Exodus 3:11-17: The Great I Am
Theological Proposition/Focus:
Homiletical Proposition/Application:
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 2 Body
- 2.1 We serve and worship the eternally immutable self-existent God (Exodus 3:11-17)
- 2.1.1 Unlike a genie, God does not serve us, we serve God (11-12).
- 2.1.2 Unlike anything we know, God is pure actuality (12-14).
- 2.1.3 Unlike anything we have experienced, God is immutable (15-17).
- 2.1.4 MTR: Consider the three contrasts above and decide which of these is the hardest for you to put into practice.
- 2.2 God, the most formidable word ever spoken (Psalm 8).[1].
- 2.3 Genuine belief in the Great I Am will change you
- 2.1 We serve and worship the eternally immutable self-existent God (Exodus 3:11-17)
- 3 Conclusion:
Introduction:
Fundamental to our faith is the doctrine of God. We are going to spend several weeks on the doctrine of God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Article 2 states
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
Setting the Stage:
Image: Talking about remodeling Emily will quickly tell people not to trust in my carpentry.
A few weeks ago Emily and I were talking with another family that had just put on offer on a house. The family was talking about some of the home improvements they wanted to do. Now understand, I don't mind plumbing, electrical or drywall, but I am terrible with a saw. I cannot do carpentry. So when the family mentioned putting in a wood floor, Emily was quick to remind everyone in the room not to place their confidence in my help. She reminded me that the handles on the cabinets at her mom's house are distinctly not straight in line 20 years later... You see, if you are planning to tackle something new and challenging and someone offers to help, you probably want to make sure they are qualified to help and won't just be a liability.
Before Exodus 3:11-17 God calls on Moses to undertake an impossible task.
God asks Moses to go against the might Egyptian empire and lead the people of Israel out of slavery. The task must have seemed impossible. The question that Moses asks in verse 17 is a natural question to the impossible task that God has presented.
Body
We serve and worship the eternally immutable self-existent God (Exodus 3:11-17)
Unlike a genie, God does not serve us, we serve God (11-12).
Unlike anything we know, God is pure actuality (12-14).
Unlike anything we have experienced, God is immutable (15-17).
MTR: Consider the three contrasts above and decide which of these is the hardest for you to put into practice.
God, the most formidable word ever spoken (Psalm 8).[1].
God's majesty is beyond comprehension (1-2).
God's creation is just the tip of the iceberg (3).
Man's significance is only through God (4-8).
MTR: Take a moment and visualize God's majesty as best you can.
Genuine belief in the Great I Am will change you
There are four responses to God's Existence.
Belief in God leads to humility.
Conclusion:
Image:
- ↑ Tripp, Paul David. Do You Believe?: 12 Historic Doctrines to Change Your Everyday Life. Crossway, 2021.
