Second Sunday after Pentecost

 Sermon Text: Exodus 3:1-15

 Other Readings: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and Matthew 9:9-13



 

  1. A disembodied voice speaks to Moses from within the burning bush, and the inspired text refers to that voice as “the angel of the LORD.” What clues in the text help us confidently say that this is God himself and not just one of his created angels?
     
  2. What was Moses’ first response to God’s call? Do you think that was one of godly humility or of sinful hesitation and false humility? Explain your position.
     
  3. Each of Sunday’s readings (cf. above) highlighted a man whom God called and then used to serve his people, especially by proclaiming God’s Word. From a human perspective, what weaknesses did each person have, making each of them poor candidates for ministry? How did God prove his power in each of their ministries?
     
  4. God came down to rescue the Israelites through Moses because God saw their misery, heard their prayers, and was concerned about their situation. When the Son of God came down in human flesh he came to rescue and deliver his people again. What kind of rescue and deliverance did Jesus come to give his people? Read Matthew 9:9-13.
     
  5. What misery or suffering are you (or someone you know) going through right now? Say a prayer to the great I AM about that, knowing that God is concerned about such things and has the power to deliver his people from these things.

 

  1. The voice speaks as God himself. We can especially highlight the fact that the voice calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and then gives himself a very special divine name–I AM.
     
  2. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter because God redirects the focus away from Moses and onto who God is and will be. But, when we read the rest of Exodus chapters 3 and 4, Moses offers some pathetic excuses to try to get out of the call. In light of Moses’ upcoming responses, it may seem like Moses is already showing some sinful reluctance here and not necessarily godly humility. But we should ultimately leave the question open.
     
  3. Moses killed an Egyptian, but God used him to deliver the people, to lead them through the wilderness for forty years, and to give them God’s covenant law on Sinai. Matthew had a poor reputation within his community because he worked for foreign occupiers (the Romans), but Jesus sent him out to spread the news of the resurrection. Plus, the Holy Spirit also used Matthew to write the Gospel that bears his name. Paul was once named Saul and violently persecuted Christians, but Jesus converted him and then used him as the greatest missionary and letter writer of the New Testament era.
     
  4. The ultimate kind of deliverance Jesus came to give is the forgiveness of sins and an invitation to leave behind unbelief and death and follow him through faith into eternal life.
     
  5. May God hear and answer your prayers for the sake of Jesus, the friend of sinners!