28 March, 2024

Lesson for Jan. 12, 2020: The Deliverer Called (Exodus 3:1-17)

by | 6 January, 2020 | 0 comments

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 1 (weeks 1-4; January 5-26, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com.

________

Lesson Aim: Answer the call of God to serve his people.

________

By Mark Scott

The lyrics to a silly old quartet number went, “Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day. And the Devil he’ll supply them if the church you stay away.” More than once Jesus told parables about people using excuses not to accept the call into the kingdom (Matthew 22:5, 6; Luke 14:18-20).

As great as Moses was, he faced feelings of inadequacy about being called by God to be Israel’s deliverer. In fact, he offered God some classic excuses. If Exodus 1 and 2 deal with the preparation of the deliverer, then Exodus 3 and 4 deal with the commission of that deliverer. But at best he was a reluctant deliverer, at least at first.

The Circumstances of the Call | Exodus 3:1-10

The circumstances of the call were nothing short of miraculous. At age 80 Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law (Jethro or Reuel). He had led sheep to the far side (the hindered part—the English Standard Version says, “west side”) of the wilderness. There was a mountain identified as Horeb (“desert” mountain usually referred to as Sinai), the mountain of God. Moses would need to get familiar with this mountain as it would feature large later in his life (19:20; 24:13-18). A special theophany took place. An angel appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. The oddity was that the bush was not consumed. Since fire was one of the signs of the presence and power of God, Moses would know that he experienced a genuine God-encounter. We should note that God did not yell Moses’s name from across the desert. God just lit a bush on fire and waited for Moses to turn aside and see it. To experience the deep things of God there is a need for curiosity. God called Moses’s name twice—probably indicating the earnestness of the call. Like Isaiah, Moses answered, “Here am I” (Isaiah 6:8).

The circumstances of the call were also nothing short of sacred. While God engaged Moses with the burning bush, God did not want Moses to approach him casually. Any place that God invaded was holy. Moses had to remove his shoes as a symbol of such. God identified himself in the heritage of Moses. God put his own covenantal name beside that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s fire made Moses turn aside. God’s presence made Moses remove his sandals. But God’s identity made Moses afraid.

The circumstances of the call were nothing short of the love and tenderness of God. God saw Israel’s misery, God heard Israel’s cries, and God was concerned (knew) for Israel’s suffering (distress or pressure). God was so high and exalted that he had to come down and save Israel from all the “ites” (Hittites, etc.) God was not immune to the suffering of his people under Egyptian bondage. So God would rescue (save) Israel, but he would do so through calling Moses.

The Objections to the Call | Exodus 3:11-17

The phrase following God’s call of this deliverer was, “But Moses.” If God calls us to do something, the next word in the sentence should not be, “But.” Moses began listing the excuses as to why he could not answer this call. Essentially there were four excuses (3:11, 13; 4:1, 13). The first three excuses are in question form: Who am I? What is your name? And what if they do not believe me? We should learn from this that God is not threatened by our questions. He will not quit being God because we ask tough questions. The final excuse is not a question. Moses just laid down and quit. “Here am I, please send someone else.” That is when God got angry. God can handle our questions. What he dislikes is our refusal to accept his call.

As puny as the excuses were, we learn some great theology in God’s answers. Who is Moses? No one really. He is a “little leader” (a sermon by Louie Giglio). God answered the first excuse with the promise of his presence. Israel had been serving Pharaoh, but they would worship (be enslaved to) God on his mountain. What is God’s name? In other words, what would be Moses’s authority? His authority is located in the famous name of God (Yahweh). This revealed forever name means, “I am.” God answered the second excuse with the power of his name. Of course, Jesus used this very phrase as part of his claims to be God in the flesh (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1).

This reluctant deliverer would bring Israel from bondage to a land flowing with milk and honey (a phrase indicating agricultural prosperity). Like Moses, we should answer God’s call to serve his people.

________

Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.

