August 31, 2008

Talk to the Bush

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Exodus 3: 1-15

Opening Illustration

We all wrestle with some sense that we’re predisposed to do something in this life. Is it God, is it our own ambition? Is it a response to a need we see around us? Is it an attempt to seek attention? Is it a way of fulfilling an inner need?

Answers to those questions are not always clear.

Moses probably had that unsettled feeling – raised in Pharaoh’s household, killed an Egyptian for beating an Israelite.

Moses was a fugitive from Pharaoh. Laid low in Midian.

Moses was from priestly family – tribe of Levi. Came into contact with Midianite priest. Married daughter of the priest.

Accidentally comes to Midianite holy place – Horeb/Sinai. Sees bush burning, but not being consumed.

Fire was thought to accompany God’s appearance. Angel of the Lord is in the bush.

Angel identifies God as God of Moses’ ancestors. Moses was terrified because he thought he would die if he actually looked at God.

God tells Moses that God knows the Israelites are suffering. God plans to lead them out and bring them to the land God promised to their ancestors.

People already live there. Implied that the inhabitants will be driven out.

God wants to send Moses to lead them out.

I don’t want to focus on Moses’ excuses or his interaction with the Pharaoh.

Focus on the idea of divine calling. What can we learn about God’s call on our lives? How do we discern its meaning?

First: God called Moses to address a situation of injustice. Anyone who says they just feel called to save souls has a calling that is out of character with most examples we have in scripture.

Moses was called to end injustice in Egypt. Judges were called to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. Prophets constantly raised injustices in their communications with kings. Jesus said he came to liberate the oppressed.
If you are indifferent to injustice in the world and just want to feel good about working for God, you may have misinterpreted what God is calling you to do.

My sense of injustice with treatment of Hispanics by my community.

Second: God called Moses to address a situation of which he was aware.

Moses had seen what was going on. As a person who grew up in Pharaoh’s household, he knew the inner workings of Pharaoh’s court. He was personally invested in his people’s plight.

He was also from a priestly family, he married a priest’s daughter. He was qualified to speak on God’s behalf.

Few of us will be called to go out to some jungle somewhere and minister to people in mud huts who speak some language we’ve never heard of. Some will, but most won’t.

God’s call on our lives usually arises from our own burden for a particular situation, or sense of opportunity to do something that we’re personally invested in.

God usually calls us to something for which we are prepared and gifted. We may not realize it, but God does.

Finally: Our experience of God’s calling may not take place in the places we expect.

Moses’ experience takes place on a pagan holy mountain. It later becomes the place where Moses receives God’s law.

You may experience a sense of calling in church, but you may also experience it somewhere else.

Some of the most unholy places may be where you feel God being most present.

Final Illustration: Sense of calling at Chateau Louise