August 31, 2008 Genesis 3:1-15
“Daring to Be Called”
So, here’s how the story goes: Moses after having killed an Egyptian, is in exile in Midian. He takes a wife, literally, and they have a son Gershom. In the meanwhile, the relatively good King of Egypt dies and a new and mean King takes over. The Hebrews become more oppressed and burdened than ever. God hears the groaning and decides to do something about it.
Along comes shepherd Moses who has led his father-in-law’s sheep to a remote area and up a portion of Mount Horeb. Suddenly Moses spots a bush with flames which somehow are not actually burning the bush. Moses decides to investigate this most unusual sight at which point God calls out to him by name, twice. Moses responds, “Here am I.”
God explains to Moses that he is being called to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian Bondage, thus triggering multiple attempts by Moses to get out of it. This reminds me of the excuses we talked about last week that people offer when invited to come to church. First Moses says, “Who am I?” Next, Moses tries another approach: “OK, let’s say I try this. How am I going to explain this to the Pharoah that I just had a conversation with a bush? How shall I identify you?” God responds, “I AM WHO I AM.”
Now God ups the ante. He says to Moses, “I want you to meet with the elders of Israel and tell them that with your help I am going to lead you out of Egypt and into your own new land, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” This will happen after I convince the Pharoah that you should be set free and in so doing, all your women will receive great gifts of gold and silver.”
Moses tries another approach. “OK, let’s say I announce this plan to everyone, but what if they all say I have lost my mind? How can I prove to them that I have really spoken with God?” God then equips Moses with a little razzle dazzle, a rod that can become a snake and water that turns into blood.
Moses, however, is still not buying this. The call is more than he can handle-tell everybody to get ready to leave Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery, convince the Pharoah to let them go? I don’t this so.
Moses once more tries to dodge the call: “God, I would like to help you out here, but I’m really not your guy. You see, I am not an eloquent speaker-I am just a shepherd. Surely you can find a better pitch man for the job.”
At this point, God is beginning to get a little annoyed. “All right, then. I’ll tell you what,” says God, “Your brother Aaron, will help you. He’s a great speaker and the people and the Pharoah will listen to him, but you will still have to take the lead.”
So the deal is finally struck. Moses accepts the call, but that’s not the end of it. God gives a final briefing as Moses heads out on his mission and throws in a real zinger: “Go talk to Pharoah and show off all those miracles I’ve given you and tell him that the time has come let my people go! And by the way, just to make this really interesting, I am going to harden Pharoah’s heart, so your job just got a whole lot more challenging!” I can hear the loud “gulp” and I can see the utter look of utter disbelief!
The Bible is full of people receiving a call from God. After Moses, Joshua gets the tap on the shoulder, followed by Samuel, Saul, Solomon, the prophets, Mary, the disciples, Paul and many more. God calling people to take on special assignments is a major theme of our Judeo Christian history.
So, the question is this: does God still call people today? And the answer is “yes!” God not only calls us into being, God calls us service. Last week we spoke about inviting people to come to church; that in and of itself is a calling. And the suggestion that you ask as many as 12 times? People seemed to like the concept. As a matter of fact, it kind of turned back on me if you will.
Last Sunday afternoon, I attended a concert by the same group of men who sang here on Memorial Day weekend. Mike and Jason both sing in the group and Cathy is the accompanyist. Jason invited me to sing with the group-that was once. Then Michael invited me to sing. Unwisely, I commented that “that was twice.” Mike smiled. After the concert, as I was walking back to my car much to my amazement, Mike had obviously spoken to the other guys because they all started to invite me to join the group. I picked up my pace. I tried to avoid eye contact. I may have even been running when the last one shouted out to me just before I got into the car, “I would like you to sing with us!” As I turned the key for my getaway, I mumbled ‘That was number eight. Who created this dumb rule anyway?”
We are actually called to call. The calling by God continues in each and every generation. In fact, I think God is more inclined to speak through us today than He is through a burning bush. After all, we’re too skeptical these days. Computers like those at Disney World can create some pretty convincing artificial sights. I’m still having flashbacks from the Dinosaur ride. So, many calls are coming through us.
Have you ever considered that? Have you ever considered the idea that God is calling on people to do things to bring in a new age of justice and peace for all and that the call might be coming through us and we don’t even know it? Your support of this new church is inspiring others to come. Your enthusiasm for our worship and our ministries speaks to others and directly or indirectly invites them to join us. God wants this congregation to grow and you have been called here to help make that happen. God’s call is just as alive as it was in the day of Moses. The call both comes to us and through us; never doubt that for a moment!
When I was about the age of our oldest grandchild, Austin, the one with whom Diane and I just went to Disney World and who was here in worship on the 17th, I remember one Sunday after church going through some of the pews helping to pick up communion cups. It just seemed like the right thing to do and for me it was no big deal. I just wanted to be helpful and I wanted to be needed as well.
As I approached the middle of the next pew, there was a woman still sitting there almost as if she was waiting for me. In fact, she was. She had something to say that to this day I remember clear as a bell: “Jimmy, I think you should become a minister.”
I remember just smiling. I really did not know what to say. As it turns out, I didn’t need to say anything. She had delivered the call.
I had no idea who she was, but she knew me. I never saw her again. I don’t know what happened to her. I don’t even know if she was a member of the church or not.
But, what I do know is that that this single sentence changed my life. God had called me through this anonymous voice and although it took me years to figure it all out, I eventually did. I worked through all the rebelliousness of the teenage years, went off to Rutgers University to seek other shores, headed north to Bangor Seminary, married Diane, started a family and at age 27, was ordained into the Christian ministry.
I have been called. You have been called. Through you, God is calling others. Some of this is dramatically clear to us; some of it remains a mystery. But it happens and it’s real.
May God’s call bring many names and faces to this new church that His glory and love may be more fully revealed to a world in desperately in need of reconciliation and hope.
AMEN
