Call Sealed with Promise

Unit 1: Called Out of Egypt

(Lessons 1-4)

HEARING GOD'S CALL

INTRODUCTION
A. ANSWERING GOD'S CALL
------ DEVOTIONAL READING:
HEBREWS 3:1-13
"You can't be serious, God! My family situation just isn't what it should BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:
be." "Not me, Lord. I'm from a family of nobodies, and I'm least among ExODUS 2:23-3: 12
even them." ''I'm not worthy; I am a lowly sinner." "I just can't do it; I'm too PRINTED TEXT:
young, and I have no public-speaking skills." ExODUS 3:1-12
When God calls us to challenging tasks, we have little trouble manufac­
turing reasons why God couldn't possibly use us. Perhaps you've hidden
behind excuses like those above. If so, you're in good company. When God
promised to make Abraham a mighty nation, Abraham claimed that his LESSON AIMS
childless status was a problem (Genesis 15:1-3). When God called Gideon After participating in this
to deliver the Israelites from their enemies, he declared himself the nobody lesson, each student will be
of nobodies Qudges 6: 14, 15). Isaiah was overwhelmed with a sense of sin­ able to:
fulness (Isaiah 6:5). Jeremiah was insecure about his youth and speaking 1. Recount the sequence of
ability 0eremiah 1:4-6). events that led to God's call of
Fortunately for us, God has a great deal of experience working with less­ Moses.
than-perfectly-capable people! He seems to delight in turning the world's 2. Compare and contrast
misfits into giants of faith. In today's lesson we will see how God recruited a the call of Moses with calls to
career fugitive and began shaping him into one of the most significant figures ministry today.
in human history. 3. Explain how he or she
will evaluate a perceived call
B. LESSON BACKGROUND of God on his or her life.
It had been some 400 years since Israel settled in northern Egypt in order
to survive a terrible drought. What began as gracious divine provision in
Joseph's day (about 1877 Be) eventually led to harsh Egyptian oppression
in Moses' time. In Exodus 2:23, however, we learn of a change in power in
Egypt. Would the new Egyptian regime ease the burden? Perhaps Israel's God
would personally see to it. So the Israelites cried out for help and God took
notice (Exodus 2:24,25).
God had never forgotten his people. Instead, he had been preparing a
leader to deliver them. He was shaping Moses to be familiar with both the in­
trigues of Egypt and the pilgrim nature of Israel's heritage.
The events of this shaping are recorded in Exodus 1 and 2, as well as in
Stephen's speech to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:20-38. Having been brought up
in Pharaoh's household for the first 40 years of his life, Moses undoubtedly
received the best education royalty could afford. Yet Moses later fled Egyptian
security as an outlaw and wandered as a shepherd for an additional 40 years.
He thus could identify also with the enslaved Israelites and the nomadic life­ KEY VERSE

