Exodus Series: A Burning Bush Moment

June 29th, 2025/Seventh Day Adventist

Story: He could barely look in the mirror.

His speeches were awkward. His voice, uneven. His appearance? Unremarkable. He was convinced he was not the right man for the moment. When others saw strength, he saw failure. When the weight of leadership came knocking, he wanted to run.

In fact, before he would go on to lead a nation, he lost election after election. He battled depression. He questioned his worth. He told friends he felt inadequate, completely unfit for the spotlight.

And yet… history tells a different story.

He became the President who led a nation through civil war and helped bring an end to slavery.

His name? Abraham Lincoln.

He didn’t look the part.
He didn’t feel the part.
But when the moment came, he showed up.

And isn’t that just like God?
He calls the unlikely. The underqualified. The ones the world overlooks.

He doesn’t wait for confidence, He asks for obedience.
Because the call has never been about you, it’s always been about Him.

Lincoln didn’t wait for the conditions to be perfect. He responded. And that’s what God’s calling you to do, not when you feel ready, but when He speaks.

And today, I want to talk to the people who feel like Lincoln once did… and like Moses definitely did.
This isn’t just a word to you, this is a word for you.

Intro: Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re convinced God called the wrong person? Like, “Hey Lord, are you sure you meant to text me?”
You’ve got your plan. Your routine. Maybe even your retirement condo picked out. Then suddenly, God interrupts your ordinary with something extraordinary.

That’s Moses.

God didn’t call him when he was young and ambitious. He called him when he was older, slower, and (in his mind) disqualified.

But God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Background:

Let’s catch up in the story.
God made a covenant with Abraham: “Through you, all nations will be blessed.”
Abraham → Isaac → Jacob → 12 sons → Joseph.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, but in God’s providence, Joseph rose to second in command in Egypt. He brought his family to Egypt, and Israel began to multiply. Fast forward to Exodus: a new Pharaoh rises to power who doesn’t know Joseph. He’s threatened by Israel's growth and begins killing baby boys.

One mother hides her son in a basket, Moses. Pharaoh’s daughter finds him, adopts him, and Moses grows up as royalty… until he kills an Egyptian and flees to the wilderness.

He spent 40 years in Midian, living quietly, shepherding sheep.
And just when it seems like his story has settled…
God speaks.

Let’s stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

Passage: Exodus 3:1-12 (CSB)

Big Idea: You can be seated. I want to speak to you today from the subject: A Burning Bush Moment. Because just like God spoke to Moses in the middle of the wilderness, I believe God has something to say to you today, right where you are.

Pray:

Main Points:

1. God Finds You in the Wilderness

   1. Moses was shepherding sheep. On the backside of nowhere. Working for his father-in-law. And that’s where God finds him.
   2. Why a shepherd? Because shepherds serve faithfully in obscurity. They care for what’s not theirs. And throughout Scripture, God calls shepherds: Abraham, David, Amos... Jesus even calls Himself the Good Shepherd.
   3. Who is "the angel of the Lord"? This isn’t just any angel. Many Christians have understood this as a “Christophany”, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.
   4. The angel of the Lord shows up dozens of times in the Old Testament. Why? I believe it’s because no one can see the Father and live. So the Son appears, cloaked in fire, smoke, cloud, form.
   5. He appeared to Hagar, to Abraham, to Joshua… I believe He was the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He shows up regularly, because He’s always been.
   6. God the Son didn’t start in Bethlehem. He has always existed, eternally co-equal with the Father and the Spirit.
   7. Application: You may feel hidden, but you are never forgotten. When God has a word for you, He will come find you. Even in the wilderness.

2. God’s Presence Makes the Ground Holy (vv.5–6)

   1. “Take off your sandals, for the place you’re standing is holy ground.”
   2. Why? Because God showed up.
   3. It wasn’t the dirt, it was the presence.
   4. Have you set apart your home as holy ground? Your workspace? Your car? Have you made room for His presence to dwell?
   5. Holiness isn’t sterile. It’s sacred. It’s where the Spirit lingers. Where confession happens. Where worship rises.
   6. Moses hid his face. Because when you recognize the holiness of God, you tremble in awe.

3. God Sees, Hears, and Moves (vv.7–10)

   1. “I have seen... I have heard... I know... and I have come down.”
   2. God is not distant. He sees the abuse. He hears the cries. He knows the pain.

   3. Then, He calls Moses. “So now, go. I am sending you.”

      1. That’s not a suggestion. That’s a divine mandate.
         4. Application:
      2. God continually calls us to the next step. Moses’ next step? Lead people out of Egypt. You can’t stay where you are and follow God at the same time.
      3. God never calls us to anything small. Every assignment from God is about the Kingdom. If it’s for His glory, it’s BIG.

      4. Wherever God calls us, it’s what’s best for us. Obedience to His voice will always take us to the most fruitful place.

         5. 19 “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go.”

      5. God is saying Pharaoh will not let go until God stretches out His hand. Here’s how I’d apply that: “If you do this in your own effort, you will fail. But when I stretch out My hand, there is favor, provision, and freedom!”

      6. God, stretch out Your hand!
         6. Don’t try to fulfill God’s calling in your own strength, it won’t work. But when you move in God’s favor, you have everything you need.

