Tackling Resistance To God’s Calling

Tackling Resistance To God’s Calling

Preacher Huijun - 11 December 2021

Tackling Resistance To God's Calling

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<Ex 3> 1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

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.”

5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

7 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. 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, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

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.”

 

  1. Have we had our “burning bush” moments?
  • God appeared at very ordinary, unexpected moments.
  • Where God is, there becomes holy (set apart) place.
  • God can interrupt our normal activities to get our attention.
  • May not be through “burning bush” but through His Word.
  • What is God’s mission for us today?
    • To rescue God’s people from spiritual bondage.
  • Obedience  See God’s great power

 

  1. Moses’ 5-time objections to God’s calling <Ex 3:11, 13, 4:1, 10, 13>.
  • Who am I?; 2) Who are You?; 3) Will they listen?; 4) I cannot. 5) I don’t want. [Put in diagram form, note the bold emphasis]

 

1) “Who am I that I should go?” <3:11>

  • Is it possible that man’s “humility” can displease God? Especially when:
    • it may be a lack of faith instead.
    • that low view of self causes one to reject doing what God instructs.
  • God’s answer: Don’t look at yourself, but look at Me! I will be with you.
  • Jesus say something similar when He gave the Great Commission: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” <Mt 28:20>
  • It is not about how difficult the task is, God’s presence is what matters.

 

2) “So who are You?” <3:13>

<Ex 3> 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 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.’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

 

3) “What if they don’t listen to me?” <4:1>

<4:1> Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

  • So God gave Moses 3 signs <4:2-9>.
  • To convince Moses and the people: God is powerful, Moses was chosen by God, God could make the ordinary do wonders.
  • Importantly, Moses obeyed, then God’s power manifested.
  • Is our faith also accompanied by evidences of God’s presence and power?

 

4) “I can’t.” <Ex 4:10>

<Ex 4> 10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

 

5) “I don’t want to do it, send someone else.” <Ex 4:13>

<Ex 4:13> But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

 

  • Do you also feel like God is asking too much from you sometimes?
  • [show the summary slide of the 5 excuses again: 1) Who am I?; 2) Who are You?; 3) Will they listen?; 4) I cannot. 5) I don’t want.]
  • Real question: NOT “Are you able?”, BUT “Are you willing?”

 

  1. So God got angry at Moses.

<Ex 4:14> Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.

  • Until we submit to God, we won’t be at rest.
  • Moses’ problem was not his inadequacies, but his lack of faith.
  • It’s never about man’s capability, but God’s ability.
  • God can use limited humans, but He never depends on us.
  • <2 Co 3:5> Not that we are competent in ourselvesto claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
  • It is not that Moses’ reasons were untrue, but he lacked faith and obedience.
  • God is not looking for ability, but our willingness and obedience.

 

Forum:

  1. Have God showed up (spoken to you, moved or convicted you) at a moment you did not expect? Describe that encounter and its impact on you.
  2. Have you ever been reluctant to serve God like Moses? What are the common excuses you raised to God?
  3. How did you overcome your initial reluctance? Or how are you still struggling to obey God and take up the mission He gives you?
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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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