Image: Moses at the burning bush, illustration from Bible Pictures and What They Teach us by Charles Foster (1897), courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Articles

Ministry Help Wanted

Recent postings: Impact Christian Church (Moon Township, Pa.) is seeking an executive pastor. The Christian Campus Foundation (CCF) at the University of Illinois is seeking a full-time director of campus ministry. New Brighton (Minn.) Christian Church needs a new senior minister. Summit Christian College (Gering, Neb.) is accepting applications for the position of academic dean. And more . . .

Stories

By taking these symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, we announce we believe there really was a Jesus, and he really did die for us and carried all our sins down to a grave . . .

Documentary Highlights Christian Response to Pandemics

Southeast Christian Church’s “Purpose in Pandemics” is a documentary that follows the response of the church to pandemics throughout history. The “Purpose in Pandemics” website also includes a study guide for small groups and individuals.

Used of God

I soaked up Sam Stone’s wit and wisdom during our lunches together. Afterward, I’d take notes about our conversations. After hearing of his passing, inspired by his wordsmithing, I felt compelled to share just a small part of his story.

Sam E. Stone: ‘He Tried to Speak the Truth in Love’

In memory and appreciation of our former editor, Sam E. Stone, who died early this week, we share this 2011 column from Christian Standard’s archives in which Sam discussed four Scripture verses significant to his life.

Elliott Library ‘Cornerstone’ Laid

Three Bibles of historical significance to Cincinnati Christian University were the first books place on the shelves during relocation of the George Mark Elliott Library.

The Death of Evil

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. saw in minority groups’ struggles for social equality in America a parallel with Israel’s bondage in Egypt. King envisioned God’s goodness would deliver the U.S. from the evil of segregation.

Mark Scott’s Greatest Kingdom Impact

Since I first enrolled at Ozark Christian College, Mark Scott has been my kingdom hero, and I’m not the only young preacher Mark has shaped. Over his 35 years at OCC, Mark has inspired generations of students.

‘Have We Plans for 1921?’

“All the Standard asks is the opportunity to serve, and it yearns to render in 1921 the greatest, finest, and best service of its history. . . .”

News Briefs for Dec. 9

Items from Timber Lake Christian Church (Moberly, Mo.), Choateville Christian Church (Frankfort, Ky.), Johnson University, and more.

My Counsel for Young Preachers

If I were counseling an aspiring young preacher fresh out of Bible college or seminary, champing at the bit to lead in the church, I would offer these three bits of advice.

My Memories of Marshall Leggett

By Ben Merold
As I think about Marshall Leggett, who passed away on March 2 at age 90, two personal experiences keep coming to my mind . . .

Powell Quintuplets Graduating from High School

When the Powell quintuplets were born in 2001, all of Kentucky celebrated, including Southeast Christian Church, where the Powells are longtime members. Now the quints are 18 and are all headed to the same university.

Reentry: It May Be Harder Than We Think

When the COVID-19 crisis eases, I anticipate that reentry is going to be harder than some people think. Churches, especially, need to prepare for this.

The Best Sermon I Never Heard

“Can I tell you about the best sermon I never heard?” Matt Proctor asked the crowd at ICOM last November. “If I could time travel just once . . . I would go back to Luke 24. On that very first Easter Sunday . . . the resurrected Jesus is walking on the road to Emmaus, talking with two travelers. . . .”

KCU Announces Agreements with LBC, NEOBC

Kentucky Christian University has announced separate agreements to enable those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisville Bible College or Northeast Ohio Bible College to seamlessly transition into the graduate programs offered by KCU’s Keeran School of Bible and Ministry. . . .

March 31 Lesson | Edification

What constitutes success in the church? The number of seats occupied on Sunday mornings? The number of baptisms per year? . . . For the apostle Paul, one litmus test for church success surely was edification.

March 31 Application | ‘Hidden Gems’

An inquisitive fellow e-mailed me some probing Bible questions. Fittingly, the doubter’s name was Thomas. I couldn’t tell whether he was sincere or just wanted to argue. I wrote back, “Would you like to meet in person to discuss your questions?” . . .

Follow Us