March 23, 2025 - The Lord God's Calling to Moses (Exodus 3:1-6)

The Lord God's Calling to Moses (Exodus 3:1-6)

Rev. Myung-Sin Choi

1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your 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. 

Introduction

Last week through the Headquarters Core Business message we received a precious message. We were told that we need to confirm three things within our walk of faith. The reason is because God is continuing to fulfill His word through us. God hears our prayers and answers us. God is continuing to do the work of world evangelism through us. Even now, God is continuing His work but the question we need to ask ourselves is how much are we enjoying this within our lives? How much of that are we fulfilling in our lives? God wants to answer your prayers but how much of that are you enjoying that right now in your life? God is continuing the answers for world evangelism but how much are you enjoying that right now? Meditate on this and enjoy it in your life. Within your walk of faith, you must find the direction of your life within this. God has given us a very important message today. God will absolutely fulfill this message within our lives. How much you take this message with faith and how much you will apply it within your field will determine everything. I truly pray for the great blessing and works of Bartimaeus to come upon you. God has given you His word today. 

1. God's Reveals Himself

(1) God's Mountain

Verse 1 - From here, Moses was tending the sheep, which means that this was written in a matter where Moses continued to do this. This means that while being in Midian for 40 years, he was tending sheep during that entire time. This means that for 40 years, his sole work in Midian was tending the flock. Moses used to be the prince of Egypt and possessed great authority and power. But in Midian, his status was merely just a shepherd. He did this for 40 years. Not only that but he tended the flock for his father-in-law, Jethro. This means that this flock didn’t even belong to him. This meant that Moses possessed no inheritance or possessions. This meant that in order to survive in Midian and provide food for his family, he tended the flock for 40 years. He didn’t do this for one day but he did this for 40 years, which means that it may look like he had nothing to live for. In  that state, Moses recorded Psalm 90:10 “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” - People like to live a long life and want to live to be 100 years old but for Moses, his only boastful thing that he could boast about was his labor and his sadness. The longer he lived and the older he got, he felt more sorrow. That long life that Moses lived but for God, the years that Moses lived was flying by. Whether you live for 100 years or 1,000 years, life is like living this one life and it goes away real fast. But people live their lives fighting for their lives and fighting for their greed. But there was a twist here. 

Verse 1 - When God appeared in Moses’ life, it changed completely. Before this, Moses felt like there was nothing in his life but his life was about to just start for God. At the age of 80, God was about to start the life of Moses. It may seem like there is nothing for us in our lives but God is just starting your life. He has great meaning in your life. If God takes hold of your life then you will live. 

(2) God's messenger

Verses 2-4 - On the mountain of God, the angel of God appeared. This angel of the Lord is a messenger to God. 

Verse 4 - But it says that Lord appeared before Moses. It also says that Lord God appeared before Moses. Then, who is this angel of God that appeared before Moses? What is absolute is that this angel of God is different from the God the Father. It was not God the Father but He was the among the triune God. Many theologians interpret that Jesus Christ appeared before Moses. 

Genesis 18:2-3 “So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” - Abraham was in front of the tent but three people appeared before Him. 

Genesis 18:13 “And the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ ” - This being was the Lord God that appeared before Abraham. We can see Jesus Christ appearing before mankind. 

Verse 4 - The thorn bush is referring to a bush that is all dried up. But in the center of the bush, this means that it was representing the suffering state of the Israelites. Inside of that bush, it was burning. In the midst of that burning bush, God was within it. The bush was burning in flames but it was not dying or being burnt out. Abraham thought this was so strange that this bush was not burning out so he got closer to it. There is important content here. This burning bush was suffering within the flames but within that bush, God was with it so this bush was not dying. This symbolized that God was with the suffering Israelites. Last week, I spoke about how the Lord God continued to be with the Israelites who were suffering. You must remember this. This means that if we continue to hold onto God’s covenant no matter what situation we are in, then God will be with us. This is because God will fulfill His word through us. There are prayers that God will answer through us. God will continue to protect you. This is because there is God’s mission within you that God needs to fulfill. Until God fulfills it, God will continue to guide and protect you. This means that it doesn’t matter what situation you face. 

2. God's Command

(1) Take off your sandals

Verse 4 - God called out for Moses twice. God calls out His people’s name twice. This means that God is calling out with sincerity and urgency because God has a mission for you. When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, God called out the name of Abraham twice as seen in Genesis 22:11 “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ ” - Isaac couldn’t die. The person who is holding onto God’s covenant can’t die. God protects those who have the covenant. God told Abraham not to kill Isaac. This is how God protects you. 

Acts 9:4 “Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ” - God also called out Paul’s name twice when God appeared before him the first time. This was because God was calling out to Paul because God had a mission for Paul. 

