09-03-17, Exodus 3;1-4;17, God Calls Moses To Service
1. Exodus 3:1–4:17
God Calls Moses To Service
(Moses Offers Great Excuses!)
September 3, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
2. What’s the number one thing?
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3. The Glory of God!
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4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do
it all to the glory of God.
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5. September Memory Verse
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.
6. Special Announcements
•Lunch with Dr. Jason Allen and Family after church
next Sunday – Buy Tickets.
•Pam Tebow on September 28 – Get Tickets.
•Friday Morning Bible Study on “The Last Days” begins
September 11 at 9:30-11:00 lead by Dr. Jim Spikes.
7. References
•ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishing,
2011).
• Unless otherwise stated, scriptures are quoted from the
ESV.
•Swindoll, Charles R., Moses, A Man of Selfless
Dedication (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1999).
•Missler, Dr. Chuck, Exodus 3-7 (YouTube Video).
8. Introduction to Exodus 3-4
•The people of Israel in Egypt had grown from 70 to
600,000 men in 430 years
•A new king over Egypt enslaved the descendants of
Jacob (Israel)
•The Israelites were made slaves with hard labor
•There was an attempt to kill Israelite babies to
decrease their numbers
9. Introduction to Exodus 3-4
•Moses was protected by God and raised by Pharaoh’s
daughter.
•Moses had to flee Egypt because he murdered an
Egyptian who was beating an Israelite.
•Moses flees to Midian and marries Zipporah.
•Moses is 80 years-old when God calls him to service.
10. Exodus 2:23-25
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and
the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery
and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery
came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with
Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—
and God knew.
11. “and God remembered his covenant”
•When the Bible says that “God remembered”, it
means that God is about to act in their behalf.
•It does NOT mean that God has forgotten and
suddenly remembered.
12. Exodus 3:1-3
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law,
Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the
west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the
mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He
looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was
not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to
see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
14. The mountain of God (Mt. Sinai) in land of
Horeb or Mt. Horeb.
15. Mt. Sinai in Horeb
•The Covenant with Israel was confirmed and God gave
Moses the 10 Commandments here.
•Elijah was commissioned here in 1 Kings 19 after
fleeing Jezebel.
•Paul may have been taught here by Christ as written in
Galatians 1:17.
19. “flame of fire out of the bush”
• Theophany = visible presence of God.
• Shekinah glory – visible presence of God’s glory.
• Pillar of fire – visible at night to guide the Israelites.
• Pillar of cloud – visible in daylight to guide.
• Bush was not consumed – this was the strange occurrence that
peaked Moses’ curiosity.
20. When God calls…
• Abram (Abraham), in Genesis 15:1 in a vision or dream.
• Moses, in Exodus 3:4 speaks from a burning bush.
• Samuel, in 1 Samuel 3:4 God speaks directly.
• Isaiah, in Isaiah 6:8 speaks in a vivid vision.
• Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 1:4 God speaks, touches and gives
vision.
21. When God calls…
•Ezekiel, in Ezekiel 2-3 God speaks, touches and feeds
him a scroll and physically transports him.
•Jonah, in Jonah 1:1 God speaks and provides a fish to
protect him from himself.
•God’s calling is customized just for you!
•God’s messenger today is the Holy Spirit.
22. Exodus 3:4-5
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God
called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he
said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near;
take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which
you are standing is holy ground.”
•Note: This is the first reference in Bible to God as
“holy”
23. “take your sandals off your feet, for the place
where you are standing is holy ground.”
•The presence of God in the burning bush made the
ground holy.
‐ To be Holy is to be “set apart or separate” a
distinction between Creator (God) and creation
(Moses).
•Shoes (sandals) in the Bible can represent our service.
- Moses had to surrender his own service to accept
God’s calling.
24. God’s Provisions – Covered every detail of life
for Israelites.
•Deuteronomy 8:4
4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot
did not swell these forty years.
•Deuteronomy 29:5
5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your
clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals
have not worn off your feet.
25. Idioms and Symbolism in the Bible
•God is consistent in the Bible with the meanings in His
creation.
•God’s forward focus in Old Testament is pointing to
Jesus and redemption but also judgment.
•Jesus used parables (stories with a special meaning)
that only his followers or disciples could understand.
26. Idioms and Symbols in Exodus 3 - Fire
• Consuming fire = judgment, refining.
• Deuteronomy 4:24
24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
• Hebrews 12:29
29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable
worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a
consuming fire.
27. Final judgment on earth will be by fire
•2 Peter 3:7
7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that
now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the
day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
•Remember: The burning bush was not consumed by
fire – (judgment with redemption).
28. Idioms and Symbols in Exodus 3 - Bush
•Bush – Thorn (bramble) bush represents sin.