style they were to face. Now, go. I am sending you

At age 80 (Exodus 7: 7), however, Moses probably was completely un­ to Pharaoh to bring my peo­
aware of God's plans for him. Having left both the Egyptians and the Is­ ple the Israelites 'Jut of Egypt.
raelites behind, he had found refuge and acceptance among the tents of a -Exodus 3:10
 lUNE 7,1009
LESSON 1 NOTES
WHAT Do You THINK?
What can the case of
Moses tell us about God's
plan to use people ofvarious
ages in his service today?
VISUALS FOR THESE
LESSONS
The visual pictured in
each lesson (example: page
399) is a small reproduction
ofa large, full-color poster
included in the Adult Re­
sources packet for the Sum­
mer Quarter. That packet
also contains the very useful
Presentation Helps on a CD
for teacher use. The packet is
availablefrom your supplier.
Order No. 492.
...
_~3~9"'__'6"______ _ _____ HJ:ARINGGOD'S CALL
hospitable Midianite family. Moses likely thought he would die in peace
among these foreigners. But God had other ideas!
I. GOD APPEARS TO MOSES (EXODUS 3: 1-6)
A. GOD GETS MOSES' ATTENTION (w. 1-3)
1. Now Moses was tending the flock ofJethro his father-in-law, the priest of
Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb,
the mountain of God.
After killing an Egyptian and agitating the Israelites, Moses had fled east­
ward (Exodus 2: II-IS); Moses was age 40 at the time (Acts 7:23). This flight
took him beyond the Red Sea. Eventually, he encountered a friendly tribe that
welcomed him (Exodus 2: 16-22). Moses soon picked up shepherding, the
trade of his Israelite forefathers.
At a certain time, Moses' shepherding work leads him in the direction
of Egypt. The far side of the desert means westward. The word desert, here
and elsewhere, does not always refer to a vast stretch of sand-filled land.
Often it signifies uninhabited and unirrigated pastureland. It is sometimes
translated wilderness, but this too leads to misunderstandings for those
who associate wilderness with thick, tree-filled forests. Here the word desert
refers to the mountainous terrain of the Sinai Peninsula. This area is fertile
enough to graze flocks temporarily, but not fertile enough to sustain a per­
manent dwelling.
It is thus fitting that Horeb means "drought" or "desert." Horeb may stand
for the wider area within which Mount Sinai and the Sinai wilderness are
located. Before God claims this territory for his special purposes, it is margin­
ally useful. Afterward, it is honored with the designation mountain of God.
Today, people travel thousands of miles to visit this area.
Yet Moses does not think he is heading toward sacred turf. Encountering
God is likely the furthest thing from Moses' mind! God is about to meet with
Moses at an unexpected time (Moses is now age 80) in an unlikely place.
2, 3. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames offire from within
a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So
Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush does
not burn up. "
From Moses' first-glance perspective, a bush is burning without being
consumed. This apparent suspension of natural laws stops him in his
tracks. The sight is intriguing enough to make him want to take a closer
look.
We wonder about the identity of this angel who appears in flames offire
from within the bush. We hear no more about an angel in this narrative, and
God himself does all the talking. There are at least two options. This could be
an angelic messenger who does the speaking and acting on God's behalf, or it
could be God manifesting himself to Moses in a guarded form so Moses will
not be consumed by his awe-inspiring presence (compare Exodus 33:20).
The latter interpretation seems to be favored by Deuteronomy 33: 16, which
refers to God as one who" dwelt in the burning bush. "
Little may be learned about this event by analyzing the potential scientific
conditions necessary for a bush to bum without being incinerated. Israel's
God, who will later reveal himself again by way of fire (see Exodus 13: 21, 22;
19: 18), is performing a miracle. Although the text never tells us, God may be

LESSON 1 _ _ _ _~397 ________---lllliJ:__L2cOOQ

choosing a fiery bush to reveal something about himself to Moses. If that is I WHAT Do You THINK?
the case, it may stand for God's self-generating and self-sustaining nature. It In what ways today does
may also reflect the nature of his judgment. God let people know that he
THAT WHICH NEVER GOES OUT
I wants them to serve or to lead
One dark night when we were all in bed, a ministly? Should we expect
Mrs. O'Leary left her lantern in the shed. burning bushes? Why, or why
Well, the cow kicked it over, and this is what they said,
not?
"There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight."

In a bygone era, this ditty expressed the popular sentiment about the origin

of the Great Chicago Fire. That popular expression is fiction, but the fire itself

wasn't. It began around 9 PM on October 8, 1871. When it was over, the fire had

killed between 200 and 300 people, leaving 90,000 of the city's 300,000 home­

less. Property loss exceeded $200 million (several billion dollars in today's mon­

ey) as more than 17,000 structures were lost.

In 1971, the city of Chicago held a centennial commemoration of the event.

This featured a parade as well as a massive fireworks display over Lake Michigan.

It seems that we humans are forever fascinated with fire, whether it is meant for

entertainment or results in disaster

Asimilar fascination drew Moses to the burning bush, especially since the bush

was not being consumed. From that fire, the Lord spoke. The message of God still

speaks to us, a never extinguished flame of truth. Perhaps the question we each

need to ask is, "Do God's words hold the same fascination for me as that bush

did for Moses?" -c. R. B.

