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by Sandy Shaw
For 40 years Moses has been learning lessons in the loneliness of the wilderness – and perhaps feeling utterly forgotten by the world, and by God. He is just getting on with his normal routine everyday tasks – when an angel of the Lord appears to him – and a bush has flames of fire from within. Exodus Chapter 3 .
It is similar in a way to Pentecost – 120 ‘bushes’ – not consumed!
An ordinary bush is blazing with God – let the fire of God fill you. God was in the bush! Deuteronomy 33verse 16 . This was a turning point in human history. A dry dead old bush whose life had long gone! What a lesson.
Moses saw that the bush was on fire and that it was not being burned, consumed or destroyed. Fire attracts. Fire got Moses’ attention.
God called him – “Moses, Moses”. He heard his name! And here God revealed His Name! God knows our name – God knows all about us – and He knows the right moment to speak to us and call us and challenge us – and even attract our attention.
The Holy Spirit knows when it is opportune to draw us to Christ.
Moses answers – “Here I am”. There are times when we have to go and find out what God is doing and saying. We have to make the effort as we respond. No closer – take off your sandals – for the place where you are standing is holy ground. “I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Moses hid his face – he was afraid to look at God. God was near. God was real. When God calls us and speaks to us – it should shake us – draw us up.
Then the Lord says – I have seen – I have heard – I am concerned - I have come down – what grace and love and mercy and compassion – in abundance.
And after He had said all these wonderful things – He adds – verse 10 – so now go – for I am sending you to Pharaoh – to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.
God can take you from one situation to another – and it can be remarkably sudden. Moses, you are the man I have chosen to do this work. We are called in Christ to co-operate. We are called to be participants and not mere spectators. Moses, I have done so much – now you are going to do the rest!
We see in Moses a strange unwillingness to do what the Living God was calling him to do – 40 years ago he would have jumped at the job. He had tried to do this job before the time was right and he bungled it – ending up murdering someone.
Five times he tries to get out of it. At 40 he had been too hasty – too eager – using the wrong methods at the wrong time. “Who am I?”
When I was a prince in Egypt, I could have done this work – but now, well Lord, I think you have the wrong man!
It is good to feel this insignificant – especially when God has drawn this close to you – but wrong if it drives you away from the work God has called you to.
“Lord, I couldn’t do that – and the Lord has to say – O I know that – I know you can’t do it – and won’t do it – I’ll do it – but through you. Moses, I am not insignificant – I can do it – and I will do it – but I need you!
Moses begins to argue with God – and we see something of the sheer patience of God – and He begins to reason with Moses. Never argue back – that is weakness and rebellion and sheer stupidity.
Verse 12 – I will be with you – what assurance – I will be with you like a daddy with a frightened child. Here we see the sovereignty of God at its most glorious and most reassuring. In a world of change and decay – when men are so fickle – here we see something of the reliability and steadfastness and faithfulness of God.
Our God is so personal. He is always there with His people. He is unique.
He is I AM – and you can put in there whatever you require – I am your Peace – your Healer – your Saviour – Your Encourager – Provider – Comforter – Challenger – the One Who baptises with the Holy Spirit – the One Who forgives and shows mercy and love. What all this means is – “I am truly present with you and ready to come to your aid”.
Compare this with the gods of Egypt – Ammon, which means concealed – Phthrah, which means swift – Issis, which was called the thing! But our God is I AM – the light of the world - the bread of life – with you always – the way the truth and the life – the vine – the door – the king of kings and lord of lords – the resurrection and the life.
Moses is told to go to Egypt – and assemble all the elders of the people – and explain to them what I have promised to do.
Verse 18 - and the elders will listen to you. Then you have to go to the king of Egypt – but Moses, that will be a little bit more difficult – nevertheless – I will work on him – and Moses – when you do leave Egypt, you will not leave empty handed – you will be laden with silver and gold and sufficient clothing.
After all that Moses says – What if they do not believe me? What if they do not listen to me? Here we see man’s unbelieving heart – and again we see how patient and reasonable God is up to a point.
Moses – what is in your hand? A staff or rod – throw it on the ground – and it became a snake – and he ran from it! You couldn’t see Moses for dust! God had to get him to return and take it up by the tail – and he reached out to lift it up by the very tip – that is what the Hebrew suggests – and it became a rod again.
Moses – will you take up the task I am calling you to do? Moses, stop wriggling. In My hands you will be as strong and powerful as your rod.
Put your hand into your cloak – when he took it out it was leprous. Put it back in and when he took it out it was restored healed and whole.
The link with obedience and blessing is so clear. Obedience and reward are related.
It is possible to have a burning bush experience – it is possible to have a Pentecost experience – and still argue!
God – knowing just what kind of man he was dealing with, gives him a third sign.
Take some water – pour it on the ground – and it will become blood.
God gives Moses three signs of reassurance – three tokens – three very physical and visible signs – and you can almost wonder if God is preparing to say “NEXT!”
Moses will not take a telling – he argues that he cannot speak – well he has been doing pretty well up till now. When God calls a man there is tremendous potential for good or evil. Life can either be terrific or terrifying.
There is no room in the service of Jesus Christ for boasting or rank or too much self-confidence – but there is also no room for unwillingness and arguing - or worse – verse 13 – trying to pass the job on to someone else. Send someone else. That cost Moses a lot later on.
When Moses questioned God’s choice and ability to use him he was doubting God’s authority.
What are we to do with the task that lies ahead of us – take it up – even it appears a wriggling serpent. Leave that matter to Jesus. Our response is to rise up and take it up – in the love and strength of Jesus Christ the King of Kings – and with the power of the Holy Spirit – consent – yield – accept - comply.
“Almighty God – we are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ – Lord God, You know it is not easy – it never has been easy and never will be easy. Lord God, there may be someone reading this who has never taken up the cross – there may be someone who has never been baptised in the Holy Spirit – there may be someone who knows he has to be born again but does not know how. Lord God, help such people to ask – and help us to be prepared to answer and minister – in Jesus Name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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