The Call of God

2021-01-17 

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Exodus 3:1-4  Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² Then the Angel of the Lordappeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. ³ So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? ⁴ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

 

Exodus 3:9-12 The Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. ¹⁰ Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” ¹¹ But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ¹² He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”

 

Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

 

Exodus 4:10-13 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant —because I am slow and hesitant in speech.” ¹¹ Yahweh said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? ¹² Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” ¹³ Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”

 

1. Never ignore God’s call

Vs 3:4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

• Fear could have kept Moses away from the presence of God
• This fear could have led Moses to miss out on God’s calling and plan for his life

2. Never question God’s call

Vss 3:10-11 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” ¹¹ But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

 

Vs 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

• The “what ifs” in life will always lead us to question God’s plan
• This is a specific tactic of the enemy to keep us from trusting God
• Moses answered in verse 4, “Here I am,” but when he heard the scope of God’s call he questioned the wisdom of God in calling him
• God will never call you to something in which He doesn’t also equip to you fulfill that call successfully

3. Never doubt God’s power

Vs 3:12a He answered, “I will certainly be with you…”

• Throughout this “burning bush” encounter, God continually assured Moses His power was all that was needed
• And yet, Moses continued to doubt His own ability, God’s call and ultimately, God’s power to make it happen
• In our lives, doubting that God can equip us to fulfill His call has been the one thing that has kept many people from ever accomplishing great things for Him
• Until you accept that you can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, you will never make an impact for Him

4. Always trust God’s heart

Vss 3:16-17a “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites…

• God made it clear that He never forgot Israel in the midst of their problems and despair
• Certainly at times there were moments where Israel wondered where God was, but His timing was always right