B. GOD GAINS MOSES' RESPECT (w. 4-6)

4. "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. "
Now that God has Moses' undivided attention, he calls Moses' name
twice. God frequently repeats someone's name when demanding immediate
attention (see Genesis 22:11; 46:2; 1 Samuel 3:10).
Also noteworthy is Moses' response: Here I am. When God calls one by DAILY BIBLE READINGS
name, one does not respond glibly or halfheartedly. One responds deci­ Monday, June 1-Moses'
sively and submissively. This is why Abraham, Jacob, and Samuel respond Birth (Exodus 2: 1-1 0)
to God the same way as Moses. In responding "Here I am," these godly Tuesday, June 2-Moses
people are not telling God something he doesn't already know about their Flees (Exodus 2: 11-22)
location. Instead, they are at attention, waiting to hear and obey whatever Wednesday, June 3­
God may say. Moses' Purpose Mis­
God may convict us to act through various means. These include preach­ understood (Acts 7:23-29)
ing, teaching, or Bible reading. When that conviction comes, we must Thursday, June 4­
respond as Moses does. Hebrews 12: 18-29 reminds Christians that even Moses' Call (Acts 7:30-34)
though God does not speak to us from a fearsome, flaming mountain, we Friday, June 5­
must not refuse him who calls us. Moses' Death FOI~told
5. "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take offyour sandals, for the place (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)
where you are standing is holy ground. " Saturday, June 6­
Genesis 2:3 sets the Sabbath day apart as a holy period of time, and the I Moses' Uniqueness
verse before us is the first mention of a holy place. It is not holy by virtue I (Deuteronomy 34)
of natural properties or ideal location. It is holy because God chooses Sunday,June 7-Come, I
to inhabit it for Moses' calling and for Israel's later worship and instruc­ Will Send You (Exodus 3:
tion (Exodus 3: 12, below). When Joshua, Moses' successor, enters the 1-12)
JUNE 7, 2009
How TO SAY IT
Abraham. AY-bruh-ham.
Abram. AY-brum.
Amorites. AM-uh-rites.
Canaanites. KAY-nun-ites.
Egyptians. Ee-JIP-shuns.
Hittites. HIT-ites or HIT-tites.
Hivites. HI-vites.
Jebusites. JEB-yuh-sites.
Midianite. MID-ee-un-ite.
Perizzites. PAIR-ih-zites.
Pharaoh. FAIR-o or FAY-roe.
Sanhedrin. SAN-huh-drun or
San-HEED-run.
Sinai. SIGH-nye or
SIGH-nay-eye.
WHAT Do You THINK?
What is the difference, if
any, between being afraid of
God and having a reverence
for him? How does this dif­
ference influence the way you
live?
398 HEARING GOD'S CALL
promised land in order to take it, he encounters the commander of the
Lord's anny, who also calls him to remove his footwear for similar reasons
Ooshua 5:13-15).
This kind of holiness is a temporary characteristic. The fact that God
indwells a particular place at a particular time does not make it and those
around pennanendy immune to harm or corruption. Centuries later, the Is­
raelites will assume wrongly that no harm can befall them since God's holy
temple stands in their midst Oeremiah 7:4).
6. Then he said, "I am the God ofyourfather, the God ofAbraham, the God of
Isaac and the God ofJacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid
to look at God.
Moses learns that God is not simply the God of this particular mountain.
He is the God of Moses' ancestors. He is the God who had called Abraham
out of his home country and who provided for Isaac and Jacob as they wan­
dered about the area we now call Palestine. Unlike the fictitious gods of the
nations, Israel's God is not restricted to certain plots of land. He stands high
above the cosmos and graciously identifies with humble Israelites who are
willing to bear his name and submit to his lordship. He is their God, wher­
ever they live. Through Christ he is also our God, wherever we may serve
him. He is God of all creation, whether his creatures worship him or not.
God's cosmic reign should serve as an important warning to those in our
owrr day who would identify God as the deity of this or that nation where
they happen to live. Since Christians wish God to be worshiped properly in
every land, we rightly desire him to be worshiped where we live too. But we
must be careful not to assume that because he was formerly extolled in a
given land that that particular land is somehow forever tied to God in a spe­
cial or unique way.
God did not spread his global mission outward from jerusalem only to be
co-opted by particular cities or countries elsewhere. Rather, God has formed
a transterritorial kingdom. Its capital city is the newjerusalem in Heaven. Its
citizens live on every continent (Philippians 3:20). jesus' prayer for this scat­
tered people is that they would be one as he and the Father are one Oohn
17:20-23). That unity is threatened, however, when God's children mistakenly
identify God with their preferred nation, as if God cares less for other nations.
When Moses hears his ancestors' God speaking to him, he rightly fears.
Even sinless heavenly creatures that are made to worship God in his very
presence are equipped with a second set of wings in order to shield them­
selves from God's glory (Isaiah 6:1-3).
II. GOD OBSERVES ISRAEL (EXODUS 3: 7-9)
A. GOD KNows ISRAEL'S PLIGHT (v. 7)
7. The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery ofmy people in Egypt. I
have heard them aying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned
about their suffering.
God reveals the purpose for his visit: he sees and hears how badly the Is­
raelites are being treated in Egypt. Their oppression is spelled out in Exodus
1: 11-14. There we read that these taskmasters conscript Israelites to bear
the burden of Pharaoh's numerous building projects. The taskmasters work
the Israelites into the ground in response to the growth of their population.
Slavery is the only word for this.
LESSON 1 399 . . ----llJ~E 7-> 2009

