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Reading Ex.3:1-22

It is an astounding fact that God calls people.

Choosing to go his own way independent of God Adam forfeited the intimate relationship he had enjoyed with God but God did not simply wash His hands of this recalcitrant creature. After Adam's fall we hear the voice of God calling out in the Garden "Adam, where are you?" Of course God knew where Adam was but was calling him out of hiding back into His presence to face up to what he had done.

And God has gone on calling out to men and women ever since. He calls them to come out of their sinful shameful rebellion into a personal saving relationship with Himself and He also calls into service.

This evening we will restrict ourselves to a consideration of Moses' call as it is described in the first six verses of Exodus ch.3. By God's grace we'll return next week to look at how Moses responded to this call.

Moses' call was one of the special ones recorded for us in the Bible. In fact it is the only such call if we focus on the details of this particular incident. God appeared to no-one else via a bush that burned and yet was not consumed.

There were other people who received a call from God in remarkable circumstances but none of them was identical to that of Moses.

Isaiah was called into the LORD's service as a prophet by means of a stunning vision. You'll know the story that is recorded in Is. ch.6. He saw the exalted LORD sitting on a throne. He saw angels hovering in His presence ready to serve. He heard the voice of the LORD and that voice shook the very foundations of the Temple. His lips were purified as an angel touched them with a live coal taken from the altar. When the call came "Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Isaiah eagerly responded with his famous response "Here am I! Send me."

Similarly Ezekiel was called into his prophetic ministry through a vision of the glory of the LORD which is recounted at length in the opening chapters of the Book that bears his name.

And when we turn to the NT we are of course very familiar with the dramatic events that took place on the Damascus Road when Saul, on his way to persecute the church, was confronted and converted by the Lord Jesus who appeared to him. Saul was called and commissioned as he was so impressively halted by the Lord and radically transformed.

Each of these examples are characterized by a different and unique set of details but each also contain the same basic thrust. God breaks into the lives of people and calls them to know Himself and to be His servants!

We can be tempted to imagine that if we do not have some such drastic "call" ourselves then we are either not in relationship with the LORD at all or that we are at best second class believers. That would be a very wrong conclusion to draw however because there are plenty of other examples in the Bible of people whose call came about in much less impressive circumstances. Because their calls were so ordinary we don't naturally think about them and so make too much of the spectacular calls even to the extent of seeing the unusual as somehow normative.

We don't know how the great Elijah was called into his ministry – he simply erupts on the scene in 1Ki.17 declaring God's word to a disobedient king. As for Elijah's successor Elisha his call came through Elijah and not through any direct divine intervention (1Ki.19).

In the NT Levi is called as he was going about his regular employment as a tax collector. And as for Timothy well he grew up in a believing family and knew all about the gospel from his earliest days – no stunning conversion for him.

What is the point I'm trying to make from all of this? Quite simply that we must not draw wrong conclusions by focusing upon details which, while interesting and at times extraordinarily impressive, are nevertheless of secondary importance.

God calls men to know Him and to serve Him and He does it in the way He chooses for each individual. The important thing is not how the call comes but that it comes at all. And then of course the call calls for a response.

Jesus Himself launched a very wide and general call to all who would heed it:

Mt.11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

One day when Moses was quietly going about his everyday affairs God broke dramatically into his life. If Moses had had any thoughts about delivering his people from their oppressed condition in Egypt those thoughts had probably dissipated over the forty years he lived as a shepherd in Midian. In fact he'd probably long given up any idea of playing a major role on the stage of world affairs. But now was God's time.

We're so often in a hurry aren't we? But God does not operate according to the busy-ness of our schedules but steadily pursues His own purposes in both His way and in His time.

Moses might be hidden away in the wildernesses near Midian but God knew exactly how and where to find him.

And so as Moses pastures his flock God sets a bush alight in an unusual way – it doesn't burn up!

It's a great sight and Moses is intrigued. It's no natural phenomena that he's observing – Moses had been a long time in that part of the world and, yes, bushes there might well catch fire but every one he'd seen before today was consumed by the flames. But not today – something special was taking place.

God has got his attention! Has God ever caught your attention so that you know that He is dealing with you? Sometimes He might do it in spectacular ways but more often He does so in a more ordinary manner. You're listening to a sermon perhaps and suddenly you're gripped by what is being said – it's so applicable to you, it might have been said just for you. Or you're reading the Bible and suddenly words leap off the page – you've possibly read them before, maybe many times, but now they've come alive – they're for you! Or a friend speaks and tells you about Jesus and you just know it's true. Those are the usual ways God speaks to us.

As Moses turned aside to take a close look at the spectacle of a burning bush that didn't get consumed God spoke to him and revealed truths to him.

Before we come to think a little about just what God had to say to Moses let's take note of the fact that God calls Moses by name.

How encouraging it is to realize that to God neither Moses nor we are mere ciphers or numbers. God calls out to Moses and He calls Him by his name. Now we're not meant to understand this purely in terms of information something much more intimate is implied.

Later in his life Moses, having succeeded in leading the Israelites out of Egypt is praying for God to enable help to continue to lead the people. He pleads with God employing the following argument:

Ex.33:12 "you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight."

As the LORD responds to Moses He reemphasizes the truth of this:

Ex.33:17 "And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.”"

Basically when we say that God knows someone by name we mean that:

1.       God has chosen him out from amongst others

2.       He is, because of this, held in particular honour

3.       He is the beneficiary of God's personal affection

God calls and God chooses. He doesn't go out looking for "choice" people whom He can recruit but recruits those He determines to transform into "choice" believers. Jesus put it like this:

Lk.31-32 "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

God called Moses and Moses heard. God called Isaiah and Isaiah heard. God called Ezekiel and Ezekiel heard. The people of God are known by name and belong to the LORD.

Is.43:1-7 "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

God even knows and calls pagans when they have no interest at all in the LORD and He calls them too by name!

Is.45:1-7 "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,  I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well–being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things."

Nor does this apply only in OT times. Don't you remember the words of our Lord Jesus as He described Himself as the Good Shepherd?

Jn.10:3 "The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Did you notice that as God called Moses He repeated Moses' name twice? This repetition doesn't occur all that often in the Bible but when it does it signifies that we are at an important point in a person's life. This repetition of the name functions as a prelude to a serious Word being given to which the hearer will do well to pay due attention.

Let me show you what I mean.

Gen.22:11 "But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I”"

God has been testing Abraham and Abraham is on the point of sacrificing his son Isaac through whom all the promises are to be fulfilled. What an emotional time for Abraham – how significant it all is! And the angel of the LORD as if to underline the urgency and the importance of the occasion repeats Abraham's name twice. The Word to be shared is so important too. Abraham is not to offer his son Isaac after all. How important that Abraham should both hear that message and act upon it!

Later in the Book of Genesis Joseph has sent word back to his father Jacob that he is still alive and that Jacob must come down to Egypt to join him there. Jacob set out on the journey and got as far as Beersheba where he offered sacrifices to God. He is evidently somewhat concerned about abandoning the Land that God had promised to him.

Gen.46:2 "And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes."

How encouraging of the LORD to confirm Jacob in the course of action he's undertaking. The promises about a numerous descendance are repeated and God's presence is assured. Jacob is told to continue his journey and to do so without fear! God is in it!

Samuel was still a young lad dedicated to the LORD's service but didn't personally know the Lord yet when God spoke to him.

Three times in the night hours God called Samuel who each time went to Eli thinking it was he who was calling him. Finally Eli appreciates what is happening and instructs Samuel as to what to do should the call come again.

1Sam.3:10 "And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”"

This serves as Samuel's call to exercise his oh so important ministry in the history of God's people. Just a few verses later we read concerning him:

1Sam.3:19-4:1a "And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel."

Moses own call here in Ex.3 is followed a very important word. Firstly Moses is left in no doubt as to just who it is that is speaking with him – this is the God of his people and He is not to be trifled with, the place is holy ground! He then is told that the LORD has some wonderful plans that He is about to put into motion:

Ex.3:7-9 "Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them."

The importance of the moment having been made so clear the LORD continues to tell Moses of the role he must perform!

The NT maintains the same pattern:

Jesus speaks to Peter of the trials that lie ahead of him:

Lk.22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail."

Martha is warned about making the wrong choice of being caught up with secondary matters and missing the most important thing:

Lk.10:41-42 "But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”"

Saul the arch-persecutor of the early church was on the Damascus Road on route for some more persecution. What spiritual blindness characterized him before he was struck with physical blindness for a time when he was met on that road by the risen Lord Jesus:

Acts 26:14-16 "I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles––to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’"

These various examples demonstrate the seriousness that was attached to such a call. The moment was right for action and the response was to be serious obedience.

God called then and God calls now to faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Obedience didn't always come easy for people in the Bible and we're not to imagine it was somehow different for them from us. We'll come next week (DV) to a consideration of Moses' problems but let me end this evening with an exhortation: when you hear His, voice, His call, pay heed to it with the utmost seriousness.

He calls at important times – let's not miss those occasions!

We'll close by singing "Have you heard the voice of Jesus?"

Amen.