Bible Stories for Adults

God Calls Moses

Exodus 3-4

Next Week - The People of Israel Leave Egypt (Exodus 5-15)
Bible Words to Remember:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

According to Stephen, were the Israelites saved at a random time?
Acts 7:17-19 = As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise
According to Paul, were the new Israelites saved at a random time?
Galatians 4:4-5 = When the time had fully come ...

How did God prepare Moses for his calling?
Acts 7:20-22 = Educated in Egyptian wisdom, powerful in speech & action
How old was Moses when he left Pharaoh's house and fled to Midian? = Killed Egyptian
Acts 7:23-29 = 40 yrs old, well-versed in Egyptian ways
Who were the Midianites?
Genesis 25:1-2 = Midian was son of Abraham's 2nd wife, Keturah (after Sarah died)
What was significant about Moses' father-in-law?
Exodus 18:1 = He was high priest of Midian, probably worshipped true God

How old was Moses when God called him from the bush? = 40 yrs around Mount Sinai
Acts 7:30-34 = 80 yrs old, 40 yrs to insulate from being too close to Pharaoh
How old was Moses when the Israelites reached the Promised Land?
Acts 7:36 = 120 yrs old - sustained by God 40 yrs in wilderness
What had the Israelite asked Moses when he tried to settled a dispute?
Acts 7:27 = Who made you ruler and judge over us?
How did Stephen answer this question?
Acts 7:35 = sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God Himself

Where did Moses lead his father-in-law's flock? = Sinai is in wilderness of Sin
Exodus 3:1 = to Horeb, the mountain of God (also called Sinai)
Where did Moses lead his Heavenly Father's flock? = Deut 5:2 calls it Horeb
Exodus 19:1-2 = After 3 months, Israelites camped at Mount Sinai
What special event happened at Horeb?
Exodus 19:3; 20:2-3; 21:1 = God gave 10 Commandments & Civil, Moral & Ceremonial Laws

What did God say that foretold what would later happen at Horeb?
Exodus 3:5 = Take off your sandals, you're standing on holy ground
What other land was called holy ground? = Remove sandals so dust won't defile
Joshua 5:13-15 = The Promised Land - West of Jordan, near Jericho
What holy ground will Jesus help us see?
Revelation 21:2 = Our promised land, heaven

How did God appear to Moses on Sinai?
Exodus 3:2-3 = Flames of fire within a bush that didn't burn up
What other ways did God use fire in His Story? = Don't read, ask for answers, then review
Exodus 13:21 = God led Israelites in pillar of fire at night
Genesis 15:17-18 = God as firepot & torch in blood covenant with Abram
Genesis 19:24 = God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah with fire from heaven
1 Kings 18:22-26, 33, 38 = God sent fire to Elijah's sacrifice, none from Baal
2 Kings 2:11 = Elijah taken to heaven with horses & chariot of fire
Daniel 3:22-27 = Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego protected by angel in fiery furnace
Acts 2:1-4 = Tongues of fire on disciples filled with Holy Spirit
2 Thessalonians 1:7 = Jesus will be revealed from heaven in blazing fire
Revelation 20:14-15 = Death, Hades & unsaved are destroyed in lake of fire

How does God reveal Himself to us today? = Don't read, ask for answers, then review
2 Timothy 3:16 = Through the Scripture
Galatians 1:16 = Through each other
Ephesians 3:4-5 = Through His apostles & prophets (chosen leaders)
Luke 2:28-32; John 17:6 = Through His Son, Jesus Christ
John 14:26 = Through His Counselor, the Holy Spirit
Acts 19:5-6 = Through Baptism
1 Corinthians 11:26, 29 = Through The Lord's Supper

Why did God decide to come to Moses at this time?
Exodus 2:23-25 = God heard Israel's cries, remembered His covenant, concerned
How did God introduce Himself to Moses?
Exodus 3:4-6 = I am the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac & Jacob
What did God tell Moses that He was going to do?
Exodus 3:7-10 = Rescue His people through Moses & take to Promised Land
How does God call us to rescue His people & take them to the Promised Land?
Matthew 28:19 = Go and make disciples of all nations

What was Moses' first excuse why God shouldn't send him?
Exodus 3:11 = Who am I? I'm a nobody. I can go up against Pharaoh
What was God's answer to Moses' excuse?
Exodus 3:12 = I will be with you. You will return with people to this mountain
What is God's answer to our excuse that we are unable to go ourselves?
Matthew 28:20 = Surely I am with you always (added to our command to GO)
Romans 8:31 = If God is for us, who can be against us?

What was Moses' second excuse why God shouldn't send him?
Exodus 3:13 = What if the Israelites ask who sent me?
What was God's answer to Moses' excuse? = See NIV footnotes for v 14-15
Exodus 3:14-15 = Tell them I sent you
Who should we say sends us?
Luke 10:2-3 = Jesus said, Go, I am sending you out ...

What did God tell Moses to say to the Israelite elders?
Exodus 3:16-17 = God sent me to rescue you & take you to the Promised Land
What did God tell Moses to say to Pharaoh?
Exodus 3:18 = Let God's people go for 3 days to worship Him
How did God say Pharaoh would respond?
Exodus 3:19-22 = He'd say no. God would send plagues & Israel will leave with plunder
What message does God give us to speak?
1 Corinthians 2:6-7 = a message of God's secret wisdom, His Plan

What was Moses' third excuse why God shouldn't send him?
Exodus 4:1 = What if they don't believe me?
What was God's answer to Moses' excuse?
Exodus 4:2-5 = Gave him the miraculous sign of staff turning to a snake
What if that didn't convince them?
Exodus 4:6-8 = Gave a second sign of hand turning leprous, then clean
What if that didn't work?
Exodus 4:9 = Gave a third sign of water turning to blood
What does God give us to help others believe the message we bring?
1 Corinthians 12:1, 11 = Spiritual gifts

What was Moses' fourth excuse why God shouldn't send him?
Exodus 4:10 = I can't speak, I'm not eloquent
What was God's answer to Moses' excuse?
Exodus 4:11-12 = I will give you the words to say
How do we know what to say to others about our faith?
1 Corinthians 2:13 = In words given by the Spirit
What does Paul claim about the eloquence of his testimony? = Don't read if short on time
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 = Words not mine, but a demonstration of the Spirit's power

What was the last excuse Moses was able to come up with?
Exodus 4:13 = PLEASE pick someone else!
What was God's answer to Moses' excuse? = God frustrated with Moses' weak faith
Exodus 4:14-17 = I will make your brother Aaron your assistant
What does Jesus promise about the power of doing God's work with others?
Matthew 18:19-20 = Where 2 or 3 come together in my name, there I am with them