None of this catches God by surprise. Back in Genesis 15: 13, 14, God had! WHAT Do You THINK?
told Abraham that his descendants would be mistreated for 400 years. This ! How do you react to the
had to happen because the sin of those inhabiting the promised land had not news offellow believers Slif­
I,

yet reached full measure (Genesis 15: 16). We may take this to mean that God I fering injUly, imprisonment,
so loved those inhabiting Canaan that he refused to bring judgment on them or death for theirfaith? How
I

until they deserved it. A collateral result is that God's chosen people end up . should you react?
in slavery. However, this tum of events allows God to display his power in
unmistakable ways.

B. GOD PREDICTS ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE (w. 8, 9)

8. "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, Perizz­
ites, Hivites and ]ebusites.
Israel's patient God is now poised to deliver on the promise he first made
to Abraham (as Abram) back in Genesis 12: 1-3. The description of milk and
honry is a broad reference to agricultural abundance. It is important to note
that God does not simply deliver his people out of something; he also leads
them into something else. As Jesus teaches, deliverance from a bad situation
that does not include replacing the bad with something better only sets one
up for a potentially worse future (Matthew 12:43-45).
The most comprehensive list of the promised land's inhabitants is pro­
vided in Genesis 15: 19-21. The presence of these competing people groups I

in an area about the size of the state of Vermont highlights both the instability
of the area and the challenge the Israelites have ahead of them. Yet if Israel's
God is powerful enough to free them from an imperial powerhouse like
Egypt, these comparatively miniscule clans will be no problem.
9. 'i\nd now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way
the Egyptians are oppressing them.
We are told again of Israel's cry. We should not think of this cry as an in­
fantile whimper. Rather, this verse expresses moral outrage and soul-stirring
passion. It is the anguished cry of the oppressed and the agonizing plea of
helpless victims.
RESCUE FROM SLAVERY
'M unimaginable as it seems, slavery and bondage still persist in the early twen­
ty-first century. Millions of people around the world still suffer in silence in slave­
like situations of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation from which they
cannot free themselves. rrafficking in persons is one of the greatest human rights
challenges of our time." So says the U.s. State Department Trafficking in Persons
Report ofjune 2003.
The names of the offending countries are familiar to us: Sudan, North Korea,
and Burma (Myanmar) are just a few. Many nations in the Middle East are on the
list. The type of slavery varies from political to economic to sexual. Some coun­
tries are infamous for their "sex tourist trade." The toll in human dignity is enor­
mous. Americans pride themselves on having outlawed slavery over a century ago.
Nevertheless, one occasionally still hears about the "sweat shop" garment facto­ Visual for Lesson 1. Keep
ries in America where illegal immigrants labor in virtual slavery as payment for a this map posted throughout
ticket to live there. the quarter. This will help
Only God could rescue the ancient Hebrews. Modern slaves also may feel that your students keep a geo­
God is their only hope. Shouldn't Christians be God's agents in trying to end these I
I graphical perspective.
JUNE 7~ 2009 400 HEARING GOD'S CALL

