Small Group Questions:

1. Who is the most confident person you know? What makes them so confident?
2. Why do you think God focused on who He is instead of fixing Moses’ confidence first?
3. How do people usually react to fear? What does fear usually push people to do – or not do – when they’re under pressure?
4. How do you usually decide which voice to listen to when different opinions are pulling you in different directions?
5. What situations make it hardest to live out your faith at school or with friends?
6. Where do you feel most aware of your weaknesses or limits right now?
7. What is one step of obedience that fear might be holding you back from?

THE MAIN POINT

God’s presence drives out fear and calls obedience

THE BIBLE

Exodus 3:1-15; 4:1-16

THE CONTEXT

In the Bible, fire often symbolizes God’s presence. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at a few stories involving fire and what they reveal about the presence of God.

Moses had been exiled from the land of Egypt for 40 years. He had killed an Egyptian official and was therefore wanted under the death penalty in Egypt. He lived in Midian with his wife and his father-in-law as a shepherd while the Israelites continued to be afflicted in Egypt. For over 400 years, God had not revealed Himself to them. While tending his flock, Moses sees a bush on fire. Thorn bushes in the Sinai desert were known for catching on fire spontaneously, so this is most likely something Moses would have seen countless times. What was shocking about this specific time, though, was that the bush, while on fire, was not burning up. This caught Moses’ attention, and he walked over to further examine this phenomenon. Having caught Moses’ attention, the Lord speaks to him and commands him to remove his shoes for the place on which he is standing is holy ground. The ground is holy because of God’s presence in the fire. The presence of God comes to Moses and calls him into his role as Israel’s leader and deliverer.

Moses was now 80 years old, and God was calling him to return to Egypt and be the instrument through which he would free the Israelites. This is no small task. Five times Moses defies his calling, and this is not surprising. First, he was tasked with leading a people group who had not heard or experienced God in 400+ years. Second, he was tasked with delivering a people group from an Egyptian nation that had been the most powerful and had just reached the climax of its power. It is no surprise that we see Moses experience fear and doubts.

Yet, he has no reason to be fearful – or at least no valid reason. In 3:12, God promises his presence to Moses, the antidote to all fear. He also speaks of a sign which could refer to either serving God on this mountain in the future, or could refer to the burning bush. Either way, God’s presence means there is no cause for fear. But the most significant event is the Lord revealing his name to Moses in 3:14-15

“I AM WHO I AM,” with its repetition, is a type of phrase that is used for emphasis. As Jay Sklar puts it, “In this case, the point is the Lord’s uniqueness: there is no god like him and no god but him.” The Egyptian gods that Moses was called to go up against do not compare to God. His presence drives out fear because there is no other god but him. The Egyptian gods were not even worthy of being called gods, for they cannot hear their people; they are false gods with no power whatsoever. As Dr. Thomas L. Constable says, “The repetition of the same word (IAM) suggests the idea of uninterrupted continuance and boundless duration.” Not only is God unique in that he is superior to the other gods and the only true God, he is also everlasting. The God who was there when the world began and the one who will be there when the world ends is the one who promises to be with Moses. Moses does not have to be afraid because the very God who created time, the very God who is not bound by time, is going with him. His presence drives out fear.

THE CORE

As you prepare the core of the message using personal story and questions, keep in mind these points:

• Dr. Constable says, “Who Moses is is not the question; it is rather who is with Moses.” And again, “Moses had asked, ‘Who am I? – implying complete inadequacy for his calling. God replied, ‘I AM WHO I AM!’ – implying complete adequacy. The issue was not who Moses was, but who God is.” The first step to overcoming fear and stepping into the calling that God has placed upon the life of a Christian is to know and remember who He is. It is not about us – it never has been and never will be – it is all about God. He is the one who equips; he is the one who ensures our success. Too often, our definition of success is limited to what we can do or what we think we can do. Our definition of success, instead, should be placed on who God is and what he can do.
• Worry filled Moses’ mind. He was so worried about his own competencies and what the Israelites would think of him that he missed what God was calling him to. He was so focused on what could happen that he missed what God said would happen.

THE APPLICATION

• When fear strikes, what do you do? We learn from the story of the burning bush that fear has no authority in the presence of God. When fear comes, we should pursue the presence of God rather than allow it to overcome us.
• Do you know who God is? Not just as an “oh yeah, I pray,” do you trust in God, both his promises and who he is?
• Are you allowing fear to move you away from obedience? Moses was fearful of rejection, failure, and inadequacy. Do these fears speak louder than God in your life?