4. God Uses Unlikely People (vv.11–12)

   1. Moses responds: “Who am I?”

   2. He’s thinking:

      1. I’m a nobody (3:11) - “I’m just a guy in the wilderness.”
      2. I don’t know enough (3:13) – “What will I say? What if I mess up?”
      3. I might fail (4:1) – “What if they don’t believe me?”
      4. I’m inadequate (4:10) – “I’ve never been good with words.”

      5. I’m not the right person (4:13) – “Please, send someone else.”

         3. Let’s be real—we think the same things:

      6. “I’m not a leader.”

      7. “I don’t have a degree.”
      8. “I’m too broken.”
      9. “I’m not enough.”
      10. “I don’t have all my questions answered.”
      11. “I’ve tried that before and it didn’t work”
      12. “I can’t right now, but one day…”
          4. But God says: “I will be with you.”
      13. Joshua – After Moses' Death
          1. Joshua takes leadership after Moses to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
          2. “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.” - Joshua 1:5, CSB
          3. “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9, CSB
      14. Gideon – Calling the Reluctant Warrior
          1. Gideon is hiding when God calls him to save Israel from the Midianites.
          2. “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.” - Judges 6:16, CSB
      15. Isaiah – To All of Israel in Exile
          1. God is speaking hope to Israel during suffering and exile.
          2. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.” - Isaiah 43:2, CSB
      16. Jesus – The Great Commission
          1. Jesus sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations.
          2. “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20, CSB
          3. Application:
      17. Have you sensed God calling you, but you're disqualifying yourself?
      18. You want me to lead who? Go where? Give what?
      19. Friend, God’s not trying to burden you. He’s trying to invite you into the best thing you could ever be part of.
      20. Do you feel unlikely? Unworthy? Inadequate?
      21. Good. You’re exactly the kind of person God loves to use.
      22. God doesn’t just look for ability. He looks for availability.

5. Humility and Obedience Are Required (vv.13–17)

   1. “I AM WHO I AM.”
   2. In Hebrew, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. It means: “I will be who I will be.” The self-existent One. The unchanging One. The ever-present One.

   3. Centuries later, Jesus would echo this name and complete it:

      1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
      2. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
      3. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1)
      4. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)

      5. Jesus didn’t just quote Exodus, He fulfilled it. He is the I AM. And in every season, He is all you need.

         4. Warren Wiersbe puts it like this: “I AM is all we need in every circumstance of life, and it’s foolish for us to argue ‘I am not.’”
         5. But Moses still resists. “Please Lord, send someone else.” He had an obedience problem. He didn’t want to do it.

      6. And a lot of us are there right now:

      7. “Start that crew? Well God…”
      8. “Go on that mission trip? Well God…”
      9. “Serve those students? Well God…”
      10. We don’t have a calling problem. We have a submission problem.
          6. Moses had a faith problem. And I’m here to tell you… If you think God can’t use you, that says more about what you believe about God than what you think of yourself.
          7. Was Moses being humble, or making excuses?
      11. True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less, and it’s thinking more of God. Pride can sound like weakness when it’s really unbelief dressed in insecurity.
      12. Humility says, “I’m unworthy, but You’re worthy, and You have my yes.”
      13. Scarcity says, “I’m not enough. You’ve got the wrong person.”
      14. There’s a fine line between humility and hesitation. God’s not looking for excuses. He’s looking for obedience.
          8. When Moses finally says yes, God equips him. When he resists, God gives him Aaron, but that partnership would prove problematic later (golden calf, family conflict, etc.).
          9. The text says the Lord’s anger burned against Moses. Our stubborn no is never a small thing to God.

Closing:

You may feel like Moses. Too broken. Too old. Too behind. Too scared. But God knows your name. He knows your story. He has a word for you.

The call of God will never lead you where the power of God can’t sustain you.

So here’s the question: What is God calling you to?

And what excuse are you still holding on to?

Let your “Here I am” be louder than your “Who am I?” Because when God says, “I AM with you,” that’s all the confidence you need.

I believe there are some “Burning Bush Moments” in the room right now. Like Moses, you may be sitting in the wilderness, stuck in your excuses. But God is calling you. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Today.

Walking Points:

1. The unbeliever:

   1. Maybe you’ve been exploring faith, unsure if God could ever call someone like you. But what if today was more than a moment, it was a personal invitation? God sees you, loves you, and is inviting you to trust Him with your life. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just say yes to Him.

   2. The lukewarm believer:

   3. You’ve been walking with God, but maybe it’s been more routine than relationship. Maybe you’ve stopped expecting Him to speak or call you deeper. Today could be your wake-up call to re-engage. To say, “God, I’m available again. Stir my heart, and I’ll follow.”

   4. The Spirit filled believer:

   5. You already hear God’s voice. But are you moving on what He’s spoken? Is there a next step you’ve delayed, maybe because it’s uncomfortable or costly? Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle your obedience and renew your urgency. You’re not just called, you’re sent.

Invitation:

If today’s the day you're surrendering your life to Jesus, I want you to do something bold. I want you to raise your hand, right now. Not because it saves you, but because it marks you. And then we’ll pray together.

Amen, let’s pray.

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free