Reading: Exodus 3:1-15
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. 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. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
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.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 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. 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. 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. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
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.”
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?”
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.’”
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.
SERMON: “Is God Calling You”
The parish selection group for a new priest was having difficulty making a decision. One member of the group, who was admittedly tired of the whole process, offered one last letter of introduction from a candidate. She read: “To the parish selection group: It is my understanding that you have a vacancy and I would like to apply for the position. I can’t say that I preach too well. In fact, I tend to stutter when I speak. I do have a lot of different experiences I could share with you, since I am over 75 years old. I have only just recently had an encounter with God and, despite my initial resistance to the idea, I heard a Voice which told me personally that I was the one to do the ministry for you. One never knows when God will appear right before your very eyes. As far as people skills go, I do tend to lose my temper every once in a while. I also tend to want things done my way, and can get violent if it’s not taken care of right away. Once I even killed somebody. But since I know you are gracious people, I know you will believe me when I say that’s all behind me now. I intend on showing up there in a few weeks to lead you into a brighter future. Although I was reluctant at first to work with you, I still feel called to be with you nonetheless.”
The group member glanced up at the rest of the group. “Well, what do you think? Can this person be our leader or not?”
The rest of the group was aghast. Have an old, arrogant, temperamental, obviously neurotic, ex-murderer as their priest? Was this group member crazy? Who had such colossal nerve? Who had signed the application? The group member eyed them all keenly before she answered, “It’s signed, ‘Moses.'”
One has to admit that Moses did not sound like a likely candidate to receive a call from God. He didn’t seem to have “the right stuff.” Isn’t it amazing that God doesn’t require the same qualifications for a job that we would? Is it possible God is calling you to some kind of ministry? What can we learn from Moses’ call to ministry that might help us discern if God is calling us?
One: God tends to call us out of the ordinary circumstances of our everyday routines.
Moses had been minding his own business, tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, when he encountered God for the first time. One could not say that Moses was actively looking for some kind of encounter with God.
Moses was tending sheep, not out looking for some mountaintop experience. Moses did not intentionally go on a spiritual retreat to experience God. God was the one who made it possible for Moses to be at the right place at the right time.
God’s presence arose out of Moses’ mundane world. God wanted Moses’ attention. How would you feel if something at your workplace or home started glowing red-hot yet did not burn up?
Then you can probably imagine how Moses felt when he saw a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. When God is calling you, God first needs to get your attention.
It may not necessarily be as dramatic as a burning bush which attracts your attention, but it will be something else that catches you off-guard. When our defences are down, that’s when the holy can get through to us. I can only speak from my own experience. After I had tried to put off God’s calling it was only through soul searching and confirmation by selection processes that my calling was indeed a call to the priesthood. You may be called to a different kind of ministry, depending on the gifts and graces God has given you. You may be called to be a care-giver, a greeter, a welcome to newcomers.
But the question remains Is God calling you? Is it possible that God is trying to get your attention?
Two: when God calls us, God wants to establish a relationship with us.
God told Moses that he was the God of his ancestors – the God of his father, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. It is possible that Moses, since he was brought up in Pharaoh’s household, did not know about God or about his ancestors. God wanted Moses to not only know about Him but also to know Him personally.
It is essential that we know God personally when we answer God’s call.
There will be those who question our call, question our motives, question why we do the things we do. If we do not have that sense of being personally called, then we will be easily shaken from going in the direction God wants us to go.
Knowing that God is in our heart gives us the courage to risk, and to sometimes fail, because our ultimate goal is to please God not to please others. Sometimes our personal failures may lead to God’s successes.
From one who had to deal with a fear of public speaking before becoming a priest, I have to say I concur. When we accept God’s call, it transforms our whole perspective on life.
Is God calling you? Is it possible that God is speaking to your heart, desiring to have a relationship with you despite any imperfections you think might stand in the way?
Three: when God calls us, it is for a definite purpose.
God was very specific in what God expected Moses to do. God wanted Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of slavery. Just as God has a master plan, all of us who are called have a specific role in that master plan.
One could say that God’s master plan is one of salvation. God desires us to be free from whatever it is that enslaves us and causes us to suffer. The Israelites needed to be free from slavery in Egypt. We need to be free from the things that enslave us. We may call it sin or we may call it addiction, but whatever we call it, it is usually an enslavement of our own making. We find ourselves bound to persons or things that separate us from a relationship with our God.
Is God calling you? Do you have a sense of something specific that God is calling you to do?
Four: when God calls us, it is typical for us to object to it.
