God's Word for Me Today
Monday, October 15, 2001
Focus: Change the World!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
Moses: An Unlikely World Changer!
For the next five days we’re going to look at the life of Moses, a man who is considered by many to be the greatest man to have lived in the Old Testament era. Moses was used by God to deliver an entire nation from the hands of one of the greatest world powers of his day—Egypt. We’ll see that Moses was an unlikely world changer. While he was born to an Israelite family, he was reared in the household of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. At the age of 40, Moses’ life was changed dramatically for the next 40 years when he committed murder. He killed an Egyptian slave driver for mistreating some Israelites. When the deed became known, Moses fled Egypt and became a fugitive in Midian. There he met Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. Eventually, Moses married Zipporah and went into the employ of Jethro as a shepherd. In today’s text, we find the next dramatic change in Moses’ life, the change that would transform Moses into a world changer. It is a direct encounter with God. We’ll pick up there today with Moses’ story and follow it through the beginnings of his transformation into the leader of Israel, and a world changer for his time!
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, as I investigate the life of Moses this week, show me how I, too, may be used powerfully by You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may hear Your voice and do Your will. May all that I am and all that I do today and throughout this week be the source of new life in Jesus Christ for myself, my family, my friends and each person with whom I come into contact. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Exodus 3:1-15
1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up. 3 "Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this." 4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses' attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!""Here I am!" Moses replied. 5 "Do not come any closer," God told him. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the LORD told him, "You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey – the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians have oppressed them with heavy tasks. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses asked God. "How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." 13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said, "Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.' This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations.
Questions for Reflection
Put yourself in the place of Moses. How would you have responded to God’s coming to speak to you personally about His mission to redeem His people?
What is the most amazing natural phenomenon you have ever experienced?
Questions for Exploration
What was Moses’ response to God’s appearance to him in the bush? (3:1-4)
God rehearses the plight of the people of Israel. What is God’s solution to this problem? (3:6-10)
What is Moses’ response to God’s call on his life? (3:11-15)
Questions for Understanding
What is God’s plan for delivering the people of Israel?
Why does Moses want to turn down God’s call?
Questions for Application
How does God call you to be a world changer? What can you do every day to be ready for God’s call in your life?
God’s name is “I AM.” Any time today or this week when you have doubts, fears, or concerns, call on God, for He IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE. God alone is always present in every circumstance of life!
Here Am I. Send Someone Else!
Moses didn’t want to be a world changer. He didn’t feel qualified. He didn’t think anyone would listen. Moses was a lot like we are—we always think someone else is a better person for the challenge of changing the world. The Good News is that God has chosen us, EACH one of us to be world changers. There’ll never be a better time than now to take on the task. Since God has power to overcome every excuse we can muster, let’s call on that power and get started!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.