I remember vividly a day during school recess when I was about seven. Someone had broken my paper-thin heart and I was in tears. Not wanting anyone to know, I curled myself up like a cat and hid inside a tractor tire that was partially buried on the playground. Thankfully, a friend a year older than myself talked me into coming out. 
Have you ever been good at hiding? 

I'm not just talking about when you were little. What about now?

Do you hide from your past? From responsibility? From perceived danger? Do you hide for fear of failure? 

Moses spent part of his life in hiding. It wasn't his fault to begin with. Because of an order given by Pharaoh to kill all born males, his mother hid him for three months at which point "she could hide him no longer" (Exodus 2:3). 

We know she then placed him in a basket where he was retrieved by attendants of Pharaoh's daughter. Moses, soon after, became her son. 

It's years later, when Moses is grown, that we find him hiding again. This happens on the tail of Moses seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. 

Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. (Ex. 2:12)

The next day Moses is found out and naturally he's fearful. Pharaoh has heard the news and wants Moses dead. Moses flees, seeking security, and ends up in Midian. 

You know this story. He marries Zipporah. They have a son which Moses names Gershom. He then comments "I have become an alien in a foreign land" (Ch 2:27). He intentionally geographically "settles in" where he says he doesn't belong. Kind of sounds like hiding doesn't it?

A long time passes. The Israelites are groaning in enslavement while Moses is still in Midian tending to his father-in-law's flock. One day as he and his flock approach Mt Horeb (the mountain of God), we recall that famous "burning bush". Within it was an angel who appeared to Moses in flames of fire. 

Moses, in curiosity it seems, approaches the bush so as to see why it isn't burning up. 

The Lord then calls him by name twice and Moses answers "Here I am" (By the way, this is the complete opposite of hiding). God tells him to stop where he is and take off his shoes. He tells Moses that he stands on holy ground and then proceeds to explain "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" (v. 6). 

Remember what Moses does next? 

He hides again covering his face. Only this time he doesn't escape to a covert place. He's simply too scared to look upon the glory of God. 

God explains the situation in Egypt and commissions Moses to bring the Israelites out. 

You would expect Moses to hide at this point, being that he's so good at it. But he doesn't. 

He DOES bring up his inadequacy in speaking and seems to argue with God for a spell. Even after God promises his presence, Moses begs "Please send someone else to do it" (Ch 4:13). 

But he doesn't hide. This is a turning point. 

Focusing on what we know about God, one might think Moses' "Yes! I'll do it" should have been uncomplicated. However, Moses in his humanity has a lot of "buts".

 "But I hate public speaking... But why do you want me to do this when Pharoah isn't going to listen anyway?" 

Moses knew beforehand that Pharaoh wouldn't respond accordingly to his "Let God's people go" speech. God told him that Pharaoh wasn't going to listen. He also hadn't forgotten the bad terms upon which he left Egypt years ago. 

Did Moses exemplify courage under fire?

No matter how afraid and opposed Moses was to the idea of this "free the people plan" (starring "inadequate him"), he obeyed. Moses may have covered his face in fear, but at the same time he faced God. 

He persistently and courageously obeyed. 

With "faltering lips" and Pharaoh's lack of cooperation, and ultimately Pharaoh's threat, Moses (along with Aaron)...
 "did just as the LORD commanded". 

(Upon reading Ch. 7 in Exodus, you'll find this phrase used four times! May we be so obedient.)

God, faithful to his promises, stayed with Moses. He lead his people out of bondage using fire at night to give them light. That same light that guides and protects is ours. His holy fire is our courage. 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

What enemy fire are you hiding from in fear? 

The name Moses comes from the Hebrew verb "to draw out". God is drawing us out of our hiding place for a greater rescue. What has God already rescued you from?

What is God calling you, to have courage to do now? Are you arguing with him?

Are you facing the fire that seeks to destroy you, with God's fire (a fire that refines you)? Moses approached the burning bush. How do you seek God's holy fire? 

Through obedience, a people was saved, Moses' character was refined, and God's due glory was given. 

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise him... The Lord is a warrior. Exodus 15:2-3

God please help us to come out of hiding to obey. Help us to keep saying "yes" even when we're afraid. Help us to remember that you are our hiding place as we face the fiery darts of the enemy. May we trust you to strengthen us for the task. You desire to refine our character. May we give you glory before we see the results. May we never be forgetful of your work and your power to save us. Amen.