1. Meeting God at the Burning Bush Exodus 2:23-4:17

2. God Remembered His Promise Exodus 2:23-25 Israel groaned under a new Pharaoh –Israel groaned under a new Pharaoh –Harsh treatment from the Egyptians made them feel God had forgotten them God heard and remembered his promise –He told Abraham they would be afflicted 400 years –He promised to deliver them (Genesis 15:13-14)

3. Preparing a Leader Exodus 3:1 Moses was tending his in-laws’ flocks –Keil and Delitzsch say the name Horeb “is not restricted to one single mountain, but applies to the central group of mountains in the southern part of the peninsula.” –“To the back of the desert” indicates the west side, since the Hebrews viewed the east as being before a man (Cook). Moses was learning to lead by caring for the flocks

4. Holy Ground Exodus 3:2-5 The Angel of the Lord appeared in a burning bush not consumed with fire Moses turned aside to see this amazing sight God spoke to him out of the bush (Acts 7:30-32 “the voice of the Lord came to him”) –Moses had to show reverence by taking off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground

5. The God of Your Father Exodus 3:6 God identified himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” –Jesus seized on the tense of the verb to show there is a resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:32) –Each man was spoken of in the present tense, thus God was at the moment the God of each of them All Moses heard caused him to hide his face lest he look on the face of God

6. God’s Chosen Deliverer Exodus 3:7-10 God knew the sorrows of his people –He had seen their oppression and heard their cries God planned to deliver Israel –To a land flowing with milk and honey, the place of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and the Jebusites God would send Moses to Pharaoh to bring his people out of Egypt

7. Moses Thought He Was a Nobody Exodus 3:11-12 “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God took away Moses’ excuse by saying he would be with him –God’s power would be the delivering force –Anyone is someone with God on their side (Romans 8:31)

8. “I AM has Sent Me” Exodus 3:13-15 When the children of Israel asked God’s name, Moses wanted to know what he should say God said, “I AM WHO I AM” –The One who is, was and is to come (Revelation 1:4) –The God of the Israelite fathers

9. Meeting with the Elders Exodus 3:16-22 Moses was to gather the elders of Israel –Tell them God had seen their sufferings –God was going to deliver them from Egypt and take them to the promised land God said the elders would listen to Moses –They should ask to go 3 days journey to worship –Pharaoh would not let them go, even with a powerful hand –When they were finally released, they would plunder Egypt

10. The People Will Not Believe Me Exodus 4:1-9 God gave Moses 3 miraculous signs in answer to this excuse –Rod turned to serpent (Cook suggests cobra because it was a symbol of royal power), when taken by the tail turned back into a rod –Hand placed in bosom turned leprous, then placed in bosom again and restored –Pour water from river on dry land where it would become blood

11. I Am Not Eloquent Exodus 4:10-12 Moses said he was not eloquent either before or after he started talking to God –Borders on accusing God –Tacitly false as speeches in the wilderness and Deuteronomy demonstrate The Lord said he made man’s mouth –He could strengthen Moses’ mouth and teach him whatever was needful

12. Send Someone Else Exodus 4:13-17 Moses asked God to send anyone but him God was angry –He had promised Moses all possible aid, yet he continued to refuse his call –God gave Moses Aaron, his brother, as a mouthpiece –God would be the ultimate source of power –The words, not thoughts, would be given by God to Moses and from him to Aaron