Encountering God's Holiness: Moses' Transformation and Call
Summary
### Summary
In today's teaching series on the book of Exodus, we delved into the call of Moses as described in Exodus 3. We began by examining the geographical context of Midian, Egypt, and Canaan, and discussed the historical and traditional controversies surrounding the location of Mount Sinai. This set the stage for understanding Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush.
Moses, while tending his sheep, sees a burning bush and hears God's voice calling him. God reveals His awareness of the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt and appoints Moses as His agent to lead them out of bondage. Moses, however, is reluctant due to his past as a fugitive and his self-doubt about his leadership abilities. God reassures Moses not by detailing a plan but by promising His presence, saying, "I am with you."
A pivotal moment occurs when Moses asks God for His name, and God responds, "I am who I am." This enigmatic reply underscores the mystery and holiness of God, who cannot be confined to human definitions or expectations. God's holiness is further emphasized by His intolerance of injustice and His commitment to deliver the Israelites from oppression.
The narrative highlights the dual nature of God as both transcendent and immanent—holy and loving. God's call to Moses is not just about liberating the Israelites but also about transforming Moses himself. This transformation is a journey from sin to wholeness, driven by an encounter with a holy God. The sermon concludes with a reflection on how encountering God's holiness leads to a deeper understanding of His love and a call to participate in His redemptive work in the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Presence Over Plans: When God calls Moses, He doesn't provide a detailed plan but simply assures Moses of His presence. This teaches us that God's presence is more crucial than knowing every step of the journey. Trusting in God's presence can give us the courage to undertake daunting tasks, knowing that we are not alone. [06:50]
2. The Mystery of God's Name: God's response to Moses, "I am who I am," highlights the mystery and holiness of God. This teaches us that God cannot be fully comprehended or confined by human understanding. Our relationship with God involves embracing this mystery and allowing it to deepen our faith and trust in Him. [08:22]
3. Holiness and Justice: God's holiness is intrinsically linked to His intolerance of injustice. He hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to deliver them. This challenges us to reflect on how we respond to injustice in our own lives and communities, understanding that true holiness involves active participation in God's redemptive work. [11:36]
4. Transformation Through Encounter: Moses' encounter with the holy God leads to his transformation from a fugitive to a leader. This illustrates that encountering God's holiness can transform our lives, freeing us from past sins and leading us to a life of purpose and direction. [14:57]
5. Holiness and Love: God's holiness and love are not separate attributes but are deeply interconnected. God's call to Moses is an expression of His love for the Israelites and His desire for their freedom. This teaches us that true love involves a commitment to holiness and justice, and that our love for others should reflect God's holy love. [18:25]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:31] - Geographical Context of Midian and Egypt
[03:17] - Historical Controversies of Mount Sinai
[04:47] - Moses' Encounter with the Burning Bush
[06:50] - God's Call and Moses' Reluctance
[08:22] - The Mystery of God's Name
[09:58] - The Dual Nature of God: Holy and Intimate
[11:36] - Holiness and Justice
[13:22] - God's Call to Moses and Our Expectations
[14:57] - Transformation Through Encounter
[16:04] - God's Intolerance of Injustice
[17:04] - Moses' Redemption and Purpose
[18:25] - Holiness and Love
[19:32] - Church Reopening Plans
[20:37] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 3:1-15 - The Call of Moses and the Burning Bush
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Moses doing when he encountered the burning bush? ([04:47])
2. How did God identify Himself to Moses when He spoke from the burning bush? ([04:47])
3. What was Moses' initial reaction to God's call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt? ([06:50])
4. What name did God give Moses to tell the Israelites who sent him? ([08:22])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to reveal Himself to Moses through a burning bush? What might this signify about God's nature? ([04:47])
2. How does God's assurance of His presence ("I am with you") address Moses' fears and doubts? ([06:50])
3. What is the significance of God saying, "I am who I am"? How does this statement reflect the mystery and holiness of God? ([08:22])
4. How does the concept of God's holiness relate to His intolerance of injustice and His commitment to deliver the Israelites? ([11:36])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unqualified or fearful about a task God called you to. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Moses' experience? ([06:50])
2. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's presence rather than seeking detailed plans for your life? What steps can you take this week to practice this trust? ([06:50])
3. In what ways can you embrace the mystery of God in your daily faith journey? How can this deepen your relationship with Him? ([08:22])
4. Think about an instance of injustice you have witnessed or experienced. How can you actively participate in God's redemptive work to address this injustice? ([11:36])
5. How has an encounter with God's holiness transformed your life? Share a specific example and discuss how this transformation has given you a sense of purpose and direction. ([14:57])
6. God's holiness and love are deeply interconnected. How can you reflect this holy love in your interactions with others, especially those who are oppressed or marginalized? ([18:25])
7. Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, "Every common bush is afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes." How can you become more aware of God's presence in the ordinary moments of your life? ([18:25])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Presence
When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He did not provide a detailed plan. Instead, He assured Moses of His presence, saying, "I am with you." This teaches us that God's presence is more crucial than knowing every step of the journey. Trusting in God's presence can give us the courage to undertake daunting tasks, knowing that we are not alone. Moses' reluctance and self-doubt were met with God's promise of companionship, which is a powerful reminder that we can rely on God's presence in our own lives. [06:50]
Exodus 33:14 (ESV): "And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you remind yourself of God's presence in this situation, and what steps can you take to trust Him more fully today?
