Exodus 3:11-22

August 13, 2014

In our last study we read about when Christ appeared to Moses from the burning bush
and told him to demand Israels freedom from Pharaoh so that God could bring them to
the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. Now well pick back up in that story
with Moses response:

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And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should
bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Moses knew that Israel would be in bondage 400 years (Gen. 15:12-16), and he knew he
was the one who would set them free. His trouble came when he assumed everyone else
would also know, and he tried to get things going before it was time. As a result he spent
40 years tending sheep in the wilderness, and now that Gods ready, Moses isnt. Maybe
he just doesnt want to do it any more or maybe walking up to Pharaoh wasnt what he
had in mind, so hes reluctant. Who am I?

Hes 80 years old, wanted for murder, and hes spent four decades as an outcast. He cant
just march into Egypt and demand an audience with the king. Maybe if God had been
with him 40 years earlier things would be different, but now its too late, and Moses
doesnt want to go.

But we know that weakness is attractive to God because its there that his power is made
perfect. Now that he has no influence, now that hes past his prime, Moses wont be so
tempted to overthrow Pharaoh on his own, and thats right where God wants him:

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And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;

This is encouragement to Moses, but its also a rebuttal. Moses claims that hes not able to
carry this through, and God doesnt argue with him. What difference does it make if
Moses is fit or not? God will be with him! If Gods there and this is what he wants, then
theres no chance of failure and no degree of danger. Everything thats about to happen is
part of the plan that was set forth before Adam and Eve took the first bite. And so, Moses
is going.

and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought
forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

The sign confirms the mission: once Israel is free, theyll come to Sinai and receive the
Ten Commandments. But it comes after everything is done, so its not meant to convince
Moses to go to Pharaoh; the burning bush and this direct conversation serve that
purpose. This sign will confirm that God did indeed send Moses and that this adventure
through the desert and into the Promised Land is his doing and will.

When those Israelites see the smoke and feel the tremblings of the mountain, theyll
know for sure that Moses is Gods prophet and that God is the one leading them to the
place he promised Abraham. It should remove all doubt, and thus, it becomes
accountability for those who reject. When Korah leads his rebellion, hes destroyed
without pity because he knew that God had picked Moses. When the people complained
and tempted God, they fell in the desert because their unbelief was inexcusable.

Likewise, when Caleb and Joshua obeyed, it was said to be an act of faith because of this
sign; God confirmed his part in the exodus when Israel came to Sinai.

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And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall
say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to
me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

I dont know why he thought they might ask this, but the answer is important because
theres one name under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12), and every knee
will eventually bow at the name of Jesus (Phil. 4:10). But God wont reveal Jesus just
yet, so he gives him another name:

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And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

You have to remember that were still early on in history. The Ten Commandments
havent been given yet, and no one knows his name (Ex. 6:3). Hes met with a few people
and revealed a little about himself, but theres a lot that hasnt been told. What hes
giving here is a sort of anchor or foundation; its a place to start for the Israelites who
want to know whos leading them, and the answer is simple but profound: the one who
exists has sent me. How will they overcome Pharaoh and the superpower of Egypt? How
can a bunch of lifelong slaves defeat a world class military? Certainly I will be with thee.
The one who exists without cause is on their side. The one who has life and power within
himself is fighting for them, so who can be against them?

Some 2,000 years later Jesus will quote this verse when the Jews think hes crazy for
claiming to be older than Abraham: Before Abraham was, I AM (Jn. 8:58). Were just like
the Israelites in bondage. How can we hope to overcome an enemy so great and powerful?
Our only hope is to believe in the one who exists by his own power. Our only hope is to
trust in the one who says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8).

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And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto
all generations.

The Hebrew word for LORD is Yahweh, and the root word for Yahweh means to
become. Its related to I AM, so what hes saying is, Tell the children of Israel that I
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am the I AM of your fathers. Hes the one who made the promise to Abraham, and hes
going to make good on that promise, therefore, theyll know him by this name and be
comforted in that he simply is yesterday with Abraham, today with us, and forever with
our children.

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Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have
surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
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And I have said, I will
bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the
Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a
land flowing with milk and honey.

The 400 years are up and its time to go to a land flowing with milk and honey. This is a
place of blessing where hell provide all their needs and care for them, and in this we see
a picture of salvation. Jesus is still the I AM in our time. He has declared that we should
be free, and if he sets us free, were free indeed, and hes gone to prepare a place of milk
and honey for us; its a place of blessing and rest where hell comfort and care for us.

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And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of
Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews
hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days journey into the
wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
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And I am sure that the king of
Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

God makes two predictions here: the first is that the elders will finally believe that its
time to leave Egypt. Thats good news for Moses because it means things have changed
since the last time he tried to set Israel free. This time theyll be ready and theyll join
him.

The second prediction is that Pharaoh wont be ready to let them go, and it turns out that
hes certainly not. This one interests me more than the first because we see God giving a
command that he knows wont be followed willingly. He intends to bring Pharaoh to
destruction: For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised
thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout
all the earth.
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Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth (Rom. 9:17-18).

He sends Moses even though he knows Pharaoh wont listen because his purpose isnt to
win Pharaohs heart or give him an opportunity to repent; God will show his I AM
power when he tears Pharaoh and Egypt down to nothing:

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And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do
in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

40 years earlier Moses tried and failed to save Israel; it failed because it was according to
his flesh, but this time will be different because the power is Gods. Pharaoh will never
relent and theres not a man on earth who can force him, but I AM will smite Egypt and
break Pharaohs resolve.

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And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to
pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.
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But every woman shall borrow of her
neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold,
and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye
shall spoil the Egyptians.

This last prediction is most amazing: the Egyptians favor the Israelites even after all ten
plagues, and they willingly send them away with plunder (Ex. 12:33-36)! I want you to
notice that the treasure is silver and gold and clothing. They didnt just get what was
necessary to live; they got silver and gold. It makes me think of what Paul says later: He
that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32).

These fine things were to be put on the children, and that makes us see even more of the
real promise. Were Gods children, and he gives us all these spiritual blessings and
treasures that we dont deserve because of Christ. Its by him that were given power to
be called Gods sons, and its by him that weve received the blessings of the promise.

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