Mystery: it's hard to hear God when you don't believe

When he calls us, he doesn't applaud our gifts he affirms his presence.

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:4 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.3.4.NIV

We see many signs in life, but WHEN we go to look... God speaks to us.

Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:6 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.3.6.NIV

God is present, alive and so are people who have passed on. Abraham had been dead along time, but God says present tense, I am the God. Jesus taught us the significance of this.

Encounters with God in the Bible results in awe and fear.

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:12 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.3.12.NIV

God gave a future sign, a promise. He still does this today. Jesus said come to me and I will give you rest.

“And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.
Exodus 3:21 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.3.21.NIV

God works through all people, even nonbelievers.

God gives us personal miracles first, gives to us to authenticate himself in our lives

“This,” said the Lord , “is so that they may believe that the Lord , the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”
Exodus 4:5 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.4.5.NIV

God is the creator of communication:
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord ?
Exodus 4:11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/exo.4.11.NIV

It's hard to hear God when we don't believe

God gave Moses Devine speech therapy

Message:
- Be committed to dealing with your own insecurity, inferiority and uncertainty. Don't fear failure, step out for God. Failure is a good teacher. Moses excuses were not humility it was inferiority. Don't feed your mind with uncertainty of tomorrow, the "what-if" monster. Imaginary scenarios prevent us from seeing God's promises and command. It's not humility, uncertainty occurs when we are overly focused on ourselves.
- When God wants us, he doesn't applaud our gifts he affirms his presence.

Be certain it's God's voice. The Bible will never lead you astray (unless you read it in the flesh or the devil twists it or the world twists it with clever lyrics). God's word is spiritually discerned. The Holy Spirit is our counselor, guide.

God doesn't call us to be awesome,  he calls us to tell others about him.

Take the hard road of discipline

Moses, first mediator, Jesus the final mediator. Moses argued with God, but Jesus willingly gave himself fully to God's will. Moses points us to Jesus.