Day 2: Embracing the Mystery of God
When Moses asked God for His name, God responded, "I am who I am." This enigmatic reply highlights the mystery and holiness of God, who cannot be fully comprehended or confined by human understanding. Our relationship with God involves embracing this mystery and allowing it to deepen our faith and trust in Him. By acknowledging that we cannot fully grasp God's nature, we open ourselves to a more profound and humble relationship with Him. [08:22]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you struggled to understand God's ways. How can you embrace the mystery of God and allow it to deepen your faith today?
Day 3: Responding to Injustice
God's holiness is intrinsically linked to His intolerance of injustice. He hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to deliver them. This challenges us to reflect on how we respond to injustice in our own lives and communities. Understanding that true holiness involves active participation in God's redemptive work, we are called to be agents of justice and compassion in the world. [11:36]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Identify an instance of injustice in your community. What practical steps can you take to address this issue and reflect God's holiness and justice in your actions?
Day 4: Transformation Through Encounter
Moses' encounter with the holy God at the burning bush led to his transformation from a fugitive to a leader. This illustrates that encountering God's holiness can transform our lives, freeing us from past sins and leading us to a life of purpose and direction. When we encounter God, we are invited into a journey of transformation that reshapes our identity and mission. [14:57]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a significant encounter you have had with God. How has this encounter transformed you, and what steps can you take to continue growing in your faith and purpose?
Day 5: Holiness and Love Interconnected
God's holiness and love are not separate attributes but are deeply interconnected. God's call to Moses is an expression of His love for the Israelites and His desire for their freedom. This teaches us that true love involves a commitment to holiness and justice, and that our love for others should reflect God's holy love. By embodying both holiness and love, we participate in God's redemptive work in the world. [18:25]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: Consider how you can reflect God's holy love in your relationships and actions today. What specific steps can you take to embody both holiness and love in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God simply says, I am with you. Let's read that, too. We're down on verse 12 now. And God said, I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that it is I who has sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this holy mountain." [07:10] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is elusive in the sense that God is, is, is not one to be pinned down, boxed into categories and expectations. Because, and I believe this is so, that what God is suggesting to the Israelites, and to us is that the very minute that we think we have got God defined, that we've got God figured out, that that's the point where God is going to surprise us." [12:20] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is not going to be confined to our expectation of what God ought to be. And that's, and that's what I mean. And I think, I think you see demonstrated through these Old Testament stories that, that God is hidden beyond our mortal comprehension and God is close enough to embrace us. It's that both and, and the both and is to encounter the holiness of God." [13:22] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is love because God is holy. God is holy because God is love. And God longs for holiness for us because God loves. And God longs for love for us. And as it was for Moses, so it will be for us. And pay attention to this and see if that doesn't turn out to be true." [18:25] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, Every common bush is a fire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes. Isn't that great? So may God give us the grace to be those who see. And having seen, may God give us the grace to bring deliverance. For those who are living under the oppression of this broken world." [19:00] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And so I think that's probably a good place to stop in our in our text and as far as our reading this morning or this afternoon. And let's do, a little reflecting. The text says, tell them I am who I am. This is my name forever. The name you shall call me from generation to generation. Back on Saturday, I said that the beginning of intimacy with God is found in the holiness of God." [11:36] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so, I am who I am is the answer God gives. What I'm calling you to do isn't about who you are or who you aren't. It's about who I am, and who I am is holy. So, take off your shoes and buckle up your seatbelt, Moses, because we've got some holy work to do." [15:30] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so, it is that holy God and loving God are one and the same person. God is love because God is holy. God is holy because God is love. And God longs for holiness for us because God loves. And God longs for love for us. And as it was for Moses, so it will be for us. And pay attention to this and see if that doesn't turn out to be true." [18:25] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so, God calls Moses to do something about it. But, and then pay attention to this, too, because it applies to us, I think, too. God doesn't say, yeah, I know you killed that guy, Moses, but, you know, you were angry. I get it, no problem. I don't have anything better for you to do anyway, so just keep up the sinning. No." [17:04] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And freed to a new life. And a new holiness, a new wholeness that filled his life with direction and purpose and deep, meaningful work. And so, it is that holy God and loving God are one and the same person. God is love because God is holy. God is holy because God is love. And God longs for holiness for us because God loves. And God longs for love for us." [17:50] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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