Bible ReadingExodus 3:1–12Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
[41:54]When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your 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 at God.
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. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
[42:59]But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
[47:47]Exodus 1:1–14These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
[36:54]But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
[38:23]Exodus 2:11–22One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
[40:13]Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
Observation questions- What fear does the new Pharaoh express about the Hebrew people, and what actions does that fear lead him to take?
- What different kinds of injustice does Moses witness in Exodus 2, and how does he respond in each situation? [40:13]
- What does Moses notice about the bush before God speaks to him, and what does God ask Moses to do when he comes near?
- In Exodus 3:7–10, what three things does God say about the suffering of the Hebrew people, and what task does God give Moses? [41:54]
Interpretation questions- Pharaoh turns fear of a growing people into slavery and oppression. What does this reveal about the danger of allowing fear to shape how a person or a nation treats others?
- Moses has lived in Egypt, knows the suffering of the Hebrews, and has acted against injustice before. Why might Moses still ask, “Who am I?” [42:59]
- God does not first answer Moses by listing his strengths or giving him a detailed plan. What is meant by God’s answer, “I will be with you,” and why would that matter more than Moses’ confidence?
- Moses encounters God while tending sheep in the wilderness. What might this suggest about how holy moments and calls to serve can arise in ordinary parts of life? [47:36]
Application questions- Where do you see fear turning into unfairness, blame, or harsh treatment in your workplace, neighbourhood, family, or public life? What would it look like to notice the people who may be carrying the burden?
- Moses was drawn to injustice before he felt ready for God’s larger call. Is there a concern that keeps catching your attention—someone being mistreated, a need in the community, or a difficult truth that needs to be spoken? What might be one faithful next step? [43:32]
- Think of a responsibility, conversation, or act of service that makes you feel like Moses: “Who am I?” What specific fear or sense of inadequacy is underneath that response? How does God’s promise, “I will be with you,” meet that fear? [47:54]
- Ordinary routines can become holy ground when people pause long enough to notice God’s call. What practices could help you become more attentive during a normal week—quiet, Scripture reading, a walk, prayer, or a conversation with someone in need? [47:47]
- When troubling news leaves you feeling powerless, what is one practical way you or this group could show generosity and empathy to people whose jobs, businesses, or livelihoods may be under strain? [45:57]
- Prayer connects people to God, steadies anxious hearts, and makes room even to pray for enemies. What current anxiety would you like to bring honestly to God? Is there a person or group you find difficult to pray for? [46:39]
- God’s presence did not remove Moses’ difficult task, but it accompanied him as he faced Pharaoh. Where do you need to remember that God may be guiding you one step at a time rather than asking you to have everything figured out now? [49:06]
