Who am I that I should go?
Exodus 3-4
CHCC: March 8, 2009
INTRODUCTION:
We all know that our past President from TX is now a private citizen, back in his home state. I heard that recently George W. Bush was waiting in an airport lobby when he noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long flowing white beard and flowing white hair. The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm.
Now, George W. knows enough about the Bible to figure this one out, so he approached the man and inquired, "Aren’t you Moses?" The man ignored George W. and stared at the ceiling. George W. positioned himself more directly in the man’s view and asked again, "Aren’t you Moses?" The man continued to ignore him and look away. George W. tugged at the man’s sleeve and asked once again, "Aren’t you Moses?" The man finally responded in an irritated voice, "Yes I am".
George W. asked him “Why don’t you want to talk to me?” Moses replied, "The last time I spoke to a Bush I had to spend forty years in the desert.”
Last week ….at the end of Exodus 2 … we left Moses in the desert of Midian, tending sheep. Exodus 3 opens 40 years later when the LORD speaks to Moses from a burning bush. Before we get into the amazing burning bush incident, let’s think about those 40 long years in the desert.
Soon after Moses arrived in Midian, he married a young woman named Zipporah. She was daughter to a man named Jethro who was called the Priest of Midian. We don’t know exactly what it meant to be a Priest at that time. But it is likely that this Priest played some part in preserving the knowledge of God. This Priest of Midian probably collected and preserved the history that had been passed down since Creation and that would eventually become the book of Genesis.
We call the first 5 books of the Bible the books of Moses. The palace education Moses received in Egypt would have prepared him for the scholarly task of writing these 5 books. During those 40 quiet years in Midian, Moses may have used scrolls the Priest of Midian had collected to write what we now call the book of Genesis.
It’s likely that the book of Genesis was based on at least 11 eyewitness accounts, which Moses may have combined into a single scroll with his own observations inserted into them. The most distinguishing phrase repeated in the book of Genesis is “These are the generations of…” In Hebrew the word translated “the generations of” is Toledoth.
This word appears 11 times. It probably indicates that what comes before the phrase was an eyewitness account from the person named. There were 11 separate eyewitness accounts of the generations of Adam, Noah, Sons of Noah, Shem, Terah, Ishmael and Isaac, and of Esau and Jacob.
If Genesis is actually a compilation of eyewitness accounts that were recorded and preserved by successive generations … then Genesis is as reliable as any ancient historical document can possibly be.
While Moses was living in Midian for 40 years, he married and had some children, he may have composed a scroll of Hebrew History that we now call Genesis, and he certainly herded a lot of sheep.
But one thing Moses probably never planned was that he would EVER go back to Egypt. After all, he had run for his life when he left Egypt. His own Hebrew brothers had rejected his leadership, and the Pharaoh was out to kill him. His first 40 years as a Prince of Egypt must have seemed a lifetime away.
Then, one ordinary day while Moses was herding the sheep, he turned aside to check out a bush that kept burning long after it should have burned out. When Moses heard a Voice call his name, he answered “uh… here I am…” The voice instructed him to take off his sandals … and then God introduced himself: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
There is no record that Moses had ever heard God’s voice before. But God had a lot to say to Moses now. He told Moses how deeply concerned He was about the misery of His people in Egypt and how He had decided that NOW was the time to rescue them. And then God concluded with this command: “So now, GO! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt!”
Stop and think how exciting this was for God! He had waited for over 400 years for this moment to arrive. And now, at last, the time had come to act. God had to be enthused! But Moses’ response was kind of a downer.
1. Who am I … ?
In Exodus 3: 11 Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
Keep in mind that Moses was now 80 years old. Maybe 80 for people back then wasn’t quite as old as it is now, but even so, it’s safe to say that Moses was no “spring chicken..’
When Moses said, Who am I that I should go? God’s answer was not what you might expect. God didn’t tell Moses, “Hey, Moses, don’t underestimate yourself. You’re really special! You were saved by the Princess and raised as a Prince. You have the best education available in the world. You are both a Hebrew AND an Egyptian. You’re perfect for the job!” God didn’t give Moses the typical pep talk: just “BELIEVE in Yourself and you can do anything!”
God didn’t focus on Moses at all. God simply said, I will be with you. Which led Moses to the next logical question. If I can do all this because You are with me … then Who are YOU?