When Moses heard what God wanted him to do, he said, “What? Who? Me? Who am I that I should go do that?” Have you ever made excuses when it came to striving toward what God has called you to do?
Moses was a master at it. He couldn’t do what God wanted him to do because he was a nobody (Ex. 3:11). After all he was only a shepherd and no longer a family member of Pharaoh’s court.
He couldn’t do it because no one would know who God is. After all, he did not even know God’s name.
He couldn’t do it because no one would believe him. After all, who would believe a wanted murderer who said he talked to a bush that was burning but was not consumed by the flames?
He couldn’t do it because he could not speak very well (Ex. 4:10). After all, wouldn’t God need someone more eloquent to speak so that the words sounded like they were God’s words. How are you going to sound like God if you are slow of speech and slow of tongue?
He couldn’t do it because he needed assistance You’re probably getting the idea now that Moses tried all kinds of excuses, but God still wouldn’t ease up. God had an answer to all of Moses’ excuses. When God calls you, it is because God has chosen you rather than you having chosen God. Sometimes you have to follow the call because God will not ease up on you until you try.
Is God calling you? Are you making some excuse for not answering the call?
That is a typical response but it didn’t work for Moses. If Moses did not get peace of mind until he answered the call, why would you think God would be easier on you?
Five: when God calls us and we finally answer “Yes,” God reassures us.
Moses was reminded that God would always be with him or that God would send someone to help him or that God would provide what Moses needed to get the point across. God never said it would be easy. God promised to be present “Faith makes things possible not easy!”
Is God calling you to step out in faith, to say “Yes” to God when you would rather say, “No”?
Six: when God calls us, we are generally given a sign. Moses needed a sign because he needed to understand more about God and God’s purposes. God is not asking us to act impulsively. We are expected to test the call.
What does Scripture say about your sense of calling? How does it fit in with your understanding with God? How do you know for sure if it is really God who is calling you? These are all legitimate questions when we ponder our call to ministry. God often provided signs for the people in the Bible as proof of the call. The proof may not be as obvious as a rod that transforms into a snake, but we will have a sense of peace and well-being when we are following God’s call and abiding in God’s will.
Is God calling you? Amen
Prayers
Lord, listen to your children praying. Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying send us love, send us power, send us grace!
God of our days and our nights, of our waking and our sleeping, help us to consider the worth of what we do and what it is that we labour for. You know, O God, that we need daily bread, and through your Son you have even taught us to pray to you for it but you have also said that we do not live by bread alone – but by every word that comes from your mouth. Help us to be attentive to your word and to do all that you ask of us so that your kingdom might come and your will might be done here – in our midst.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Oh Lord, when we are with you, when we remember you and speak to you, our hearts are often filled with the desire to yield everything to you but in our incorrect ways we are often afraid to let go. We tend to cling to our judgements to share only those things we think we can afford and to dedicate to you only a small portion of what you have given us. We fear what might happen if we trust you too much. We are not sure we want to care for some people who we think that others might abuse us if we bless them and the others who take from us the very things we most require. Forgive us Lord and help us to remember you each day and especially to remember you when we are afraid, when we are angry, when we are anxious and to remember you and to give you thanks for the life you have given us – and for the life that you promise to those who deny themselves and take their crosses and follow you….
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Nurturing and caring God – we pray for your people in this world and for the mission you have called us to in this town and society within which we live:
We pray O God, for our children as they return this week to the schools of our community; may they be safe and may they learn good things through the examples of their teachers. Raise up for us too, O Lord, the teachers we need to provide Christian teaching and love and joy to the little ones who come to us, especially to those who often come with so little experience of what your love is like.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray O God, for the poor and the needy of our community and our world – there are those who go hungry this day those with no home, those with no family.
Open the heavens O Lord and the hearts of those who have more than they need for today – so that all may taste of your goodness. And make our churches a place of welcome and a source of hope….
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray, O God, for those who rule over our land and those who rule in other nations. May our governments seek the peace of your kingdom and desire the welfare of all lands. Especially move them to care for the weak, the sick, and the oppressed and to live with respect in creation. Bring to an end the way of war and of greed for power and wealth and create in all a clean heart and a holy will. And Help us to in our daily lives to show the same care we pray that they may have. Help us to speak against injustice and to practice acts of kindness and mercy.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Oh God, answer all our prayers. Help us to have your will and your mind in us, and to so live that we bring glory to your name. We ask through Christ Jesus who died that we might live and who lives so that no one may die.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
And so we seal our prayers together in the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples, the Lord’s prayer and so we pray…….
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever.
Amen
Revd Kevin. Priest at St.Wilfrid’s and St.Thomas’
