Called By God

Exodus 3:1-22

When he was forty years old, Moses was concerned about how his fellow Hebrews were being treated, and believing it was what God wanted, tried to make an impact. Acts 7:22-25 describes the event. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.” As a result of that effort, Moses was forced to flee for his life and spent the next forty years herding sheep in the desert.

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” (Exodus 3:1-3)

While herding sheep near mount Sinai, or Horeb, on the Sinai Peninsula, an angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush. After a while, his interest was piqued by realizing that the bush was not burning up, and he walked over to see why.

“And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.

And he said, Here am I.

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” (Exodus 3:4-6)

God had used the sight of the bush to attract Moses’ attention. When he drew close God spoke to him and Moses responded. God then identified himself as the God, and demanded that he remove his shoes as the place was holy ground. Aware of his own sinfulness, Moses was afraid to meet God face to face. It was and is a legitimate fear according to Exodus 33:20. “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” There is reason to question many of the supposed encounters with God today. John 1:18 states, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” A review of the encounters with God in scripture only heightens that doubt about many modern encounters.

“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” (Exodus 3:7-8)

Though the Israelites undoubtedly thought God had forgotten them, he was fully aware of the injustices they had suffered in the four hundred years since the Middle Kingdom had arisen. In Genesis 15, God had said they would be servants to Egypt for four hundred years, and the time was now drawing to a close. He had also promised to give them the land Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had occupied, and the time has come for him to fulfill his promise.

“Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 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 3:9-10)

Forty years before, Moses had seen the oppression of his people, and had tried to make a difference, but had been soundly rebuffed. Contrary to what some have taught, seeing the need did not constitute a call. Neither Israel or Moses were ready to make the necessary changes. The oppression had increased to the point Israel would be willing to make drastic changes, and Moses had lost his pride as a prince and learned patience and to work with the limitations of others from herding sheep. He had also become far more aware of his day to day dependence on God. Hard as life was under Egyptian persecution, the Israelites were still dependent on the Egyptians, and would find it hard to leave.

“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus3:11)

Clearly Moses’ attitude had changed a lot. Where he had killed the Egyptian and attempted to lead Israel, assuming they would follow him just because he said so, now he realized there was no obvious reason for anyone to follow him. He would not be seen as having any authority.

“And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

The proof that God had chosen him would be that they would worship God there on Mount Sinai when they left Egypt. Three months after leaving Egypt, about the time Moses began to realize the responsibility of his position, they would worship at Mount Sinai, reminding Moses that it was God who had placed him there. Moses was extremely practical, recognizing Pharaoh would want to know whose authority he was acting under.

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15)

The Egyptians had their own religion and no longer served God as they had in Abraham’s day. Moses was concerned they would not recognize God’s authority. God was far more concerned that Israel recognize who he was. He would reveal himself to the Egyptians when the time came, but Moses could not represent Israel without enlisting their support. That was Moses’ first assignment.

“Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:16-17)

Having passed down the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for four generations, or four hundred years, the Israelites were familiar with what Moses would be telling them. It would not require much for them to accept his claims.

“And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.” (Exodus 3:18)

Once he had the support of the people, Moses could go to Pharaoh and request to be allowed to go into the wilderness for a mere three days to worship God. It was not and unreasonable request, and to deny it would reveal the unreasonableness of the king, strengthening the resolve of Israel.

“And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.” (Exodus 3:19-20)

God knew that Pharaoh would be more concerned with showing his power than with the reasonableness of the request, and that it would increase the resentment of the Jews toward him. How many times do parents and those in authority refuse permission simply to show their power, creating resentment by those under such authority. God would use the selfish displays of power to turn the Egyptian people themselves against Pharaoh in support of the Jews.

“And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:21-22)

For four hundred years the Jews had worked without pay, as slaves for the Egyptian government. As the Egyptians began to support the Jews against their government, they would willingly give their jewelry and belongings. God would see to it that they had something to show for all the years of labor.

An obvious conclusion is that contrary to what some have taught, recognizing a need does not constitute a call.