Monday Bible Study Life in Christ Bible Church LICBC Headquarters, 154 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024, USA http://www.licbc.org ********************************************************************************************** Systematic, Expository Study of God's Word Study 4: MOSES' CALL AT THE BURNING BUSH Exodus 3:1-22 In the previous chapter, Moses attempted to start his ministry of delivering Israel from, bondage. His method was not ordained of God and the timing was not appropriate. He demonstrated impatience, walking by sight, working in the energy of the flesh and zeal without knowledge. God's time had not fully arrived, Israel had not recognised Moses' call to be their deliverer and Moses himself had not received instruction, training, discipline and specific leading from God. The impetuosity and impatience of Moses brought him into serious trouble. Moses knew that he had important work to do for God but he did not know that he was not yet well-equipped. He was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" but "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (Acts 7:22; 1 Corinthians 3:19). He was "mighty in words and deeds" but it is "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Acts 7:22; Zechariah 4:6). The colleges of this world cannot equip for divine service, we must be taught in the school of God. 1. THE BURNING BUSH Exodus 3:1-9; Luke 20::37;Acts 7:30-34; Deuteronomy 4:20; Daniel 3:22-25; Isaiah 43:1,2; Malachi3:l-4. The years of the life of Moses are remarkably divided into three forties: the first forty he spent in Egypt, the second he spent as shepherd in Midian, the third as the leader of Israel. Now we find him at "the backside of the desert" leading the flock. Withdrawn from the noise and din, the bustle and confusion of Egypt, unaffected by the crash in the monetary and commercial world, at the backside of the desert, he had time to meditate, pray and weigh the reality of all things within and around. The drive of ambition was absent, the world's praise was not there to tempt, the thirst for gold unknown, pride of achievement not felt, neither human applause nor human censure was there to elate or depress. Thus in God's own school he was educated for the ministry. So it was with John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle, as with Moses, finding themselves in a place where God's voice alone is heard, His light enjoyed and His thoughts received. Moses spent the second forty years of his life in a place where every opportunity for communion with God was afforded. So must it be with us if we would succeed in the ministry. Moses saw a strange sight. He saw the bush burning in the desert without being consumed. He wanted to see and find out why the bush was not consumed. Then God spoke to him. The burning bush was a figure of the nation of Israel. At the time the Lord appeared to Moses, the Hebrews were suffering in "the iron furnace of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 4:20) but though the flames burned fiercely, they were not consumed. The fires of persecution have blazes seriously for many centuries but Israel has been miraculously sustained. God Himself was in the burning bush, and so He has been with Israel. The burning bush also has eschatological significance for Israel. As fiercely as the fire of wrath, indignation and persecution will burn at time of the Great tribulation, Israel, "shall be saved out of it" (Jeremiah 30:7). The church can receive encouragement from the mystery of the burning bush. The church, like the humble bush, possessing neither beauty nor comeliness, does not need to fear being consumed in the fire of persecution. In our midst and through the flames, God continues to reveal and manifest Himself. As Moses turned aside to "see this great sight" God gave him a gracious call, a needful caution and the solemn declaration of His Name. God warned him of needless curiousity. Speaking to Moses, God revealed Himself as the God of Abraham (the covenant-keeping God - Genesis 17:2-8), the God of Isaac (with whom all things are possible - Genesis 18:13,14) and the God of Jacob (whose mercies, compassion and faithfulness are new every morning - Genesis 32:9,10; Lamentations 3:22-25). Concerned over the afflicition of Israel, God promised to deliver them and bring them to the promised land. How blessed for us, in times of stress and distress to know that there is a mighty God who sees our "afflicition", Hears our "cry", knows our "sorrows", comes to "deliver", to bring us out of "oppression" and lead us into "a good land". 2. THE CALL AND RESPONSE OF MOSES Exodus 3:10-15; 1 Samuel 12:6; Isaiah 63:11,12; Hosea 12:13; Acts 7:34-36; Exodus 4:10-13,15; Exodus 6:3; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 44:6-8. "Come NOW therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). Forty years previously, Moses had become impatient and thought to take matters into his owns hands, only to discover that the time for Israel's deliverance was not yet ripe. Now the hour for Divine intervention had struck. Now the time for God to deal with the haughty oppressor of His people had arrived. "And Moses said unto God, who am I?" Moses at eighty was not so eager as at forty. God's discipline and schooling had tamed and sobered him. He saw difficulties in himself, in the people, and in the task. He had already tried once and failed, noe for long years he had been out of touch with his people. But while all this was true, it was God who now called him to this work and God makes no mistakes. The Lord, therefore, graciously encouraged him by promising to be with him and assured him of the ultimate success of his mission. God was not asking Moses to go forward alone; the Almighty Himself would accompany him. That is still the Divine promise made to all divinely-called servants. Then God revealed His Name to Moses: "I AM THAT I AM". That name contains each tense of the verb "to be", and might be translated, "I was, I am, and I shall always continue to be". God is eternal "I am" - the great self-existent One, always the same "from everlasting to everlasting" - without beginning, without ending, always the same, eternally changeless. 3. DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS AND REVELATION TO MOSES Exodus 3:16-22; Genesis 50:24; Psalm 136:11,12; Jeremiah 32::20-22; Acts 7:36; Isaiah 46:9-11; 43:13. Here, God assured Moses of the definite result of his mission. God spoke in definite, positive terms. There was no possibility of the divine purpose failing. God said, "I will bring you up out of...", "they shall hearken to thy voice", "I am sure that ...", "I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt... and after that he will let you go". "And I will give this people favour"..., "when ye go, ye shall not go empty". God expressly declared that He would deliver Israel from Egypt and bring them into Canaan. Let God's unfailing promises be the ground of our confidence. Though all the powers of evil array themselves against us, whatever God has called us to do will be accomplished precisely as He has appointed. Let us seek grace which will enable us to place God between us and our difficulties.
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