May 17, 2011
The Prayer Life of Moses
Exodus 3:14
Part Two
The Identification of Yahweh to Moses
“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.'”
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Today we will begin with the link between Exodus 3:14, and John 8:58, where Jesus proclaimed His deity to the Jews: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” The Jews picked up stones to kill Jesus for this claim, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (John 8:59). Why did the Jews react so violently to Jesus’ claim that before Abraham was, “I am”? They picked up stones to kill Jesus because they remembered the name of God “I Am” (“אֶהְיֶה”), and they understood Jesus had just applied that title to Himself. Let us now go back and see how God first introduced Himself with this term “I AM.”
The Commission to Moses. From the burning bush, God told Moses the plan and commissioned Moses to go do it. “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that I may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” The plan seems simple to us, but it contained big issues for Moses. Remember, Moses had fled from Egypt, because the government wanted him for murder (Exodus 3:14-15). God has a pattern of sending people on missions throughout the Bible. In fact, God intends to send you on a daily mission to serve Him.
Who Am I? Moses started with a sense of inferiority. He thought of himself as weak and insignificant before the mighty pharaoh of Egypt. He asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). God’s first words in response to this question were: “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). When we understand that our size and strength do not matter for the mission, we will do better with the mission. We must always first recognize that God is with us, and He sent us, and commissioned us. It will always be about Him, and never about us.
God’s Sign to Moses. God also gave Moses a sign. God said: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship at this mountain (Exodus 3:12). For Moses, Mt. Horeb would always be special, because He had met God there at the burning bush.
Moses Worries over The People. Moses worried that the people of Israel, currently trapped in oppression in Egypt, would not follow him. Moses asked God for a name to give them, when they asked: “What is His name?” (Exodus 3:13).
I AM WHO I AM. God provides the name. “I AM WHO I AM.” God instructed Moses to say further, “I AM has sent me to you.” We always tend to lose sight of the purpose of our lives when we lose sight of the mission we have from God. He sends each of us, daily, to do His will in our lives. God chose this name of eternal existence, and self-existence to reveal Himself to Moses and the people of the Exodus. He called this name His “memorial-name to all generations” (Exodus 3:15). God loves to use different names to describe Himself.
Now we know why the Jews took up stones against Jesus in John 8:59. Jesus used the memorial-name for God, given to Moses, which was “I AM.” When Jesus said He was the “I AM” God of the Old Testament, who existed before Abraham, then we see the clear claim of Jesus to be God, and more particularly, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, and the God of Moses, the God of the living and not the God of the dead.
So we learn more about the prayer life of Moses.
● God always loves to answer your concerns. In this passage, Moses was very concerned about his own inadequacies and God told Moses: “Certainly I will be with you.” This answer cheers my heart every day. God never sends anyone on a mission by themselves, but He always goes with them. Take a moment today and make sure God is with you on your mission for today.
● God also gave Moses a name for God unknown before: “I AM WHO I AM.” God will not only send you on your mission today, but He will also equip you perfectly for that mission. Moses asked for a name, and God gave Moses a new name, but one recognizable to the people of Israel. God intended this name to be a memorial-name for all generations.
● Prayer means that God speaks to us and answers our questions. He applies His word to our hearts. Many times in prayer God has shown me His will for my life. I rise up with a sense of purpose and peace. I know He will be with me, and that I have a serious calling to do His will in my life. I may feel inadequate, but I know he told me, just like Moses, “Certainly I will be with you Bert.” He makes the same promise to you, as you follow Him on His mission.
Application for Today
Yahweh talked with Moses and answered his questions. When we have questions about the plan and purposes of God in our lives, we must take time right then to talk with God about His plan. We must hear Him say, “I am certainly with you.” Will you remember that God is certainly with you today, when you walk in God’s plan and follow His purpose for your life today?