Verse 4 - God was calling out to Moses so at that time, Moses realized that it was God so Moses responded to God. When God calls you, make sure you answer him. Make sure you answer to God, “Here I am.” I am sure that Moses was so surprised that God was calling out to him. Because no one cared about or knew about Moses in the land of Midian. Why is that? This was because Moses was holding onto God’s covenant. Through Moses, God had a mission for him to do. Through you, God is with you because He has a mission for you. Do you believe in this? Through you, God has a covenant for you. Do you believe in this? If you believe in this, then this same moment will come upon you like Moses. God has called you all the way from Korea to America for a reason. Until then, Moses was seen as a failure. He was a murderer and a fugitive. In a way, he was just waiting to die but at that moment, God called out for Moses. The voice that God is calling out to you, in God’s time schedule, He will call out to you. Why is that? It is because you are within God’s covenant. 

(2) The first command

Verses 5-6 - God didn’t just appear before Moses and give him His mission. God gave Moses a command first. He commanded Moses to take off his scandals. This was because where Moses was standing was holy. There are two important things that we must hold onto here. God commanded Moses to take off his shoes because this ground is holy. This means that this land of Midian is a wilderness and is full of dust and dirtiness. But God didn’t tell Moses to take off his shoes because his shoes were dirty. This represents that God was telling Moses to stripe off all of the sins and past off of him. God wants to take everything off of you and stand purely before God. This also represents slaves. To take off his shoes means to take off the shoes of a slave and to stand before God as a servant of God. The past life of Moses where he used to live as a slave but now, God is telling Moses to stand before Him as a servant of God. 

Ruth 4:7-8 “Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. 8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, ‘Buy it for yourself.’ So he took off his sandal.” - The relatives of Ruth said that they will give up Ruth’s inheritance and take off their shoes. This means that they were giving up their status and rights. All of his royal and worldly status, God wanted Moses to give up his everything and status. God wants you to discard everything before Him. 

Matthew 22:32 “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” - This was the eternal covenant and shows that God is the eternal God. This God of the covenant is the God who made His covenant with Abraham. This same God was the God who made a covenant with Moses hundreds of years ago. This God was with Abraham and was with Moses. God fulfilled His covenant with Abraham and then with Isaac. After Isaac died, God continued to give His covenant to Jacob and continued to fulfill His covenant. And now, God was before Moses to give His covenant to him. People die but God never perishes. God is eternal. The covenant that God has given to different people, it was the same covenant. God has given this same covenant to Moses. 

The astounding message is seen in Matthew 22:32 - Jesus said this. Jesus is asking do you not remember the covenant that God made with the forefathers? He is the same God. He is the same God who is continuing to fulfill His covenant. This same God who with Abraham is also the same God of the covenant who was with Moses and with us. God’s covenant is eternal. God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living. We who are holding onto God’s covenant, God is continuing to live within us. This is the God who is with us. The moment we hold onto God’s covenant, then God will fulfill His eternal covenant through us. 

3. If the Start is Wrong, Everything Else Will Be Wrong

(1) Darkness that prevents you from understanding

2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” - The Jews were boasting that they were chosen people of God and thought that they were superior above everyone else. Don’t be deceived by darkness that is preventing you from understanding. If you hold onto God’s eternal covenant, you can receive God’s insight and discernment for understanding. 

(2) The reason you don't understand and what it is that you possess

Original Sin Genesis 3:4-5 “Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' ” - The reason why Adam and Eve failed was not because they were deceived by Satan but because they lost hold onto God’s covenant. The moment you lose hold of God’s covenant, then you will face the same fate of destruction. 

Religion Acts 13:6 “Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus.” - They were holding onto false religions and ideologies. We need to hold onto the correct gospel and covenant. This is so important. 

Physical John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” - Remember this. If you don’t realize Satan’s deception, you will fall into his trap and greed. There are so many people who fail because they fall into Satan’s trap for greed. That is why we must live the correct walk of faith and beginning. 

(3) God's method and our start

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” - Through the offspring of the woman, the head of the serpent will be crushed. The only way to overcome darkness is through Jesus Christ. 

Genesis 6:14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.” - The only way to live is to go into the ark of the covenant. 

Exodus 3:18 “Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ ” - Only when you enter into the blood of the covenant, can you live. 

Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ ” - Only those who confess that Jesus is the Christ, can you be victorious.

John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” - When you hold onto this covenant, you will have victory. Don’t look towards the world but only enter into the covenant. Christ finished everything. May you hold onto this covenant and live your life.

Conclusion

Hold onto Acts 19:21 “When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’ ” - Paul said that he must see Rome. At that moment, God blessed Paul. What must we hold onto? We must see Biblical evangelism. Pray that God will fulfill this covenant through you. Until you meet God, may God grant you this blessing of this covenant within your life.