(10-03-07) Prayer 3 – Moses’ Prayer at the Burning Bush

Ex. 3:1 – 4:18

Moses, born to Hebrew parents, hidden in a basket, rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter, raised as a prince of Egypt, found himself at 80 years of age, a poor shepherd in a barren land.

Having fled because he had killed an Egyptian task-master to protect a fellow Hebrew, Moses had settled into his new life, and for 40 years had been a shepherd.

Now, God needed him. He was the right man for an important job, but Moses wasn't so sure. This dialog between God and Moses is a kind of prayer that expresses a series of doubts by Moses and reassuring promises by God.

What Can We Learn?
1. What is the point of the number of times it is said, “God said to Moses,” or “Moses said to God”?

2. Dialog between a person praying and God who responds is an important concept about prayer.

3. Doubt in Moses was a driving force in his dialog with God. Instead of hindering prayer, perhaps we should allow our doubts to drive us to God.

More About Prayer for Doubts
1. Doubt has been a human characteristic since Adam and Eve in the Garden. Their doubt caused Eve to dialog with Satan instead of God.

2. Doubt often stems from our feeling of personal inadequacy, as id did with Moses. But, God is in the equipping business of enabling us to serve Him.

3. Doubt may also stem from being unconvinced about the possibility of success. But, God doesn’t fail.

4. Doubt may also relate to how we think others may respond. But, God does not ask us to respond for others, just to serve Him.

Questions to Ponder
1. Do you ever have doubts about serving God?

2. How can we “dialog” with God?

3. In what specific ways do you think God may have challenged you by providing opportunities to serve Him, but which you have resisted?

4. What talents or abilities do you have that you’ve never used specifically in serving God?

5. Can you name at least one ability, never (or seldom) used for God, that you might commit to His service?