THAT I AM”.
Question 1.) Explain the unusual circumstance under which God called Moses.
Exodus 3:1-6
For about 40 years Moses tended flocks in Midian for his father-in law Jethro. One day, he led the flocks to mount Horeb also known as Mount Sinai. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire in a bush. The fire was burning but the bush was not consumed. Moses became curious at the strange sight, He decided to see why the bush was on fire without being consumed. When the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, then God called him by his name. The response of Moses to the call of God was spontaneous. Today the believer- in Christ should learn to recognize God’s voice by familiarizing himself with the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Question 2.a) Why did God send Moses to Pharaoh?
Exodus 3:7-10, Acts 7:24-36
As at this time Israel as a nation was in apostasy and rebellion. Few may have known God but majority have forgotten Him and embraced the gods of Egypt. (Ezekiel 20:5-8).
After the death of the king of Egypt, it appears that Israel came to their senses. They called upon the Lord and their cry came unto God. God heard their cry and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23-25).
God then decided to deliver His people from bondage and He called on Moses to be His instrument in that exercise. He commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites from Egypt. Moses responsibilities were to approach Pharaoh to demand for the freedom of God’s people from bondage and physically lead them from Egypt to the promised land. God stated clearly in Exodus 3:7 that He had seen the oppression of His people, heard their cries of distress and was aware of their suffering. However, God acted when the people cried to God for help. Today nations are in distress, and believers in those nations should learn from the experience of the Israelites at this time in Egypt. They should therefore call upon God, in repentance and seek the face of the Lord, as in 2 Chronicles 7:14, As individuals, believers must learn to call upon God in times of distress or affliction for His intervention. Such affliction may come from circumstances around us, people, satan or the world. Call upon God and He will answer.
Question 2b.) What does this teach about God’s care and understanding of our human predicaments?
The Israelites cried to God for mercy and the Lord heard them. To demonstrate His concern for them, he sent Moses to deliver them from the hands of their oppressors. He called Moses by his name. We must understand that God knows each and everyone of His children by name. Your details are in His hand. He has full knowledge of whatever you are going through.
We have a faithful and loving God who says “call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you”. The trouble with some of us is that we don’t care to call on the Lord when we are in trouble, and even when we do, some of us just call once and become weary.
Question 3.) What does the injunction in Exodus 3:5 teach about reverence for God’s presence?
The Lord told Moses not to come any closer and to remove his shoes because the ground on which he was standing was holy. This was an ordinary piece of land but made holy by God’s presence. Moses was to approach the presence of God with caution and great reverence. Although we have God as our Father and can come into His presence with “boldness”, we must not forget the holiness and purity of God.
God revealed Himself to Moses as the most Holy God. Moses as the servant of the Lord has to remember constantly that God a holy God.
Today the presence of God is not only at the physical altar in our places of worship, but everywhere we are. When we gather in His name, no matter how few in number, we must always recognize His Holy presence amongst us. We must not despise the presence of God in the midst of His people, this will help us learn to submit to one another in the fear of God.
Question 4.) Read the following scriptures and identify the various excuses Moses made and God’s response in each case.
Exodus 3:11-14, Jeremiah 1:5
God charged Moses to go to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10 Moses honestly admitted his weakness and inability for the task. He said “who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” Exodus 3:10.
God assured Moses of His presence; God said “certainly I will be with you” Exodus 3:12. The presence of God inspires confidence in any mission. With this assurance Moses decided that he will go but another challenge emerged. He anticipated that the Elders of Israel will ask for the name of the God of their fathers who had sent him to them. To this, the Lord said unto Moses, tell them that “I AM THAT I AM has sent me to you”. In addition, God said to Moses, “tell them the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me unto you”.
Humanly speaking, his fears were genuine, Moses was given a tall order- considering that Pharaoh was a powerful king at that time.
Question 5.) What is the significance of this eternal name of God “I AM THAT I AM”.
Exodus 3:14
When Moses demanded to know what he will tell the people if they inquire what God’s name is. God replied “I AM THAT I AM”; and He said thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, “ I AM hath sent me unto you” Exodus 3:14. He also told Moses to tell the Israelites that the LORD (YAHWEH) the God of their fathers, was the one who had sent him and that God would be known forever by that name Exodus 3:15.
The amplified bible translation of Exodus 3:14, 15 reads thus: “And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, you shall say this to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you!
God also said to Moses, This shall you say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your Fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has sent me to you! This is My name for ever, and by this name I am to be remembered to all generations”.
It is also important to know that when Jesus was born, He was called Immanuel, which means “God with us” Matthew 1:23. Jesus also referred to Himself by the name “I Am” John 8:58. Our God is all powerful and unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever Hebrews 13:8. He delivered the children of Israel from the hand of their oppressors. We can call upon Him today for supernatural intervention in our lives.
Daily Living Application
Moses’ call and commission provides many good lessons for Christians today, particularly those called into leadership position. First, there is the need to follow God’s direction at all times, rather than our own. Secondly, we must realize that there is a period of preparation. Finally we must realize that God’s presence is all we need to fulfill our ministry.
God spoke to Moses from an unexpected source, the burning bush. Moses made his excuses when God called him but nothing can be more comforting that God’s abiding presence- “ I will be with you” Exodus 3:12 and knowledge of His unchanging nature Exodus 3:14.
Memory Verse:
Exodus 3:14
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM”.