•Bush – origin of word is “to prick”.
•Genesis 3:17b-18
17b cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
29. Thorns in the New Testament
• Jesus had a crown of thorns placed on His head.
• This was a symbol of our sins being placed on Him.
• Matthew 27:28-29
28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on
his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling
before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the
Jews!”
30. 2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God.
31. What is the symbolism of the burning thorn
bush that was not being consumed?
•The sins of Israel will be judged, but Israel will be
redeemed.
•Justice – Getting what we deserve.
•Mercy – Not getting something we do deserve.
•Grace – Getting something we do not deserve.
32. Exodus 3:6-7a
6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And
Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7a Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my
people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of
their taskmasters.
• Note: This is first time Israel is referred to as “my people”.
33. Exodus 3:7b-8
7b I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to
deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to
bring them up out of that land to a good and broad
land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place
of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the
Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
34. Exodus 3:9-10
9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has
come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with
which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send
you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the
children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
35. Exodus 3:11-12
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to
Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the
sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have
brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on
this mountain.”
36. Exodus 3:13-14
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel
and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to
you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say
to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he
said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to
you.’”
• Hebrew name for ‘I am’ = Yahweh or Jehovah.
• The Bible does not give details of Israelite worship while in
captivity in Egypt.
38. “I AM” and “I AM WHO I AM”
• “I AM” – Describes His eternal power and unchangeable
character.
• “I AM WHO I AM” – Self-existent without beginning or end.
• English conjugation of the verb “to be”.
- I was.
- I am.
- I will be (always continue to be).
39. Jesus also calls himself “I am”.
•John 8:57-59
57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years
old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to
them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I
am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but
Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
•Jesus is declaring that He is God.
40. Jesus declared that He and the Father (God)
are One.
• John 14:9-11
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you
still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has
seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is
in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my
own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his
works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father
is in me, or else believe on account of the works
themselves.”
41. Jesus used “I am” to make 7 declarations
about Himself in Gospel of John.
1. “I am the Bread of Life.” – John 6:35,41,48,51
2. “I am the Light of the World.” – John 8:12
3. “I am the Door of the Sheep.” – John 10:7,9
4. “I am the Good Shepherd.” – John 10:11,14
5. “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” – John 11:25
6. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” – John 14:6
7. “I am the True Vine.” – John 15:1,5
42. Summary of Exodus 3:15-4:12
• God explains to Moses how the release of the Israelites will
play out.
• Moses is given signs to use to show the Israelites.
‐ The staff turning into a snake.
‐ Leprosy on his hand.
‐ Changing water from the Nile into blood.
• Moses continues to tell God he is not the man for the job.
‐ Listen for excuses as we read next scriptures.
43. Exodus 4:10-12
10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not
eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to
your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's
mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or
blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I
will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall
speak.”
44. Exodus 4:13-14
13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against
Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother,
the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is
coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will
be glad in his heart.
45. Exodus 4:15-17
15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his
mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his
mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall
speak for you to the people, and he shall be your
mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in
your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”
46. The roles of Moses and Aaron
•Exodus 7:1-2
1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you
like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be
your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command
you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let
the people of Israel go out of his land.
47. Moses offers 5 excuses to God.
1. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt?” (3:11)
‐ “I don’t have all the answers!”
‐ Moses was an escaped murderer from Egypt.
‐ God’s reply: “I will be with you; when you come out
of Egypt, you will serve me on this mountain.” (3:12)
48. Moses offers 5 excuses to God.
2. “What is your name that I may tell the people who
sent me?” (3:13)
‐ The Israelites don’t even know who you are.
‐ God’s reply: “I AM WHO I AM.” (3:14)
49. Moses offers 5 excuses to God.
3. “How would the people believe that you have sent me?”
(4:1)
‐ “I may not have their respect!”
‐ Moses offers the excuse of lack of credibility for
himself and for God.
‐ God’s response: Signs of the staff into a snake, leprosy
and water to blood. (4:2-9)
50. Moses offers 5 excuses to God.
4. “I am not eloquent; I am slow of speech!” (4:10)
‐ “I’m slow in my expressions!”
‐ Moses offers the excuse of lack of talent.
‐ God’s reply: “I made you. I will be your mouth
and teach you what to say.” (4:11-12)
51. Moses’ final excuse to God.
5. “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (4:13)
‐ Moses finally just says he does not want to do it!
‐ He was willing to live his life in Midian as a
shepherd.
‐ God’s reply: “Aaron, your brother, will gladly go
with you.” (4:14)
55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death
explained in Revelation 21:8.
57. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,
which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
58. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7
7 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his
God and he will be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquers.
59. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”
60. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Have questions or would like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/