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The Call of Moses

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The Call of Moses (Exodus 3: 1-22, 4: 1-17)

Historical Background for the Passage:
The book of Exodus is the crucial Old Testament book concerning Israel's beginning and early years as a nation. The Exodus, meaning way out or departure, is the impressive liberation of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, under the guidance of Moses. Throughout Exodus we are introduced to a God who is the Lord and Savior of his people. Exodus covers a crucial period in Israel's early history as a nation. Most conservative scholars believe the Hebrews left Egypt about 1440 B.C. Some believe it took place much later, around 1280 B.C. About two-thirds of the book describes Israel's experiences during the two years after this date (Sanford, 1996). This was the period when Israel traveled through the wilderness toward Mt. Sinai, and received instructions from God through Moses, as he met with God on the mountain.
Summary and Analysis of Passage:
Moses, while tending his sheep in the desert near Mt. Horeb, comes across a burning bush and thinks to himself “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up” (NIV, Exodus 3: 3). When the Lord sees that Moses has come over to look, God calls to him from the bush, Moses approaches the bush God tells him that the ground he is standing on is holy, and he should remove his sandals. He then proceeds to instruct Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites from bondage. Moses has fears that no one will believe him, and expresses his doubts to God. God then reassures Moses that he will succeed and that the Israelites will believe that he has been sent by God the Almighty. Moses is still reluctant to go to Egypt, in spite of God’s assurance; so God demonstrates miraculous acts by turning Moses’ stick into a snake, and his skin to leprosy. God also promises that if the Israelites still do not believe him that

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