Transformative Encounters: God’s Call in Our Ordinary Lives

Many times, we find ourselves stepping into moments or places where something significant is already happening, but without the backstory, it’s easy to miss the weight of what’s unfolding. This is often how people approach the things of God—seeing others moved, worshiping passionately, but not understanding the depth behind it. The story of Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3 is a powerful reminder that God’s work in our lives is never just about a single moment or a fleeting experience. God is not interested in mere visitations; He desires to inhabit us, to set us aflame with His presence in a way that endures and transforms.

Moses’ life is a study in contrasts: from the heights of Egyptian privilege to the obscurity of shepherding in the desert. At 80, Moses likely saw himself as washed up, his best days behind him. Yet, God saw destiny and purpose where Moses saw only failure and routine. The burning bush was not a random miracle, but a test—would Moses notice the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary? It was only when Moses turned aside, curious and hungry for more, that God spoke to him. This is a pattern: God often waits for us to draw near, to become attentive and hungry, before He reveals Himself.

When God called Moses by name, it was deeply personal. God didn’t address him by his failures or his occupation, but by his unique identity. This is how God calls each of us—not as faceless numbers, but as beloved individuals with a place in His unfolding story. Yet, before Moses could draw near, God required him to remove his sandals—a symbol of leaving behind fleshly desires and pursuing holiness. God’s presence is holy ground, and intimacy with Him always calls for transformation.

God’s commission to Moses was not based on Moses’ qualifications, but on God’s own sufficiency: “I AM who I AM.” Our calling is anchored not in our abilities, but in God’s presence and power. Like Moses, we may feel unqualified or inadequate, but God’s Spirit animates us, making us vessels for His purposes. The fire of God is available to all who will turn aside, become hungry, and pursue Him with a surrendered heart. This is not just for a select few, but for every believer—God wants to set each of us ablaze, to live “lit” with His Spirit, impacting the world around us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Sees Destiny in Our Obscurity Even when we feel like our lives are defined by past failures or present insignificance, God sees potential and purpose. Moses spent decades in obscurity, but God was preparing him for a pivotal role in His redemptive plan. Our seasons of hiddenness are not wasted; they are often the soil where God cultivates humility and readiness for His calling. [11:12]
• 2. The Extraordinary Awaits in the Ordinary The burning bush was not a spectacle for its own sake, but a test of attention and hunger. God often places moments of divine invitation in the midst of our routines, waiting to see if we will turn aside and seek Him. Spiritual breakthroughs frequently come to those who are willing to pause, notice, and pursue the subtle stirrings of God in everyday life. [14:12]
• 3. Intimacy with God Requires Holiness Before Moses could draw near, he had to remove his sandals—a symbol of shedding the old ways and embracing God’s standard of holiness. True closeness with God is not possible without a willingness to let go of fleshly desires and pursue righteousness. Holiness is not about perfection, but about a heart posture that says, “Lord, I want to be set apart for You.” [23:07]
• 4. Our Identity and Calling Are Anchored in God’s Sufficiency When Moses doubted his ability, God responded not with a pep talk, but with a revelation of Himself: “I AM who I AM.” Our sense of inadequacy is met by God’s all-sufficiency. The call to “go” is not about our strength, but about God’s presence going with us, empowering us to fulfill His purposes beyond our limitations. [34:31]
• 5. The Spirit of God Animates and Empowers Ordinary Lives Like a glove animated by a hand, our lives are meant to be filled and moved by the Spirit of God. This is not reserved for spiritual elites, but is the promise of Pentecost for every believer. When we yield to the Spirit, God’s fire can burn in us without consuming us, making us living witnesses of His power and grace in every context of life.
  
  ** [36:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:55] - Missing the Backstory: Entering God’s Story
• [02:18] - God’s Desire: Habitation, Not Visitation
• [05:02] - Prayer for Transformation
• [06:54] - Moses’ Journey: From Privilege to Obscurity
• [09:40] - Personal Testimony: Lost Opportunities
• [11:12] - God’s Perspective on Our Past
• [12:33] - The Burning Bush: Ordinary Meets Extraordinary
• [14:12] - Turning Aside: The Test of Attention
• [17:24] - The Divine Hiddenness of God
• [19:50] - The Personal Call: Moses, Moses
• [23:07] - Holy Ground: The Call to Holiness
• [25:57] - Entering God’s Covenant Story
• [31:04] - God’s Commission: The Call to Go
• [34:31] - “I AM” and Our Identity
• [36:43] - The Spirit Animates the Glove
• [39:00] - Living Lit: The Fire for Every Believer
• [41:00] - The Need for New Life
• [42:47] - Responding to God’s Invitation
• [44:16] - Altar Call and Closing

Bible Reading

Exodus 3:1-15 (ESV) — Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his 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.” 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.” 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.”
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

Observation Questions

1. What was Moses doing when he first encountered the burning bush, and why is this detail important?
2. According to the passage, when did God actually speak to Moses, and what did Moses do to prompt this?
3. What did God ask Moses to do before coming closer to the burning bush, and what did this action symbolize?
4. How did God introduce Himself to Moses, and what significance did this have for Moses’ identity and calling?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God choose to reveal Himself in the midst of Moses’ ordinary, routine life rather than during a dramatic or “spiritual” moment?
2. What does the burning bush that was not consumed represent about God’s presence in a believer’s life?
3. Why do you think God called Moses by name, and not by his failures or his job title? What does this say about how God views us?
4. When Moses expressed doubt about his ability to fulfill God’s calling, how did God respond, and what does this teach us about the source of our strength and identity?

Application Questions

1. Moses spent decades in obscurity, feeling like his best days were behind him. Have you ever felt like your past failures or current “ordinary” life disqualify you from being used by God? How might God be preparing you in your current season?
2. The burning bush was a test of Moses’ attention and hunger for God. Are there “burning bush” moments in your daily routine that you might be overlooking? What would it look like for you to “turn aside” and pay attention to God’s invitations this week?
3. God required Moses to remove his sandals before coming closer—a symbol of leaving behind fleshly desires and pursuing holiness. Is there something in your life that God might be asking you to “take off” or let go of in order to draw nearer to Him?
4. God’s call to Moses was not based on Moses’ qualifications, but on God’s sufficiency. In what areas do you feel unqualified or inadequate, and how can you lean into God’s “I AM” rather than your own “I am not”?
5. The sermon compared our lives to a glove that only comes alive when filled with God’s Spirit. In what areas of your life do you feel like an “empty glove,” and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to animate and empower you?
6. The fire of God is available to every believer, not just spiritual “elites.” What steps can you take this week to become more “hungry” for God’s presence and to live “lit” with His Spirit in your home, work, or relationships?
7. The story of Moses shows that God’s presence transforms ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Who in your life needs to see the evidence of God’s fire in you, and how can you be intentional about letting God’s presence shine through you this week?