Foundations – Exodus The Call of God Exodus 3:1-4:17 September 9, 2018
I. It’s WHEN you least EXPECT it. (3:1-4)
A. Often LATER rather than SOONER. (Acts 7:23,30; Ex. 7:7)
B. In the MUNDANE, not the GLORIOUS. (3:1)
C. A PROGRESSIVE desire to KNOW. (3:2-4)
There is something within us that wants to know what God’s plan is for our life. I think we all know that it’s an oversimplification, we aren’t just called to do one thing. But we want to know what He wants from us. Moses’ moment at the burning bush reminds us how that might happen in our own lives, and not in the way we might expect.
1. Have you ever felt a call from God to something, be it big and lifelong, or small and in a given moment? What was that like?
2. Does your life consist of the mundane or glorious? Are you willing to let God call you in and through the mundane?
II. ASKING the right QUESTION. (3:11-12)
A. NOT WHO am I? (3:11)
B. WHO am I WITH? (3:12)
One of the most important things we can learn in life is how to ask the right questions. Questions send us down mental pathways that give direction to where our lives actually go. So it’s important to make sure we are asking the questions that matter when it comes to what God is calling us to do.
3. How aware of you (on a scale of 1-10) of the presence of God in your day to day life? How might you improve that awareness?
4. How would a growing awareness of God’s presence impact your life?
III. Our RESISTANCE to God’s CALL. (3:11-4:13)
A. What if I don’t KNOW ENOUGH? (3:13)
B. What if I am NOT ENOUGH? (4:10)
C. Please SEND someone ELSE. (4:13)
As much as we want to know what God wants, we also want to do what we want. That can be inspired by our fear, or by our own desire to control our lives. Moses is no different than us. He looks for a way out. But God uses Moses in spite of Moses, which is good news for you and me.
5. What do you see as your greatest hindrance to being used by God?
6. When have you just wanted God to “send someone else”?
IV. KNOWING the God who CALLS. (Jn 17:3)
A. He is CONCERNED with our SUFFERING. (3:7-9; Ps. 34:18)
B. He RESPONDS by calling PEOPLE. (3:10; Jn. 20:21)
C. He is INCREDIBLY PATIENT… (3:11-4:13; 2 Pet. 3:9)
D. …Yet will NOT be STOPPED. (4:14-17; Is. 46:8-10)
The whole purpose of what we see in Scripture is to help us know God. Not just know about Him, but to actually know and experience Him. Moses begins this part of his life journey meeting God in a way that will carry him throughout the next 40 years. What he sees also helps us to know and trust the God who calls us.
7. Kid’s Question – If you could ask God one question what would it be?
8. Where do you think God might be calling you this week?