Exodus Week 2: Finding God Where You Least Expect Him
Read
Exodus 3:1-12
3 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. 5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”
Summary
I remember growing up I would watch western movies, and just when the scene was getting good, they would pause and say, meanwhile, back at the ranch. Welcome back to Community Group, last week we saw how the people of Israel were being oppressed and how their suffering caused them to cry out to God.
Meanwhile back in Midian, God was working on Moses. Moses thought he had escaped Egypt, when in reality he was going to be sent back with a message from God. Moses had fled Egypt, and he thought Midian was far enough from Egypt that no one would find him. He learned that you are never too far from God’s reach. You will find God, where you least expect to find Him. Or should we say, He will find you?
There were three points in this week’s sermon:
God Shifts Our Surroundings
God Fixes Our Focus
God Provides Perspective
The first point, God Shifts Our Surroundings is found in verses 1-5. As Moses was shepherding the flock, he saw a bush on fire that was not being consumed. God does extraordinary things on seemingly ordinary days. Moses, just happened to be exactly where God wanted him to be. Being where you are and being present where you are not the same thing. When you are present where God has called you makes that a very special place. Something to think about is, if you cant see God where you are, you won’t see Him whenever you get to the place you want to be.
Our second point, God Fixes Your Focus is found in verses 6-10. God begins His conversation with Moses by establishing His Identity. He wanted Moses to know who was speaking to him. He goes on to proclaim His promise. He wanted Moses to know that He remembers the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that He was about to start fulfilling that promise. He finishes by stating His sovereignty. I know what I am going to do, and I choose to use you.
Finally, in verses 11-12 we find point three. God Provides Perspective so Moses could understand what He was being asked to do. Moses asked, “Who am I?” God’s responded, “It doesn’t matter who you are, it only matters who I Am”.
Knowing that we are doing what God has sent us to do, helps us understand that we are not in control, we are under control. And our job is to follow His commands, to accomplish His will.
Discussion
Has God ever called you to go back to a place/situation you thought you had escaped? Explain
How has Fixing your focus on God helped you through tough times? Explain
Have you seen God work through you to fulfill a promise He had made? Explain
Why is it important to know who God is rather than who you are? Explain
Announcements
We are deep into Operation Christmas Child! We would encourage CGs to get together and pack boxes. We would also love for you to sign up to help us on collection week! More information will be coming!
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
