Daily Devotions
Exodus
"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
Text: Exodus 3 : 11-12
VERY HUMAN STRUGGLES
Moses was staggered by what the Lord said to him! Sent to speak to the Pharaoh? Moses must have recalled the years that he had spent in Egypt! How could an ordinary person think that he could have an audience with the Pharaoh? And to lead Israel out of Egypt to Canaan? That surely was unthinkable! How could he, a nobody, attempt the two tasks that God had assigned him?
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I
that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I
should bring the children of Israel, out of Egypt?'”
EXODUS 3:11
It was wonderful to see the burning bush and to hear the very voice of God! How re-assuring it was to stand in His Presence! How wonderful to hear that God would lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt! Those were soul-uplifting words! But to be the one chosen to actually lead the children of Israel to Canaan! That was a staggering proposition!
Moses had no confidence in himself at all! Surely the task was too big for one individual to undertake! How could God come up with such a plan?
A SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND SOLUTION
No, God did not make a mistake when He told Moses that he was going to be the one sent to deliver Israel out of Egypt! Yes, He understood all that Moses was struggling with! He had a simple but profound solution to Moses’ fears and doubts.
“So He said, ‘I will certainly be with you.
And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you:
When you have brought the people out of Egypt,
you shall serve God on this mountain.'”
EXODUS 3:12
“I will certainly be with you…”
Those familiar words were said to Jacob when he fled Esau’s wrath, and made his way to Padan Aram (Cf. Genesis 28:15). In fact those very words were also uttered and spoken to Isaac when the Philistines were making his life very hard in Gerar (Cf. Genesis 26:24). It was Moses’ turn to hear and believe these powerful words!
“This shall be a sign that I have sent you…”
God promised that Moses and liberated Israel would worship and serve Him at this very mountain! He knew what Moses must have been struggling with. The “sign” that He gave to Moses was essentially a promise that would require great faith to believe in. That was all God was offering Moses by way of a solution to his fears and doubts! It was enough that God gave His word of promise! Moses would have to learn that all he needed would be God’s Word of promise! That would be wholly sufficient!