This morning, we continue on our journey.

700 years before Nebuchadnezzar’s  blazing furnace and 1,400 years before the birth of the church at Pentecost, another miraculous fire was burning.  God called out from within a bush that was on fire, but never burned up to a man named Moses.

And also again, God was concerned for His people.  They were being harshly oppressed and He heard their cries of suffering.  They were still in between the place where God told Abram to “go” and the land that was promised to him and his descendants.  They were stuck in Egypt; physically between the place of promise and the place of the fulfillment of that promise.  And, yes, it can be a discouraging and miserable place to be. 

God remembered His promise and said to Moses:

Exodus 3:10-14

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

With all of Moses’ concerns and questions, God’s consistent response was the assurance that He would be with Moses.  Moses felt unqualified and insignificant for the calling that God had placed on him. 

Last week, the disciples were confused and questioned Jesus and His response was simply, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  I AM!  I AM WHO I AM!

Later in Moses’ life, he was again growing frustrated and overwhelmed with the journey that he was on and the calling of God on his life.  Like Thomas last week, Moses just wanted to know the right things to do;.  He just wanted to know God’s ways so that he could make right life decisions.  Moses said:

Exodus 33:13-14

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Again, God’s response again was simply that He would be with Moses.  God’s Presence is enough.  Jesus is enough.  The infilling of the Holy Spirit is enough. 

Life is less about making all of the right decisions and more about getting to really know God and how to live in cooperation with Him. Jesus taught:

Matthew 7:21-2321 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Life is less about doing all the right things and more about truly knowing Jesus!

Whatever we may be going through and wherever we are at on our journey, God’s consistent assurance for us and reminder to us is that He is with us and for us.

Moses’ role was just to walk in cooperation with God and to trust Him.  First, Moses was to go to the elders of Israel, then he was to go to the Pharoah and request that he let the Israelites go on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to worship the Lord.  It sounds like a simple request, but God said:

Exodus 3:19-22

19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.

21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward thi