Exodus 3:1-15 - a very abbreviated form
Now Moses was tending the flock .. the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. ... God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." ... 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... now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
And God said, "I will be with you. ..."
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and ... they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' ..."

Unlike other Bible heros, it's not the birth of Moses that indicates he's been chosen by God for a very special task, but what happens shortly after his birth. At three months his mother places him in a waterproof basket of reeds and hides him in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile. He's discovered by the king's daughter who decides to adopt him. An older sister of Moses sees what happens and offers to find a nurse for the Princesses' new baby. Of course, she get's her mother. Pretty neat really, being paid for looking after your own child. Many people see this as the princess being duped, but even though I can't prove it, I've always thought that the Kings daughter was with it enough to know exactly what was going on but was happy to play along. Chapter 2 suggests he was a pretty cute baby.

But it doesn't really matter. In an environment where Hebrew baby boys were being killed, and where an adult life involved only the misery of slavery, it's an amazing miracle that Moses is able to be raised in the king's own household.

Now, the story teller doesn't say a thing about what's really going on here. He doesn't have to. Even blind Freddy can see that God's at work grooming and educating this young man for some very important task. But this is exactly why the next part of the story comes as a real shock. Let me read it: One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labour. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. (Exodus 2:11f) This Moses turns out to be a cold, calculating, murderer. Well that's the end of God's plans. I mean this guy's a terrorist. God hates terrorists. We all know that. He wants us to bomb ‘em, lock ‘em up in barb wire prisons and forget about ‘em. God couldn't, God mustn't use anyone like that in his plans!

But if Moses the murderer comes as a bit of a shock, then the next part of the story hits like an 8-on-the-Richter-scale-earthquake. As we would expect Moses ends up fleeing for his life into the desert. There he runs into Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro the part-time priest and part-time shepherd. He ends up marrying her. And then this ex-royal, cold blooded killer Moses is taking care of some of Jethro's sheep and goats when a burning bush grabs his attention. And then, then, God calls him to him from the bush. He asks ever so nicely that he act as redeemer and saviour of God's people who are still suffering in slavery in Egypt. Can you believe that?

But there's more. Moses tries to opt out, but God refuses to let him. Moses reminds God about his inadequacy. Who am I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt? "I don't think Moses believed God could use a murderer either. But God simply promises to be with Moses every step of the way. I will be with you, don't worry about it." When Moses suggests he needs to be able to tell people who live in hte land of many God's just which one is rescuing them, God does the unthinkable. He gives Moses his special name. I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is ‘I Am' has sent you. When Moses complains that no one is going to listen to him, God shows him a couple of neat tricks; first he shows him how his walking stick can be transformed into a snake, and then how he can both give himself (well his arm anyway) and cure himself of leprosy. Finally when Moses complains about his lack of speaking ability God not only promises to give him the words to say, but suggests he take his eloquent brother Aaron, who just so happens to be on the way for a visit, so he can organize it right away.

Now I guess from here this sermons should draw parallels between Moses and us. Even when we stuff up our lives completely, God can, God does still use us, so keep your eyes and ears open for the burning bushes that call us into God's service, especially bringing justice and freedom to the oppressed.

So think about those things but also think about the question I'm convinced this story writer also wants us to ask. What sort of God is this God of Moses? Is he the same one I believe in?

Do I believe he's at work in my life, even when nothing much seems to be happening, or at those times I don't even acknowledge his presence. Is he even or especially there when I stuff up completely. Is he there in other people's lives, even those who refuse to acknowledge him? Is he still working his miracles even in the person I want to criticise or condemn. Does he really love the murderer, the terrorist, the people who worship Alla or even money, just as much as he loves me? Does he want to be involved even in the words I say to people? Am I really that important to him?

Do I believe this God didn't create me to be a puppet but allows me the freedom to do my own thing, or stuff up my life completely, and so bring changes to God's plans, but no matter what he still accepts me as part of his plan?

Do I believe he's even willing to put up with my silly excuses, or my perfectly sensible reasons as I like to describe them. Do I believe in a God who even accepts my lack of trust in him?

And do I believe that this God I believe in is willing to open himself up to me, to reveal himself, to draw so close that I can call him by name, so I can say, my God, my Yahweh.

But of course, because of Jesus Christ there are for us even more questions. Do I believe that this great 'I AM' wasn't satisfied with this mysterious distant name, but came again, this time leaving the burning bush disguise behind. Do I believe my God came without divine clothes, naked, open, vulnerable, saying, 'I am the good shepherd, I am the vine, I am the door, I am the light, I am the truth, I am the way, I am the life, I am the resurrection'?

And finally, is this the same God who is revealed to others through my own words and actions and life?

Let's pray,
Great God, ever loving, always present, continually caring God, close God, vulnerable God, dying God, giving God, come and show yourself to others through me.

© Copyright Rev. K.W. Stiller.