abuses? What means do we have for assisting those who are treated as if the image
of God were not in them? And then there is still slavery to sin! What can we do
about that? -C. R. B.

III. GOD COMMISSIONS MOSES (EXODUS 3: 10-12)

A. GOD CALIS A DELIVERER (v. 10)
10. "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites
out of Egypt. "
Up to this point in our story, Moses has been receptive to what God has
to say. Moses is more than willing to remove his footwear. He is more than
willing to hear God's concern for Israel. But Moses' receptivity is about to
change as God gets personal. God calls Moses to do the seemingly impos­
sible: to approach the powerful Pharaoh and ask him to set free his cheap
labor force.

WHAT Do You THINK? B. GOD COUNTERS INSECURITIES (w. 11, 12)

What is the connection, 11. But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring
if any, between personality the Israelites out of Egypt?"
type and the way individuals Moses' last words up to this point were "Here I am"; his next words are
respond to God's leading? Who am I? This is Moses' first attempt to avoid the job God has for him. In
How is this important to the Exodus 4: 1 Moses expresses concern that the people will reject him. In 4: 10
way you react to God's lead­ he claims to be tongue-tied. In 4: 13 he flatly requests that God send some­
ing and to the way you lead one else. But God is not fazed by human excuses. Instead, he shows great
others? patience. He listens to Moses' objections, takes them seriously, and offers
suppon.
12. And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is
I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will
worship God on this mountain."
God knows Moses' track record. According to Exodus 2:10, Moses grew
PRAYER up in Pharaoh's household and thus received the finest education. Moses
God of Moses, we stand also has spent 40 years exiled in Midian; he may thus sympathize with Is­
in awe ofyou. You call us to rael's "outsider" status. Finally, Moses possesses courage, as evident when
tasks that we cannot complete he risked his life to avenge an Israelite and when he boldly confronted two
without you. You call us to feuding Hebrew men (2: 11-13). Yet Moses' impressive pedigree is not his
live like Jesus. You send us greatest asset. It is God's presence that will be the decisive factor in what
into a world that dismisses lies ahead.
your wisdom as foolishness. God predicts a sign as a demonstration of his assurance of victory: those
You call each of us to great currently enslaved will soon freely worship God on the very mountain of
works that you have prepared Moses' calling. This reminds us of the sign of the rainbow that God gave
in advance for us. May we Noah (Genesis 9: 12-17). It is a sign of remembrance that is to recall a past
never hide behind our ex­ event and an associated promise. As the rainbow reminded Noah of God's
cuses. As you did with Moses, prior promise never again to flood the eanh, Israel's later worship on Mount
push through those excuses Sinai will remind them of Moses' call to deliver them from Egypt.
until we see your promises
unfold b~fore our ryes. In CONCLUSION
Jesus' name. Amen. Abraham discovered that his family situation was no limitation for the
ancient of days. Gideon learned that nobodies are somebodies when God goes
with them. Isaiah received a holiness from God that far exceeded what the
most righteous saint could achieve on his or her own. Jeremiah found that
God's Word and presence surpass the rhetoric and "wisdom" of learned foes.
LESSON~"---"l~ _ 401 1lJNE 7, 2009
Thus Moses stood within a long line of underdogs who were made to be THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
overachievers by the mighty arm of God. It makes perfect sense therefore that Embrace God's call with
those of us with all the "wrong" credentials can find ourselves at God's dis­ confidence.
posal to accomplish what only he can do through us.

