Exodus 3
Introduction
Exodus 3:1-22 records one of the most sacred moments in all of Scripture: God’s personal encounter with Moses at the burning bush. Moses, now eighty years old and living as a shepherd in the wilderness of Midian, has long since given up on his earlier dreams of delivering his people. Yet it is precisely here—in the ordinary routine of tending sheep—that the living God steps into Moses’ life with a holy calling. In this passage we see God calling Moses (and us) to care for people, to concentrate on Him, to consider Him as Master, to comprehend who He truly is, and to trust that He alone calls the shots.
1) God Calls You to Care for People (3:1)
Moses is faithfully tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro when God meets him. The calling begins in the mundane task of shepherding. We are all called to care for people through ministry—whether in the home, the workplace, the church, or the community. If you sense God leading you into formal ministry, be prepared to be prepared. God often shapes us in the quiet, faithful care of ordinary things before He entrusts us with greater responsibility (Luke 16:10; 1 Timothy 3:10).
2) God Calls Us to Concentrate on Him (3:2-6)
Moses sees a bush that is on fire but not consumed. As he turns aside to look, God calls to him from the bush: “Moses! Moses!” and commands, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). When our eyes are fixed on the right thing—on the holy presence of God—our behavior begins to change. We don’t have to worry about getting everything perfect; we simply have to respond in reverence and obedience. Worship and awe reorder everything else in our lives (Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 27:4).
3) God Calls Us to Consider Him as Our Master (3:7-9)
God declares, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt… So I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7-8). When anything or anyone other than God is our master, suffering always follows. Idols, fear, ambition, or people-pleasing eventually crush us. But when the Lord is our Master, He sees our misery, hears our cries, and comes down to rescue. True freedom begins when we submit fully to Him as Lord (Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 6:16-18).
4) God Calls Us to Comprehend Who He Is (3:10-15)
Moses asks, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” God’s answer shifts the focus entirely: “I AM WHO I AM… This is my name forever” (Exodus 3:14). The primary question is never “Who am I?” but “Who is the I AM?” It is not about our qualifications, strength, or past failures—it is about the eternal, self-existent, covenant-keeping God who sends us. When we truly comprehend who He is, our insecurities lose their power (Exodus 3:12; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 3:5).
5) God Calls and Causes His Own Shots (3:16-22)
God lays out the entire plan in remarkable detail: Moses will gather the elders, confront Pharaoh, face resistance, and ultimately lead the people out with great possessions. From the very beginning, God had a plan to save the world and a plan to save and use Moses. He not only calls the shots—He has the power to see them through. Nothing surprises Him, and no opposition can stop Him (Isaiah 46:10; Job 42:2).
Application
God has called each and every one of us to salvation and has promised to do all the work if we will simply trust Him. Following His plan is hard—sometimes it feels impossible in our own strength. But we don’t have to rely on our own fuel. The same God who met Moses in a burning bush still meets us in the ordinary routines of life and equips us for what He has called us to do.
Wherever you are right now, remember: God sees you, knows you by name, and has a purpose for your life. Concentrate on Him. Submit to Him as Master. Trust the great “I AM” who calls and then causes His own shots. He will not fail you. He will redeem every wilderness season and use even your past failures to display His glory.
Small Group Questions
· What is the hardest thing that you think God has ever called you to do?
· How does focusing on God shift our behavior?
· Is there anything that is your “Master” right now that is leading to suffering in your life?
· Do you trust that God is strong and powerful enough to call His own shots in your life?
For Further Study
Read Exodus 3 alongside John 8:58 (“Before Abraham was born, I am!”) to see Jesus claiming the divine name.
Study Isaiah 6:1-8 to compare Moses’ burning bush encounter with Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness.
Meditate on 2 Corinthians 3:5 and Philippians 4:13 to remember that our adequacy comes from God, not ourselves.
