Special to the NEWS
Pastor Mark Molina
Moses has now ascended Mt. Horeb to see the burning bush that has not ignited a fire to the surrounding area. As a shepherd this would have been a concern to the livestock and their livelihood. A fire could have burned up the grazing grounds by which they fed the sheep. So it was important for Moses to make sure there was no expanding danger or threat.
What does Moses discover? It is God himself manifesting in the burning bush. God used this to draw Moses up the mountain to Himself. The Lord speaks to Moses by calling him by name.
“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’” (Exodus 3:4 NIV)
This was not a haphazard encounter. This was not an accident. God knew exactly what He was doing. He knew exactly why He was doing it. When God calls us, He call us by name. He calls us unto Himself. He calls with a divine purpose in mind.
“’Do not come any closer,’ God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’” (Exodus 3:5 NIV). We cannot forget that God is a Holy God. He requires reverence and respect from us as we draw near to Him.
“The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 3:7-10 NIV)
Let’s look at these verses a little closer: In verse seven, God had seen; God had heard; God was concerned. In verse eight God said, “I have come down to rescue them…and to bring them up.” In verse nine their cry reached him. He saw their oppression. In verse 10 He declares to Moses the call for his life. “I am sending YOU to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
It is important to remember that God uses us as people and individuals to be His representatives in times of great struggle, duress and suffering. We can become the intermediary that helps bring about the change needed. That process begins with us responding to His call to us. It begins when we decide to “go up” to where He is. We must respond when He calls by name. We must give honor to Him as He is a Holy God.
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NIV). Moses clearly understood that is was God he was talking to. God had earlier identified Himself. Moses recognized Him as the God of his father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
As I enter my fifth year of full-time ministry I have heard repeatedly from people, “I thought God called me to the ministry.” Yet they have experienced one failed attempt at ministry after another. They may have gone to a bible college, Bible institute or even a seminary. Some even serve in churches or positions of leadership in other Christian institutions. They still have no success in this area of their lives.
A Biblical education does not qualify one for service in the ministry. Other’s approval or opinions do not qualify as the call of God on someone’s life. It begins with a true encounter with the God of Heaven. We have to be able to clearly identify it is Him calling us and not our own mind. Can you identify someone you don’t know?
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