Summary - At the Burning Bush, God revealed Himself to Moses and called Moses to the task of speaking to Pharaoh and then leading the people to freedom, and ultimately to the land of promise. Moses was not willing at first, but in this section of Scripture we see Moses take the first steps of obedience to do what God has called him to do. By the time he returns home to Midian, his heart has changed and he starts taking the first steps to do what God has commanded. He obtains permission to leave, and also finds he now has freedom to re-enter Egypt. He takes his family, and the Rod of God - both are evidence that Moses has yielded his life to God's plan and has let go of what was his and placed is all in the hand of God to direct and control. As Moses takes his first steps, God meets him and gives more instructions - further revelation of what Moses must do, what God will do, and how Pharaoh will respond. In the end, it will be Pharaoh's firstborn son, or God's firstborn - Israel. God will prevail, and Pharaoh will pay a heavy price for his stubbornness.
But, Moses first steps are not all easy. When we make the commitment to follow God and surrender all to Him, it is then that God will often confront us with sin in our life - things we have ignored, or not dealt with. Here God confronts Moses with his failure to keep the one mark of the covenant that had been given to the Children of Abraham - circumcision. Moses had failed responsibility to circumcise his firstborn, and God was about to kill him as a result. Quick thinking on the part of Zipporah resolves the situation. But it is clear that God holds one standard - the same for Moses and for Pharaoh. Stubbornness and disobedience will end in judgment, unless there is repentance and redemption.
Finally, Moses is united with his brother Aaron as a mark of God keeping His promise to Moses. Moses shows, and tells all that God revealed to him. Then, the two of them meet with the leaders of Israel and share with them all that God has said regarding His love, care, and concern for them. They accept the words with faith - believing all that was told them. Their response to the revelation of God's care is that they bow in worship! Moses takes his first step in obedience to God, and he meets with success and results far beyond what he had expected! God is at work, and He is working in the hearts of His people!
God is calling us to follow and serve Him, just as He called Moses. And, like Moses, we may feel completely overwhelmed at the task! But, what is important is that we surrender to God and just take the first step, or steps. We do not need to accomplish everything today. All God is asking is that we follow Him today and walk in obedience to the things He is calling us to right now. As we take even tiny baby steps in the right direction, God will meet us, give us greater wisdom and insight, deal with issues in our life that are holding us back, send help to encourage us, and as we are faithful, we will soon find that things begin to happen! God begins to work, and our life will bear fruit for Him! People will be moved to greater faith, and His name will be praised and worshipped in a greater way! All, because we took the first steps in obedience!
Big Idea - Where do we start when we do not have great faith and the task before us seems so impossible? After all God's answers to Moses questions, Moses is still not convinced - not overflowing with faith and confidence this would work. So, how do you "step out in faith" when you just don’t have much faith? The only thing to be done is to just start - take the first step and God will meet you as you go! For Moses the taking the first steps meant - surrender, preparing and returning to Egypt, explaining everything to Aaron, and meeting with the Elders of Israel. As Moses took those steps, God met Him by giving assurance of a peaceful departure and safe return, gave him further details about how things would go with Pharaoh, confronted him about things in his life needed dealing with, sent Aaron to find him, gave the leaders faith and hope, and they in turn bow in worship.
