The Call of Moses

INTRODUCTION:  This lesson records the call of Moses to deliver the children of Israel. God often skips many generations of earthly rulers and kingdoms with a verse or a word. However, He takes two entire chapters to tell us of His encounter with Moses at the burning bush. In this lesson, God emphasizes His power as opposed to the ability of man. The bush burns supernaturally. But the power is not in the bush, it is in the God who caused the bush to burn. When God puts His touch on something, any old bush will do. Moses has to learn this lesson about himself.  Forty years earlier, he had learned that he could not deliver Israel. Now, he has to learn that God can use him anyway.

1. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO MOSES (Exodus 3:1-10)
1. The One to Whom God Reveals Himself (Exodus 3:1-4)
1. One who is humbled (Exodus 3:1; Exodus 2:22 with Acts 7:25)
1. He was the son of Pharaohs daughter.
2. He was to be the deliverer of Israel.
3. He is now a stranger in a strange land.
4. He is now keeping the flock of his father-in-law.
2. One who is faithful (Exodus 3:1)
1. Moses is not idle, but is working by keeping the flock.
2. God often calls those who are working.
1. Gideon was in the threshing floor (Judges 6:11-16).
2. David was with his few sheep (1 Samuel 16:11-13).
3. Elisha was plowing a field (1 Kings 19:19-20).
4. Simon and Andrew were casting a net (Matthew 4:18-19).
3. One who is separated (Exodus 3:1; Proverbs 18:1; Romans 1:1)
1. Moses had been in the heat of civilization in Egypt.
2. Moses is on the backside of the desert where God can get his attention.
4. One who is seeking (Exodus 3:3; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 5:6)
5. One who is submissive (Exodus 3:4; Isaiah 6:8)
2. The Steps of Gods Revelation of Himself (Exodus 3:1-4)
1. He prepares the man (Exodus 3:1).
2. He gets his attention (Exodus 3:2-3).
3. He speaks to the man (Exodus 3:4).
3. What God Reveals (Exodus 3:5-10)
1. His purity (Exodus 3:5)
1. So pure that Moses should keep his distance
2. So pure that Moses must remove his shoes
3. So pure that the ground, where God is, is considered holy
2. His praise (Exodus 3:6)
1. I am the God of thy father.
2. I am the God of Abraham.
3. I am the God of Isaac.
4. I am the God of Jacob.
3. His passion (Exodus 3:7-8; see 2 Corinthians 3:18)
1. The Lord has seen the afflictions of his people (Exodus 3:7).
2. The Lord has heard the cry of his people (Exodus 3:7).
3. The Lord has come down to deliver them out of Egypt (Exodus 3:8).
4. The Lord is going to bring them into a good land (Exodus 3:8).
4. His appointment (Exodus 3:9-10)
1. Moses will be sent unto Pharaoh (Exodus 3:10).
2. Moses will bring the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10).
2. THE FEAR OF MOSES AND THE POWER OF GOD (Exodus 3:11- Exodus 4:17)
1. Moses Lacks Confidence (Exodus 3:11-12).
1. Moses questions the Lord (Exodus 3:11).
1. Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh?
2. Who am I that I should bring forth the children of Israel?
2. God answers the concern of Moses (Exodus 3:12).
1. Certainly I will be with thee.
2. When you have brought out the people, you shall serve me upon this mountain.
2. Moses Lacks Authority (Exodus 3:13-14).
1. Moses questions his authority for delivering Israel (Exodus 3:13).
1. Moses assures the Lord that the people will question his authority.
2. Moses wants to know who he shall say sent him.
2. God answers this concern of Moses (Exodus 3:14).
1. The Lord tells Moses who He is I AM THAT I AM.
2. The Lord tells Moses to say, I AM THAT I AM hath sent me.
3. The Lord Gives Moses the Details (Exodus 3:15-22).
1. Moses is to inform the elders of Israel of Gods deliverance, and they will believe (Exodus 3:15-18).
2. Moses and the elders of Israel are to come to the king of Egypt and ask to leave, but he will not let them (Exodus 3:18-19).
3. God will smite Egypt with plagues until they desire to send Israel out (Exodus 3:20-22).
4. Moses Lacks Influence (Exodus 4:1-5).
1. Moses questions the influence he can have on the people (Exodus 4:1).
1. Moses tells the Lord that they will not hearken unto his word.
2. Moses tells the Lord that they will not believe that the Lord hath appeared unto him.
2. God answers this concern of Moses (Exodus 4:2-5).
1. By the sign of the rod (Exodus 4:2-5)
1. What is that in thine hand? (Exodus 4:2)
1. Whatever he had was given by God (1 Corinthians 4:7).
2. God starts with what He has given you (Ephesians 2:10).
2. Cast it on the ground (Exodus 4:3).
1. He had to deny his own strengths and abilities.
2. He had to understand his own weaknesses [notice that he ran from the serpent].
3. The rod of Moses became the rod of God (Exodus 4:20).
3. Take it by the tail (Exodus 4:4).
4. God assures Moses that the people will believe (Exodus 4:5).
2. By the sign of  leprosy (Exodus 4:6-8)
1. The Lord brings leprosy upon the hand of Moses (Exodus 4:6).
2. The Lord heals the leprosy on the hand of Moses (Exodus 4:7).
3. God assures Moses that the people will believe (Exodus 4:8).
3. By the sign of blood (Exodus 4:9)
1. Moses would take the water of the river and pour it upon dry land.
2. The water shall become blood upon the dry land.
5. Moses Lacks Ability (Exodus 4:10-17).
1. Moses tells the Lord that he is slow of speech (Exodus 4:10).
2. The Lord assures Moses that He made mans mouth and that He will be with Moses mouth (Exodus 4:11-12).
3. Moses tells the Lord to send someone to do the speaking (Exodus 4:13).
4. The Lord, now angry, tells Moses He will send Aaron with him to do the speaking (Exodus 4:14-16).
5. The Lord tells Moses to take the rod (Exodus 4:17).

CONCLUSION:  Have you learned the lessons of the burning bush and the rod? In many ways, they are one and the same. The bush and the rod are not significant in and of themselves. They are about as plain and common as you can get. The power is in the God who used them. Are you willing to be used by God? Are you willing to cast your rod on the ground? Are you willing to take the work that God has given you by the tail?