When called by God to lead the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, Moses asked who am I? The answer was God’s chosen, prepared, and empowered leader.
You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.
Who am I?
Exodus 3:11-20
- God’s chosen servant to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt
- Is our main character in today’s account from scripture
- When God calls him to perform this task
- He begins to ask God some questions about his qualifications
- Moses may not be altogether different from us
- If we know Christ as Savior and He gives us an assignment
- We sometimes wonder why He has chosen us to do it
- And we may ask what this servant asked
- “Who am I?”
- His question is our theme of the day
- From Exodus 3:11-20
- We begin this account with Moses
- He has been delivered by God from some difficult circumstances
- Because God has an assignment for him
- His people, the Hebrews, are in bondage to Egypt
- This is where Moses grew up, in Pharaoh’s house
- He has observed the cruelty and injustice of Israel’s bondage
- Even taking matters into his own hands, when he kills a violent Egyptian master
- God has also seen the affliction of His people
- He has a plan to deliver them and fulfill His promises to their father Abraham
- We find Moses in the story because God has chosen to use him
- His life on the backside of the desert is interrupted by a burning bush
- And this bush that is on fire, but will not burn, is God’s tool to reach him
- His task – to bring the children of Israel out – is now clear…
Exodus 3:11
11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
- Fair question
- We may have been wondering the same thing
- Yet God prepares and chooses whoever He will to do His work
- He rarely chooses those of great intellect
- Or those of great personal charisma
- And perhaps rarely chooses those “everyone else” would have chosen
- But God has His reasons
- It seems a question like this could be taken two ways
- A simple curiosity (motivated by wonder)
- Or a questioning of God’s wisdom
- Well, we shouldn’t question God’s wisdom
- It is not clear exactly what Moses is doing here
- Either way, God provides reassurance…
Exodus 3:12
12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
- God will be with Moses every step of the way, that is certain
- Whatever he is required to do, he will be equipped to do it by the power and presence of God
- This remains true for God’s followers today
- He goes with us to the ends of the earth
- And Moses is reassured that they will be brought out
- That they will be delivered from bondage
- This should have been a great comfort
- And seen as a great victory
- This is a really important detail to remember
- Particularly in light of the next question…
Exodus 3:13
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
- The authority by which Moses would claim to do this thing was important
- God’s name always carries authority
Exodus 3:14
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
- The One calling upon Moses to do this thing was Jehovah
- The self-existent one
- He had no beginning and will have no end
- He is the King and Lord over all
- The One True God
- The God that had revealed Himself to Abraham
- Making a covenant with Him
- This is the God who chose Israel for His own
- Who made promises to them
- Who always keeps His promises
- The One who has not forgotten them in their bondage
- Who is always watching
- Seeing every injustice
- Every abuse
- Every tear that is shed in their time of difficulty and pain
- This is the God Moses must proclaim unto them…
Exodus 3:15
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
- This was not just any non-descript God
- This was Israel’s God
- The One True God
- This is the faithful God that has never failed Israel
- And they must trust Him in the next part of the plan for their departure…
Exodus 3:16-17
16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Jehovah reiterates the promise given to their father Abraham
- This promise of a land
- He was not uncaring
- In fact it was His compassion (and His promise) that was motivating this exodus
- And he had good things in store for His people
- Aren’t you glad He is the author of all good things?
Exodus 3:18-20
18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
- God’s will must be done
- He has the power to make anything so
- People may rebel
- They may fight
- Mighty kings may think they know better
- But God’s will shall be done
- Who is Moses to be the leader in God’s plan for Israel
- No one
- But because of “I AM” someone
- A partner in the work
- By God’s choosing
- And by God’s power
- Who are we to do the work God has called you to do?
- No one
- But someone if God empowers us to do it
- And He will
- What is it?
- Learn from His word
- Then go forth in obedience
- Then, amazing things can happen