Exodus 3 – May 3

Names are highly significant in the Bible. They are descriptive of the character of the individual to whom the name represents. Exodus 3 is one of the most impactful chapters in the entire Old Testament. God has not verbally communicated to anyone at this point for over 500 years.  He has spoken in dreams. The people still knew of His covenant promises. But, for many generations, God had remained verbally silent. It is at this point that God is going to speak to Moses. At 80 years of age, Moses is going to begin a new phase in his relationship with God that will continue for the next 40 years until his death. From this point forward, God is going to communicate with Moses differently than anyone else. As it says in Deut. 34:10, “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” (That term face to face in Hebrew is literally mouth to mouth. It is a reference to not just personal connection, but verbal communication.)

There is much that could be highlighted from this conversation between God and Moses, but for today I just want you to zone in on two things.

I AM

Moses knows that returning to Egypt is going to be a difficult because of the way he left. He clearly had the desire to be a deliverer, but did not have the power to do it. So, Moses asks the right question. Basically, “Who should I say sent me?” And the Lord responded, “I am who I am.” All of God’s names are to be revered. However, this name took on particular significance all through the Bible. It is the chief title by which God will be called throughout the rest of the Bible. This name refers to many things:

The ontological existence of God – Simply put, even though you can’t see Him, He exists

The eternality of God – He IS… and there is never a time that He was not.

The immutability of God – He IS… and there is never a time that He changes.

The omnipresence of God – He Is… and there is nowhere that He is not.

In the New Testament, Jesus will often pick up this name and use it to refer to Himself. For example, “I Am the Good Shepherd.”

I WILL

Moses is initially reluctant to return to Egypt. What changed? It is that Moses was not required to do the seemingly impossible work of deliverance. Notice that God puts the load on His own shoulders.

“… I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt…”

“I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it…”

“… I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty…”

In short, Moses did not do any wonders. God is the hero of this story. He is the true deliverer. He gets all of the credit. The salvation that God provides is always worked through the ministry of men, but is ultimately and exclusively accomplished by God Himself.