Discovery Learning

The following is an alternative lesson plan emphasizing learning activities.

Classes desiring such student involvement will find these suggestions helpful. At the

back of this book are reproducible student pages to further enhance activity learning.

INTO THE LESSON be written on the board, projected on a screen, or

Open your class with a "hearing test." Prior to
class, locate three portable stereos ("boom boxes")
and music CDs (music with lyrics is helpful, but
not absolutely necessary). Set the portable stereos
around the classroom in different locations. Also
bring a copy of your church's most recent news­
letter.
As students take their seats, simply begin read­
ing the announcements from the church newsletter.
After you are finished, ask, "How many of you can
recall just one of the announcements?" Take a few
responses from the participants, noting, "We could
all hear the announcements read, so we are able to
recall them fairly well. "
Arrange for several individuals to tum on the
three stereos simultaneously to a volume level that
drowns out your voice. (Be careful not to disturb
other classes.) Begin reading another item, such as
the minister's newsletter article. When you have
completed the reading of the article, tum the ste­
reos off.
Now ask students to recall anything about what
you just read. Very few, if any, should be able to
answer. Ask why they could recall the information
from the first reading, but not from the second
(although the reason is obvious). To move into the
Bible study, say, "We sometimes cannot hear the
voice of God because of other stuff that we allow to
drown out his voice. God has to get our attention
for us to hear his call."
INTO THE WORD
Form groups of four or five; each group must
have at least one Bible. Write Exodus 3:1-12 on the
board. Ask the groups to read the passage and an­
swer the following questions. The questions may
reproduced onto a handout. Reproduce only the
questions, not the italicized answers. Each group
will have the same set of questions. Smaller classes
will adjust group sizes accordingly.
1. Where was Moses when he received his call?
What was he doing? (near Mount Horeb, tending his
father-in-law's sheep; verse 1)
2. How did God get Moses' attention? (burning
bush that wasn't consumed; verses 2, 3)
3. Why a burning bush? Why didn't God just tell
Moses immediately what to do? (perhaps wanted to
impress Moses with the importance of the task; verse 4)
4. How did Moses react to God's presence? (hid
his face, feared God; verses 5, 6)
5. Who was going to free the Israelites from their
Egyptian bondage? (God would free Israel; verses 7-9)
6. Who was going to be God's agent in bringing
about freedom from bondage? (Moses; verse 10)
7. How did Moses respond to the awe-inspiring
opportunity to serve God? (questioned his ability to
fulfill God's call; verse 11)
8. How did God respond to Moses' question?
(God would be with him; verse 12)
After groups work through the questions, go
through the answers as a class. To make the tran­
sition to the application say, "We too have been
called by God to serve among his people, the
church."
INTO LIFE
Have class members stay in their groups. Ask
them to share the following items about their lives,
if applicable to them. (You can write these questions
on the board, distribute them on a handout, etc.)
• When was a time you sensed God calling you
to serve him in a certain way?
lJJNE 7, 2009
• How did God get your attention? What was
your burning bush?
• How did you respond to God's call? If you
hesitated, why?
After the time of small-group discussion, say,
"There are two mistakes we may make with regard
to God's calls. One is to tum a deaf ear to a genu­
ine call of God; the other is to think God is calling
us to do something when he really isn't." Ask the
participants to identify what call they believe God
402 HEARlt'JGlioD'S CALL
has given them, how they evaluate the validity of
that supposed call, and if they are currendy en­
gaged in fulfilling that call.
You may wish to share with the class a personal
story of a time when you made one of those two mis­
takes. Ask for volunteers to explain how they guard
themselves from distractions that hinder them from
I hearing God more clearly. Distribute copies of the re­
producible activities "Hearing the Call" and "Heeding
the Call" from page 500 as take-home exercises.