Study

Out Of The Midst

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Scripture:

Exodus 3:1-4:

1: Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of

             the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2: And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and,

             behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3: And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4: And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and

              said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

 

Theme:

Out of the Midst

 

Introduction:

  • The scripture is extracted from Exodus, the second book of the bible and the second book of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the law of Judaism.
  • The main character is Moses. Moses was born the son of Amram and Jochebed, the brother of Miriam and Aaron.  But, later, by way of an ark of bulrushes, pharaoh’s daughter who unwittingly/unknowingly paid Jochebed to nurse her own child adopted him into the house of pharaoh.
  • The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties over the 120 years of his life:
    1. the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh’s court
    2. the second as a shepherd in Midian with his father-in-law Jethro.
    3. the third as a king in the Jeshurunian wilderness, leading the Isrealites toward the Promised Land.
  • Our scripture is at the pivotal point between the 2nd and 3rd periods of Moses’ life:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” 

  • This is the first appearance of God to Moses
    • This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment
    • Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed
  • “Horeb” is the name of the mountain range containing the famous summit known as “Sanai”
    • the same place at which the Israelites encamped after three months of their exodus
    • the same place where they remained encamped for about a year
    • the same place was about 150 miles from the Red Sea
    • the same place where the 10 commandments were given
    • the same place where the last 22 chapters of the book of Exodus, the entire book of Leviticus and the first 11 chapters of Numbers took place.

 

Body:

Moses is called to God’s service

  • God commissioned him to go down to Egypt and “bring forth the children of Israel” out of bondage
  • As the spiritual says “Go down, Moses, way down to Egypt’s land. Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!”
  • 3 components of Moses’ calling:
    • God gets his attention
      • Before the God can call a servant to a task, He must have your undivided attention — The scripture says in verse 4, “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him”
      • The bush that burned and was not consumed got Moses’ attention – he TURNED to the bush (God)
    • God calls him by name…the individual
      • “Moses, Moses” – God calls the servant directly and not indirectly.
      • “I sing because I am happy. I sing because I am free.  His eye is on the sparrow, and I KNOW that he watches me!”
    • Moses responds with immediate availability — This is important because God is always CALLING man, but man does not always (1)LISTEN nor does man always (2)RESPOND in acceptance of God’s calling.
      • Not CAPABILITY but AVAILABILITY – its not what can do
      • Not CREDIBILITY but AVAILABILITY – its not who can speak for you in this world
      • Not CAUSALITY but AVAILABILITY – its not what man thinks is your logical place
    • Moses and God’s conversation (Ex. 3:5 – 4:17) after the scripture is not included in the calling – as Romans 8:30 says, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” — AFTER HE CALLS YOU, THEN HE GETS YOU READY FOR THE TASK!

 

Moses was called OUT OF THE MIDST!

 Out of the Midst – Moses’ Calling

  • Moses was approached when he was OUT OF THE MIDST of the people in Midian
  • Moses was moved OUT OF THE MIDST of his daily occupation of tending to the flock.
  • God appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire that came from OUT OF THE MIDST of the bush.
  • The voice of God came from OUT OF THE MIDST of the burning bush.
  • Moses was called OUT OF THE MIDST of his security and seclusion in Midian to a history-making task in Egypt.

 Out of the Midst – Old Testament cross-references

  • In Genesis 19:29, God saved Lot OUT OF THE MIDST of the overthrown cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
  • In Deuteronomy 5:22, Moses refers to how the Lord spoke to the children of Israel OUT OF THE MIDST of the cloud, fire, and thick darkness above Mount Sinai.
  • In Joshua 4:3, the Lord directed Joshua to command 12 men of each of the tribes to take 12 stones OUT OF THE MIDST of the Jordan River to make a monument, if you will, of the crossing of the Jordan River on dry land.
  • In Ezekiel, he prophesies of God’s bringing his chosen people OUT OF THE MIDST of the enemy.

Out of the Midst – New Testament cross-references

  • In Matthew 17:5, the voice of God came OUT OF THE MIDST of a cloud to speak to the disciples upon the Mount of Transfiguration and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

 

Conclusion:

Out of the Midst – Our lives

  • God moves us OUT OF THE MIDST of our comfort zone to face the realities of a cruel world.
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Plenty money
    • Good health
    • Peace
  • God moves us OUT OF THE MIDST of our own sin and degradation by sanctifying us…once we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus.

“Love lifted me”

I was sinking deep in sin

Far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within

Sinking to rise no more

But the Master of the sea

Heard my despairing cry

From the waters lifted me

Now safe am I

Love lifted me, Love lifted me

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!

  • God moves us OUT OF THE MIDST of the trials and tribulations of this world to a quiet place in order that He can talk to us, train us, mold us.
    • Our “Closet”
  • God will move us OUT OF THE MIDST of this world to a new home
    • Jesus was born, lived, hung, bled, died, and rose again with all power in His hands
    • I am saved by His blood and have a right to the Tree of Life
    • I have a new home…where there is no more dying, no more crying, no more lying, etc.

#22

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