So, the title for our next study in Exodus is "Fresh Starts and New Beginnings," Exodus 3:1-6.
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Moses was probably very thankful, after his murder and exile, that his life had become what it had become. He was no longer living the life of an exile. He was taking care of the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, who was a priest. He was a husband and a father. He must have been thinking that he had landed pretty well, and he had no expectation of what was about to happen. But the Bible is a narrative of "fresh starts and new beginnings" because it is a story of God's patient, forgiving, rescuing, transforming, and empowering grace. Moses' life was about to change, and that change is captured for us in six words, "and the angel of the LORD." God had placed his hand on Moses from birth, and he is still intending to use him.
Now, it is very clear that this angel of the Lord is not some random spiritual being. Remember, throughout Exodus, the pillar of fire is a sign of God himself, of his presence. It's God who has met Moses. Moses sees the bush burning and is intrigued because it's not consumed by the fire, so he goes over to see what's up. He had no idea that his life was about to change forever. God then speaks to Moses from the bush and tells Moses that he should take off his sandals because he was on holy ground.
When I think of this moment, I think of Peter on the shores of Galilee, thinking that his life as an apostle is over, going back to being a fisherman. But Jesus meets him on that shore, and everything changes. This moment before the burning bush is an identity moment for Moses. Who will he think he is? Will he continue to think of himself as the murderer-exile, this man now living in Midian? God is about to reorient the way Moses thinks about who he is and what his life is about. God reminds Moses of his true identity. It's not murderer, it's not exile, it's not shepherd.
No, his true identity is "descendant of Abraham," "covenant child," "child of promise." It's pretty amazing that before that burning bush, that bush that was not consumed, Moses hears the voice of God. And as he stands there, all of a sudden, he has a "fresh start and a new beginning." He has hope and a future. Again, not because of what he has done, but because of his identity as a child of the covenant, because of who he was chosen to be. So, it is with you and with me. If you are God's child, your identity is not your track record. You are a child of promise because everyone who is in Christ is a seed of Abraham, a recipient of God's great eternal promises!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. In terms of identity, how would you say you have typically described yourself in the past? What are the main factors that have led you to coming up with your identity-description? Would you say that you identify yourself in mostly negative or positive terms? Why?
2. Because we probably know the story and what God is about to do in Moses' life, why is getting his identity correct such a vital part of what's about to personally unfold for Moses?
3. How does knowing who you are as a child of God change the way you approach both the big and little things in life?
4. If you are in Christ, who does God say you are? Why is it so important to understand whose you are before knowing who you are?
For Younger Children:
1. What do you think the word "identity" means? Why is identity so important to human beings?
2. What do you think makes you and me valuable as people? Why do you think God values us so much? How can we know that God values us?
3. What is a child of God? Why do you think it matters to be a child of God? Why is the identity of "a child of God" the most important thing in the world?
For Older Children:
1. Why do you think our culture values the concept of "identity" so much right now?
2. What would you say your identity is if someone asked you to explain who you were to them?
3. As you think about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, why do you think whose you are is more important to define than who you are?
You have permission to print, repost, share, distribute, and translate this resource as long as you credit Paul Tripp as the teacher, do not charge for this resource, and do not alter the content in any way. If you require an exception or special permission, please email Info@PaulTripp.com.
