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 March 2011
Who is the Answer for Your Struggles?
As I have been reading the book of Exodus I am struck by the amount of intimate conversations that are recorded between God and Moses. The way God answered each of Moses’ questions really caught my attention. In the recap below, I pray that it will bring you encouragement today as you note how differently God answered than what we would have answered if we were trying to console Moses.
What happened during Moses’ time in the wilderness when He came face to face with God Almighty, the God of his fathers? God very carefully addressed his questions. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (3:11). Instead of answering who Moses is, God showed him an aspect about Himself – "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." (3:12).
Sure that the Israelites would never believe that Moses was God’s messenger, he asked, What if I come to (them) and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" (3:13). In His response God revealed a new aspect of Himself in a new name, Yahweh (The all encompassing I AM, which is LORD in translation).
"I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "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, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exodus 3:14-15).
Even after God’s powerful discourse revealed exactly how it would play out, Moses doubted that the children of Israel would accept his authority. God showed him miracles that He would do with Moses’ staff and hand. Moses argued again, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (4:10). God answered once again about Himself. “Who has made man’s mouth?... Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." (4:11-12).
Moses flatly refused all that God offered of Himself, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.” But even in His anger, God’s answer of using Aaron as a spokesman pointed to God’s character. “I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.” Finally Moses was ready to step out and trust his God. Together he and Aaron went to the elders of Israel and presented God’s plan. The people believed and bowed their heads and worshiped God. (4:31)
Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and laid out the plan to him. Of course, he not only resisted the plan but also increased the people’s labor. The response from the people started a trend that would last throughout Moses’ lifetime. The people complained about their circumstances and Moses went back to
God with questions. "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?” (5:22). Feeling blamed by the people, Moses in desperation accused God. “For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all." (5:23).
God patiently answered the accusation by reminding Moses how He works. "Now you are going to see what I will do to Pharaoh: he will let them go because of My strong hand; he will drive them out of his land because of My strong hand." (6:1, Holman CSB).
He then tenderly explained Himself again. "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.” (6:2-5). He once again gave Moses words to say “Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (6:6-7).
Each time Moses had his eyes on himself and the circumstances – Who am I? What shall I say? I feel ridiculous because You didn’t do what I told them You would do. God did not respond to Moses the way we might have. Wouldn’t we tend to try to correct him by telling him he really was a great guy, he really could speak well and of course, the people would listen to him? Instead God answered each of his questions by pointing back to His character and the truth about Himself.
I don’t know where you are in life, what things are haunting you, what struggles you are facing. But by looking at Moses’ life, we can see the answer. Your Father wants you to know who He is and what His character can mean to you in the midst of your questions. This is what we at Establishing God's Peace (EGP) feel compelled to share with those in our sphere of influence. That is why we have changed our mission statement to say it even more strongly. We remain committed to:
Encouraging God’s People to:
know God intimately – trust God completely – embrace His grace – reflect His heart
Mindful of His grace,
Verna McCrillis
Check out our updated website :www.egpministries.com |
Verna McCrillis, 3/21/2011 |
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