I AM and I Am Not [Exodus 3:1-22]

Moses received the LORD’s instructions at the burning bush and immediately provided excuses for why he could not do what God asked of him. When we consider what God calls us to do, we must never forget who He is and who we are not.

KEY IDEA

Moses’ encounter with the LORD brings him face to face with the most important questions in life: who am I? who is God? why am I here? What can I do? How you deal with these questions will make in your life experience, now as well as in eternity.

THE BURNING BUSH (part one)

Moses is now in Midian, married with two sons, and living life as a shepherd for his father-in-law, Jethro (Reuel). (v. 1)

God uses a unique, one-of-a-kind experience to get Moses’ attention. (vv. 2-3)

God speaks to him, and calls him into service, out of the need He has seen and the promise He has made to his ancestors in the past. (vv. 4-10)

Moses gives his first excuse: I’m a nobody who can’t do this. God reminds Moses He will be with him as he goes, and as a “sign” will bring them back to this same place after the “exodus” has happened. (vv. 11-13)

Moses gives his second excuse: I don’t know who you are, and the Israelites will want to know. God tells Moses His name is YHWH (from the verb “to be” in Hebrew), most often translated in English as I AM. He is the same God as the One their ancestors knew. (vv. 14-15) 

God outlines the plan for their deliverance: then instructs Moses to tell the Israelite elders first, and after, the Egyptian king what is to happen. (vv. 16-18)

God tells him Pharoah will not let them go, so He will do miracles, and they will leave with favor and plunder for the life ahead. (vv. 19-22) 

LESSONS FOR US TODAY

Moses spent the first forty years of his life as a somebody; the second forty years of his life as a nobody; and the last forty years of his life, seeing what God could do with a nobody whose life was fully devoted to Him.   –D.L. Moody

Most of us wander in the wilderness of life; God, in His own unique way, encounters each one of us and seeks a response.

God calls us to Himself and to His custom-designed plan for our life.

You will never fully know who you are apart from God’s revelation and realization in your life. 

God wants you to know who He is and the difference He can make in your life.

God’s plan, while not always easy, is always best.