Exodus 3:1-6 – I Am the God – Bible study

2. However, this bush kept on burning and it did not burn up. Verse 2 tells us why. Ex 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. 3. God was in the bush. a. And why was God in the bush? b. God wanted Moses to come see Him. B. There is a truth that some do not know. 1. God is always the One who initiates contact. Always. a. There are many things with which I disagree with Calvinism, but one thing I do agree with. b. We do not seek God. God seeks us. 2. Why? Because the Bible makes it clear that it is not in us to seek God first. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 3. So God always initiates the first contact. a. For Moses, it was a burning bush. b. For me, a friend asked me if I wanted to go to hell. c. For some of you, it was a parent who prayed over you, took you to church, read the Bible with you. d. For some of you, it was an invitation to church. e. But no matter what the means, it was always the Master. 4. He always initiates the first contact. C. I see two important truths. 1. How you respond to God is important. a. Moses could have bricked the path to the bush. (1) Brick and mortar is much like doubt and skepticism. (2) Brick and mortar is much like sin and rebellion. b. Moses could have just returned to the flock and ignored God. I do not know what would have happened but I am sure things would have been different. c. Im preaching to the choir today. You are here but God did something to get your attention, but most of the world sees the burning bush and walks on by! 2. The fewer people that respond to God, the fewer opportunities there will be. a. The fewer people who go to church, the fewer churches there are. b. The fewer churches there are, the fewer preachers, soul winners, missionaries, evangelists, and outreaches there are. c. The fewer outreaches there are, the fewer methods for God to use to make first contact with people. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; II. God is dictatorial. A. That means God is the One who tells people what to do. 1. It is interesting: Moses met God and immediately, God gave Moses a command. Ex 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 2. To mans arrogant ears, this sounds like treason of the highest order. 3. Most people say that slavery is the worst from of bigotry bigotry and prejudice. B. Truth – God always gives commands. 1. God does not make suggestions. 2. God does not ask people to do things. 3. God does not consult on anything. 4. God does not negotiate with people. C. Why is God this way? 1. It is because God created us to be His servants. Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Is 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. 2. These are just a few verses. a. There are more. b. They say that God created man for His pleasure and to serve God. c. This is especially true for the New Testament Christian. d. Read through the New Testament and notice how many times God refers to believers as servants or bond servants. b. Yet, God created all man to be His slaves. c. That is one of the reasons man rebels so against God. (1) We think we are too good to be a slave to anyone else. (2) Yet, this is our purpose. This is our function. (3) And man in rebellion against God will never know fulfillment or joy or peace. 3. Two more truths: a. If you surrender to Gods authority, you will never know more benevolent Dictator. b. If you rebel against Gods authority, you will never know a more fierce Dictator. III. God is Holy. A. This is taught Moses in several ways. 1. God plainly told Moses. Ex 3:5 the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 2. God pictures Himself to Moses as a fire. Ex 3:2 the bush burned with fire. a. Have you ever considered how many times God represented Himself as fire? (1) Ex 13:21 – God was a pillar of fire. (2) Daniel and John saw our Lord with eyes of flaming fire. (3) Ezekiel saw the presence of God coming out of a whirlwind of fire. (4) When the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 in the upper room, He appeared as tongues of fire. b. Fire is a picture of the pure judgment and wrath of God. B. God is without sin, pure. 1. This must be one of the first truths learned about God for if this is not learned, we will never see God or ourselves right. 2. As holy as God is so we are not. 3. Gods holiness and our sinfulness immediately put God and man in conflict. C. But God is also the fire of judgment. 1. A fire burns dried wood and brush, so the very nature of God ignites to destroy the sinner. 2. Judgment need not be a conscience decision for God for His very nature is holy. Ex 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. a. Dont get too close lest the fires of holiness singe you. b. Dont come with your man-made shoes trying to hide or improve what you are. Just come as you are. IV. God is a Deliverer. Ex 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. A. This is what God is best know as by most today. B. Along with seeing God as our Deliverer, we also see the nature of God that makes Him a natural Deliverer. (i.e. His mercy, love, grace, kindness, longsuffering) C. However, I must also point out something that it seem certain Moses would have thought of. 1. God had been in no rush to deliver the children of Israel. 2. We do not know how long Israel had been oppressed by Egypt. a. We know that they had been in Egypt 400 years. b. We know that they had been oppressed for at least 80 years for the oppression was going strong when Moses was born. Ex 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. c. Many assume that was the very next king after Joseph died. If so, that would be 300 to 350 years of oppression. 3. Yet during all of those years, God had NOT sent a deliverer. 4. Thats a long time. 5. I think it justifies the observation, God was in no rush to deliver Israel. D. Does that diminish Gods love, mercy, or compassion? 1. i dont think so. 2. I think it teaches us a lesson. E. When God does make contact, wed better respond carefully and thoughtfully. And so should you today. God has made contact with you through the preached Word todaymaybe for the first time. Maybe for the 100th time. Be careful how you respond to Him.