THE BURNING BUSH (Ch 3) GIVES THE CALL TO MOSES; THE ROD, HAND & TONGUE GIVE EQUIPMENT

Moses answered God but he felt so powerless as to be helpless to do what God asked
When God calls a man to serve Him, He equips the man for the task to which he is called
God often takes the simple things that we have, and if we will let Him, He empowers them by his Holy Spirit beyond our greatest imagination and accomplishes his purpose

I. WHAT GOD SAW IN MOSES

One of the hardest questions to answer is this one- what did God see that he wanted?

A. AN ANSWERING LIP- Ch. 3:4 WHEN GOD CALLED, MOSES ANSWERED "HERE AM I"

• There is quite a study in the Bible- when God calls a man- Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel
• Most all of them were about their normal business, but at a time of quietness to hear-
• The greatest problem today is to get a person quiet enough to hear God's voice- have you?

B. AN OBJECTING HEART 3:11, 4:1, 10 A LOT OF US CAN TALK BIG, THEN FIND EXCUSES

• "Who am I" 3: 11- so different from the time he wrote the smoke the Egyptian- 2: 12- to show his power
• "They won't believe me" 4:1- the fear that grips the heart of the minister- the witness
• "I am not eloquent" 4:10 - big shots until the time to do something- then false humility

C. BUT GOD USED MOSES ANYWAY! WHY? IF WE CAN SEE WHY GOD USED MOSES, PERHAPS US TOO!

• In spite of all the false, early cockiness, later cowardice, God used Moses mightily
• Deuteronomy 34:10- Never a Prophet like Moses - God knew face to face
• God even offered to do away with Israel, and make of Moses the nation He wanted

But Moses, the great example of meekness, refused, and conquered in prayer-

II. WHAT MOSES OFFERED GOD

Moses only offered to God what God asked of him- he had learned to avoid presumption

A. A ROD HE COULD CAST ON THE GROUND- this rod was the plain tool of a Shepherd- hook or crook

• The rod could be a staff to lean on, a tool to tend sheep, or a weapon for man or beast
• But God said cast it on the ground- make it useless- Moses did, SNAKE! Moses fled
• God said take it up- again, not the normal thing to do- and it was restored to a rod

B. A HAND HE COULD PLACE OVER HIS HEART- Everyone has a hand, but how many willing to obey this?

• With the hand in his bosom, he could not smite again like he did the Egyptian-
• When it came out- it was leprous as snow- the quiet, slow sin - sure death, sign of sin
• When done again- it was normal, the sign of forgiveness- rebound, daily regeneration

C. A TONGUE THAT HE COULD NOT SPEAK WELL WITH - Few people are willing to admit inadequacy

• I am not eloquent- first prerequisite of being a Baptist preacher- he could still learn-
• But he carried it to the extreme- and God became angry with him v.14 and dealt with him
• But he was no slouch when it came to talking with God- when he did the mountains roared

III. WHAT GOD WAS ABLE TO DO WITH MOSES

The secret of real power came upon Moses, and used him to deliver his people 

A. HE HAD THE POWER OF A SIMPLE, PLAIN TOOL, YIELDED TO GOD IN SIMPLE OBEDIENCE 

• God takes simple tools and obedience and conquers- shepherds sling, barley meal cake, rams horn loaves & fishes
• We need to learn to be at the right place at the right time- faithful obedience with time
• I have watched people grow- being faithful in little things- and God blesses in big things

B. HE HAD THE POWER OF A HAND OVER THE HEART, THE SYMBOL OF DEDICATION

• The symbol of consecration to God is a yielded hand placed over a warm heart
• We need to realize that we are as sinful as leprosy, but made clean by God's power
• I watched a former alcoholic love a Sunday School class to the Lord, being faithful in love

C. HE HAD THE POWER OF WORDS PUT IN HIS MOUTH BY GOD HIMSELF AND WE RECEIVED THE FIRST 5 BOOKS

• God put great words into the mouth of Moses, and God can do the same for you
• Moses felt inadequate, so God gave him a helper- sometimes troublesome, but job got done
• If you will learn to talk with God, you will soon learn to talk with with men

IF GOD LOOKS AT YOU AND ASKS WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND? WILL HE FIND YOU WILLING?

- to say - Here I am, Lord, you need to find the power to have sins forgiven - and rebound
- to say- yes in your small abilities - and let God use your practical obedience- Church membership-
- to say- I am not eloquent- when God has something else to teach you- learn to pray