Who Am I? (Exodus 3:11-15) *All verses in NKJV*
– In Exodus Chapter 3, we find an 80 yr old Moses, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. He led the sheep to Horeb, which was described as the “Mountain of God.” Also known as Mount Sinai.
– Moses spoke to God, in the form of a burning bush, and is told to take off his shoes for he is standing on holy ground. He is at the base of Mt. Horeb, the Mountain where God will later give Moses the Ten Commandments.
– When Moses frees the Hebrews from slavery, and brings them out of Egypt, he is directed by God, through the burning bush, to return and “serve God on this mountain.” (verse 12)
– God told Moses that He has seen the suffering and oppression of His people for the last 400 yrs, and heard their cries, and He has come down to deliver them.
– As Pastor Matt said last week, God will do it! God initiates it, but we must respond. God wants us to get involved in the process, using people to accomplish His will. This time God used Moses!
– Exodus 3:10, 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
– This is the calling of God on Moses’ life. This is his response…
Exodus 3:11-15, But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
1) Moses asked, “Who am I?”
– Exodus 3:11, But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
– He struggled with his own self doubt and insecurities. Troubled past, poor speech, old age… could he be worthy to take on this great calling?
– I’m sure he was already comfortable where he was at. Retired, married, living on a farm… why would he want to take on any more responsibility?
– We could ask the same question: Who am I? Focused more on our faults than our gifts. Comfortable. Feeling unprepared and not capable to fulfill God’s request, just like Moses.
– God uses people to fulfill His purposes and promises. We must be active participants.
– God doesn’t always call the equipped, but he always equips the called!
– Don’t avoid discomfort in what God is calling you to do. Embrace it. You can do hard things!!
– The book: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, explains the concept of each thing preparing you for the next. The story centers on Benaiah, one of King David’s mighty men.
– 2 Samuel 23:20-22, Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.
– Fighting 2 lion-like heroes of Moab gave him the skill and courage to fight an actual lion in a snowy pit. Then he leveled-up to killing a spectacular Egyptian with his own spear.
– These things prepared him to be appointed King David’s chief bodyguard. Then eventually made head over the whole army under King Solomon.
– Where would’ve Benaiah ended up if he avoided the hard things in his life? He would not have been prepared for God’s eventual calling on his life. (You don’t just start out as general over the army!)
– Look at YOUR life. What has God called you to that you are avoiding? Where are you trying to hide?
– Are you distracting yourself with work, kids, video games, hobbies, drugs, etc… too busy to obey the Lord? Pretending you don’t know, or are maxed out, or like you are already do good enough?
– “Good enough” is never enough for God. He wants to prepare you, but you must move!
– It doesn’t matter who you WERE. You are created to be more than you are right now. He has a plan for your life! Stop avoiding it.
– 2 Cor 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
– Eph 2:10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
– Saying that you are “unworthy” or not capable or can’t do what God has called you to do, is akin to saying that God is making a mistake or doesn’t know what He is doing by choosing you.
– Instead of implying that God is wrong, YOU should reevaluate your own thoughts and perceptions.
– God is seeing something in you that you aren’t seeing in yourself. God is never wrong!
– “Getting started” Is always the hardest part for me. What am I supposed to do? How does it work? It is always awkward at first and takes me several tries to get it right.
– Example: Running 1000 miles. A daunting goal. How could I fit it in my life, work, missions…?
– Get your shoes on and go outside. It takes 5 minutes and it’s easy. Don’t worry about everything else. Put one foot in front of the other, and next thing you know, you are running.
2) God replies, “I will certainly be with you.”
– It’s not by OUR strength, but by HIS strength. We don’t go alone; our hope and strength is in the Lord. The Holy Spirit inside of you is what makes you worthy and well-able.
– Deut. 31:8, And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
– Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
– John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
– Look at God! Won’t He do it!
– Pastor Matt said last week that we should not be focused on ourselves or what we can do, but be focused on God, and how great He is. God is faithful!
– Maybe it’s not all about YOU! Your mission might not have any direct benefit for you, but be supremely helpful to someone else in need, or the next generation.
– Look at Moses. His calling was almost entirely for the benefit of the Israelites, and Moses didn’t even get to enter the promised Land. 40 years of toil and work for the next generation!
– 1 Peter 5:6-7, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
– You don’t need to worry. If God has called you to it, He will see you through it!
3) God is the God who never changes.
– Exodus 3:13-15, Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
– Moses asked God, “Whom shall I say is calling?” Afraid that the people will not recognize His voice.
– Why? Would they confuse “the God who sent him” with some other pagan god? They have been in slavery in a foreign land for hundreds of years. Maybe the knowledge of The God of their Fathers has been lost through the generations? They may have all but lost their history. (false god in the desert..)
– God calls Himself, “I AM WHO I AM.” The name could also be translated “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.” It speaks of God who is self-sufficient, self-existent, all encompassing, and without limitations. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end. He is unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature. Tell them, I AM has sent you!
– The reason there is “Power in the name of Jesus”, and “something about that name” is because of the power, nature, and character of the one who bears it. (It’s not the words themselves.)
– To be more specific, God reminds them that He is THE God of their fathers. His name will forever reflect that fact. His name forever is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
– He is the same God for generations, that was, and is, and is to come. The one their great grandparents talked about. He doesn’t change.
4) What does this mean to you?
– The God who set the Israelites free from bondage in Egypt, is the same God who set you free from sin and death. Jesus!
– John 8:53, (Jesus arguing with the Jews, they ask), Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
– John 8:58, Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
– This is the same name that God told Moses at Mt. Horeb. Jesus is saying that he IS God. (Proven by the fact that the religious leaders knew what he meant, and wanted to kill him for saying that.)
– Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
– For the Israelites to be saved, they needed to leave captivity, and follow Moses to the Promised Land. For you to find salvation, you must leave your sin, and follow Jesus!
– Romans 6:17-18, But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
– Romans 6:22-23, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– John 8:34-36, Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Gospel message…
– prayer –
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