In today’s lesson, God calls Moses to free His people from slavery in Egypt. Moses responds how many of us respond to God’s call on us today. Moses gives several excuses, culminating with, “Send someone else!”
While Moses is tending his father-in-law’s flocks, God gets Moses’ attention with a bush that is on fire but is not burning up. Moses goes to investigate this strange phenomenon.
Then God calls out to Moses from the bush. God tells Moses to take off his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. Moses’ sandals represent our sin, which we must leave behind when we approach God. Moses is in God’s presence. He fears, respects and reveres God.
God tells Moses that He has heard the cries of His people and has seen their oppression. Then He tells Moses that He has chosen him to save His people and bring them out of Egypt. God allows Moses to talk (and even argue!) with Him. Moses gives five excuses for why he can’t obey God’s command:
- Who am I?
- Who are You?
- What if they don’t believe me or won’t listen?
- I cannot speak very well.
- Send someone else!
God promises to be with Moses and promises him a victory.
Moses asks who he should say sent him. Moses wants a personal name for God. God tells Moses that His personal name is “I AM.” This is translated as Yahweh and the LORD. The name I AM shows that God is eternal and unchanging.
God tells Moses to assemble the elders and tell them what will happen. God again promises to go with Moses and then gives Moses three signs to demonstrate that he is sent by God.
God promises to give Moses the right words to speak. He also sends Moses’ brother, Aaron, to go with him and be his coworker in this effort.
Moses takes his wife and two sons back to Egypt. As they travel, Moses realizes that one of his sons is not circumcised. God tells Moses that he must circumcise the son so Moses will be fully obedient and committed to God.
Finally, Aaron and Moses reunite in the desert. Then they meet with the Israelite elders in Egypt. The people listen to Moses and Aaron and see God at work in this plan. Then the people worship God.
Next week, we will see Moses and Aaron bravely confront Pharaoh and ask him to free God’s people.
Things to Think About
- God is holy. There is no one like Him.
- How reverent am I toward God? Am I exalting Him and approaching Him with the awe He deserves?
- God called Moses, and Moses obeyed. What has God called me to do? Am I responding with obedience?
- If God calls me to a job, He will equip me to do it.
- Even though Moses brought his concerns (and excuses!) to God, he didn’t use his past failures as a reason not to serve or obey God. God will use me, in spite of my past failures.