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A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon

Preaching Text: Exodus 3:7-15

This sermon begins a new preaching series called “Occupied With Greatness,” in which we will consider various aspects of God. The title is meant to help us consider what rival things occupy our lives and replace these things with true greatness, God himself. 

Any pursuit of God runs into some problems. One problem occurs when we create ideas about God that are not grounded in the truth.  This is actually a form of idolatry because we end up worshiping something other than the True God.  Another problem is God’s own holiness and our inadequacies as sinful people.  Moses felt this problem when he first met with God at the burning bush.  When God declared himself to Moses, “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6).  Thankfully, we are not left in that desperate condition of shame. 

God Is Always First and Initiates Salvation.

God condescends to tell Moses that his name, “I Am Who I Am” (v. 14).  This name is rendered Yahweh, when transliterated.  It is both a proper name and the verb “to be.”  God is communicating that he has always existed. He is always first.  “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1).   Still to this day, God is first and initiates. Amazingly, we see his rescue mission throughout the Bible and culminating in the ministry of Jesus.  We also see the incredible patience God has for sinful people.  Five times Moses resists God’s call before God gets angry at Moses reluctance to trust God’s responses.  Consider who God is and worship him accordingly.   

Taking It Home: Discuss the ways that God has demonstrated his initiative in your own life or family.  Even so-called “seekers” eventually come to see that God was seeking them all along.