2. Who are you … ?
Specifically, Moses said, “People are going to ask me WHICH God sent me. So … what is your Name?” This was a valid question when you consider the Egyptians had over 150 Gods --- and every one of them had a name as well as a physical representation. For example:
• Bastet - the beautiful Cat goddess
• Bat - the ancient Cow goddess
• Heqet - the Frog goddess
• Serqet - the Scorpion god
• Babi - the Dominant Male Baboon god
• Hapi & Anuket - the god and goddess of the Nile
• Ra - the Sun god
• Osirus – the god of the dead
• Amun – the god of creation
• Ammit – the destroyer
• Apep – the snake god
So what NAME could Moses use to describe his God? Vs. 14 says, God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ’I AM has sent me to you.’ "
The name I AM is a translation of the name Yahweh. In Hebrew (which didn’t use vowels) it would be Yhwh. The picture on the screen shows what this name looks like written in Hebrew script. This name for God occurs 6,800 times in Scripture. God’s name is a verb instead of a noun. In Hebrew, it means simply “to be” or “to live.” God is greater than any name could ever give justice to. The closest he could come to describing himself was to call himself “I am” and his full name “I am that I am”
The tense is past, present, and future … meaning “I have always existed, I exist always in the here and now, and I will always exist.” Stack this NAME up against the hundreds of Egyptian gods … who don’t actually exist, never have, and never will.
Moses KNEW that his God existed. After all, he was having a conversation with Yahweh. But even though he believed, Moses could not help asking the kind of question most of us have asked God at one time or another. He asked, “But, God … what if…”
3. What If ...?
In Exodus 4:1 Moses asked, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me…? The answer God gave Moses came in the form of 3 miracles. Those 3 miracles addressed ALL the “what if’s” that hide in the back of our minds:
“What if” questions are the most common questions we ask of God. We believe in God … but at the same time, we fear the kind of things that can go wrong. We fear the things we can’t control. Like Moses, we fear rejection from other people. We also fear natural disasters and accidents and financial ruin, and sickness and death.
The miraculous signs that God gave Moses answer all these very human fears.
1) First God proved that He would protect Moses from any physical danger … even the fatal strake of a poisonous snake. God told Moses to throw down his staff. When he did, it became a writhing snake. Then came the fun part. God said, “Now, pick it up by the tail.” And when Moses did so, it instantly became a staff again.
2) Next, God illustrated His complete power over sickness and health by causing and instantaneously healing the most dreaded disease of that day. God told Moses to put his hand in his cloak. When Moses pulled out his hand, it was eaten away by leprosy. God told Moses to repeat the act, and this time, when Moses pulled his hand out of his cloak, it was perfectly healthy again.
3) Then God declared His power over the most important natural life-source in that part of the world --- the Nile River. God could easily turn water to blood, and then back to life-sustaining water.
Don’t let the “what if’s” in your mind hold you back. You don’t need to live in fear of a bunch of what if’s. … whether it’s rejection from other people, or loss of a job, or a financial crisis, or sickness or accident, or even death.
Yahweh … the God who Exists … He is in control of all the things that you and I can’t control. He IS with you … just as He promised to be with Moses.
After seeing God perform these astounding miracles, Moses said, “Okay, then! Let’s do it, God. I’m ready to go!” Well… not quite. Actually, Moses came full circle right back to where he started … and he asked again --- this time with even more desperation… but … Who am I…?
4. But … Who am I … ?
Actually, Moses said, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Exodus 4:10
I can imagine frustration in God’s voice when He answered: Moses! Think about it! "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4:11
Moses was plumb out of excuses … so he resorted to plain old begging: "O Lord, PLEASE send someone else to do it." Exodus 4:13
Exodus 4:14 says the LORD’s anger burned against Moses. But even though God was angry at Moses’ lack of courage, he made a concession to his insecurity by offering to send Aaron (Moses’ brother) as an assistant for Moses.
God agreed to give Moses the support of his brother, Aaron … but the call … and the task … still belonged to Moses!
CONCLUSION:
The same is true for you and for me. When God gives you a task, the call belongs to you and you alone. What has God called YOU to do this year?
Maybe God has put it on your heart to take on a ministry in your church:
• Teach a class;
• Give a gift;
• Bring a friend
God may be calling you to do a new task in your own family:
• Teach your children about God in your home;
• Work on making your marriage what God intends it to be –
. have a conversation you’ve been putting off with your husband or wife –
. make an appointment with a Christian counselor who can help you get your marriage back on track.
• Get your personal finances in order –
. talk to a Financial Advisor …
. or attend Financial Peace University.
Maybe God has a challenge for you in your career:
• Re-commit to your job - and work as for the Lord, not as for that boss that gives you so much trouble
• Set an example to your co-workers by your integrity and your attitude
• Keep trusting God to reward your efforts
. while you get your resume out there and keep on interviewing –
. expecting God to open the right door at the right time.
Whatever God is saying to you today, you can do it! …
• not because of who YOU are
• but because God --- the great I AM --- your God is with you.
