Calling to Confidence
(Exodus 1:1 – 4:31 and 6:14-27)
Pharaoh's Daughter Finding Baby Moses
By Konstantin Flavitsky
19th Century
Perhaps four centuries after the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, God called a new leader for his people. The Israelites found themselves oppressed by the Egyptian Pharaoh, who had made the people slaves. Into this environment, God birthed Moses.
Symbolically echoing God’s rescue of Noah and his family, Noah was tucked into an ark-like basket and placed in the waters of the Nile River to escape Pharaoh’s genocidal slaughter of all Hebrew boy babies. By God’s Providence, Moses’ own mother and sister are chosen to care for the lad.
Once grown, Moses proved his humanity by murdering an Egyptian and fleeing into the Midian wilderness, where he found his bride, Zipporah. Still, God was with Moses and called him to leadership.
Moses and the Burning Bush
By Dirk Bouts –
c1460
The Burning Bush
God appeared to Moses, speaking to him from a bush that was engulfed in flames, but not consumed by them
Moses’ divine calling included a fourfold promise from the Lord (emphases added):
“The Lord said,
‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.
I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers,
and I am concerned about their suffering.
So I have come down to rescue them.’”
(Exodus 3:7-8a, NIV)
What a comfort to all who know and trust the Lord. God sees our troubles. He hears our cries. He cares about our sorrows. And He has come to rescue us.
Being, Not Doing
Reluctant to lead, Moses questions the Lord. “Who am I?” Moses asks (see Exodus 3:10-12). Of course, God assures Moses that He will accompany him on his mission.
Moses’ next question is a bit bolder. “Who are You?” he asks. (See Exodus 3:13-15). God blows this question (and Moses) away with His answer.
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’
And He said,
‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,
“I AM has sent me to you.”’”
Don’t you just love God’s tactful and terrific way of expressing Himself? He could have said, “Who do you think you are to ask such a question?” But He responded directly, with on-the-spot accuracy to Moses.
God did not say “I do.” He said, “I am.” He simply is our all-sufficient God.
I think God’s name offers us an important lesson about purpose. Which is more important, what we do or who we are? What does the Lord value most, our attitudes or our accomplishments? What pleases the Father’s heart, our hearts or our hectic work schedules?
“Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
How I long to look to the Lord for my own confidence and sense of worth, rather than performance reviews, peer ratings or popularity contests. I just want to know Him more.
Will you pray with me?
Great God,
You always have been
And evermore shall be.
Who You are
Astounds and amazes us.
Thank You that
You see our troubles,
You hear our cries,
You care about our sorrows
And You have some to rescue us.
Draw our hearts.
Nurture within us
A deeper desire to know You.
Remind us,
Even as we serve You
That You count ever more
Than anything we might do for You
Or offer You.
Hold us close to Your Father heart,
Even in troubled times.
Amen.
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