Moses encounters God at Mount Sinai in a burning bush. God tells Moses he has seen the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt and sends Moses to lead them out of Egypt. However, Moses doubts that the Israelites will believe he was sent by God. God then transforms Moses' staff into a snake and back again, telling Moses to use this sign to prove God has appeared to him. God reassures Moses he will be with him.

1. Exodus 3:1-15
• One day Moses was tending the flock of his
father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.
He led the flock far into the wilderness and
came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There
the angel of the LORD appeared unto him
in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush.
Moses stared in amazement. Though the
bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn
up.… I am the God of your father – the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob….

2. Exodus 3:1-15
• “I have certainly seen the oppression of My
people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of
distress because of their harsh slave drivers.
Yes, I am aware of their suffering.… Now go,
for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must
lead My people Israel out of Egypt ... “I will
be with you. And this is the sign that I am
the One who has sent you.” But Moses
protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and
tell them, “The god of your ancestors has
sent me to you, they will ask me, “What is
His name?”

3. Exodus 3:1-15
• Then what should I tell them?” God replied
to Moses, “I Am Who I AM. Say this to the
people of Israel: ’I Am has sent me to you.”
God also said to Moses, “Say this to the
people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your
ancestors - the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to
you. This is My eternal name, My name to
remember for all generations.’

4. Exodus 4:1-5
• But Moses protested again, “What if
they won’t believe me or listen to
me? What if they say, ‘The LORD
never appeared to you?” Then the
LORD asked him, ‘What is that in
your hand?’ ‘A shepherd’s staff,’
Moses replied.’

5. Exodus 4:1-5
• “Throw it down on the ground,” the
LORD told him. So Moses threw down
the staff, and it turned into a snake!
Moses jumped back. Then the LORD
told him, ‘Reach out and grab its tail.’ So
Moses reached out and grabbed it, and
it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in
his hand.

6. Exodus 4:1-5
• “Perform this sign,” the LORD told
him. “Then they will believe that the
LORD, the God of their ancestors, the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob, really has
appeared to you.”

7. What Is That In Your Hand?
1. Despise not the little thing.
• Exodus 4:1-2 But Moses protested again,
“What if they won’t believe me or listen
to me? What If they say, “The LORD
never appeared to you?” Then the LORD
asked him, “What is that in your hand?”
• Acts 3:6 But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any
silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you
what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ
the Nazarene, get up and walk!’

8. What Is That In Your Hand?
2. Look beyond what we have.
• Exodus 4:2-3 Then the LORD asked
him, “What is that in your hand?” ‘A
shepherd’s staff,’ Moses replied.
“Throw it down on the ground,” the
LORD told him. So Moses threw down
the staff, and it turned into a snake!
Moses jumped back.
• Zechariah 4:6 It is not by force nor by
strength, but by My Spirit, says the
LORD of Hosts.

9. What Is That In Your Hand?
3. Only be willing.
• Exodus 4:10, 13 But Moses pleaded with
the LORD, “O LORD, I’m not very good with
words. I never have been, and I’m not now,
even though you have spoken to me. I get
tongue-tied, and my words get
tangled….”LORD, please! Send anyone
else.”
• 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD
run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf those
whose heart is loyal to Him.

10. What Is That In Your Hand?
4. A greater promise.
• Exodus 3:12,14 God answered, “I will be
with you. And this is the sign that I am
the One who has sent you; When you
have brought the people out of Egypt,
you will worship God at this very
mountain… I Am Who I AM. Say this to
the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to
you.”
• Luke 15:31 His father said to him, “Look
dear son, you have always stay by me,
and everything I have is yours.”