Micro-Church Week 34

As we have started out series "Just a little talk with Jesus", we will be looking at encounters with Jesus. It is amazing to watch these brief encounters lead to life-change in the people who had interactions with Jesus.

During this series, our Micro-Church gatherings will be discussing moments when God was speaking to people prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. Consider this introductory verse in Hebrews:

Hebrews 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

God has been speaking all along. In the upcoming weeks, we will take a look at how these Old Testament men and women heard from God. For today, let's look at a conversation between Moses and God.

Exodus 3:1–12 (ESV)

1 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. 2 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. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 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.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 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. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

What do you notice about God in this passage?

What do you notice about Moses in this passage?

What do you notice about Israel as a whole in this passage?

Verse 7 contains such a powerful statement: "I know their sufferings,"

• God has always been very aware of the condition of his people. That was true then and now. The New Testament writer of Hebrews says of Jesus:

Hebrews 4:15–16 (NLT)

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

In closing tonight, be reminded that Jesus is aware, and concerned and understands the challenges that you face. The writer of Hebrews says that because of this reality, we have the privilege to come BOLDLY to the throne of God. When we do, we stand there receiving mercy and grace.

What in your life do you need God's mercy and grace for? Pray and believe together as we experience God moving in our Micro-Church!