Getting settled in…or thrown in

I feel like the constant thunderstorms here, like the one going on now, are a good representation of where I’m at right now. Though things are a bit “stormy”, there are many positives. For example, the constant rain here has made the park much more green than it usually is this time of year, plus it reminds me of Seattle. Though things have been a little difficult, it is clear that something (or someone) bigger than me is working here.

My job with the concessionaire at the gift shop is turning out to be a lot better than I thought it would. I thought I would be bored, but with about 5,000 visitors a day there is plenty to do. Also, since I haven’t had any official training yet, I’m definitely more lost than bored. Maybe that’s a better way to describe my current state; lost. Everything’s unfamiliar. I’m referring customers to activities and events that I don’t know how to get to, trying to speak to people from very different parts of the country and world than me and trying to lead a ministry team that is somewhat lost, yet still knows more than me. I feel like they need really strong leadership, but I still don’t even know what’s really going on here.

Don’t get me wrong, many things are going very well. My coworkers are great. I’ve met people from all over the country, as well as people from Columbia, Russia, Armenia, Moldova and other countries. I am very excited to get to know them better, serve them and reach out to them. The location is great, too. The Black Hills area of South Dakota is beautiful and I can’t wait to explore it. While things are a little tough right now, I know they will get better with time and God’s provision.

I guess I just feel disoriented and like I’m waiting for direction. This made my sermon writing this week very ironic. God’s call of Moses through the burning bush, and the example that is of God’s care for His people and plan for our lives was heavily laid on my heart. I don’t know why, but I really didn’t want to talk about it. However, I could not come up with anything else to save my life. From Moses’ story and my own experiences I concluded that God often calls us to unexpected things that are a perfect fit for who He created us to be. I guess I have to accept that God knows me better than I know myself. At this point, I’m positive that this message was laid on my heart because I really needed to hear it.

The service itself went really well. We got to the amphitheater about half an hour early, and as time wore on I started to get nervous that no one would show up. Then a lot of people started showing up and that started to make me nervous. I was supposed to preach to these people? For our opening song the four of us led “Be Thou My Vision”. At first I was nervous to lead a song but in a cheesy way I realized if God was my vision, and did lead me there, then he would continue to be with me and work through me. I’m usually anxious when I’m in front of people and my heart starts pounding really fast and my mouth dries out. However, as we began singing I actually felt a sense of calm and joy come over me. I KNEW God was with me!

I know God is here and working; and I’m excited to be a part of it and see what it looks like. Below is my sermon from this morning.
Exodus 3:1-15, 4:10-12 God’s Rescue and Call
6/20/2010

Intro:
Good Morning!
Who here wishes they could be more organized? Isn’t it comforting when we can have detailed plans set out? But then the problem that arises is how often those plans get changed. We could be talking about anything from what I’m going to do after college, to what kind of work you’ll end up in and where you plan to live, to something as small as getting here. How many people that came from out of state didn’t have any glitches in their travel plans? This morning I want to talk about what happens when it’s God who changes these plans for us; often to something completely unexpected, yet also what we were intentionally created for. Sometimes this is a call to extraordinary leadership and a major revolution, as it was for Moses (and a few of the people whose faces are staring down on me right now). And other times we just need to look around from where we already are to see what God is calling us to.

Biblical Context:
Moses’ first direct encounter with God occurs at a crucial point in Israel’s and Christianity’s history. God is setting apart the Israelite people to be a “nation of priests” through which to bring salvation to all humanity. However, first God must rescue Israel from the oppression of Egypt. At this point they have been enslaved to and oppressed by Egypt for 400 years, and have only heard rumors about the God of their ancestors. Now, God is going to take them out of Egypt in a frightening demonstration of power and will give them a land of their own to prosper from. Here they are to become that “nation of priests” through which the world is saved. Later, through Christ, that rescue from sin and call to God’s work is expanded to all of us.

At this point, Moses has already had quite a journey of his own. Due to the oppression of Egypt, he was supposed to be killed as an infant; but instead was rescued and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter and enjoyed a life of privilege. Recently, we can see Moses’ own passion for his people when he defends and Israelite in a fight and ends up killing an Egyptian. Moses was scared and fled to the desert, and it in this state of fear and hiding that God confronts Moses to the task h was designed for.

After the powerful display of the burning bush and God describing Himself as the God of Moses’ ancestors, the first thing God reveals is His concern for His suffering and oppressed people. God has heard them “crying out” and “Knows their suffering” (3:7). His action and plan is driven by His care and concern for His people. God intends to use Moses in a significant way to bring this plan about.

Moses responds to God’s call by asking, “Who am I?” (3:11). I can completely sympathize with Moses here. I asked that same question as I discerned God’s call for me to ministry, and even to speak today. I love studying and preaching God’s word, and am being prepared by God to do it, but I can’t help but ask, “Who am I?” to do so. God’s response is to promise to be with Moses, and in truth He already has been. Though Moses doesn’t feel prepared, his upbringing in Pharaoh’s house will undoubtedly serve him later.

Next, God reveals the divine name to Moses. The “I am” in the perfect tense emphasizes God’s eternal nature. And God’s actions here demonstrate God’s power, compassion and detailed plan for eternity. God then gives Moses signs to show the people that he is sent by God, but Moses again protests by saying he is a poor speaker. I love God’s response. “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (4:11-12)

Basically God is asking who knows Moses better, Moses or God? We can see that Moses’ resistance is ridiculous, futile and childish, but our initial reaction is often the same. Who knows us and what we were created for better? Us or God?

God is using Moses to rescue Israel and lead them to God’s call for them. In Christ, God rescued all of us from sin and death, and is leading us to hear his call, too.

There are two different people you can identify with here.

If you are a Christian, then you can identify with Moses. God had specific plans for Moses and Israel, and still does for all of us. If you’re a Christian you have a ministry. This doesn’t mean we’re all pastors, but it does mean God created all of us for a specific purpose. I pray that you ask what God is calling you to and that you actively seek it out.

I can personally identify with Moses a little bit. The entire direction of his life shifted at this point, as mine has done recently. When I entered college, I just wanted to be a business student, and a business owner. I really thought that was what I was meant for, and I couldn’t see myself adding majors or changing career paths. The last thing from my mind was preaching and full time ministry. Now I’m here. I’m studying theology too, and discerning that the gifts, interests and experiences I had thought were leading me toward business were really leading me to ministry. If you consider yourself a Christian I really urge you to pray and just ask God what His plan for you is. Ask God to use you for the purpose you were designed for, and prepare for the unexpected call that perfectly fits who you are.

If you’re not a Christian, or you have fallen away you can identify with the Israelites. God has a plan for you too, and it involves your rescue and salvation. God is calling you to the eternal life for later, as well as the perfect relationship and Christian hope for now. We don’t even see the Israelites act or speak in this passage, and that’s the point. They didn’t know God was working toward saving them, and you don’t yet either. Even before the Israelites knew who God was, God was concerned about their suffering and working to rescue them. God is preparing a way to reach you, and I ask that you be watching for it and seek it out. Even if you don’t believe in God, I ask you to ask Him to reveal Himself to you and to rescue you.

Overall: God has a beautiful plan to rescue the world, and He’s calling you to be a part of it.