November 9, 2025

Title: Called by a burning bush
 
Ex 3:1–15   Exo 3:1-8, 10-15
 
In Today’s Old Testament lesson, Moses is called by God, in a burning bush, to save His people.  For over 400 years his chosen people, had been slaves of the Egyptians.  So now, God has had enough.  “I have seen the misery of my people.”  “I have heard them crying out.”  “I am concerned about their suffering.”  “So, I have come to rescue them, to bring them into a good land.”  In my mind’s eye, I can see Moses, strangely looking a lot like Charlton Heston, standing before this bush.  It is here that God called Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom.  Finally, after 400 years of slavery, the people of God would be free.  The story of God’s deliverance of the people of Israel, was recorded in the book of Exodus, in the Bible. 
 
The story of the Exodus still speaks to us today.  God has seen the misery of the world today, those suffering with financial problems, those suffering with depression, those who are lonely, those who are suffering persecution.  And God has heard the cries of the people of this world who are suffering, because this world has let them down.  He has heard their prayers for deliverance.  God has given a promise of deliverance, of eternal life, for all those who have faith in Jesus.  And God is sending Moses into this world.  And God is sending Moses into this world, to bring rescue.  And guess who they are? God is calling US, to rescue those who struggle today.  In Matt 28:18, called the Great Commission, God calls us to go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.  That is our mission from God.  That is our call from God.  God is calling US to be Moses’ to this world. 
 
Having said that I find the call a bit disconcerting.  How am I supposed to be a Moses? The task of rescuing this world is beyond my power.  Even Moses had struggles leading the people of God.  Even after being miraculously freed from bondage, they were still stubborn, rejecting Moses rejecting God.  When I look out into this world and I consider what God has called us to do I am mindful too that, just like Moses we are faced with hard hearted people.  How do I get an unbeliever, to believe that Jesus died on a cross for him 2,000 years ago  How do I get someone who is born to think that he has to earn his way to heaven to believe that it is by God’s grace that he is saved, not by works?  I can’t even turn staffs into snakes to give my words a little extra boost.  How do I convince the people of this world? It is an overwhelming prospect.  How can I fight such a battle?
 
Well, Moses faced the same challenges.  What did Moses do? Or more importantly, what did God do, through Moses? For you see, Moses’ success was not to come through his own work.  rather, it would come through God.  The LORD, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the same God who spoke by the prophets over five hundred years before, the same God who provided Abraham with a child at 100 years old, who saved Jacob from Esau’s anger, who brought them safely down to Egypt, that God, would be with him.  His authority to challenge Pharaoh, His authority to call the Israelites.  His authority to judge sin came from God.  God was with him.
 
The same goes for our call from God.  If in fact, the sharing of the Gospel, depended on my ability and power then the world is in deep trouble.  But God says to us, “Is not my word like fire, like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Je 23:29).  It is God’s Word which works miracles.  It is God’s word which breaks the unrepentant heart which changes the unrepentant heart to repentance.  God is able to change a child’s heart from death to life through the water of baptism.  God is able to take a simple meal of bread and wine and transform it into Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.  These are the things which change hearts which turn people from sinners into Children of God.  This is where the power to change people is, not in us, but in God.  We are called to rescue the people of this world with the Gospel.  And the power to change people, will come from God.  This is our calling.
 
It is also important to remember there is an urgency to our call.  There will soon come a time when this world and all it sinful ways will be gone.  That day is Judgement day.  On Judgment day all the old imperfect world will be destroyed and replaced with a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no tears,  On this Judgment Day, God’s people will see him face to face, and will receive eternal life.  On this Judgment day those who reject Jesus, will receive eternal damnation.  That is the urgency.  The offer of salvation is infinite, offered to all mankind.  But it is offered only for a short time, for Judgment Day will come.  There is an urgency.  There is an urgency to share the good news of Jesus Christ to all people. 
 
The rescue that we are called to will be like that of a sinking ship.  This sinful world is a sinking ship.  YOU know the ship is sinking.  YOU know the ship has very little time.  YOU are carrying an extra life jacket, you are carrying the message of the Gospel, of Jesus.  God has called you to help the people off the ship.  So now, in your rescue effort, there will be three types of people you will meet, three types of responses to your rescue efforts.  The first person: You will tell them “The world is sinful and dying!  Quickly put on the “life-jacket,” “faith in Christ” and be saved.  Come to the church and be baptized.  But because this person does not believe that the ship is sinking, that the world is heading toward destruction, and they do not believe you.  This is the person who hears the Gospel message but does not believe in it.  Without faith in Christ, sin blinds them to God.  Sin forces them to trust in the things of this world.  And if they persist in unbelief they will go to Hell. 
 
Continuing the analogy… The second type of person you will meet in your rescue attempt.  You continue on in your rescue effort You meet another person and say The ship is sinking! Quickly put on this life jacket and come to the lifeboats with me and be saved.  This one believes you… Good…  But they hesitate.  They say to you I believe you that the ship is sinking but I’m watching the latest episode of “NCIS” on Satellite TV I’ll join you when it is done.  But though he says that he never comes.  This person thinks there is no hurry… and they ignore you.  As it says in 1Corinthians 10 There were those who passed through the Red sea, who ate the miraculous manna in the desert, who drank the miraculous water springing from a rock, but because they didn’t put their faith in God.  because they set their hearts on the things of this world,  THEY DIED IN THE DESERT.  This is the person who may hear the Gospel, but they do not have their priorities straight.  They put material wealth before safety.  They put material wealth before eternal treasures.  They too are in danger of going down with the ship.  And without saving faith in Christ They will die in Hell. 
 
Finally, you meet the third type of person.  You meet him and say  “The ship is sinking!” “Quickly put on this life jacket and come to the lifeboats with me and be saved.”  This person is also watching “NCIS,” but He believes you.   He realizes that the latest episode of NCIS will not matter a bit if the ship goes down,  so he simply walks away.  He realizes that saving his life is much more important.  Therefore, he leaves the TV dons the life jacket and follows you back to the lifeboat  He follows you into the lifeboat and is saved. 
 
I want you to know that you have a personal call from God to share this news.  The burning bush of God is calling you.  God has called you, personally to bring the warning message to those still playing on this sinking ship called “the World.”  People will ask “Who do you think you are, telling me that I need Jesus?”  Remember that the authority to speak  comes from God.  Not all who Moses called, came to the promised land.  Not all who hear God’s Gospel will receive it in faith.  And that will be very sad.  Nonetheless, you have been called to be Moses to the people of this world.  You know the need, You know the urgency You know the power.  Go and share God’s love comfort and hope with all.  Amen