Exodus 3 "I Am"

Genesis 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

Outline

*Moses keepeth Jethro's flock
*God appeareth to him in a burning bush
*He sendeth him to deliver Israel
*The name of God
*His message to Israel

Moses has now been tending Jethro's flocks for 40 years. Remember, he spent 40 years in the house of Pharaoh. I've read, but can't recall where, that it was common for a bush to catch fire in the desert and burn up. If that is the case, it would have been a common site for Moses in his 40 years out there. Something unusual happened this day.

v2 "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."

God now had the attention of Moses. Isn't that true even today? God must first have our attention before he can get a message across to us. v3 "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."

Here we see that Moses is paying attention to the strange happening of the bush. Why would it not burn up? Next, God calls Moses by name. It is clear that the encounter was not just for anyone passing by but for Moses in particular.

Then the Lord identifies himself to Moses but first there is the necessity to recognize God's holiness. Moses must know who he is talking to. To draw nigh to God we must understand and respect that He is a holy and righteous God. We cannot approach him on a casual basis.

v5 "And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

Many, in our day, might take offense at this statement. People tend to want to approach God as if he was the buddy down the street. No so. He is the God of the universe and must be respected as such.

v6 "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God."

Humanity has come a long way since the garden where the Lord walked in the cool of the day. Until Adam's sin, there was no seperation between him and the Lord. As time passes, we see the Lord talking to Abraham, Isaac and and Jacob. Now, man has slipped away and God has come in the flame of a burning bush. It has been 400 years with no word. No doubt, the people still cling to the promise of God and the prohecy of Joseph that his bones would be carried out. Four hundred years is a long time. Now, Moses, a seeming reject from Israel and the house of Pharaoh is hearing the Lord speak.

We will listen to the conversation next time.

Psalm 86:1 "Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy."