Follow Me: Deliverance[1]

Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible

Exodus 3:11-12 [2]

Moses’ encounter with God stirred up memories buried deep. God wanted Moses to help the Israelites. Moses tried to help his family 40 years earlier. They rejected him. He was not interested in trying again.

The question Moses posed, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” sounds like humility. Moses will be crowned with the title of the meekest man in all the earth, but he is not there yet.

God’s response reveals Moses arrogance. “I will be with you…” Who Moses “is” was irrelevant to God. God had already been to Egypt, assessed the situation and had a plan. Moses was only a tool in God’s hand to fulfill his plan which spans generations.

The proof God was with Moses in this endeavor is interesting. God said to Moses, “This will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” God’s plan is to bring his people to the land he promised Abraham, but he does not include Moses in that aspect of the plan. At this point, Moses will bring the people out of Egypt and lead them in worshipping God on the mountain where he encountered the burning bush.

People familiar with this story know Moses will sin and be forbidden to cross the Jordan. Did God foresee this event in Moses life? Is that why Moses will bring the people out, lead them in worship, but not lead them into the Promised Land? I suppose that is possible, but I think there is another valid reason. The only one who can lead us into the Promised Land of true justice and equality is Jesus.

[1] From the time God promised to change Jacob’s name to Israel, Jacob and his descendants were addressed as both Jacob and Israel, which can be confusing. In Follow Me: Deliverance, I will use “Hebrews” to identify the children of Jacob.

[2] All scripture quotes are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.