Imagine Moses, a shepherd on the backside of the desert, doing what he did every day: tending sheep. His life was ordinary, monotonous, a long way from the palace of Egypt.
Then, he saw it: a bush on fire, blazing, yet not burning up. It was illogical, impossible, and utterly captivating.
He turned aside to look, and it was in that moment of curiosity that his life, and the history of the world, changed forever.
This incredible scene in Exodus 3 is more than a nice Bible story. It is a powerful illustration of how God calls, equips, and sends his people—a pattern we see fulfilled in the Great Commission.
We can see four key lessons for us, the Church, as we fulfill the mission Christ has given us.
1. The Holiness of the Call (Exodus 3:5, Matthew 28:18)
When Moses drew near, a voice boomed out of the bush: "Do not come any closer... Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Why take off his sandals? It wasn't about the dirt on his feet; it was about the reverence of his heart.
He was standing on ground sanctified by God’s immediate presence.
Before God could send Moses, Moses first had to submit to God’s holiness.
The Great Commission is not a secular social program. It is a holy calling. Our mission must begin not with strategy, but with sanctification. Before we witness, we must pray; before we go, we must worship. We must take off the "sandals" of our own plans, our pride, and our self-reliance, and acknowledge that the work we are about to do—the work of making disciples—is being done on holy ground, in the presence of the Almighty God.
2. The Compassion that Compels (Exodus 3:7, Matthew 28:17)
After establishing the holiness of the ground, God reveals His heart to Moses. He says: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt and have heard them crying out... and I am concerned about their suffering."
The power that compels the Great Commission is not guilt, or obligation, or a desire for a bigger church. It is divine compassion. God is not distant; He is concerned. He sees the suffering—the loneliness, the despair, the brokenness, the lack of hope that plagues the world. He hears the crying out. And He is moved to rescue.
The Great Commission is not a human initiative; it is a divine response to human misery. When we engage in mission, we are simply joining in the flow of God's immense love for a hurting world. Do you see the brokenness around you as God sees it? If we are to fulfill the Great Commission, we must allow the compassion of God to fuel our mission.
3. The Divine Mandate: "I am Sending You" (Exodus 3:10, Matthew 28:19)
Then came the pivot, the moment Moses transitioned from observer to agent: "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." This is the very essence of the Great Commission. It is a direct mandate. It’s not "If you have time," or "If you feel qualified," or "If it’s convenient." It is a command: "Go."
Moses, like us, felt utterly unqualified. He immediately started listing his excuses: Who am I? (v. 11), What shall I say? (v. 13), They won’t believe me! (4:1).
But God’s calling is not based on Moses’ résumé. It’s based on God’s sovereign authority. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He started with His own authority: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go..." (Matthew 28:18-19). You are not sent by your church, your denomination, or your own good intentions. You are sent by the one who holds all authority. Your mission, your work for the Kingdom, is a Divine Mandate! You are sent to your Egypt: your neighborhood, your workplace, your family, your sphere of influence.
4. The Promise of God’s Presence (Exodus 3:12, Matthew 28:20)
How did God deal with Moses’ fear, his "Who am I?" (v. 11)?
He didn't give him a ten-step leadership course. He gave him one simple, powerful promise: "I will be with you." This is the power source for all mission work. This is the great equalizer between Moses the shepherd and Pharaoh the king. It is not Moses’ skill, but God’s presence.
And this is the very last word of the Great Commission, the promise that guarantees its success: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). We don’t go on this mission alone. We do not go in our own power, or with our own wisdom. We go because the God who called Moses from a burning bush, the God who holds all authority, the "I AM," has promised: I will be with you.
Conclusion: Turning Aside to the Fire
Moses and the disciples saw the impossible, turned aside to look, heard the call, and accepted the commission. Today, the Great Commission is not just for the missionary in a foreign land; it is for every believer. Your mission field is your life. The question is: Will you turn aside? Will you acknowledge the holiness of God’s presence, allow His compassion to compel you, accept the Divine Mandate, and trust in the absolute, unwavering promise that He will be with you?
The ground you stand on, the place where God has called you to serve, is holy ground. Go now, and be assured: He is with you.
